[FADCA] FADCA SSIDs

[Chuck Hast]

On 12/6/05, Aa4mi at aol.com <Aa4mi at aol.com> wrote:
> Hi FADCA members,
>
> Many, many thanks for your definitive answers regarding SSIDs.  I  really
> appreciate your "in-depth" explanations.  Be assured that I have  already saved
> the text so that I can refer to it often.
>
> I feel that the capability to have less than, at least 30 SSIDs, is an
> inherent shortcoming of software development.  Yes, I know about aliases  etc. but
> even these limit our ability for a truly uniform functional  identity.  This
> is not in any way a criticism of the current state of the  packet.  But it is
> an observation of how the versatility of a seamless,  definitive
> multi-network/multi-client system has evolved over the years.   The many complexities we now
> encounter were never even conceived during the  "incubation thinking" of the
> original packet system development.

When they did the AX-25 spec, there was only one byte assigned for the
SSID (probably thought that was more than anyone would need) and since
the call made for a quite long address anyhow they did not want to add any-
more overhead than was already there.

>
> I am however absolutely positive that these shortcomings will be and are
> being solved daily by the efforts of many forward thinking individuals.  I
> salute you!
>
> I see one glimmer of hope.  The incorporation of LINUX will provide a  great
> scope and freedom of developing software, as and when needed.  This  freedom
> will unleash a vast amount of fast concept-to-implementation software  unheard
> of in the restrictive world of "corporate licensing software".  It  has the
> remarkable capacity to respond to the "I want it NOW" thinking of  current
> developers.
>
There are many reasons for moving the network switches/routers to Linux,
large number of facilities supported, source is open and available, more than
one network protocol available for use. the list goes on and on.

> But also remember that with this freedom comes the responsibility to avoid
> implementation of concepts/software that hold us hostage to a control by a
> single individual or group. My 35 years as a software/hardware systems developer
> have taught me, and should you, that we must be constantly vigilant to avoid
> these "esoteric traps".
>
Network gods... Yes that is one thing that we want to avoid.  Now with some
quit interesting digital applications on the horizon is the time to get the
network back up into good shape and start working on building high speed
links for bringing things like digital voice and video into our network.

> Many thanks again for your thoroughly helpful words and I can see one of  the
> benefits of asking "I have a simple question" is that we are all, both
> technical and non-technical FADCA members, constantly learning.
>
We aim to please and are pleased to aim.... Enjoy it and hope we see a
lot more of your questions, also hope we can count on you for your system
developement help too, we are going to need it.

--
Chuck Hast
To paraphrase my flight instructor;
"the only dumb question is the one you DID NOT ask resulting in my going
out and having to identify your bits and pieces in the midst of torn
and twisted metal."