[FADCA] Fpacnode (E. Central Florida Report)

Fri Sep 28 07:44:43 EDT 2007

REPORT on network sites in E. Central Florida.

Melbourne  LINUX/FPAC
Orlando      LINUX/FPAC
DeLand     LINUX/FPAC
DAB (ROSE)
STA (ROSE)
Orange Park  LINUX/FPAC

Also - on the Orlando LAN the W4MCO-10 Telpac Gateway located at the
Orange County EOC is running Linux/FPAC but is not configured as a
neighbor node.

There are two major advantages of LINUX/FPAC over the other choices we
have (DOS FPAC or ROSE.)  (1) Internet access to facilitate sysop
being able to make configuration changes and upgrades, and (2) the
co-location of WL2K Telpac Gateway to get users to the PMBO telnet
servers.

I believe we put the first FPAC on line in E. Central Florida in
October 2006 (or was it 2005 - my how time flies when having fun!)
This is the Orlando site at my home.  Since then we have established
FPAC sites at Melbourne, DeLand, and Orange Park.

There are working 1200b user LANS at all sites and a 9.6kb User LAN at
DeLand.  All these FPAC sites are configured for UHF 9.6kb User LANs
to be added as soon as there are UHF users requesting that.  All FPAC
sites have co-located WL2K Telpac gateways.  From Orlando through to
OPK the backbones are all 9.6kb UHF.  Until the Orlando switch is
moved to a more favorable location the link from Orlando to Melbourne
will be via the internet.  (All hardware for 9.6kb backbone to Orlando
is in place at Melbourne.)

The FPAC problems indicated by KD4YAL with upgrading Kernels and FPAC,
while not trivial, do not adversely affect the existing E. Central
Florida network above.  From a Linux/FPAC perspective the Melbourne,
Orlando, DeLand, and OPK sites are nominally stable -  but only
because we have not taken them to all the various new levels of
Linux/FPAC because of the upgrading problems.  However, because we do
have mix/match levels the White Pages routing from Orlando THRU DeLand
to DAB does not work.  WP routing works from Orlando to DeLand and
from DeLand to DAB on up the network but not when originated at
Orlando!  Manual routing throughout the network has not been affected.

This does not mean that all is perfect on this E Central Florida
network - it is certainly in test phase and is a work in progress!
The Melbourne site has a problem related to stability of sysop
internet access by sysops outside the Melbourne area which is not
related to Linux/FPAC. The site can still be used by RF users who can
get to the Telpac node via the internet connection.  However the
internet link between Melbourne and Orlando is not functioning because
of this.

The Orlando site has a non-Linux./FPAC -related computer hardware
problem that is only annoying.  This computer could not be moved to a
remote site because of that - but since I'm here at the switch not a
problem.  We will have a different computer on line once these
upgrades are stable.  The DeLand site has been operational since
January 2nd with only a single problem related to FPAC/Linux - It is
on wireless to obtain internet connection from the 6th floor below and
if that Wi-Fi feed goes down the Linux version cannot re-connect w/o a
computer reboot.  That problem will be solved by running a CAT5
Ethernet cable in October. It is also likely to be solved by
Linux/FPAC upgrades for those sites where Wi-fi is the only way to go.

The Orange park site has experienced some non-Linux/FPAC- related
intermittent internet access problems due to the router being used by
the hospital there.  This part has been stable for over a month now so
may be behind us.  That site has recently experienced some
TNC/hardware problems not related to Linux/FPAC.  No Linux/FPAC
problems have been reported recently.

Until about 40 days ago we actually had links from Melbourne through
to Orange Park - but have had to settle for Orlando through to Orange
Park until the internet link at Melbourne is solved.

The two ROSE sites are extremely stable - but of course do not have
internet connection and cannot support a co-located WL2K Telpac node.

We do not yet have internet access available at the DAB site so
change-over to Linux/FPAC is moot until we can get that established.
That said, we will not be changing that site over from ROSE to
Linux/FPAC until the upgrades are deemed stable.  The STA site is out
in the boonies and there is no internet available near that site at
the present time.

Here is why the problems with upgrading LINUX/FPAC is not adversely
affecting this part of the network - Upgrading continues using K4GBB's
test sites and a 2nd Orlando computer here on my computer LAN.  By
using these sites for evaluating upgrades the active sites above are
not adversely affected.  We won't be upgrading any of our sites or
converting any of our sites until LINUX/FPAC stability is assured.

All this upgrading of Linux/FPAC in E. Central Florida is being driven
by Charles Schuman K4GBB who is in contact with other Linux/FPAC
developers.  I have all the confidence it this process - it may just
take a little time.

All this E-Central Florida network has been a team effort (I'm a
hardware person not a Linux person!)  N3PPC and I have been directly
involved in all these sites for getting hardware ready and installed.
W5SMM and W4RP in Melbourne, N4WQK in DAB, KF4MX in STA, and WD4SEN in
OPK have been local movers and shakers to keep sites warm.  N2KIQ
manages the W4MCO-10 Telpac node, and recently N4GMU in Deland has
been pitching in with the three sites here in
Volusia County

73,
bud N0IA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kd4yal at tampabay.rr.com>
To: <k4gbb1 at earthlink.net>
Cc: <fadca at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:54
Subject: [FADCA] Fpacnode

All,

Due to the recent problems with Fpac I have decided to drop the
software from
my system. I have spent over a month now trying to make this software
stable
and it just not happening. From version 3.27.3-9 and can not be
reliable under 2.6
Linux kernel as of yet.

All of the other services on my node are rock solid and can provide a
reliable service and benefit to others. I would like to maintain my
AXIP links to W4MIN, N4PLZ and K4GBB via my Linuxnet node which does
provide a reliable service to the Amprnet and Flexnet networks
worldwide.

It would seem to be in the best interest of our community to re-think
how to provide reliable services to the end users. After working with
Fpac for a year I don’t see were it is able to provide a reliable
service or any benefit over other software. The Fpac software seem to
still be in alpha stage of maturity and need a lot work if it’s to be
a reliable service and benefit to others.

This is of course is my own option and I am not trying to bash Fpac
but I am a network engineer of 12 year working with computer everyday.

I would really like to hear the input of other so your input is
welcomed...

Best regards, Jerry DeLong, KD4YAL

_______________________________________________
FADCA mailing list
FADCA at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/fadca

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.32/1032 - Release Date:
9/26/2007 8:20 PM