[IMC-Tech] Future of Chambana.net Meeting Minutes (11/22/05):

[Sascha Meinrath]

NEXT MEETING:  Thursday, December 1, 2005 -- 7pm @ IMC.

Future of Chambana.net Meeting Minutes (11/22/05):

Present: Bob I. (Print), Andrew R. (Acorn), Sascha M. (notes; Acorn), Brandon B. 
(OJC), Zach M., David G. (Acorn), Tom W. (Acorn), Chris (who's really not 
here... really), Jay E. (WEFT), Jay S.

Bob: uses Unix, has minimal website admin skills; interested in supporting IMC 
Open Publishing system and moving system to the IMC.

Andrew: with CITES; does Unix system administration and documentation; with 
Acorn & multimedia services project.

Tom: involved with CUWiN and Acorn; also admins websites that are already on the 
server.

Sascha: with everything... ;) -- extremely interested in building a partnership 
with numerous organizations to "take things to the next level."  This is very 
opportune for current project that Acorn is working on.

Jay: with WEFT -- interested in ensuring continuity of services.

Dave: does system admin; interested in upgrading our software/applications.

Brandon: with OJC -- interested in support and how to take care of the user 
community.  OJC is focused on how to share tech support for a larger network. 
Example -- Dreamhost.com -- as a way to create a user community.

Chambana.net Overview (Zach):  Started server back before IMC existed.  Around 
2000 opened up server to local community use.  IMC got involved to help make the 
project sustainable (the Chambana.net project) -- comes with no service 
guarantee and proration only happens after 48hrs downtime.  Catered to people 
who already had some Unix knowledge.  Is a community organization that is 
sliding scale pricing -- as more and more people have begun using services, 
non-experts have become more of the user base.  This non-expert user base is 
proving difficult to sustain with a single contact point (Zach).  Zach has plans 
for major improvements -- but not the time to implement.

IMC got involved to help maintain the vision for the system (to make it 
self-sustainable from end-users).  Always was an idea that there would be an 
active synergy among various organizations who would sustain and build the 
infrastructure.  Currently, there is roughly $2300 (from Acorn Active Media 
Foundation) and $5000 (earmarked for equipment) in the Chambana.net pool.  Zach, 
as main admin (and former owner of the equipment) still has personal stuff on 
the server and is

Q&A:

Q: What are the future directions for the project?  Back to expert users or more 
non-expert users and expanded user base?
A: With a synergistic project (among IMC/Acorn/OJC) we could build a community 
webhosting working group -- but still under IMC umbrella.  Could we sustain a 
system admin from community of users?

Q: What interests do OJC/Acorn have for taking over system admin?
A: Sascha -- Acorn's interested in working with folks -- being helpful as best 
it can.  Tom -- Acorn might help with user support/building a more organized 
structure for administration; would be nice to have a collective of system 
admins who can work on mundane tasks (e.g., setting up e-mail accounts, web 
sites, etc.).  Andrew -- defined roles and responsibilities and ticketing 
system.  Zach -- like "Track" ticketing system.

Q: What is Acorn?
A:

Plan of Action:

1. Move the server to the IMC (Zach would stop paying for bandwidth).
2. Hold regularly scheduled meetings of a working group.
3. Spin off support and billing elements of the project.
4. Begin delegation of roles/responsibilities.

Current Equipment:

1. One server (IMC).
2. UPS (CUWiN).
3. Backup UPS (not sure of owner).
4. Additional backup server (Zach or IMC).
5. Remote access power bar (Zach).
6. KVM (not sure of owner).

Could buy equipment if needed.  Currently all fits on a single wire rack. 
Currently coming into the system is (T-1, ADSL, cable modem are all available). 
   T-1 is $500/month but is 1.5MB symmetric (slowdowns have been because of 
hardware, not because of line -- speakeasy has been fantastic).  Other option is 
to colo service.  Synergies include (IMC, OJC, WRFU, WEFT, other tenants etc.) 
-- we could become a colo (of sorts).

OJC uses Volo service which works well and is 4MB symmetric -- but is 
"flexibit", which means that only have certain amount of throughput before 
bandwidth is curtailed.  Can get 2 T-1s bonded for $1000/month.

Zach has crazy idea to use BGP and multihoming & kung-fu to use non-cooperating 
providers to gain bandwidth.

General agreement to move the server to the IMC.
We need to bill people (need to get someone to work with Zach to create user 
billing lists).
We need to get use statistics on how much bandwidth we're actually using (and 
make a list of vital projects).

Action Items:

Zach could spec projects to people -- Zach will set up track to work on things 
(Brandon, Zach, David, Sascha, Tom, Andrew all volunteer to be added to track).

Brandon what can OJC supply?  Can OJC be the initial contact point -- what would 
OJC be able to do?

Andrew & Zach will start work on collecting information on users for billing.

New system administrator volunteers include David & Tom & Ken U.

We need to start working on how to make the move.  Repopulate IMC-Tech and bring 
a proposal to Steering -- we need to make sure to maintain separation between 
server infrastructure and end-user machine administration (two different roles).

We can focus next meeting (on 12/01/05 at 7pm) on proposals for Steering.

OJC looked at cooling costs for their server room.  AC people said that it would 
cost a bazillion dollars.  The Postmaster lookout is another AC option.  Brandon 
can bring these costs to the next meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

--Sascha

-- 
Sascha Meinrath
Policy Analyst    *  Project Coordinator  *  President
Free Press       *** CU Wireless Network *** Acorn Active Media
www.freepress.net *  www.cuwireless.net   *  www.acornactivemedia.com