Community Station Features

From Net2MAX

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Best of Both Worlds 1.2 Server Import 1.3 Server Access 1.4 Unlimited Flexibility 1.5 Your Data You Decide 2 Computer Hardware 2.1 Server Distribution 2.2 Community Server 3 Optional Adaptors 3.1 Fixed Telephone Line Adaptors 3.2 SMS Adaptors 3.3 Wi-Fi Mesh Adaptors 4 Network Links 4.1 Link Speeds 4.2 Link Protection

1 Introduction

Net2MAX allows you to customise the actual servers you use! Having your own servers allows you to achieve better privacy, security, functionality and performance.

1.1 Best of Both Worlds

Traditional architectures belong to one of the two extremes, either hosted applications where everything is centralised or peer-to-peer applications where everything is decentralised. Either way, the user (that's you) does NOT have any control.

Net2MAX has an unique Community Server architecture that takes advantage of the latest development in Virtual Server technologies, allowing the Net2MAX Community to MANAGE what is centralised and what is decentralised themselves so the Community Platforms can be deployed at the most appropriate level to minimise cost yet maximise performance.

The whole Net2MAX is deployed on flexible Virtual Servers which can be deployed at the Country, Community or Member level, as required. Community Servers create a SINGLE access point for the member. Through the Community Server, the member can access Virtual Servers running at all levels. Beside running its own Virtual Servers, the Net2MAX Community Servers can perform either Server Import or Server Access operations.

1.2 Server Import

With Server Import the Virtual Servers from the Net2MAX Centre and the Member are imported into the Community Server and run there. The Community Server thus become the STORAGE for the applications inside those imported Virtual Servers.

For example, you might not want your emails to be stored with other members' emails on the same Virtual Server inside your Community Server. You can tell the Community Facilitators to create another Virtual Server for you so you can have a dedicated email server all by yourself.

1.3 Server Access

With Server Access the Virtual Servers from the Net2MAX Centre and the Member remains where they are but they allow the Community Server remotely access its programs or data. The Community Server is NOT the STORAGE for the applications, it is simply an access point for the member to the remote applications.

For example, you might have your own email server at your office, you can still access your email through the single interface to the Community Server, the Community Server will access your emails from your own email server in your office and display them for you.

1.4 Unlimited Flexibility

With Virtual Servers the Community Server can be any thing in the Information and Communication Technology world. It can be wireless base station, it can be a web server, it can be PABX, it can be a hard disk, it can be a telephone exchange, it can be a video broadcaster, it can be an internet router.

There is no difference between a computing and communications, every thing is software based, running inside its own Virtual Server on same low cost commodity PCs. Capacity and performance can be increase or decreased easily by moving Virtual Servers to different PCs in same or different location.

People who cannot afford hardware can use someone's Community Server, people who can afford hardware can get their own. People with network infrastructure can make maximum use of it and people out network infrastructure can build their own cheaply.

1.5 Your Data You Decide

Net2MAX not only runs its own applications on the Community Server as virtual servers (so they can be imported or accessed as required), but it also allows communities and individual members to run THEIR applications as Virtual Servers inside the same Community Server - easily, securely and at low costs.

You can probably trust some external organisations (e.g. Telco, Hotmail or Paypal or Google) to handle your information for you but can you trust their staff? Do you really want your contact lists, your locations exposed ? Now with Net2MAX Virtual Servers, you can have your data stored where YOU want.

2 Computer Hardware

Any x86 compatible computers will work (Intel, AMD, Via etc.), although for the more virtual machines you run, the more members you have, the bigger the computer you will need.

For a professional grade Community Server set up, you will need AT LEAST:

TWO computers, EACH with the following specification (in order of priority):

1. Front Access Bus (FSB) - get the fastest you can afford (minimum 1GHz)
2. Memory (minimum 4GB)
3. CPU (minimum 2 core at 2GHz)
4. Disk (minimum 2 x 500GB)
5. LAN (minimum 2 x 1 Gbps)

Hardware Expansion is important in many applications, the Community Server can accept Linux compatible hardware, so it is good to have:

1. PCI or PCI-X bus
2. USB 2.0 ports
3. Serial ports
4. Wi-Fi Wireless
5. Blue-Tooth Wireless

Note: 1 RU rack mount units preferred.

MINIMUM hosting requirements:

1. 2 static public IP address on 2 separate LAN switch ports
2. Uninterruptable Power Supplies
3. 24 hour air conditioning
4. Internet bandwidth as required by community members

You will need to provide 2 initial static IP addresses to your Net2MAX Centre, who will then send 2 custom DVDs to you. They will boot up both machines and set up the required software using those 2 IP addresses.

2.1 Server Distribution

There are 2 types of servers Community Servers and Core Servers.

Community Servers are located in different parts of the world. The aim is to get as close to the centres of major member population as possible, in order to improve service quality.

They are used for the handling of data streams that are sensitive to variation in link performances. For example, real-time bi-directional voice, video, screen traffic.

They also act as a storage of member's data.

Net2MAX Centres in each country tend to host a number of general community servers for people who have not joined any community. In some cases they also host some core servers on behalf of Net2MAX Limited

2.2 Community Server

Each community wanting to host their own Community Servers, must purchase 2 Community Servers from their Net2MAX Centre.

The 2 servers will normally perform different tasks, but will back up the other one if that fails.

The first server is called Interaction Server which normally handles interactive traffic (like voice and video calls) and the second server is called Storage Server which normally handles file and database based traffic (like emails and disks).

Current Community Server MINIMUM Specification (March 2007):

1. Dual Core Xeon 3050, 2M cache, 2.13GHz, FSB 1066MHz
2. 4 GB DDR-2 533MHz ECC Memory
3. 2 x 500GB 7Krpm SATA II Hard Drive
4. 2 x 1Gbps Ethernet Controller
5. DVD RW Drive
6. 1 RU case & mounting rails

Optional addons that must apply to BOTH machines:

1. E1/T1/J1 ISDN cards
2. Video Capture Card
3. Faster CPU, More RAM, More Disk

3 Optional Adaptors

3.1 Fixed Telephone Line Adaptors

Telephone gateway software is pre-installed in all Community Servers. You can use it to connect to your local fixed line telephone network or your PABX.

Current the following connections are supported:

1. Analogue FXO
2. Analogue FXS
3. Digital Primary Rate ISDN
4. Digital Basic Rate ISDN

3.2 SMS Adaptors

SMS gateway software is pre-installed in all Community Servers. You can use it to connect to your local SMS network.

Current the following connections are supported:

1. Serial port SMS modem (AT command set)

3.3 Wi-Fi Mesh Adaptors

Wi-Fi Mesh Point software is pre-installed in selected Community Servers. Since 802.11s is still not available, we have done our own "poor man's" Fixed Wi-Fi Mesh in the meantime. Mobile Wi-Fi Mesh Points for cars are still under development, so only Fixed Mesh Points (the roofs of actually buildings) are supported at the stage.

You can use it to build you own community based Wireless Broadband Network by attaching 3 Wi-Fi Mesh Adaptors to your Community Server. Depending on your individual situation, you will need different models of Wi-Fi Mesh Adaptors and associated antenna, please contact your local Net2MAX Centre for assistance.

4 Network Links

4.1 Link Speeds

The 2 Community Servers (A and B) are connected to each other by a short Cat-6 cross-over cable (minimum 1Gbps) to form an internal network.

The other LAN port on each server is for the external network and is assigned a public IP address and is connected to the Internet through a full-duplex LAN switched port (minimum 100Mbps). Note a minimum of 2 public IP address is required (1 for each server).

If possible:

1. the 2 public IP addresses should come from 2 different subnets
2. the public 2 LAN ports are attached to 2 different physical LAN switches

4.2 Link Protection

Community Servers comes with its own firewall, intrusion detection and bandwidth control software, so are suitable for direct attachment to the Internet via public IP addresses. However, if possible, it is best to install them inside your demilitarized zone (DMZ) for added protection and control.