[MLB-WIRELESS] Major Node Working Group

[Dan Flett]

Hi Darren and list,

Thanks for replying so eloquently.  We certainly need a lot more
dialogue on subjects like this.

As far as gear goes - what do you see as the limiting factors in these
sorts of sites?  Can the cheaper gear be used if the number of clients
is deliberately limited?  

I was thinking that one of the aims of the WG would be to obtain
sponsorship for these nodes - or at least find people who are in a good
position to obtain sponsorship.  I'm guessing that there might be some
companies that would be keen to donate some gear to creating a backbone
for the Melbourne Wireless network - what with our noble ideals and all.
:)  Would it be kosher for people to approach companies in the name of
"Melbourne Wireless"?  With the permission of the committee first, of
course.

There are some sites that I think would probably be handled better by a
specialised Working Group rather than the local Region Group.  At the
February MW meeting someone mentioned a site on a building in the CBD.
Access to the actual site is very restricted so we can't take up a tour
group to generate funding and interest.  But I'm sure you'd agree that
such a site can't be ignored - it is visible from many areas in
Melbourne.  I think it's a better idea to have a Working Group to
proactively take advantage of such sites when they become available
rather than wait for the Region Group to "get around to it".

I'm not dissing Region Groups, but when action is required the people in
them might be busy with other projects or Real Life (tm).  Which is fair
enough.

A specialised WG wouldn't intend to replace the work of RGs.  It would
instead draw upon people across all the RGs so that no one person need
dedicate large chunks of their time to an important node project.

The WG could also make the first approach to interesting sites where
there are no Melbourne Wireless people working on the "inside".

I think this idea has generated enough interest to at least get some
people together to discuss the pros, cons and possible scope of such a
specialised group.  I'll put the details of the proposed Working Group
in another email to the list so it's not being advertised in the middle
of this rather wordy email. :)

Cheers,

Dan

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au
[mailto:owner-melbwireless at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of
darrend at ndpgroup.com.au
Sent: Saturday, 14 February 2004 20:32
To: melbwireless at wireless.org.au
Subject: RE: [MLB-WIRELESS] Major Node Working Group


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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