[MLB-WIRELESS] MW Services/Content was (Re: World of Warcraft anyone?)

[Russell Smith]

Hi,

Given Victors provoking discussion in point 2, I thought I'd write with
some thoughts about things I'll hopefully be able to work on when I get
a node up or before if I can gain the right access.

1. DNS - Currently there is no network wide DNS server that allows you
to easily put http://www.kct/ and get a website.  I'd like that to
change and I'll be working to see if I can change it.  This includes
reverse DNS.  IP 10.10.41.8, what nodes does that belong too?  a nicely
labelled PTR record would give you kct.melbourne.wireless.org.au.

2. Service listings.  Currently in the node database you can put up
services.  There is no way to easily find them.  GUR (melp_ap) has the
best services listing I've found in my short time.  I don't know if it's
updated regularly with new nodes or not but it's something.  Integration
between a service listing, DNS and checking to ensure services are
active would be great.  It will be much easier when all game servers in
the node db are automatically listed in the right place with extra work
or manually searching.  The same goes for FTP and WWW services.

3. Node up-to-date checks.  When a node says it's operational and
connected to the network, we don't really know that.  I've seen at least
2 recent incidents saying node XXX really isn't alive anymore or down. 
For people to be able to seriously look at whether there are active
nodes in their area, they need up to date information about what nodes
are really running.  People generally don't update node information if
they take their node down when they become disinterested.

4. It is my understanding that Melbourne wireless does peer into some
networks that give you content not directly on the network.  eg There
will soon be a link into the Melbourne PC User group servers which has a
large amount of content.  We need to be able to advertise that content
easily to members of Melbourne Wireless so they know it's available on
the network.  So services listings for services available from the
network, but not On-net as such.  The original dream of providing a free
data network by MW's founders may be reduced given the commodity price
of the Internet but there is still great value in the gaming network,
file mirrors and other content.  Being a linux buff, getting updates/iso
much faster than through my ADSL is great.  Let alone those poor soles
who can't get ADSL.  I think the content is growing, people just need to
know about it.

<begin pie in the sky thoughts>
5. It may be possible to present some internal content to the Internet
in the future.  eg my http://www.kct/ is available on the internet as
http://www.kct.melbourne.wireless.org.au/  now that would be cool.

6. Network search.  I have no idea about search, but being able to
google Melbourne Wireless WAN would be very exciting!  I have no idea
how to achieve this at the moment.  I'm also sure non-pie in the sky
projects will keep me busy enough.
 </end pie in the sky thoughts>

All that said, my short time being involved in MW still leaves me with
the question of whether the original reason for setting up MW is still
valid.  There are a number of wireless/radio buffs who love playing with
equipment and nodes.  There are a couple of content people who want
stuff on the network.  And providing access to the masses will probably
cripple the network.  So not enough people means no content and it's
difficult to connect.  Too many people means the infrastructure will not
cope with "leeching" or other heavy usage.  I know the University
students in my area would use the network to its maximum potential if
given the opportunity.  So I then am unsure about the current mission
statement and whether it's still the goal.  What access are we giving,
what are we trying to provide?

For me, the access to peer content like linux updates/iso's is a key
draw card.  I don't want to spend $100+ per month on Internet just for
those files.  Sure the radio stuff is fun, but I don't see myself as a
continual fiddler in that field.  I'm a server/linux guy and they ain't
really doing to change.   Playing with the server based services we
provide is much more fun for me.  And thats the area I hope I can
contribute in.

I'd also say I have big dreams for myself given what I've listed above. 
We will see if I can deliver on what I've mentioned and help always
appreciated if people think the ideas are good.  I hope I can start to
as I think it will make a difference.  We will see...

Regards

Russell



Victor wrote:
> Hi Jason,
>
> *[snip]
>
> 2nd thing*: My internet is graciously (and temporarily) donated by a
> kindly gentleman running a few nodes down in the Geelong Region, he
> has his own seperate access portal that you can pay for internet time
> to access the net, however I think it's only for connections to that
> point.
>
> But for the greater part of it all, everyone usually runs their own
> internet account. I will be getting my net connected soon but I've
> just moved in and concentrating on the more critical aspect of things
> IE: Fixing fence up and the general internals of the house etc.  I
> think the long run aim is to provide a massively connected community
> network anyone can use for free if there are limited internet services
> available on it that is another matter entirely though.
>
> Although I wouldn't mind trying to build an internal agregation type
> system to download from the free resources accessible from the various
> home-users dsl services. IE: Node Servers / EFtel Servers / Bigpond
> Servers etc. Means someone who got suckered into the 250MB plans from
> an ISP with limited downloads hooks into the MW Network and wants that
> large 2GB Distro of Linux or some Game Patch files, just put in what
> they want and it's downloaded on a remote service where they can then
> transfer it to themselves locally afterwards... Don't know how
> FEASIBLE it is, but it'd be nice. :)
> I plan to setup a bit of a mirror of node files (/or let people
> download from node fileserver/) and plan to setup at least a 2TB
> server here at home. I'm getting a free server a mate no longer runs
> and just need to drop some larger HDDs into it (has 120GB atm).
>
> On the MW website some people have listed as running Game Servers,
> don't know how "active" they are though, but I am hoping to get some
> internal gaming happening with other MW members.
>
> I believe they just recently held a meeting, unless I have my dates
> mixed up and it's still to come.
>
> Have a quick look at this: Why I Founded Melbourne Wireless
> <http://www.crc.id.au/why-i-founded-melbourne-wireless/> from the
> founder of MW.
>
> On Sun, Mar 22, 2009 at 1:29 PM, JAson <jfbraddy at bigpond.com
> <mailto:jfbraddy at bigpond.com>> wrote:
>
>     HI all
>
>     Just wondering how and if the internet is provided on this
>     network. Does it go through just one node or does everybody just
>     use their own personal account. The reason I ask comes down I’m
>     sure to the age old question of why, apart from because we can. It
>     seems that net access and a whole heap of other services are just
>     the beginning of what could and possibly is being offered on MW. I
>     am interested in joining as I have a strong passion for community
>     networking. Also just wondering when the next meeting is, would
>     love to come and chat.
>
>     Jason
>
>