Updates on Progress
Stephen Guest
Executive Director
& Vice President of the SCNA Board of Directors
A long twelve months
SCN's Web Service - the what and why
In order to improve the service and add new supported services to the system we required an update of the software. The software we were running was over two years old and had not been patched officially since it was installed. There were many reasons that this was required including the development of the Web based e-mail service. Moreover, we needed to clean house.
We have been lucky enough to acquire the services of an experienced system administrator who was willing to take on this task. Using Martin as a controlling force with JJ as the current System Manager and Patrick as the Web Master, plans were made for the upgrade.
One of the first initial tasks was to decommission the various undocumented servers that we had running. In all I believe that Martin and JJ found and removed over five(5) web servers. Some of these were known about and others were not. This was done with great care and with tests to see if requests were being made to these services. We did not want to simply turn off a user's service.
We had a team build the new server with input from the WebMaster and ExComm as to what would be required for future services. This included making some new services available for future expansion.
We made extensive attempts to place information about the change where we hoped all users would see it. The new server was installed and run in parallel for over two weeks. We encouraged users to test their pages with the new server and some did. Some tried and some simply did not.
It was no surprise when we cut over to the new server on Thanksgiving weekend that we found things broke. The team has tried to address most of the issues. We hope we are past the worst, but there still maybe some bumps as we fine tune the performance and security aspects.
We have been working really hard with the users that have been impacted by this fix the situation while keeping the new integrity and security of the whole service and system.
Now we can start to add new features for the SCN users, such as the Discus and IMP services.
The SCN web site has undergone many changes over the years and the redesign now in progress will help make our site more accessible to our users. Patrick, the Webmaster, has been seeking input from many sources, including professional graphic designers. He will be keeping all, which want or need to be, informed of the progress. There are some test pages available so you can see the current changes. These, and the teams design goals, have made a big difference to the look and feel of the site. Patrick is extremely responsive to users comments and suggestions.
Web Mail
We have a working webmail service. It is based on the IMP process that is used by about 200,000 sites around the world. It is actively supported and it is still in the Free Software Domain. This should not be confused by the old WebMail service that had limited functionality.
We also have a version of PINE tested and ready to go. This will add new features and will work with the new IMP WebMail.
Currently the services are in test mode. They are currently a little too slow to make freely available, but the System Operations team is about to install a new server to handle this load.
This is one of the services that required that we upgrade our web server. It is a very popular product and is in use around the world. It is the chosen service for MIT and the Internic.
Although currently too slow, the system is working. We hope to release the full service in the later part of this year.
As part of this work, we have taken the opportunity to upgrade our PINE email service. The new service has some great features. One of which is that it will allow a user to use either of the mail services that we will actively support.
This service works with IMP and both allow full access to new mail and the user's folders. To use either of these services, it is planned that you will have to do nothing special. We are currently working on this seamless switch over that will occur simultaneously with the launch of IMP.
We have many users who think that this is the only mail program they can use. With the new mail service, they can continue to use this program. They will probably not have the IMP WebMail facility.
Other Hardware and Software issues
We have managed to buy extra memory for the SUN machine, which we hope, will improve speed and service. The memory was bought at a saving of over 98% of its cost. This should allow all our SUN Sparcs to run with their full memory. Other than that, the hardware is functioning perfectly.
In an effort to improve the web service, we are about to add a new UltraSparc to the system. This machine is expected to take the load of the web services.
In an effort to improve the service, we are about to install an ultra thin laptop running LINUX as the console. This will free up valuable cabinet space.
We intend to install LINUX PC, to run our mail service. This will off load more software tasks from the current SUN services. This planned introduction is to combat possible outages from unexpected email service failures by having backup services in place.
Qwest is currently working on fixing a few final challenges with the phone lines. Due to the lack of usage and the high cost we have now dropped to only 10 dial-up lines in our hunt group. Should we need them, we still have the ability to add a further 10 lines in the future.
We have now commissioned and tested a new version of the Lynx software. This new version is fully released. The biggest change is that this browser will use the secure https secure service. We have had several users request this and we are now pleased to offer them a fully integrated version. The previous version was a patched version of our existing Lynx software.
For those who have been watching, we have purchased and installed a web based discussion service. It is not yet fully released, but is in test mode. Contact Patrick if you wish to use this and cannot locate it. Once we understand the full impact of its usage, then we will release as a service.
We are about to upgrade our maillist service and with it a web based administration tool set, called Majorcool. This tool set was available before, but we had to remove it due to a security alert.
We have a new volunteer who will be working with the SysOps and Webmaster to provide a supported set of CGI services. Their role will be to monitor the usage and requirements of the IPs and Web team, and to keep the software documented and up to date.
A challenge of the Internet, is that as it grows, the number of hostile users expands. SCN is sorry to say that we are getting more attacks than ever before. We continually monitor the "Internet Police" updates and react when one of our services is reported to be at risk. This means that we might lose a software service at short notice. Please understand that this is done to upset you, but to protect the system and especially your files and email. We will try to replace services with secure software as quickly as possible.
Updates and Plans
Hardware and Software
Currently the development of SCN II is overshadowed by the tasks to get SCN functioning. The main issue is to relocate the equipment from Rhodes' home to another location.
Work on the new interface software, Chabucto, has stalled with the loss of Ken Applegate. This was being done with the help of the team members of Victoria Free Net, which is already using the interface. The software is ready to install on the new hardware. This work means that SCN is still on the leading edge of Community Free Network development.
SCN II now has a new System Manager, Scot Harkins. He also works with the email service on both SCN services and is therefore been involved with fixing email issues.
Update and Positions
The Program
We have now restarted the Volunteer orientation process. Our current system refers potential volunteers to the point people--i.e. people interested in working on web-related projects are referred to webmaster Patrick Fisher. If SCN has a project that interests the volunteer, they fill out the appropriate paperwork and attend a Volunteer Orientation.
SCN's says goodbye
It is with sadness that we have to say goodbye and good luck to volunteers who have given so much to SCN over the past year. I cannot mention everyone, but here are a few to highlight the gaps that their leaving created.
Ken Applegate: our dear friend and dedicated volunteer.
Wade Englund - our Vista volunteer and director of the Education program. Wade finished his period with SCN as the Library shut down its computer labs. This effectively caused us to stop doing much of the teaching we had been doing. But in his time here, Wade had created a process and a team which was teaching more classes and more students in more locations then SCN could have dreamed of.
Dave Collins - one of the main class leaders who spent time on helpdesk and teaching.
David Cohen, Governance committee.
Julia Hahn, Volunteer Management. We regret losing Julia, but finances forced us to end her contract.
Rhodes Hileman - who spent so many hours leading the SysOps team and keeping this group on track and focused.
Tim McCorrmick and Liz White: Board.
Allen Nicholson, Board and the Governance committee.
Tom Redfern - who with the help of Rhodes, gave the SCN II project life and vision.
Eric Stevens, Copyright enforcement
There are many more who I have not named and for that I apologies.
Vacant Positions
Even though we are moving forward, we have a long way to go. Currently we have more managerial executive committee vacancies then filled. Some of the positions are currently held in a temporary capacity.
One of the biggest challenges is that in SCN's current state of change it is hard to manage those internal changes while outwardly making people believe things are still the same. We have users and volunteers that liked the idea of the old SCN and are not interested in understanding that the system needs to be managed. Yet, they are also the people that get upset when a lack of management impacts them.
I hope that we will soon find volunteers for the following positions:
- Education Coordinator
- Membership Coordinator
- Registration Coordinator
- SysOps Coordinator (Randy is temporary)
- Web Editor Coordinator
New Volunteers
On a positive note, I would like to welcome some new volunteers in coordination positions.
Ty Alevizos - is our new Information Provider coordinator. He will be working with Registration and the Web team to support the IPs on our site. Although we lose IPs as they mature and move on, we are also gaining IPs. So this task is an important one.
Patrick Fisher - is our new Webmaster.
Lee - deputy Webmaster
They form the current Excomm team, along with:
Alan Miller and Nathan Jacobsen - coordinators of Help desk, who even have a volunteer from Japan on their team.
Randy Groves - Systems Operations, with John (JJ) Johnson as an advisor.
Ti Locke and Ellen Earth - as SCNA's President and Treasurer are always invited.
Grants
SCN was lucky enough to win another Technology Matching Grant from the City of Seattle. This grant is utilizing the Computer Giveaway Project as a means to help families find a computer to use at home -- and to introduce them to the services at the community labs near their homes. Giveaways and trainings have been held at the South Park Community Center and the Powerful Schools (Rainier Valley) and are scheduled for Council House and the STAR Center.
Update and Positions
The Teams
The Board is turning it's energies to fundraising and sustainability. The web redesign and updating currently in progress is part of a plan to make SCN more user-friendly (to support our loyal users and members) and funder-friendly (to help support the projects that support SCN).
Excomm is the main day-to-day team. It meets every first Thursday of the month at the Broadview Library. It has an agenda and its roll is to ensure that major decisions made within all the teams of SCN volunteers are controlled and do not unexpectedly impact another team. The membership is made up from the coordinators of each team or their approved delegate. The meeting is open to anyone as an observer, and volunteers may be invited to attend for their specialist input.
Each of the other teams is free to be run as their coordinator(s) see fit. The teams are charged with a set of responsibilities and have the authority to act, within reason, to carry them out. Normally they will seek the advice of Excomm if they feel the impact will be felt beyond their area of administration. All teams have a maillist that they use extensively. To assist their functionality some teams operate with face-to-face meetings whilst others simply use the email.
Meetings