[MLB-WIRELESS] DNS......READ THIS!

[Dan Flett]

>It's there now.
>It works now.
>How about when there's something better people can switch to that.

I agree. Ahh what the hell, let's use the mwnode.com system.  I like the 
fact that it is integrated with Internet DNS, and that it is quick and easy. 
  However I don't like that it is unable to delegate authority for the node 
domain names to the node owners.  It is probably possible to build this 
capability into the mwnode.com system.  DNS works well because it is a 
distributed database - the owners of each level of domain name take care of 
their own business and delegate authority for the sub-names to their owners. 
  Our DNS system should do this.

>I'm sorry for being blunt but i've been going over this for around 3 years
>now.  That's 3 years to finally get a very simple yet effective DNS setup
>that for the majority of people requires NO configuration whatsoever, it
>already works for them right this very second.

And doesn't require node-owners to run their own DNS server.  This is a good 
idea.  But it should also allow for node-owners who do want to run their own 
DNS.

I think the technical method chosen with mwnode.com is in-principle a good 
one.  But it's very hard to get everyone to agree on the actual naming 
convention.  I have a feeling that a lot of people feel that they weren't 
consulted on the mwnode name so they have chosen to ignore the system behind 
it.  At this point it's not too late to change the name, if thats what 
people want.  Perhaps we could put up a few different naming conventions and 
have a vote on the website.  Of course, the technical method chosen here 
means the name has to be Internet-compatible - i.e. be a name under an 
Internet DNS Top Level Domain such as mwnode.com, mwnode.org, mwnode.net, 
mwnode.com.au, etc...

I'd suggest we call for nominations for names - and we might end up with a 
huge list.  If we do we could whittle the list down with a preliminary round 
of voting.  The top four most popular names could then be subjected to 
another vote, and the winner of this vote be the naming convention we use.

Once all interested parties have had their input and everyone voted, the 
mwnode.com-based system will feel a lot more legitimised in most peoples 
minds - and be a lot more likely to be widely accepted.

Also, can we allow for Internet domain names to resolve to Melbourne 
Wireless IP addesses?  For instance, if the www.melbournewireless.org.au 
server was to be directly connected to the Melbourne Wireless network, with 
it's own MW network IP address - hypothetically 10.10.255.19 - could we set 
up our MWnet DNS servers to resolve www.melbournewireless.org.au to 
10.10.255.19 instead of it's Internet IP of 202.161.127.82?  If any other 
Melbourne-based organisation was to connect their Internet webserver 
directly to the MWnet, could we do the same for them?

Ultimately, we need to realise that in future the attractive part of the 
network will be the services and content it can offer.  So we will need a 
system that uses meaningful names for these things.  A purely "node name" 
based system will seem a bit too techno-geeky.  Joe Bloggs isn't going to 
connect to the network because he's heard about the great "xyz.mwnode.com" 
site.  If we want to attract people interested in providing *real* content 
on the network, as opposed to us folks who like to do webpages about our 
nodes, we need to allow people to give their websites cool, non-geeky DNS 
names.  I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself here.

>As for joint DNS systems with other groups around the country, there has
>already been political bickering and to be honest I can't see it happening
>for a very long time if ever.

Actually, I don't really see a need for an Australia-wide or worldwide 
standardised community wireless network DNS system.  We are all separate 
networks anyway.  If we were to do Internet tunnels to other networks, we 
can just use their DNS systems.  The Internet needs a standardised DNS 
convention because it is one gigantic network.  There doesn't seem to be 
much inter-city coordination of community wireless networks worldwide - on a 
technical or political level, mainly because there isn't much need for it.   
A lot of networks in the US and Europe are little more than community-minded 
wireless ISPs anyway.  So they just use the regular Internet DNS system.  
There are a lot of different technical and organisational approaches to 
building free wireless networks - at this point in time there is yet to 
emerge a method that works best in most cases.  The evolution of these 
networks worldwide is still very much its infancy.  So don't expect a 
coordinated Australian or international system anytime soon.

Dan

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John McClumpha" <john at incitegraphics.com.au>
>To: <sneeze at alphalink.com.au>
>Cc: <melbwireless at wireless.org.au>
>Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 9:41 PM
>Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] DNS......READ THIS!
>
>
>
> > Please - keep using your DNS - but I can't say I'm fully convinced that
> > this is the best system
>
>
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