Open Source Network

Cool, it's official. I'm starting a LUG. I like that name. I'm based in Rhodesfield in case anyone missed that. If you are willing to go halves with me we can try and connect. Whether it be via cables, wireless, whatever. I'll get one of those kits in the next month or two and share WUG across the network (if they let me). I'll also try and get at least local internet access running across the LUG, though it will be limited to begin with and probably only via a proxy.

Please if there are any legal issues with this please tell me know. I'm basically lazy at heart, so I don't want to do all this manual labour only to have Telkom come and dig it up again.

Grant I like your intentions but just understand the bigger picture.
so you decide you will use an IP range of 192.168.1.0/24 and so do 5 other like minded people. how do you route a packet between those 5 networks?

The reason why the internet is as big as it is and as usable as it is, is because of structure and having guidelines. I believe that is what WUGs are for.

the Internet is "one offical network" it does consist of many other networks but so do WUG. see http://www.wug.za.net/currentwugs.php they just not joined YET... as again i stress, what will happen to the structure of the network when all these smaller networks join to form one big network.
Well I know that when the WUGs join there will be no issues because the planning has allowed for all the WUGs to connect together.
 
Hi Guys ,

SciFi -->>> WiFi ( it's all the same to me boss )

Grant -- there is a problem

As I understand -- soon as you cross a "boundary" you need an ECNS licence

You have now become a "Network-Installer"

Not a problem you can get one from ICASA for about R10,000

This is a problem for me as there is no way I can afford that. Does anyone who has one already want to get involved?

You will HAVE to do this on an organised basis -- ie follow the same model as TELKOM / every other WAN Telco installer. ie HUB & SPOKE --> Home to JUNCTION BOX --> to BackHaul ( Your server room )

Where the difference is -- yours will be an "Opt-In" model with each person contributing their "pound-of-flesh" ie each person is going to pay for their OWN LOCAL LOOP. Which they will OWN themselves. = NO ongoing rent.

Yes this sounds more like what I had in mind. :)

Start off small with a local community / gated community -- grow from there
WHO knows you may end up giving NEOTottie and TELScum a run for their money.

NO reason WHY this model will not work if the people are prepared to put in the time effort and sweat

Get an ECS licence at the same time -- NOW there is NO problem with recovering costs ( This IS DIFFERENT to Wireless where you have SPECTRUM Allocation problems )

-- OR --

get some seed capital from some place like the SHUTTLEWORTH FOUNDATION.


the SCIENTIFIC one

Thanks MidnightWizard, glad to see some one making useful suggestions.
 
Ok, since you know the answer, tell me what a client would add to a network besides traffic

FYI - I bother posting because i can, and i network because i like to

Whatever you currently believe you add to the internet. The same question could be applied to any user on any network.
 
Grant I like your intentions but just understand the bigger picture.
so you decide you will use an IP range of 192.168.1.0/24 and so do 5 other like minded people. how do you route a packet between those 5 networks?

Surely that's what routers and gateways are for?
 
Network Conflict

yes to route the packets but you cant route a 192.168.0.x packet to another network that is also 192.168.0.x

Because they are all on the same subnet -- ie you would use a switch

But you can't because the "owners" of these subnets are all different

ie you have a CONFLICT :eek:


MW
 
yes to route the packets but you cant route a 192.168.0.x packet to another network that is also 192.168.0.x

I don't see why this is a problem, that is the standard range for most routers. Each router that connects to the larger network could be assigned a public IP address, services hosted in the smaller networks could be made available via port forwarding. Clients could also VPN into smaller networks via the larger one if need be.
 
BTW I've decided to rename LUG and call it OpenWAN instead, as this name better describes what I'm getting at.
 
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PLANNING

Agreed, but it does work(sort of) now. Until we can get everyone an assigned IP, what would you suggest we do MW?

I cannot give you a technical solution.

I think that it is a product of planning -- gotta get the initial planning worked out properly FIRST -- otherwise TELKOM 2 -- and that is NOT what you want.

MW
 
I think that it is a product of planning -- gotta get the initial planning worked out properly FIRST -- otherwise TELKOM 2 -- and that is NOT what you want.


Agreed. That is why I started this topic after all. Anyone else got any ideas?
 
I have been following this thread for quite some time, for similar reasons are the OP, but also picked up a lot of "goodies" along the way.

I have a question specific to WUG.

What "limits" / "rules" are in place to stop someone from setting up a wireless link from their house, to their office, to a client's office - all for business purposes. I'm asking this, causing I'm looking for a way to run backups for 2 clients to my house. The problem is, one is in Alberton, and another in Senderwood, and I can't find a current wireless provider that covers both places. I only want to connect the 3 LAN's, in order to run a backup server of each office to the other office. No internet.

BUT, I don't want other people on the WUG to have access to those 3 locations. So, my question comes to this, how exactly do you implement security, and how to you block other people on the WUG to use your internet bandwidth? I'm asking more in the technical side, i.e. do you run separate IP subnets / networks, do you run VPN's, etc?
 
WUG will not allow commercial usage - even for no fees.
I have been a member for a while now, and need a similar function - but cannot (and will not) use WUG for that.

Rules is rules :D


As for the second point - security is the same as for the internet. Firewalls.
 
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