# Mesh Node Dashboard - README

This project provides a simple **real-time monitoring dashboard** for a 5x5 grid of mesh network nodes. It consists of:

- A **Node.js server** that connects to an MQTT broker
- A **WebSocket** connection between the server and browser clients
- A **Frontend dashboard** (HTML/JavaScript) that displays the node status grid
- Two **Python scripts** for simulating and sending node data over MQTT

## Project Structure

```
/ (project root)
|-- server.js              # Node.js server backend (Express + MQTT + WebSocket)
|-- node_addresses.sh      # MAC and IP mapping for nodes
|-- testbedconfigsender.py # Python script for sending a static test frame via MQTT
|-- testbed_simu.py         # Python script for simulating dynamic node data and sending via MQTT
|-- public/
|    |-- index.html        # Frontend dashboard HTML
|    |-- dashboard.js      # Frontend JavaScript (WebSocket client, UI updates)
|    |-- styles.css        # Frontend styling (optional)
|-- README.md              # This file
```

## Requirements

- Node.js (v16 or later recommended)
- MQTT Broker (e.g., Mosquitto) running locally (`localhost`)
- Python 3.8+
  - `paho-mqtt` Python package (for MQTT communication)

## Installation

1. Clone the repository:

```bash
git clone <repository-url>
cd <repository-folder>
```

2. Install Node.js dependencies:

```bash
npm install express mqtt ws
```

3. Install Python dependencies:

```bash
pip install paho-mqtt
```

## Running the Server

1. Ensure your MQTT broker is running on `localhost`.
2. Start the Node.js server:

```bash
node server.js
```

The server will start at `http://localhost:3001/`.

## Frontend (Dashboard)

Open your browser and go to:

```
http://localhost:3001/
```

You will see a 5x5 grid representing the mesh nodes.
Each node:

- Shows its ID, CPU temperature, memory and CPU utilization, and uptime.
- Updates based on MQTT messages.
- Changes color based on activity:
  - **Light green** = Active (last seen within 60 seconds)
  - **Light coral** = Inactive (no updates within 60 seconds)

## Python Scripts

- **testbedconfigsender.py**
  - Sends a predefined static JSON frame to the MQTT broker.
  - Useful for simple connectivity tests.

- **testbed_simu.py**
  - Simulates node behavior with uptime increments and randomized CPU temperature, CPU utilization, and memory utilization.
  - Sends live dynamic updates every 5 to 10 seconds per node (random).
  - Reads `node_addresses.sh` for MAC addresses and neighbor information.

## MQTT Payload Format

The server expects MQTT messages on the topic:

```
apu_tb/your_subtopics
```

Each message should be a JSON array with two parts:

```json
[
  {
    "uptime": 12345,
    "cpu_temp": 55,
    "mem_util": 17,
    "cpu_util": 9,
    "XPosition": 0,
    "YPosition": 0,
    "mesh0_neighbors": ["MAC1", "MAC2"],
    "mesh1_neighbors": ["MAC3", "MAC4"]
  },
  {
    "id": "apu00"
  }
]
```

## Development Notes

- The `node_addresses.sh` script defines the IPs and MAC addresses for each node.
- The server parses this script at startup to resolve neighbor relationships.
- `public/` folder contains all frontend resources.
- The Python scripts can be used to simulate live testbed behavior without physical hardware.

## Future Improvements (Ideas)

- Allow clicking on a node to see detailed neighbor info
    - Rudimentary function already given (click on first node -> marked as 1, click on second node -> marked as 2 / then further click lets 2 move / delete markings with click on 1).
    - If only 1 is clicked, their direct links should be highlighted
    - If 1 and 2 are marked, both paths (mesh interface 1 and 2) should be marked
- Create configuration tile. 
    - When a node is marked with 1, its configuration is displayed. 
    - Config should be changable and sent via button (MQTT/JSON) -> orientation to “testbed_config_sender.py”.
- Implement node filtering/search
- Show historical graphs for each node (lightweight database needed)

## License

This project is for educational and research use. Feel free to modify and extend it as needed.