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@ -3,15 +3,34 @@ Reticulum Network Stack β
<p align="center"><img width="200" src="https://unsigned.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/reticulum_logo_512.png"></p>
Reticulum is the cryptography-based networking stack for wide-area networks built on readily available hardware. It can operate even with very high latency and extremely low bandwidth. Reticulum allows you to build wide-area networks with off-the-shelf tools, and offers end-to-end encryption and connectivity, initiator anonymity, autoconfiguring cryptographically backed multi-hop transport, efficient addressing, unforgeable delivery acknowledgements and more.
Reticulum is the cryptography-based networking stack for wide-area networks
built on readily available hardware. It can operate even with very high latency
and extremely low bandwidth. Reticulum allows you to build wide-area networks
with off-the-shelf tools, and offers end-to-end encryption and connectivity,
initiator anonymity, autoconfiguring cryptographically backed multi-hop
transport, efficient addressing, unforgeable delivery acknowledgements and
more.
The vision of Reticulum is to allow anyone to be their own network operator, and to make it cheap and easy to cover vast areas with a myriad of independent, inter-connectable and autonomous networks. Reticulum **is not** *one* network. It is **a tool** for building *thousands of networks*. Networks without kill-switches, surveillance, censorship and control. Networks that can freely interoperate, associate and disassociate with each other, and require no central oversight. Networks for human beings. *Networks for the people*.
The vision of Reticulum is to allow anyone to be their own network operator,
and to make it cheap and easy to cover vast areas with a myriad of independent,
inter-connectable and autonomous networks. Reticulum **is not** *one* network.
It is **a tool** for building *thousands of networks*. Networks without
kill-switches, surveillance, censorship and control. Networks that can freely
interoperate, associate and disassociate with each other, and require no
central oversight. Networks for human beings. *Networks for the people*.
Reticulum is a complete networking stack, and does not rely on IP or higher layers, but it is possible to use IP as the underlying carrier for Reticulum. It is therefore trivial to tunnel Reticulum over the Internet or private IP networks.
Reticulum is a complete networking stack, and does not rely on IP or higher
layers, but it is possible to use IP as the underlying carrier for Reticulum.
It is therefore trivial to tunnel Reticulum over the Internet or private IP
networks.
Having no dependencies on traditional networking stacks frees up overhead that has been used to implement a networking stack built directly on cryptographic principles, allowing resilience and stable functionality, even in open and trustless networks.
Having no dependencies on traditional networking stacks frees up overhead that
has been used to implement a networking stack built directly on cryptographic
principles, allowing resilience and stable functionality, even in open and
trustless networks.
No kernel modules or drivers are required. Reticulum runs completely in userland, and can run on practically any system that runs Python 3.
No kernel modules or drivers are required. Reticulum runs completely in
userland, and can run on practically any system that runs Python 3.
## Read The Manual
The full documentation for Reticulum is available at [markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
@ -44,24 +63,44 @@ For more info, see [unsigned.io/projects/reticulum](https://unsigned.io/projects
- Low cost of keeping links open at only 0.44 bits per second
## Examples of Reticulum Applications
If you want to quickly get an idea of what Reticulum can do, take a look at the following resources.
If you want to quickly get an idea of what Reticulum can do, take a look at the
following resources.
- [LXMF](https://github.com/markqvist/lxmf) is a distributed, delay and disruption tolerant message transfer protocol built on Reticulum
- For an off-grid, encrypted and resilient mesh communications platform, see [Nomad Network](https://github.com/markqvist/NomadNet)
- The Android, Linux and macOS app [Sideband](https://unsigned.io/sideband) has a graphical interface and focuses on ease of use.
## Where can Reticulum be used?
Over practically any medium that can support at least a half-duplex channel with 500 bits per second throughput, and an MTU of 500 bytes. Data radios, modems, LoRa radios, serial lines, AX.25 TNCs, amateur radio digital modes, WiFi and Ethernet devices, free-space optical links, and similar systems are all examples of the types of physical devices Reticulum can use.
Over practically any medium that can support at least a half-duplex channel
with 500 bits per second throughput, and an MTU of 500 bytes. Data radios,
modems, LoRa radios, serial lines, AX.25 TNCs, amateur radio digital modes,
WiFi and Ethernet devices, free-space optical links, and similar systems are
all examples of the types of physical devices Reticulum can use.
An open-source LoRa-based interface called [RNode](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/hardware.html#rnode) has been designed specifically for use with Reticulum. It is possible to build yourself, or it can be purchased as a complete transceiver that just needs a USB connection to the host.
An open-source LoRa-based interface called
[RNode](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/hardware.html#rnode) has
been designed specifically for use with Reticulum. It is possible to build
yourself, or it can be purchased as a complete transceiver that just needs a
USB connection to the host.
Reticulum can also be encapsulated over existing IP networks, so there's nothing stopping you from using it over wired ethernet, your local WiFi network or the Internet, where it'll work just as well. In fact, one of the strengths of Reticulum is how easily it allows you to connect different mediums into a self-configuring, resilient and encrypted mesh, using any available mixture of available infrastructure.
Reticulum can also be encapsulated over existing IP networks, so there's
nothing stopping you from using it over wired Ethernet, your local WiFi network
or the Internet, where it'll work just as well. In fact, one of the strengths
of Reticulum is how easily it allows you to connect different mediums into a
self-configuring, resilient and encrypted mesh, using any available mixture of
available infrastructure.
As an example, it's possible to set up a Raspberry Pi connected to both a LoRa radio, a packet radio TNC and a WiFi network. Once the interfaces are configured, Reticulum will take care of the rest, and any device on the WiFi network can communicate with nodes on the LoRa and packet radio sides of the network, and vice versa.
As an example, it's possible to set up a Raspberry Pi connected to both a LoRa
radio, a packet radio TNC and a WiFi network. Once the interfaces are
configured, Reticulum will take care of the rest, and any device on the WiFi
network can communicate with nodes on the LoRa and packet radio sides of the
network, and vice versa.
## How do I get started?
The best way to get started with the Reticulum Network Stack depends on what
you want to do. For full details and examples, have a look at the [Getting Started Fast](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/gettingstartedfast.html) section of the [Reticulum Manual](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
you want to do. For full details and examples, have a look at the
[Getting Started Fast](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/gettingstartedfast.html)
section of the [Reticulum Manual](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
To simply install Reticulum and related utilities on your system, the easiest way is via pip:
@ -69,31 +108,47 @@ To simply install Reticulum and related utilities on your system, the easiest wa
pip3 install rns
```
You can then start any program that uses Reticulum, or start Reticulum as a system service with [the rnsd utility](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/using.html#the-rnsd-utility).
You can then start any program that uses Reticulum, or start Reticulum as a
system service with [the rnsd utility](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/using.html#the-rnsd-utility).
When first started, Reticulum will create a default configuration file, providing basic connectivity to other Reticulum peers that might be locally reachable. The default config file contains a few examples, and references for creating a more complex configuration.
When first started, Reticulum will create a default configuration file,
providing basic connectivity to other Reticulum peers that might be locally
reachable. The default config file contains a few examples, and references for
creating a more complex configuration.
For more detailed examples on how to expand communication over many mediums such as packet radio or LoRa, serial ports, or over fast IP links and the Internet using the UDP and TCP interfaces, take a look at the [Supported Interfaces](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/interfaces.html) section of the [Reticulum Manual](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
For more detailed examples on how to expand communication over many mediums such
as packet radio or LoRa, serial ports, or over fast IP links and the Internet using
the UDP and TCP interfaces, take a look at the [Supported Interfaces](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/interfaces.html)
section of the [Reticulum Manual](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
## Included Utilities
Reticulum includes a range of useful utilities for managing your networks, viewing status and information, and other tasks. You can read more about these programs in the [Included Utility Programs](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/using.html#included-utility-programs) section of the [Reticulum Manual](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
Reticulum includes a range of useful utilities for managing your networks,
viewing status and information, and other tasks. You can read more about these
programs in the [Included Utility Programs](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/using.html#included-utility-programs)
section of the [Reticulum Manual](https://markqvist.github.io/Reticulum/manual/).
- The system daemon `rnsd` for running Reticulum as an always-available service
- An interface status utility called `rnstatus`, that displays information about interfaces
- The path lookup and management tool `rnpath` letting you view and modify path tables
- A diagnostics tool called `rnprobe` for checking connectivity to destinations
- A simple file transfer program called `rncp` making it easy to copy files to remote systems
- The remote command execution program `rnx` let's you run commands and programs and retrieve output from remote systems
- The remote command execution program `rnx` let's you run commands and
programs and retrieve output from remote systems
All tools, including `rnx` and `rncp`, work reliably and well even over very low-bandwidth links like LoRa or Packet Radio.
All tools, including `rnx` and `rncp`, work reliably and well even over very
low-bandwidth links like LoRa or Packet Radio.
## Supported interface types and devices
Reticulum implements a range of generalised interface types that covers most of the communications hardware that Reticulum can run over. If your hardware is not supported, it's relatively simple to implement an interface class. I will gratefully accept pull requests for custom interfaces if they are generally useful.
Reticulum implements a range of generalised interface types that covers most of
the communications hardware that Reticulum can run over. If your hardware is
not supported, it's relatively simple to implement an interface class. I will
gratefully accept pull requests for custom interfaces if they are generally
useful.
Currently, the following interfaces are supported:
- Any ethernet device
- Any Ethernet device
- LoRa using [RNode](https://unsigned.io/projects/rnode/)
- Packet Radio TNCs (with or without AX.25)
- KISS-compatible hardware and software modems
@ -104,12 +159,21 @@ Currently, the following interfaces are supported:
- Custom hardware via stdio or pipes
## Performance
Reticulum targets a *very* wide usable performance envelope, but prioritises functionality and performance over low-bandwidth mediums. The goal is to provide a dynamic performance envelope from 250 bits per second, to 1 gigabit per second on normal hardware.
Reticulum targets a *very* wide usable performance envelope, but prioritises
functionality and performance over low-bandwidth mediums. The goal is to
provide a dynamic performance envelope from 250 bits per second, to 1 gigabit
per second on normal hardware.
Currently, the usable performance envelope is approximately 500 bits per second to 20 megabits per second, with physical mediums faster than that not being saturated. Performance beyond the current level is intended for future upgrades, but not highly prioritised at this point in time.
Currently, the usable performance envelope is approximately 500 bits per second
to 20 megabits per second, with physical mediums faster than that not being
saturated. Performance beyond the current level is intended for future
upgrades, but not highly prioritised at this point in time.
## Current Status
Reticulum should currently be considered beta software. All core protocol features are implemented and functioning, but additions will probably occur as real-world use is explored. There will be bugs. The API and wire-format can be considered relatively stable at the moment, but could change if warranted.
Reticulum should currently be considered beta software. All core protocol
features are implemented and functioning, but additions will probably occur as
real-world use is explored. There will be bugs. The API and wire-format can be
considered relatively stable at the moment, but could change if warranted.
## Development Roadmap
- Version 0.4.0
@ -141,22 +205,48 @@ Reticulum should currently be considered beta software. All core protocol featur
- Tor
## Dependencies
The installation of the default `rns` package requires the dependencies listed below. Almost all systems and distributions have readily available packages for these dependencies, and when the `rns` package is installed with `pip`, they will be downloaded and installed as well.
The installation of the default `rns` package requires the dependencies listed
below. Almost all systems and distributions have readily available packages for
these dependencies, and when the `rns` package is installed with `pip`, they
will be downloaded and installed as well.
- [PyCA/cryptography](https://github.com/pyca/cryptography)
- [netifaces](https://github.com/al45tair/netifaces)
- [pyserial](https://github.com/pyserial/pyserial)
On more unusual systems, and in some rare cases, it might not be possible to install or even compile one or more of the above modules. In such situations, you can use the `rnspure` package instead, which require no external dependencies for installation. Please note that the contents of the `rns` and `rnspure` packages are *identical*. The only difference is that the `rnspure` package lists no dependencies required for installation.
On more unusual systems, and in some rare cases, it might not be possible to
install or even compile one or more of the above modules. In such situations,
you can use the `rnspure` package instead, which require no external
dependencies for installation. Please note that the contents of the `rns` and
`rnspure` packages are *identical*. The only difference is that the `rnspure`
package lists no dependencies required for installation.
No matter how Reticulum is installed and started, it will load external dependencies only if they are *needed* and *available*. If for example you want to use Reticulum on a system that cannot support [pyserial](https://github.com/pyserial/pyserial), it is perfectly possible to do so using the `rnspure` package, but Reticulum will not be able to use serial-based interfaces. All other available modules will still be loaded when needed.
No matter how Reticulum is installed and started, it will load external
dependencies only if they are *needed* and *available*. If for example you want
to use Reticulum on a system that cannot support
[pyserial](https://github.com/pyserial/pyserial), it is perfectly possible to
do so using the `rnspure` package, but Reticulum will not be able to use
serial-based interfaces. All other available modules will still be loaded when
needed.
**Please Note!** If you use the `rnspure` package to run Reticulum on systems that do not support [PyCA/cryptography](https://github.com/pyca/cryptography), it is important that you read and understand the [Cryptographic Primitives](#cryptographic-primitives) section of this document.
**Please Note!** If you use the `rnspure` package to run Reticulum on systems
that do not support [PyCA/cryptography](https://github.com/pyca/cryptography),
it is important that you read and understand the [Cryptographic
Primitives](#cryptographic-primitives) section of this document.
## Public Testnet
If you just want to get started experimenting without building any physical networks, you are welcome to join the Unsigned.io RNS Testnet. The testnet is just that, an informal network for testing and experimenting. It will be up most of the time, and anyone can join, but it also means that there's no guarantees for service availability.
If you just want to get started experimenting without building any physical
networks, you are welcome to join the Unsigned.io RNS Testnet. The testnet is
just that, an informal network for testing and experimenting. It will be up
most of the time, and anyone can join, but it also means that there's no
guarantees for service availability.
The testnet runs the very latest version of Reticulum (often even a short while before it is publicly released). Sometimes experimental versions of Reticulum might be deployed to nodes on the testnet, which means strange behaviour might occur. If none of that scares you, you can join the testnet via either TCP or I2P. Just add one of the following interfaces to your Reticulum configuration file:
The testnet runs the very latest version of Reticulum (often even a short while
before it is publicly released). Sometimes experimental versions of Reticulum
might be deployed to nodes on the testnet, which means strange behaviour might
occur. If none of that scares you, you can join the testnet via either TCP or
I2P. Just add one of the following interfaces to your Reticulum configuration
file:
```
# TCP/IP interface to the Dublin Hub
@ -205,10 +295,13 @@ You can help support the continued development of open, free and private communi
```
- Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/markqvist
Are certain features in the development roadmap are important to you or your organisation? Make them a reality quickly by sponsoring their implementation.
Are certain features in the development roadmap are important to you or your
organisation? Make them a reality quickly by sponsoring their implementation.
## Cryptographic Primitives
Reticulum uses a simple suite of efficient, strong and modern cryptographic primitives, with widely available implementations that can be used both on general-purpose CPUs and on microcontrollers. The necessary primitives are:
Reticulum uses a simple suite of efficient, strong and modern cryptographic
primitives, with widely available implementations that can be used both on
general-purpose CPUs and on microcontrollers. The necessary primitives are:
- Ed25519 for signatures
- X22519 for ECDH key exchanges
@ -220,7 +313,13 @@ Reticulum uses a simple suite of efficient, strong and modern cryptographic prim
- SHA-256
- SHA-512
In the default installation configuration, the `X25519`, `Ed25519` and `AES-128-CBC` primitives are provided by [OpenSSL](https://www.openssl.org/) (via the [PyCA/cryptography](https://github.com/pyca/cryptography) package). The hashing functions `SHA-256` and `SHA-512` are provided by the standard Python [hashlib](https://docs.python.org/3/library/hashlib.html). The `HKDF`, `HMAC`, `Fernet` primitives, and the `PKCS7` padding function are always provided by the following internal implementations:
In the default installation configuration, the `X25519`, `Ed25519` and
`AES-128-CBC` primitives are provided by [OpenSSL](https://www.openssl.org/)
(via the [PyCA/cryptography](https://github.com/pyca/cryptography) package).
The hashing functions `SHA-256` and `SHA-512` are provided by the standard
Python [hashlib](https://docs.python.org/3/library/hashlib.html). The `HKDF`,
`HMAC`, `Fernet` primitives, and the `PKCS7` padding function are always
provided by the following internal implementations:
- [HKDF.py](RNS/Cryptography/HKDF.py)
- [HMAC.py](RNS/Cryptography/HMAC.py)
@ -228,16 +327,33 @@ In the default installation configuration, the `X25519`, `Ed25519` and `AES-128-
- [PKCS7.py](RNS/Cryptography/PKCS7.py)
Reticulum also includes a complete implementation of all necessary primitives in pure Python. If OpenSSL & PyCA are not available on the system when Reticulum is started, Reticulum will instead use the internal pure-python primitives. A trivial consequence of this is performance, with the OpenSSL backend being *much* faster. The most important consequence however, is the potential loss of security by using primitives that has not seen the same amount of scrutiny, testing and review as those from OpenSSL.
Reticulum also includes a complete implementation of all necessary primitives
in pure Python. If OpenSSL & PyCA are not available on the system when
Reticulum is started, Reticulum will instead use the internal pure-python
primitives. A trivial consequence of this is performance, with the OpenSSL
backend being *much* faster. The most important consequence however, is the
potential loss of security by using primitives that has not seen the same
amount of scrutiny, testing and review as those from OpenSSL.
If you want to use the internal pure-python primitives, it is **highly advisable** that you have a good understanding of the risks that this pose, and make an informed decision on whether those risks are acceptable to you.
If you want to use the internal pure-python primitives, it is **highly
advisable** that you have a good understanding of the risks that this pose, and
make an informed decision on whether those risks are acceptable to you.
Reticulum is relatively young software, and should be considered as such. While it has been built with cryptography best-practices very foremost in mind, it _has not_ been externally security audited, and there could very well be privacy or security breaking bugs. If you want to help out, or help sponsor an audit, please do get in touch.
Reticulum is relatively young software, and should be considered as such. While
it has been built with cryptography best-practices very foremost in mind, it
_has not_ been externally security audited, and there could very well be
privacy or security breaking bugs. If you want to help out, or help sponsor an
audit, please do get in touch.
## Acknowledgements & Credits
Reticulum can only exist because of the mountain of Open Source work it was built on top of, the contributions of everyone involved, and everyone that has supported the project through the years. To everyone who has helped, thank you so much.
Reticulum can only exist because of the mountain of Open Source work it was
built on top of, the contributions of everyone involved, and everyone that has
supported the project through the years. To everyone who has helped, thank you
so much.
A number of other modules and projects are either part of, or used by Reticulum. Sincere thanks to the authors and contributors of the following projects:
A number of other modules and projects are either part of, or used by
Reticulum. Sincere thanks to the authors and contributors of the following
projects:
- [PyCA/cryptography](https://github.com/pyca/cryptography), *BSD License*
- [Pure-25519](https://github.com/warner/python-pure25519) by [Brian Warner](https://github.com/warner), *MIT License*