[aprssig] Core Server locations

[Steve Dimse]

The key to the APRS IS core concept is the number of sysops must be  
kept as low as possible while still providing quality service. having  
two on each continent would make coordination very difficult.

That said, I suspect the core sysops would have no objection to adding  
one in Europe if it was of sufficient quality.

A core server is not something running on a home network with surplus  
hardware. Figure on spending 2000 to 3000 Euros on the hardware if you  
do not have a state-of-the-art server sitting around unused  
(reliability is essential, e.g. RAID, ECC, dual power supplies). The  
computer needs to be in a real data center, with security, conditioned  
power, and high bandwidth connections to multiple backbones. The sysop  
needs to be an IT pro, someone who truly understands the intricacies  
of TCP and is able to manage a high reliability server. Ideally the  
person will own the colo site, as the bandwidth requirements are very  
high, at the very least either the financial resources to pay for the  
bandwidth, or true commitment from the colo site owner are needed. As  
US-centric as is sounds, fluent english would be necessary because  
rapid and efficient communications between the sysops is essential. A  
European sysop should also like to be up late at night, sometimes  
changes must be made nearly simultaneously to the core, these usually  
happen at 0300 to 0500 UTC, very early in the morning in Europe.

Most importantly, the sysop has to be committed and self-motivated.  
Running one of these is expensive, time-consuming, and worst of all  
thankless.

If anyone thinks they can meet these requirements then the next step  
is to talk with the current sysops.

Steve K4HG


On Jan 28, 2008, at 5:40 AM, Asier Garaialde wrote:

> Hello,
> Many times I thought that APRS-IS net have a problem, the four core  
> servers are in USA (2 in Texas, California and Florida).
> If any time it has a very big problem (geo/meteo disaster, terrorist  
> attack,...) and internet intercontinental links are damaged, APRS-IS  
> net will be unoperational. Tier 2 and other independent servers will  
> be individual isolated servers, without any interconection.
> In my opinion, to prevent that the core server system must be  
> distributed in several continent and all continent must have 2 core  
> servers at least. In this case, if any time it happens something and  
> Internet intercontinental links are damaged, APRS-IS will continue  
> continentally linked.
>
> Here in Spain we can create an european core server (I think two  
> european cores servers are necessary...). What are minimum  
> requirements for a core server?
>
> Opinions?
>
> Thank's
>
> Asier Garaialde, EB2FGI-EC2BBY
>
>
>
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