EtherGuard-VPN/example_config/super_mode/README.md

Etherguard

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Super mode

This mode is inspired by n2n. There 2 types of node: SuperNode and EdgeNode
EdgeNode must connect to SuperNode first，get connection info of other EdgeNode from the SuperNode
The SuperNode runs Floyd-Warshall Algorithm，and distribute the result to all other EdgeNodes.

Quick start

Edit the file gensuper.yaml based on your requirement first.

Config output dir: /tmp/eg_gen
ConfigTemplate for super node: ""
ConfigTemplate for edge node: ""
Network name: eg_net
Super Node:
  Listen port: 3456
  EdgeAPI prefix: /eg_net/eg_api
  Endpoint(IPv4)(optional): example.com
  Endpoint(IPv6)(optional): example.com
  Endpoint(EdgeAPI): http://example.com:3456/eg_net/eg_api
Edge Node:
  Node IDs: "[1~10,11,19,23,29,31,55~66,88~99]"
  MacAddress prefix: ""                 # Leave blank to generate randomly
  IPv4 range: 192.168.76.0/24           # The IP part can be omitted
  IPv6 range: fd95:71cb:a3df:e586::/64  # 
  IPv6 LL range: fe80::a3df:0/112       #  

Then run this, and the required configuration file will be generated.

$ ./etherguard-go -mode gencfg -cfgmode super -config example_config/super_mode/gensuper.yaml

Run this in SuperNode

./etherguard-go -config [config path] -mode super

Run this in EdgeNode

./etherguard-go -config [config path] -mode edge

Documentation

This is the documentation of the super_mode of this example_config Before reading this, I'd like to suggest you read the static mode first.

In the super mode of the edge node, the NextHopTable and Peers section are useless. All infos are download from super node.
Meanwhile, super node will generate pre shared key for inter-edge communication(if UsePSKForInterEdge enabled).

SuperMsg

There are new type of DstID called SuperMsg(65534). All packets sends to and receive from super node are using this packet type.
This packet will not send to any other edge node, just like DstID == self.NodeID

Control Message

In Super mode, Beside Normal Packet. We introduce a new packet type called Control Message. In Super mode, we will not relay any control message. We just receive or send it to target directly.
We list all the control message we use in the super mode below.

Register

This control message works like this picture:

1. EdgeNode send Register to the super node
2. SuperNode knows it's external IP and port number
3. Update it to database and distribute UpdatePeerMsg to all edges
4. Other EdgeNodes get the notification, download the updated peer infos from SuperNode via HTTP API

Ping/Pong

While EdgeNodes get their peer info, they will trying to talk each other directly like this picture:

1. Send Ping to all other edges with local time with TTL=0
2. Receive a Ping, Subtract the peer time from local time, we get a single way latency.
3. Send a Pong to SuperNode with single way latency, let SuperNode calculate the NextHopTable
4. Wait the SuperNode push UpdateNhTable message and download it.

AdditionalCost

While we have all latency data of all nodes, AdditionalCost will be applied before Floyd-Warshall calculated.

Take the situation of this picture as an example:

Path	Latency	Cost	Win
A->B->C	3ms	3
A->C	4ms	4	O

In this situation, the difference between 3ms and 4ms is only 1ms It’s not worth to save this 1ms, and the forwarding itself takes time

With the AdditionalCost parameter, each node can set the additional cost of forwarding through this node

If ABC is all set to AdditionalCost=10

Path	Latency	AdditionalCost	Cost	Win
A->B->C	3ms	20	23
A->C	4ms	10	14	O

A->C will use direct connection instead of forward via B in order to save 1ms
Here AdditionalCost=10 can be interpreted as: It have to save 10ms to transfer by this Node.

UpdateNhTable

While supernode get a Pong message, it will update the Distance matrix and run the Floyd-Warshall Algorithm to calculate the NextHopTable.

If there are any changes of this table, it will distribute UpdateNhTable to all edges to till then download the latest NextHopTable via HTTP API as soon as possible.

ServerUpdate

Send message to EdgeMode from SuperNode

1. Turn off EdgeNode
   • Version Not match
   • Wrong NodeID
   • Deleted by SuperNode
2. Notify EdgeNode there are something new
   • UpdateNhTable
   • UpdatePeer
   • UpdateSuperParams

HTTP EdgeAPI

Why we use HTTP API instead of pack all information in the UpdateXXX?
Because UDP is an unreliable protocol, there is an limit on the amount of content that can be carried.
But the peer list contains all the peer information, the length is not fixed, it may exceed
So we use UpdateXXX to tell we have a update, please download the latest information from SuperNode via HTTP API as soon as possible. And UpdateXXX itself is not reliable, maybe it didn't reach the edge node at all.
So the information of UpdateXXX carries the state hash. Bring it when with HTTP API. When the super node receives the HTTP API and sees the state hash, it knows that the edge node has received the UpdateXXX.
Otherwise, it will send UpdateXXX to the node again after few seconds.

The default configuration is to use HTTP. But for the sake of your security, it is recommended to use an reverse-proxy ot convert it into https I have thought about the development of SuperNode to natively support https, but the dynamic update of the certificate costs me too much time.

HTTP Manage API

HTTP also has some APIs for the front-end to help manage the entire network

super/state

curl "http://127.0.0.1:3456/eg_net/eg_api/manage/super/state?Password=passwd_showstate"

It can show some information such as single way latency or last seen time.
We can visualize it by Force-directed graph drawing.

There is an Infinity section in the json response. It should be 9999. It means infinity if the number larger than it.
Cuz json can't present infinity so that I use this trick.
While we see the latency larger than this, we doesn't need to draw lines in this two nodes.

Example return value:

{
  "PeerInfo": {
    "1": {
      "Name": "Node_01",
      "LastSeen": "2021-12-05 21:21:56.039750832 +0000 UTC m=+23.401193649"
    },
    "2": {
      "Name": "Node_02",
      "LastSeen": "2021-12-05 21:21:57.711616169 +0000 UTC m=+25.073058986"
    }
  },
  "Infinity": 99999,
  "Edges": {
    "1": {
      "2": 0.002179297
    },
    "2": {
      "1": -0.00030252
    }
  },
  "Edges_Nh": {
    "1": {
      "2": 0.012179297
    },
    "2": {
      "1": 0.00969748
    }
  },
  "NhTable": {
    "1": {
      "2": 2
    },
    "2": {
      "1": 1
    }
  },
  "Dist": {
    "1": {
      "1": 0,
      "2": 0.012179297
    },
    "2": {
      "1": 0.00969748,
      "2": 0
    }
  }
}

Section meaning:

1. PeerInfo: NodeID，Name，LastSeen
2. Edges: The Single way latency，99999 or missing means unreachable(UDP hole punching failed)
3. Edges_Nh: Edges with AdditionalCost
4. NhTable: Calculate result.
5. Dist: The latency of packet through Etherguard

peer/add

We can add new edges with this API without restart the SuperNode

Exanple:

curl -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3456/eg_net/eg_api/manage/peer/add?Password=passwd_addpeer" \
 -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
 -d "NodeID=100&Name=Node_100&PubKey=DG%2FLq1bFpE%2F6109emAoO3iaC%2BshgWtdRaGBhW3soiSI%3D&AdditionalCost=1000&PSKey=w5t64vFEoyNk%2FiKJP3oeSi9eiGEiPteZmf2o0oI2q2U%3D&SkipLocalIP=false"

Parameter:

1. URL query: Password: Password. Configured in the config file.
2. Post body:
   1. NodeID: Node ID
   2. Name: Name
   3. PubKey: Public Key
   4. PSKey: Pre shared Key
   5. AdditionalCost: Additional cost for packet transfer. Unit: ms
   6. SkipLocalIP: Skip local IP reported by the node
   7. nexthoptable: If the graphrecalculatesetting of your super node is in static mode, you need to provide a new NextHopTable in json format in this parameter.

Return value:

1. http code != 200: Error reason
2. http code == 200，An example edge config.
   • generate by contents in edgetemplate with custom data (nodeid/name/pubkey)
   • Convenient for users to copy and paste

peer/del

Delete peer

There are two deletion modes, namely password deletion and private key deletion.
Designed to be used by administrators, or for people who join the network and want to leave the network.

Use Password to delete any node. Take the newly added node above as an example, use this API to delete the node

curl "http://127.0.0.1:3456/eg_net/eg_api/manage/peer/del?Password=passwd_delpeer&NodeID=100"

We can also use privkey to delete, the same as above, but use privkey parameter only.

curl "http://127.0.0.1:3456/eg_net/eg_api/manage/peer/del?PrivKey=iquaLyD%2BYLzW3zvI0JGSed9GfDqHYMh%2FvUaU0PYVAbQ%3D"

Parameter:

1. URL query:
   1. Password: Password: Password. Configured in the config file.
   2. nodeid: Node ID that you want to delete
   3. privkey: The private key of the edge

Return value:

1. http code != 200: Error reason
2. http code == 200: Success message

peer/update

curl -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3456/eg_net/eg_api/manage/peer/update?Password=passwd_updatepeer&NodeID=1" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
  -d "AdditionalCost=10&SkipLocalIP=false"

super/update

curl -X POST "http://127.0.0.1:3456/eg_net/eg_api/manage/super/update?Password=passwd_updatesuper" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded" \
  -d "SendPingInterval=15&HttpPostInterval=60&PeerAliveTimeout=70&DampingResistance=0.9"

SuperNode Config Parameter

Key	Description
NodeName	node name
PostScript	Running script after initialized
PrivKeyV4	Private key for IPv4 session
PrivKeyV6	Private key for IPv6 session
ListenPort	UDP listen port
ListenPort_EdgeAPI	HTTP EdgeAPI listen port
ListenPort_ManageAPI	HTTP ManageAPI listen port
API_Prefix	HTTP API prefix
RePushConfigInterval	The interval of pushUpdateXXX
HttpPostInterval	The interval of report by HTTP Edge API
PeerAliveTimeout	The time of inactive which marks peer offline
SendPingInterval	The interval that send pings/pongs between EdgeNodes
LogLevel	Log related settings
Passwords	Password for HTTP ManageAPI, 5 API passwords are independent
GraphRecalculateSetting	Some parameters related to [Floyd-Warshall algorithm](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/Floyd-Warshall algorithm)
NextHopTable	NextHopTable used by StaticMode
EdgeTemplate	for HTTP ManageAPI peer/add. Refer to this configuration file and show a sample configuration file of the edge to the user
UsePSKForInterEdge	Whether to enable pre-share key communication between edges. If enabled, SuperNode will generate PSK for edges automatically
Peers	EdgeNode information

Passwords	Description
ShowState	HTTP ManageAPI Password for super/state
AddPeer	HTTP ManageAPI Password for peer/add
DelPeer	HTTP ManageAPI Password for peer/del
UpdatePeer	HTTP ManageAPI Password for peer/update
UpdateSuper	HTTP ManageAPI Password for super/update

GraphRecalculateSetting	Description
StaticMode	Disable Floyd-Warshall, use NextHopTablein the configuration instead. SuperNode for udp hole punching only.
ManualLatency	Set latency manually, ignore Edge reported latency.
JitterTolerance	Jitter tolerance, after receiving Pong, one 37ms and one 39ms will not trigger recalculation Compared to last calculation
JitterToleranceMultiplier	high ping allows more errors https://www.desmos.com/calculator/raoti16r5n
DampingResistance	Damping resistance latency = latency_old * resistance + latency_in * (1-resistance)
TimeoutCheckInterval	The interval to check if there any Pong packet timed out, and recalculate the NhTable
RecalculateCoolDown	Floyd-Warshal is an O(n^3)time complexity algorithm This option set a cooldown, and prevent it cost too many CPU Connect/Disconnect event ignores this cooldown.

Peers	Description
NodeID	Peer's node ID
PubKey	Peer's public key
PSKey	Pre shared key
AdditionalCost	AdditionalCost(unit:ms) -1 means uses client's self configuration.
SkipLocalIP	Ignore Edge reported local IP, use public IP only while udp-hole-punching

EdgeNode Config Parameter

EdgeConfig Root

DynamicRoute	Description
SendPingInterval	The interval that send pings/pongs between EdgeNodes(sec)
PeerAliveTimeout	The time of inactive which marks peer offline(sec)
TimeoutCheckInterval	The interval of check PeerAliveTimeout(sec)
ConnNextTry	After marked offline, the interval of switching Endpoint(sec)
DupCheckTimeout	Duplication chack timeout.(sec)
AdditionalCost	AdditionalCost(unit:ms)
SaveNewPeers	Save peer info to local file.
SuperNode	SuperNode related configs
P2P	P2P related configs
NTPConfig	NTP related configs

SuperNode	Description
UseSuperNode	Enable SuperMode
PSKey	PreShared Key to communicate to SuperNode
EndpointV4	IPv4 Endpoint of the SuperNode
PubKeyV4	Public Key for IPv4 session to SuperNode
EndpointV6	IPv6 Endpoint of the SuperNode
PubKeyV6	Public Key for IPv6 session to SuperNode
EndpointEdgeAPIUrl	The EdgeAPI of the SuperNode
SkipLocalIP	Do not report local IP to SuperNode.
SuperNodeInfoTimeout	Experimental option, SuperNode offline timeout, switch to P2P mode P2P mode needs to be enabled first This option is useless while UseP2P=false P2P mode has not been tested, stability is unknown, it is not recommended for production use

NTPConfig	Description
UseNTP	Sync time at startup
MaxServerUse	Use how many server to sync time
SyncTimeInterval	The interval of syncing time
NTPTimeout	NTP server connection Timeout
Servers	NTP server list

V4 V6 Two Keys

Why we split IPv4 and IPv6 into two session? Because of this situation

In this case, SuperNode does not know the external ipv4 address of Node02 and cannot help Node1 and Node2 to UDP hole punch.

So like this, both V4 and V6 establish a session, so that both V4 and V6 can be taken care of at the same time.

UDP hole punch reachability

For different NAT type, the UDP hole punch reachability can refer this table.(Origin)

And if both sides are using ConeNAT, it's not gerenteed to punch success. It depends on the topology and the devices attributes.
Like the section 3.5 in this article, we can't punch success.

Notice for Relay node

Unlike n2n, our supernode do not relay any packet for edges.
If the edge punch failed and no any route available, it's just unreachable. In this case we need to setup a relay node.

Relay node is a regular edge in public network, but interface=dummy.

And we have to note that do not use 127.0.0.1 to connect to supernode.
Because supernode well distribute the source IP of the nodes to all other edges. But 127.0.0.1 is not accessible from other edge.

To avoid this issue, please use the external IP of the supernode in the edge config.

Quick start

Run this example_config (please open three terminals):

./etherguard-go -config example_config/super_mode/Node_super.yaml -mode super
./etherguard-go -config example_config/super_mode/Node_edge001.yaml -mode edge
./etherguard-go -config example_config/super_mode/Node_edge002.yaml -mode edge

Because it is in stdio mode, stdin will be read into the VPN network
Please type in one of the edge windows

b1aaaaaaaaaa

b1 will be converted into a 12byte layer 2 header, b is the broadcast address FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF, 1 is the ordinary MAC address AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:01, aaaaaaaaaa is the payload, and then feed it into the VPN
You should be able to see the string b1aaaaaaaaaa on another window. The first 12 bytes are converted back

Next: P2P Mode