NDMesh is a set of experimental mesh networks consisting of Crossbow Stargate devices. These devices are Linux-based computers arranged in a variety of configurable network topologies (e.g., fully connected, ring, matrix, random, etc.). Each Stargate is equipped with a 802.11b wireless card, many of them also have Zigbee radio, and some of them support Bluetooth. Currently, there are three types of networks in used or in planning. The first two (see more details below) will consist solely of Stargate devices. The third network, when completed, will consist of a variety of programmable wireless Linux routers (some of which will have SDR capabilities).

• NDMesh-1 (operational) consists of 50 Stargates arranged in close physical proximity (for ease of use), making this a fully connected network. Therefore, other topologies are simulated by letting each router device decide whether to accept communications from a neighboring node.
• NDMesh-2 (in development) will ultimately consist of at least 30 Stargates physically distributed across the Engineering building of Notre Dame. This network allows for more realistic studies of performance, but is more difficult to program than NDMesh-1.
• NDMesh-3 (in planning) will, when completed, consists of 50 or more wireless mesh routers distributed across the Notre Dame campus. While this network while provide us with the most realistic setting for experimental networking research, it will also be the most difficult to deploy, operate, and maintain.