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This section discusses the requirements for hosting a test-box. Please read this section and make sure that you can meet all requirements, before applying to host a test-box. An application sheet can be found online (http://www.ripe.net/test-traffic/Host_testbox) . If you cannot meet all requirements but still want to host a test-box, or want to discuss your specific situation before applying to host a test-box, do not hesitate to contact us.
The RIPE-NCC test-box consists of a 19" wide crate. The crate is 4 u (approximately 20 cm) high.It is recommended to mount the crate in a standard 19" rack in a computer room or the like, though the crate can be located anywhere where one would consider installing a networked PC. However, one has to keep in mind that the test-boxes have to be connected to an external antenna, see section 2.2.
The operating system of the machine is FreeBSD. The security issues related to the installation of a test-box will be discussed in a separate document [2].
The test-box has to be connected to a 110 or 220 Vpower supply and the local network using 10base-T Ethernet. We will supply a power cable with a plug for a standard European, grounded, 220 Vsocket. In some places (the UK, for example) you may have to replace this plug with one that fits into your sockets.
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The test-boxes have to be connected to a GPS antenna. The antenna has to be mounted outside, with a clear view of of about half the sky (see figure 1, 1600,% elevation 500).% If there are local obstructions, try to find a location such that the antenna has a clear view to the south.
Our experience with placing antennas so-far shows that an antenna sitting on the inside of a window will often work but that putting the antenna just outside the window is generally a major improvement on the reception conditions. The antenna will not work inside buildings made of reinforced concrete or near window-frames made of metal. High buildings in the neighborhood of the antenna may have a negative impact on the reception conditions. Finally, our experience shows that the reception conditions often improve by moving the antenna around by a couple of meters. Therefore, if you have to pull cables in advance, please make them a bit longer than absolutely necessary.
We only support the direct mount option (see figure 2), as support for the other mounting options has been discontinued by the manufacturer (Motorola). The post-mounting bracket, though no longer available, can serve as an example in case you want to mount the antenna on a pole. The antenna has to be mounted (roughly) horizontally.
The antenna comes with about 6 mof (RG-58) antenna cable. This cable can be extended by a few meters using RG-58 cable. Longer antenna cables are possible but in this case one has to use low-loss coaxial cables such as Aircell7. So-far, we have been able to successfully run test-boxes with about 40 m of cable and otherwise good receiption conditions.
Please estimate the necessary cable length and fill out the number on the application sheet, so that we can provide the correct cables with the test-box. However, for calibration purposes, the length of the antenna cable has to be known. Therefore, before installing any antenna cables, measure their length.
In order to schedule optimize our installation schedule, please indicate the time needed to install the antenna.
If your site has any special requirements for the installation of the antenna, for example lightning protection or other safety requirements, please indicate this on the application form. This field can also be used for questions regarding the antenna installation.
As discussed in a previous document [1], the test-boxes should connected hops away from a border router, or, if that is not feasible, as close to the border router as possible. On the information sheet, please provide a short description or drawing of your local network situation.
In the same document, we discussed also discussed the case where an ISP has more border routers. If this applies to you, please provide a list of possible locations. We will then discuss the preferred location of the test-box with you, taking into account the location and connectivity to test-boxes at other ISP's.
Although we plan to control the test-boxes from a central point with no operators or service required at the local sites, we do expect that each site that hosts a test-box appoints a local contact. This contact should take care of things that cannot be done remotely, such as rebooting the machine or copy information from the console in case of network or hardware problems. The local contact, obviously, has to be reachable by phone or email.
In an ideal situation, the contact would be reachable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (``24/7'') and could take care of our email's and phone-calls immediately. This could be the case at, for example, a place with operators around on a 24/7 basis. However, we do not think that there are many places where this ideal situation will exist.
The minimum requirement for the local contact would be that he is reachable during office hours (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays), is able to respond to our requests within a day and can appoint a replacement during holidays and the like.
In the latter case, if a test-box causes trouble outside the hours where the local contact is reachable, it will removed from the measurement network until the problems can be solved.
There several possible intermediate steps between the minimum requirements and the ideal situation possible. In general, the shorter the time between a request from our side and an action from the local contact, will increase fraction of time that the measurement network is active (``duty-cycle''). The higher the duty-cycle, the more that can be derived from the data.
The test-boxes do not have and, for normal operation, do not need a console. They will be delivered with the correct IP and Gateway numbers pre-configured and, when powered up, automatically connect to the network assuming that real configuration is the same as the one described on the information sheet.
However, for trouble-shooting it is useful if you can provide a standard PC monitor and keyboard that can be connected to the test-box for trouble shooting. That way, it might be possible to solve problems while the test-box is at your site. If no console is available, then the only solution will be to send the test-box back for repair.
The hosting organization should provide an IP number and name for this box, following your normal numbering scheme. This name has to be entered in the DNS by the host as an "A"-record. The name will be aliased to a name of the form:
ttXY.ripe.netwhere XY is a number starting at . This will be set up by us.
The host should set up the in-addr mapping shortly after the domain name is known. In order to configure the test-boxes, the host should also provide the IP address of at least one topologically nearby resolving name-server.
The test-boxes are set up to listen to the RIP and IRDP protocols. If those protocols are not available on the local net, then the address of a static gateway should be provided.
In section 4.1 of [1], the disclosure of data was discussed. We realize that this is a delicate matter and that all sites hosting a test-box should agree on the policy in order to make the project a success. We therefor have a separate [4] document discussing the data-disclosure policy.
How one can obtain a copy of the data as well as format of the data will be published on our web-site (http://www.ripe.net/test-traffic/) .
If you meet all the requirements, please let us know by filling out the application sheet. This sheet can be found online at: http://www.ripe.net/test-traffic/Host_testbox. Again, if you cannot meet all requirements or want to discuss your specific situation first, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Henk Uijterwaal