I have returned from YAXWE with very good impressions about mash networking. I did some reading and in theory I already knew how this works, but to see actual implementation of idea in form of Freifunk Firmware was both useful and impressive :-)

On the other hand, installing OLSR on Debian boxes is so easy that there is no excuse in becoming local mash node:

1. Install packages

$ apt-get install olsrd olsrd-plugins

1. Put your card in adhoc mode

This part might be specific to your card, but for my atheros card it's something like:

$ wlanconfig ath1 create wlandev wifi0 wlanmode adhoc
$ iwconfig ath1 essid olsr.example.com

 You should also probably run dhclient or ifconfig to setup your IP adress depending of configuration of your local mash network

1. Change network interface in configuration

$ vi /etc/olsrd/olsrd.conf

Something like: Interface "ath1"

1. Start it automatically

$ vi /etc/default/olsrd

 Change line to START_OLSRD="YES"

1. Start daemon

$ /etc/init.d/olsrd start

And that's it!. You are now part of mash network.