German networking equipment integrator Saxonia is shipping an x86-based outdoor WiFi router that runs Debian Sarge. The Meshnode router boots a 2.6.15 Linux kernel from CompactFlash, and offers lots of room to install most any normal x86 Debian package, the company says.

The Meshnode router includes two WiFi radios, and supports mesh configurations based on OLSR (optimized link state routing). Because it runs a normal Debian Linux distribution, the device might be a good platform for WiFi hackers and developers interested in running fairly full Linux environments. The stock filesystem weighs in at 59MB, leaving 5MB of room on the standard 64MB of Flash, or much more with larger cards. Saxonia offers the device with cards up to 256MB.

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