DHCP Netmask
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Yes, I agree - I am just sometimes running on an absolute power budget, 12V DC devices like Alix/APU that have nowhere to put an extra NIC (don't want to connect a USB NIC), want to avoid the complexity of maintaining a VLAN switch in a very remote place,… so do something "broken" so that at least the network is a little bit self-policing to restrict access and manage bandwidth.
Perhaps I should not have posted this - it will give me a bad reputation :o -
complexity of a vlan switch? Your grasping at straws now to justify a broken setup you admit to doing ;) heheheh
vlan support on a switch can also be done on shoestring budgets..
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The problem is when the VLAN switch at the remote site loses its settings or breaks. With an unmanaged switch, the receptionist just walks down to the bazaar, buys whatever switch happens to be there for a few rupees, and plugs the cables into it.
If VLANs are required, then someone has to source a VLAN switch when one dies. When one forgets its settings it is a bit of a nightmare to talk the reception through setting it up! And even when it is working, the painters come, some Wally moves the cables and can't read the labels to put them back where they came from, then devices end up in the wrong VLAN -
if you buying switches for a few rupees there is your problem ;) heheeh
If they are only a few rupees buy a few of them and use physical isolation for your segments.
Why would a switch forget its settings? Never heard or seen such a thing in all my years working with switches - is this one of those few rupees switches? ;) And even if it does fail.. You connect it to your pfsense, and from pfsense you can add/change whatever IP you need to talk to the switch default IP, if not dhcp out of the box and connect to it and set it up that way.
Why would painters be painting in a wiring closet?? ;) If wally can not read to replace the cables then get the receptionist to plug the cables back in - does she not read either? how and the hell are they using computers if they can not read?? ;) Or if you really have monkeys – color code the cables and ports.. Even monkeys can tell colors ;)
There is doing things on a budget, and there is just nonsense!!
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Why would a switch forget its settings?
Not uncommon with cheap switches where the power's flaky. They seem to have a tendency to lose their config in that circumstance. Guessing Phil likely is working with a very slim budget, and hit and miss power, there in Nepal.
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So you agree stop buying crap, and get a ups ;)
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Yes, would love to stop buying crap - but a lot of the locally available stuff imported here is bottom end, locals don't want to pay for quality, so if I want better quality I usually have to get someone to bring it from overseas. (Direct importing is such a pain at the air cargo terminal in Kathmandu, I just don't want to go there!).
And yes, almost got everything on a UPS at all sites, and then also have to get staff used to the idea that servers and network gear can be doing things at night without anyone there (backups to remote site, synching files…). The staff feel the urge to just unplug everything as they walk out the door - at least that is environmentally friendly :)
Software is the easy bit, hardware a bit harder but layer 0 is the big challenge, keeping electron pressure in the power cables. -
I know you run solar. How is wind there? If you have any, per/$ its usually better than solar or at least augments it well.
I'm also a big fan of lead/acid when it comes to bang for the buck if weight isn't an issue.On the hardware side, I'm a big fan of old stuff as long as it does the job.
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Hmm, seemed to have hijacked this thread for a layer 0 discussion - apologies to the OP, hope you are enjoying it.
We have to have batteries anyway, these days we are using Exide Inva Tubular with 4 year warranty, and they look like they will last 8 years. Local porters are able to carry a 50-60kg battery over crazy mountain passes, 20kg is enough for me!
Solar is good, some offices are quite close to the sun :)
We have almost got all on solar, and gradually getting direct 12V DC wiring in place, and testing a smart charging controller that remembers when the sun was up/down, mains power was on/off… and if the battery is getting low tries to make an educated guess as to whether the sun is not coming up any time soon, and the mains is going to die also, so should pump some charge into the batteries from mains during the night.
I now go for low-power 12V DC capable (=new) stuff all the time - every watt counts. -
OK - I am PMing you then.
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Interesting stuff. I think a number of us would be interested in that discussion in public, no need to switch to PM. The General Discussion board always open for completely OT topics.
