AoDv

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Routing

 * i promise not to keep asking so
 * simple questions but i need these answers so i can start my research in my
 * library of networking books

Eddie,

Routing on the internet is more stable because in general the internet is a star network (Like cable TV) and where there are alternatives they are resolved by routing protocols which are deliberately slugged to be slow to change, and thus minimise the routes switching around.

In your reading look for "routing flap"

Also on the internet the paths are almost always asymetric. This is because ISPs want to do, and BGP the inter-isp routing protocol facilitates, something colloquially known as "hot potato routing." Hot Potato routing means getting the packet onto the target ISP's network as fast as possible (the network is identified by an ASN -- Autonomus System Number. This is partly why one gets extremely variable VoIP performance on long-haul, unless the person you're phoning uses the same (Tier 2, Tier 1) ISP

There is a good discussion of routing in Computer Networks by Andrew S Tannenbaum from Prentice-Hall. And yes, despite the advert and the confrontational tone Jeremy is right, for a fixed (wireless) network conventional routing is probably more appropriate, but for the original community wireless goals AODV has the big benefit of not needing someone vaguely IP literate to get things going, all you need do is set your ESSID and put a stick in the air