Connectivity Providers Database

From: njage@moeng2.morgan.edu (E. J. Njage) To: kenya-net@ftp.com (kenya-net) CC: kci-net@sml1.ecs.umass.edu (kci-net), steve.fromm, ccml@hippo.ru.ac.za (Mike Lawrie), randy@rain.psg.com (Randy Bush) Date: Thu, 10 Dec 92 20:20:20 EST INTERNET LINK PROJECT--PROGRESS REPORT 12/10/92 =============================================== ACTION ITEMS DATE ACHIEVED [PROJECTED]* 1. Proposal accepted by KaACT membership __12/2/92_____ The proposal was accepted by a unanimous vote by KaACT. There is very strong support for this project among those who have been following its progress closely: They realize the tremendous benefits achievable. 2. Proposal accepted by kenya-net membership __[12/11/92]*_ So far the voting that I have seen on kenya-net has all been positive. We have a kenya-net membership of over 150. I would have hoped to see more votes by today. Please take the time to express your opinion about this matter. We expect that the majority of those who vote will vote yes. We are concerned about those who do not vote. It is not clear yet what we should do if all those who vote approve the proposal but not enough people vote to be representative of the 150 members. We will be left wondering: Do those who didn't vote tacitly agree with the proposal but didn't think their vote was necessary? Or did they think that the proposal was a bad idea and would not get off the ground? Or what? 3. Machines identified ___12/8/92____ The hardware and software configuration for the link has been established. At the US end Karanja Gakio's 486 will run UUPC software that Karanja will obtain for a small licensing fee. At the Nairobi end Shem Ochoudho has a UN*X machine at his ICS office. The necessary UUCP software comes standard with UN*X so this machine already has the software. It simply has to be configured. Shems machine has a Telebit Trailblazer modem installed. These modems have been identified as the best available to handle the type of interference problems that we expect from international phone lines to Kenya. At the US end Ayisi Makatiani has offered the use of his Telebit modem to be installed in Karanja's machine. 4. Machines transported to appropriate cites _[12/15/92]*__ Shems machine is already installed in Nairobi. Karanja's 486 is on order and expected to arrive in a week. 5. Sufficient funds received from subscriptions to _[12/15/92]*__ purchase software licences The fee for the software is not expected to exceed $50.00. Thus with four paid up members, we can pay for the software. Since I and at least three other members I know plan to submit their fees immediately after the proposal is approved by kenya-net, I can say, with confidence, that we will be able to purchase the software on this date. Actually,the fee for the software can be paid later. Shareware allows you to copy programs to try out. If you decide to keep it them you pay a small licensing fee. Since we will only be trying it out at first, we can pay the fee a little later. So software is actually available today. 6. Software purchased __[12/15/92]*_ See item [5] above. 7. Software installed on US-based machine __[12/18/92]*_ We'll give Karanja a few days to get his new machine out of the box and install the software. To test the configuration, Njage will transport his 286 and modem to Karanja's house. Software will be loaded on the 286 and the communication programs will be tested and configured with the 286 taking the place of the Nairobi machine for testing purposes to avoid long-distance charges. 8. Software installed on Kenya-based machine _[1/5/93]*____ Actually all the software needed is already installed in Shems machine at ICS. This is the date by which the necessary configuration will be set on the two machines to allow them to communicate. It is planned that Karanja's machine will call Shem's machine and at the same time Karanja will call Shem on a separate voice line. The two will walk through the set up process making the necessary adjustments to the software to optimize the communication link. 9. Sufficient funds received from subscriptions to __[12/15/92]__ obtain telephone accounts at both ends Ayisi Makatiani has generously offered to help with the telephone expenses for the initial testing phase of the project. A second telephone line will be installed at Karanja's house. This will allow the necessary experimentation to optimize the software setup. With a commitment from the kenya-net and kaACT membership to remit subscription fees, we will be confident that the costs of any long distance calls made between the machines will be met. At the Kenya end, we will initially use the phone line that Shem's machine is connected to (+254-2-444919). Later when KCI-Kenya arranges to have it's own office space we will move our connection to the new machine on a KCI-kenya-owned telephone line. 10. Telephone numbers obtained at both ends __[12/18/92___ See item [9] above for details. 11. US-based machine placed on US map ______________ An important aspect of getting a machine placed on the Internet-UUCP map is registering the country domain name with the appropriate authorities. This involves providing the address of a machine to which mail addressed to that country will be sent for further address verification and transmission. The domain name for kenya (.ke) has already been registered by Shem through Randy Bush. We think it is a simple process to get Randy's machine to redirect all address requests to Karanja's machine. Thus although we don't have a good date for when we can do this it should be fairly soon. _______________________________________________________________________ E. J. Njage e-mail: njage@moeng2.morgan.edu 4313 Deer Park Rd phone : (410) 521-2997 Randallstown MD 21133 USA fax : (410) 521-6844 =======================================================================