ORBIT-USER: BSSID/IBSS madwifi idea?

[chris at orderonenetworks.com]

Hello All,

I've spent a bunch of time reading madwifi source and google trying to
come up with a decent solution to the BSSID problem where it jumps around
on me.

I think I've come up with a solution that I'm going to try and implement,
but I'd like to see if anyone knows if it is a bad idea, or fundamentally
flawed from the start.

Basically in adhoc mode each node finds the oldest BSSID it can and uses
that. Unfortunately this is doesn't work as advertised.

The solution I'm thinking of implementing is simply hashing the ESSID (ie.
iwconfig essid 'blah') into one of those XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX addresses and
then when a node is in ad-hoc mode, I'll force the BSSID to that hash.

Since each 'tweaked' node will use the same hash function they will all
start off on the same BSSID. Any un-tweaked nodes will either follow along
or do something else, but they should not be unduly affected.

I like this solution since it appears that:
1. it will not muck with un-modified nodes
2. does not require any fiddling with the beaconing system, etc.
3. allows different ad-hoc networks with different ESSID's to co-exist.

I'd appretiate any thoughts, comments, etc.

Thanks!
Chris