Manuel Mejia Jr
- 2001.08.10
The following text was posted by the Florida freenet that I use
to access the Internet. The ISP underwent upgrades in early May
2001. There have been problems with it since. The details behind
those problems were quite fascinating.
When SCFN was
set up in 1996, it used two Xyplex terminal servers to connect
dial-in users to the SCFN server. At that time, they were cutting
edge. And Abraham Lincoln was president, and gas cost 25 cents a
gallon. Things have changed since then. When we had to replace all
of our original IP addresses with new ones, we tried to "get into"
the two Xyplex terminal servers to assign them new addresses. They
refused to communicate with us. No matter what we did, they
retained their old addresses.
We were able to scrape up three Annex terminal
servers. They were newer than the Xyplex, dating from maybe the
Truman administration. We were able to get one of them working in
Hillsborough County. The second one was as obstinate as the
Xyplexes. The third one is currently plugged into our network
waiting on the one guy we've found who can program these things.
When he does his work, we'll need to take the terminal server over
to Pinellas, swap it in for the Xyplex, and take a shot at
reprogramming the Pinellas router. If that works, dial-in service
may resume in Pinellas County.
It sounds, though, as though dial-in is not
working all that well in Hillsborough County. It may be that the
modems are also failing because of old age or that they just don't
communicate with an Annex as well as they did with the Xyplex. Or
the Annex may have more trouble getting a log-in prompt from the
SCFN server, so it takes longer for that prompt to get back to the
user.
Frankly, we don't think the dial in service will
ever return to the "way it was". To do that, we'd need to buy a new
modem bank (or two of them), two new terminal servers (preferably
from Chase), and upgrade the IOS in the Pinellas router. We're
talking several thousand dollars for all that, and the Free-Net's
income since January has been less than $500. That doesn't even
cover our UNIX person's retainer. We will keep plugging away at
getting these replacement parts in and operating, but it will
continue to be a slow, painful process.
-- Suncoast
Free-Net
Since this was posted in early July, the Pinellas servers were put
back into operation. The Freenet does not have the same operating
behavior that it had in April 2001, but it works.
The key to any freenet's success is the volunteers who donate
their free time. This time is spent maintaining the system and
scrounging far afield for technical experts and parts. One should
never negatively critique anyone with the dedication to keep
something as complex as a freenet in working order. It is very hard
work and seldom gets anyone any credit.
Kudos to those men and women who oversee the various freenets
around the US and the world. It is a valuable service.
