Penguicon.info

Part of the Facilities Manager's team, the Network Wrangler is responsible for ensuring that the wired, wireless, and Internet connectivity meets the needs of the convention.

Prior to the convention the Network Wrangler will collect needs send by the convention staff, members and guests and arrange to meet those needs or identify problems with the available network. Examples of these sorts of needs are

1. Where computer networks will be available (I need network connection in the X room)
2. Peer to Peer networking issues (can my room computer control my convention display computer)
3. Types of internet access (will guests be able to use SSH as well as HTTP)

During the convention the he/she will deal with day to day problems as the arise and be the liaison between the hotel's network staff and the convention personnel.

For Penguicon 2010, the team consists of Team Awesome!, the array of networking gurus that have come together to solve our woes. Their wish is to remain anonymous, so they currently go by code-names, their identities known only to Jer Lance (in his capacity as Facilities Manager and ConChair Randy Bradakis.

• Internet
  • Currently discussing with Big Dick McGee the possibility of a point-to-point solution brought in via rooftop from a nearby carrier.
  • Alternate Plans…
    1. Increase AT&T's provisioning for the weekend
    2. Bring in a pipe from a local cable provider
    3. Investigate making the location a TMobile HotSpot for the weekend (coordinate with James Gamble
• Wireless Access
  • Wild Irish Ralph and Heywood Giablome are discussing a sponsorship by Cisco through which a switch and access points could be set up for the weekend.
• Computer Lounge
  • Heywood Giablome is setting up a server on which to mirror major distributions that he's going to populate from those on Wayne State's campus.
  • Going to set up a network of “booths” and back connect them to the upgraded Internet to allow for fact connectivity in the lounge.
  • Will search out groups to populate the lounge with various Open Source offerings.