User:Vectrexer/sandbox

Open-Mesh is a cloud-managed network infrastructure company. Businesses, schools, apartments, municipalitie, and other organizations use their products to build small to large-scale, distributed wired and wireless networks. Open-Mesh operates in conjunction with CloudTrax to allow the use of a network based cloud computing hosted control system called "The Console". The company was started by two MIT PhD students, Sanjit Biswas and John Bicket, along with Hans Robertson. The company is based in part on the MIT Roofnet project.

Limitations
An Open-mesh network will continue to serve clients if connectivity to the Cloud Controller is lost. However, configuration changes are queued until connectivity is restored.

Opportunity
Earlier mesh network provider Meraki initially acted in support of open-source development of software on Meraki Mini units. In early 2008 the Meraki introduced a more restrictive EULA covering sales of new equipment requiring that, "Meraki Hardware may only be used with Meraki Software" and prohibiting reverse engineering, adding, removing or otherwise altering the software on the device. The previous license agreements contained no restrictions on replacing the software on the device. Shortly after the new Meraki EULA was imposed, Meraki sent an unsolicited firmware update to their units in the field which disabled future firmware updates by customers. This has dismayed mesh network enthusiasts, some of whom have questioned the legality of such restrictions being imposed involuntarily and without advance notice. In 2008 Open-Mesh began offering similar software with fewer licensing restrictions. In 2012 Tanaza started offering a similar software that is not restricted to work with Meraki hardware, as a Cloud Management Software for multi-vendor Wi-Fi Access Points.