[HECnet] HecNET via 3G Dongle

[hvlems at zonnet.nl]

And note that in any local ncp database nodenames are unique. 
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-----Original Message-----
From: Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se>
Sender: owner-hecnet at Update.UU.SE
Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:52:52 
To: <hecnet at Update.UU.SE>
Reply-To: hecnet at Update.UU.SESubject: Re: [HECnet] HecNET via 3G Dongle

On 2011-09-11 22:15, Mark Wickens wrote:
On 11/09/11 20:52, Johnny Billquist wrote:
On 2011-09-11 21.45, Mark Wickens wrote:
Guys,

Looking to tap into your collective knowledge.

I'd like to set up a 3G dongle for the DEC Legacy event.

The plan will be to add my machine as an area router then other
participants machines into that area.

Steve Davidson has pointed out that there are decnet numbers allocated
for experimental purposes.

I think I understand how to setup my 3G dongle to connect to the
internet via an ubuntu machine. I am happy setting up a DHCP and DNS
server on the same machine. The bit I don't understand is how I would
fit the hecnet bridge into this network. Normally on my DSL router I
have a port redirection rule setup on port 4711 to point to a Debian
based box on my LAN.

How would I achieve the same effect on a linux box? If I run the bridge
on the same box, does this negate the need for a rule?

If all this works, is there a restriction of one decnet area per lan
segment? Can I run two areas on my side of the bridge?

Thanks for the help, Mark

In general, if/when you have a setup like that, it's the same as if
you connect your computer directly to the internet. So, your Linux box
is at the same location your DSL router is. So, there are no rules to
setup to pass a packet through the router. The reason for the rule is
that your DSL router acts as a firewall (and possibly NAT), which is
what you need to circumvent for the bridge. No firewall/NAT box in
between means no need to punch a hole through it.

So you should be able to run the bridge directly on that box, and it
should work. All however, also depends on what your mobile operator
might be doing...

Area number for experimental is probably not going to help you,
though. You already have an area. Adding more nodes to it is hardly
any different than having a new area setup, except that if you setup a
new area, you will need an area router for it. I don't really see much
point in the "experimental" area we have reserved, but since we have
plenty of areas anyway, there is no harm in it. Anyone using that area
can expect things to not work though, as someone else might also be
using the same area, and conflict/confusion might follow.

As for having several different areas on the same lan, no problem.

Johnny

Hi Johnny,

Thanks for clarifying that. I'll need to supply a node allocation to
participants before the event, and as I am sending out an email shortly
I'd like to provide the most accurate picture of what we can do - and
have an answer when people ask. I'll be taking my AlphaServer 1000A
(nodename SLAVE) which is acting as an area router for area 4, so I can
just plug that in and it will work. Is it best then to give you some new
node names before the event for area 4, depending on how many people
want to participate?

Just to clarify: there is no real need to provide nodenames. DECnet 
don't have a concept of a centralized nodename database. I just try to 
keep one around for our own convenience. For an event like this, just 
node numbers needs to be organized. People participating can then define 
their own nodename database to their hearts content. Every machine on a 
DECnet can have their own nodename database for the network, which don't 
have to match anything anyone else have anyway.

If you want to provide some sort of service in this area, what you could 
do is take their requests, and set those up on a machine you have there, 
and then tell them to copy the nodename database from you to have them 
have some kind of unified, consistent view. On that machine you can also 
have the nodenames setup for the rest of HECnet, so that they get those 
too...

And if there are name conflicts, you can decide how you want to handle 
it. Probably, in most cases, people there will be less interested in 
random nodes on HECnet than their fellow participants in the event, so 
you might want to allow them to grab "used" names anyway.

So, bring SLAVE:: to the event, and use that as a central source for 
nodenames for participants at the event. Afterwards you can re-copy the 
nodename database from MIM:: to get you back to the "normal" life.

And you can let them use any nodenumber you want on area 4, except the 
one you have SLAVE:: have, I guess. :-)

	Johnny

-- 
Johnny Billquist                                   || "I'm on a bus
                                                                    ||   on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt at softjar.se                         ||   Reading murder books
pdp is alive!                                         ||   tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol