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[802SEC] FYI email on critical network equipment purchases



Dear EC Colleagues

This is not about Rome if that is any relief.  This is an FYI email on some 
critical equipment purchases for the network that are being made as a 
result of discussions with Paul, John Hawkins, and Buzz.

This critical item got lost in the rush at the end of the Friday meeting, 
namely some critical network maintenance items that were part of the larger 
package of networking equipment that we did not have a chance to address 
and approve. In hindsight, this should have been separated out to begin 
with but unfortunately it was not  Since it will now take longer to discuss 
and approve the entire package it is now a problem, given that we have a 
large interim in January that may not have a network unless this is 
addressed not to mention having a network that works on Orlando.

Specifically, Newton, our primary server, is broken. It does not always 
boot when turned on and has needed deracking, disassembly and liberal doses 
of stroking and mystic incantation to get it to start on occasion.  Not a 
good situation.  Griffin, our doc server is not far behind. Also, as we 
discovered in September, running key new applications like the IMAT 
attendance software on our production network server is not a good idea 
since it is possible for an application fault to take down the 
server.  Applications such as these should be run on their own server.

We need to replace Newton and Griffin ASAP, before the gear is needed at 
the Jan Interim of 11, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 in Taipei or we may not 
have a network there. Given that the January interim is also the next big 
IMAT trial, it makes sense to get and configure the application server at 
the same time. IMAT is part of our collective future.

We also need to replace the 20 eight port switches we got for nothing 
several years ago and which are now failing. Getting 10-12 of those now at 
least insures we can get a functional network.

In discussing this with Paul, John H. and Buzz, John indicated he can spend 
up to $15K between meetings to cover situations like this.  The total cost 
of the 3 servers and 10-12 switches is less then that. We all thought in 
the spirit of transparency we should give everyone a heads up on the what 
and why.

The proposal we did not get to discuss sufficiently in Atlanta is also 
recommending that as part of the basic maintenance of the networking 
equipment that we replace all 20 switches and mirror the on site servers 
with another trio which would be permanently based in Portland.  Rather 
than do that now we will address those additional 3 servers and the balance 
of the switches as part of a revised broader package. For now we are 
focusing only on replacing what is broken and in time to insure we can 
support the January Interim in Taipei and be in good shape for Orlando in 
March.  By then I trust we will have had an opportunity to review and 
approve the balance of the package.

Let me (or John or Buzz) know if you have any questions.




Bob Heile, Ph.D
Chairman, ZigBee Alliance
Chair, IEEE 802.15 Working Group on Wireless Personal Area Networks
11 Louis Road
Attleboro, MA  02703   USA
Mobile: +1-781-929-4832
email:   bheile@ieee.org

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