[Community] [Tech] SCIFI in WACREN - Call for participation

[Ahmed Isa Chafe]

Hi Omo,

Sorry for the late response. This looks like an excellent opportunity to
provide cheap and cost effective wireless access on our campuses.

I am interested in driving a pilot project at Usmanu Danfodiyo University,
Sokoto. I noticed the requirements you have listed:

   1. one computer
   2. internet connectivity
   3. 2 switches
   4. 3 Access points
   5. 2 laptops
   6. 2 mobile phones

I am ready to give it a shot. Kindly let me know how we can move this
process forward.

Chafe

On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 7:33 PM, Omo Oaiya <omo at wacren.net> wrote:

> Colleagues,
>
> One of the challenges in many of our NRENs and campus networks is
> implementing scalable wireless networks within the often limited budgets.
>
> WACREN is working with RNP, the Brazilian NREN to localise software
> developed to address this challenge in a cost-effective manner.  I have had
> discussions with a number of folks on the list about SCIFI (Sistema de
> Controle Inteligente para rede sem FIo) and others may have come across it
> elsewhere.
>
> SCIFI is a software based controller for large scale wireless networks
> developed by a university in RNP. Those familiar with Ubiquiti Unifi can
> regard it as an open source alternative that works with OpenWRT compatible
> access points, and there are quite a few of them -
> http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start
>
> The project has recently received another round of support so it is a good
> time to get involved.  An unintended benefit of using SCIFi is that the
> installation caters for most of what is required to deploy eduroam, a
> strategic requirement for our NRENs.
>
> The existing documentation is in Portuguese but the AfricaConnect project
> has offered support for its translation to French and English, however the
> software is now undergoing rapid development so the docs will be of limited
> benefit.  It is more useful in our opinion to participate, use the software
> and contribute to its documentation and evolution.
>
> Many of our sysadmins are familiar with the OpenWRT firmware or have the
> requisite UNIX skills to jump in and gain knowledge by running labs or
> doing a pilot.  For those that have students who want to be involved in
> the projects that have research, education and entrepreneurship components,
> there are many tasks that can be given, with different levels of
> difficulty. Some folks might want to consider adding packages like Netdot
> for automatic generation of network topologies or the Packetfence network
> access controller for deployment of large-scale secured BYOD solutions
> using inexpensive reliable equipment.
>
> It is not difficult to get started and the typical campus lab for SCIFI
> will do well with:
>
>    1. one computer
>       1. Core i3+
>       2. 4GB RAM
>       3. 500 GB disk
>       4. KVM (keyboard, video and mouse)
>    2. internet connectivity
>       1. for remote support and work
>       3. 2 switches
>       1. vlan is desirable
>       4. 3 Access points
>    5. devices
>       1. 2 laptops
>       2. 2 mobile phones
>
>
> We have we have created a space for this activity at
> http://spaces.wacren.net/scifi-software-based-controller-efficient-wireless-networks.
> Interested folks should contact me or send mail to the *tech* list. (I have
> copied the community list this time as a one off)
>
> Omo
> <http://www.wacren.net/>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Tech at lists.wacren.net
> http://lists.wacren.net/mailman/listinfo/tech
>
>
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