[aprssig] Question

[Matti Aarnio]

On Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 03:29:56AM +1000, Andrew Rich (Home) wrote:
> Thats my question
> Do these sites have autorecoonect perl scripts ?
> Or are they a server in their own right ?

No.  Yes, sort of.

Actually any properly written APRS-IS client (IGates, aprs.fi, findu.com,
etc) are able to detect loss of TCP connection, and to recreate it
when necessary - to reconnect.

In the Internet terms a "server" is system which is waiting for the
"clients" to make connection requests, and then responds on them,
but on lower layers of the internet protocol stack there actually
is no distinction in between "servers" and "clients".

Sufficient is thus to say that some sites (machines) have prepared
to accept connection request, and act on them, others do not.
A server can also act as an client, even for same protocol, that
is how APRS-IS servers form their interconnected mesh.

Additional complications may exist in form of userid+password authentication
on ADSL/Cable (some operators want such), possibly re-registering home
computer on  dyndns.org  or some such,  but they are mostly unrelated on
how the IP network layer finds connection partners, and carries the APRSIS
connectivity.

> ----------------------------------------------------------
> Andrew Rich
> Airways Technical Officer Grade 4
> Surveillance - RADAR ADS-B
> Amateur Radio Callsign VK4TEC
> email: vk4tec at tech-software.net
> web: www.tech-software.net

73 de Matti, OH2MQK