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From: "ADRIAN QUINCY LABOR" <ADRIANL@EMF.Lan.McGill.CA> To: sghuter@psg.com, randy@psg.com Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 19:55:01 EST5EDT A SierraNet Program Uninterrupted Power Supply for CABECA gateway and dedicated local nodes within the network Early this year, 1995, the CABECA project visited Sierra Leone. A computer was set up as a dedicated node within the Institute of Public Adminstration and Management(IPAM), of the University of Sierra Leone. This gateway is polled twice a week by GreenNet in London. This is referred to as the IPAM/GreenNet or (CABECA) gateway in this program brief. The project also donated a number of modems to the university of Sierra Leone to distribute to the Libraries and selected faculties. SierraNet and HealthNet (Boston) jointly assessed the suitability of another gateway. This is referred to as the SierraNet/HealthNet or (SierraNet) gateway. Both these gateway will form the external (Internet) gateways within the fidonet network conceived for university research. SierraNet has a standby generator to serve the dedicated computer used. Despite IPAM's proximity to State House, the CABECA gateway is hampered by frequent power outages. This raises concerns for reliable polling session. The dedicated computer at IPAM needs to be operational during the period the GreenNet computer dials it. There are three possible ways to solve this problem. One way is to purchase an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). These cost $1000 US and can be obtained from local vendors in Freetown. It costs a lot less in NorthAmerica. Another option is to invest in a solar panel and deep cycle battery storage units. These are expensive. However $4000US should provide a modest unit that can serve other computers. One such unit is used by the Holron Computing LTD, in Freetown, to serve their local area network. The National petroleum (NP) is suppose to be a local agent for a London based company the sells these units. The third option is to build uninterrupted power supply units using the following. (1) A set of normal cycle 12volt batteries (or Truck batteries) (2) The AC supply from the National Power Authority (3) An inverter, the main components of UPS. This will have to be procured. The advantage here, is that UPS are created from less expensive components and this can be duplicated for all the dedicated nodes within the network being developed. Further more, load cycles can be customized for each nodes according to the additional task it performs. The load cycles ensure that battery units are replenished and remain above a threshold value. This idea pieces together suggestions from Dr Redwood Sawyerr, Engineering Department USL and Mr Victor thomas of FT electronics. It is a viable option. The CABECA committee estimates that Le10,000 (minimum)/month by each connected department will be able to maintain the gateway and cover international polling costs. SierraNet budgets $50 a month to cover international polling costs. Individuals, association and interested organizations interested in 1) Improving the CABECA gateway should contact CABECA Committee D. T. Chaytor C/O Computer Studies Department I.P.A.M Tower Hill Freetown, Sierra Leone. Email: chaytord@usl.gn.apc.org The lastest update on the IPAM gateway from D. T. Chaytor will be follows this mail. 2) Interested in sponsoring the third option can contact Adrian Q. Labor SierraNet Project McGill International McGill University 3550 University Street Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7 Email: adrianl@emf.lan.mcgill.ca We welcome your support Adrian Q. Labor SierraNet Project Coordinator M.Eng Student, McGill University E-mail adrianl@emf.lan.mcgill.ca .
