[MLB-WIRELESS] Major Node Working Group

[darrend at ndpgroup.com.au]

A few points i'll make on this subject

Firstly yes... there are a lot of people out there with spare gear... the 
problems is, the gear itself. If we are talking about 'key' nodes or 
'backbone' nodes, Enterasys cards and dlink/svec/minitar ap's, modified 
galaxies  arent gonna cut it. If you're gonna run a 'key' node you need 
good gear... (the kind that costs $$$) i think there's very few of us that 
have cisco/avaya/orinoco ap's and good quality antenna's laying around to 
just give away.

I think these issues are much better handled on a localised level... eg if 
you have access to a 'key' site, liase with the regional groups most 
likely to benefit from putting a node on that site. Even if you think 
there is a site that might be worth approaching, but you dont know how to 
do it... again, ask the local RG for help. Have a local meeting or bbq, 
get people to the site to have a look... nothing motivates people more 
than seeing there own place from a golden site! (I distinctly remember 
falling on my ass... totally gobsmacked when i first saw the view from 
GHO)

Another option to source gear is to ask someone to sponsor it. eg for node 
GHO I asked my company to purchase the Avaya AP3, which they did in 
exchange for a link on the nodes wiki pages.

Who better to take responsibility (both financially and physically) for 
creating a key node than the people who will benefit from it the most. 
Sure there are probably others in different area's that will be willing to 
help out, but why not seek assistance from local people first... then hit 
the main list for help if you fall short. All it takes is one person who 
is commited to coordinate the effort, and the equipment and skilled people 
will come.

An example of this is NodeGHOv2, which through the efforts of Ryan A 
mustering the troops on the outer eastern, and southern areas mailing 
lists, has resulted in people getting together to organise some more gear 
to further improve performance in those areas.

Oh, and btw... NodeGHO is not defunct... merely in hibernation for it's 
reincarnation! lol

Later, 
Darren






"Winder" <winder at iinet.net.au>
Sent by: owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au
14/02/2004 04:56 PM

 
        To:     "Melbourne Wireless" <melbwireless at wireless.org.au>
        cc: 
        Subject:        RE: [MLB-WIRELESS] Major Node Working Group

Sounds like a good idea.

 I was also thinking that there must be a lot of hardware out there that 
no
one is using and might not ever get used. So I'm suggesting that everyone
bring along all of your old hardware to the next wireless meeting (that 
you
are willing to give away for free to a good cause), and that people from
Melb wire try and make working systems out of them to use as hardware for
these Major Nodes. Anything that is not usefull to us might be usefull to
other members too, so it could be like a *real* swapmeet with first dibs 
for
Major Nodes.

 As for names, how about Key Nodes? I'd suggest something like the defunct
GHO would have been classed as a Key node, and if the plan to lock it down
so only certain other nodes can connect, I would say those 'certain other
nodes' would be key nodes also.

 I have hardware to donate. In fact my wife would LOVE it if I cleaned out
all of my junk.

Regards,
g at z.


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au
[mailto:owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au]On Behalf Of Dan Flett
Sent: Saturday, 14 February 2004 4:05 PM
To: Melbourne Wireless
Subject: [MLB-WIRELESS] Major Node Working Group


Hi,

Is anyone interested in joining me in starting a "Major Node" Working
Group?  I think it'd be good if we had a centralised, organised way of
finding and exploiting high-visibility sites for Melbourne Wireless
nodes.  We'd aim to find people who have "insider" access to these sites
and get their cooperation.  We'd also discuss ways of obtaining gear for
these nodes without betraying the Melbourne Wireless philosophy of free
and open access for all.  We could also possibly discuss a better name
for the WG than "WGMajorNodes".  We could also possibly drink some beer.

Anyone keen?

Dan

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