The list of know issues and things to be figure out for next and future LANs.
Network
- Router firmware updated
- Direct line and router in to LAN room
- Access to the Router
- Find out why router keep needing to be rebooted.
- Switches how many ports broken
- LAN server to be moved to racing rig machine upgraded to server 2008
- Pre test of the network before arrival
- Single link for lan server
- Cabling re terminated and tested
- Change DHCP for LAN from 22 upwards
- Can we get network set up diagrams Logical + physical
LAN
- Racing rig replacement
- Discussion about game console multiplayer on projector
- Implementation of toornament
- backup plan for if we face the same issues
- New games and more game servers.
Actions taken to date 05/05/2015
6. OB will use the racing rig machine as new Server and TL is helping with 2012 R2 OS for it.
Quote from: BrotherTobious;398706Actions taken to date 05/05/2015
6. OB will use the racing rig machine as new Server and TL is helping with 2008 OS for it.
We will be going with Server 2012 R2 :D
While we're discussing this, just to let you know I've updated all the badges from the last LANs removing those from people not attending in the last 2 and adding badges as per Toby/NF's request.
It's all up-to-date and in the dropbox.
If anyone is interested
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3168[/ATTACH]
Quote from: Penfold;398709While we're discussing this, just to let you know I've updated all the badges from the last LANs removing those from people not attending in the last 2 and adding badges as per Toby/NF's request.
It's all up-to-date and in the dropbox.
If anyone is interested
[ATTACH=CONFIG]3168[/ATTACH]
Thanks mate
I do the badge thing tonight, thanks.
Sorry I already did them.
Oh cool. Green and Red?
yupski
If acceptable to all, shall I write up an email to The OC outlining our frustrations and what we need (expect) to be in place if we're going to bless them with our continued patronage?
If so, I'll post it up here first to ensure all the relevant aspects are covered. Then we'll send it to Big Rob, Belinda and Cindy.
Quote from: Penfold;398982shall I write up an email to The OC outlining our frustrations and what we need (expect) to be in place
Did you want to send the draft to me and we can work up a document together?
I think this is a good idea. Any other issues that we need to raise?
Sent from my Nexus 5
Quote from: Penfold;398982If acceptable to all, shall I write up an email to The OC outlining our frustrations and what we need (expect) to be in place if we're going to bless them with our continued patronage?
If so, I'll post it up here first to ensure all the relevant aspects are covered. Then we'll send it to Big Rob, Belinda and Cindy.
Hi Pen, let me know if you want nay help with this.
It's on my To Do List - I'll get there.
Unless, of course, you have a burning desire to make a start in which case you have my total blessing :)
Quote from: Penfold;399359It's on my To Do List - I'll get there.
Unless, of course, you have a burning desire to make a start in which case you have my total blessing :)
Guys I would like this letter to go out before we start moving on the changes and questions in finer detail about the Networking. :)
Hows the letter coming guys?
Doing it now.
What about something like:
Hi Rob
Problems around our last gaming weekend. As you know we had significant and ongoing problems at our last visit to the OC. The issues surrounding the internet connection and network meant that Thursday, Friday and some of Saturday we wiped out for us defeating the object for what is meant to be a games-based weekend.
We’re really concerned that this problem (which has been intermittent for years now) is going to continue and cause severe problems again in October. This is of particular concern as the October weekend is normally much more heavily subscribed and we have people flying in from all over Europe.
We really enjoy the relationship we have with the hotel, think it works well on both sides and would love it to continue. However we do need to solve these technical issues if we’re going to have to avoid finding somewhere more adaptable for our needs.
Specific issues this time included:
- A break in the network cabling â€" taking Toby hours to find
- The router needed updating
- We couldn’t access the router
- The router kept needed to be rebooted
Talking to IT Rob, he suggest we get a direct line and router into the Noble Suite. This would certainly help. He also suggested getting a fibre connection for us to use. These are not expensive and would make a big impact for us. Can we please consider that?
We think we need to work together to come up with a mutually-acceptable solution that will enable us to continue to visit you twice a year for the foreseeable future but without the associated problems we always have?
How can we drive this forward?
It's light on the technical stuff as I don't know what I need to say but it's a start....
I wasn't there so am probably not aware of all the issues. So it's with less than complete confidence that I am going to say that I don't like the angle we're taking on this at all. The Oliver Cromwell is a hotel not a LAN venue. The sort of Internet service we are looking for is not something we'd get for free at any other hotel. So we need to be very careful with our expectations. I'm sure we can get the service we're looking for but not by complaining. Personally I think the tone is to confrontational and sounds like we're giving them an ultimatum. I don't think we should even suggest that we might move elsewhere at the moment. We need to pitch this more as a problem we have and not something the hotel is failing to provide. We had a problem, we would like to be able to fix it. Will the hotel help us?
Again I wasn't there to experience the problem. But as an 'outsider' to the problem it's not how I would approach things.
That's fair enough but I guess I'm taking the 'resolve or we'll move' route.
I know we need them probably more than they need us but it was so frustrating for Toby etc that I think we need to make a stand.
A fair point. But I don't think it was the hotels fault. They aren't advertising that they offer LAN party facilities. If they respond with a 'We don't honestly care about helping you, it's not our concern.' Then maybe we should think about a move of venue. However how we are going to sort out a new venue that charges £50 a night for a double and nothing for the function room is far from certain. I'm worried we might walk away from the Oliver Cromwell due to a fixable problem and end up with no LAN at all.
How about changing its emphasis a little?
Quote from: Re-edit of Penfold's letterHi Rob
As you know we had significant problems during our last LAN party and we wanted to work with you to try to ensure that we do not lose Thursday, Friday and half of Saturday at future events. We have people flying in from all over Europe for our LANs (particularly our autumn LANs), so we need to be able to provide them with the advertised event!
We anticipate that the autumn LAN (LAN XXVIII) will have higher attendance again and in particular have half an eye towards our autumn 2016 LAN party which will not only be our 30th dMw LAN party, but is also the dMw community's 20th birthday and the 25th dMw LAN party to be held at the Oliver Cromwell! As such, we're expecting a massive turn out for LAN XXX.
In order to make sure everything works when we arrive, it might be sensible to work through a checklist with Rob(IT) prior to our arrival. Specifically we should cover:
- network cable checks (there was a break in the network cabling last time that took Toby hours to locate and identify as a problem)
- router issues - various as discussed with Rob(IT)
Talking to Rob(IT) he suggested that we get a direct line and router into the Noble Suite (which I believe was what you had in the past prior to your most recent IT change). This would allow you to give us access to the Noble's router configuration without impacting the performance or setup of the hotel's main network. This would certainly help, but there might be other aspects which would be beneficial, like the fibre connection Rob(IT) suggested getting for the Noble Suite. These types of changes are not expensive and would have be a hugely positive impact for us.
We really enjoy the relationship we have with the hotel, think it works well on both sides and would love it to continue. However we really don't want to suffer the embarrassment of another LAN like the last one where we lost 2.5 days to network issues.
With this in mind, would it be possible for us to arrange a telephone conference between us and Rob(IT) to agree how best to resolve these problems prior to our next LAN party in the autumn? We can then work with you to make the event a success.
Please let us know if this is ok and if you could provide us with Rob(IT)'s number and times when we can call him then we can sort out a teleconference and get your and our 'tech-heads' together for a talk!
Many thanks.
Any network detail can be sorted in a chat with Rob(IT). Rob doesn;t need to know the details, he'll just worry about budget afterwards, so the emphasis should be on identifying the problems and how best to resolve them, which needs Rob(IT) and Toby ont he line at the same time.
:2cents:
That looks fine to me.
Yep looks good.
I dig it..
OK I'll get his email address and email it on to him and we'll see how he comes back.
We had anything back from the Hotel?
No and it's starting to **** me off to be honest.
I sent the email and followed up personally with Belinda who told me she would come back to me but still nothing.
Apparently they've sorted this or are in the process of and will come back to me this week.
Thanks Pen :)
As you're all aware I will be building my old gaming rig as the new LAN server. I'm happy to donate this to the community but I do think it would need to be fitted with an SSD to replace the pair of Raptors that are currently fitted. 250GB would suffice I reckon so do we have the funds to for this?
I'm sure we will. Even a 500GB is not expensive, something like:
500GB £129.99 (I have a few of these and they are good)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RQA6M5Y
250GB £67.49
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-BX100-2-5-Inch-Internal-Solid/dp/B00RQA6TEI
I think so.
We have £830 in our main account and £120 in PP.
TL?
I'd go for the 500GB. It allows more maps, more servers and still has space. Want me to order and get delivered to chez OB?
OK. I'll order a 500GB nearer the time of the build as prices will likely fall further.
Woger that.
And I quote:
Hi
We now have upgraded the phone line to fibre optic this goes fully live on the 7th this month (july) this is with Zen unlimited 80/20
this will give you a full dedicated fibre line back for your use, so you will be free to do what you like with the router and setups and not interfear with the hotel wifi.
i know someone said about having wifi for your use too so it if your people need it. this might be something you want to bring along access point wise etc so you dont have to relie on the hotel wifi in the nobel?
we have a new draytek route in place that i have put the latest firmware in place on also. (model 2860N)
if there is a static pool you wish to have pre setup before your arrival let us know and i will add the macs and ip etc. or the start address of DHCP etc.
I've asked him for this phone number should it be needed.
Does this make sense. ANy questions etc I need to ask or I'll pass him on to one of you as needed.
PLMK thanks.
Looks Ok to a layman. I do like the idea of us having a line into the Nobel that we can do what we like with and not have to involve the hotel, both for our sanity and theirs. I'm sure it's not going to be an issue doing our own wifi as well. We can publish the wifi password on the forum before the event etc.
To me this makes sense. If we have login access to the router we control the full IP range and access. If we're on a dedicated line we're not impacted by the hotel use at all or their wierd setup. We just need the router IP, username and password so that we can play with it when we are there. The Draytek has a good webgui and is easy to configure.
Re wi-fi, I'd be tempted to turn the 2860N's wifi off and let people use the hotel wi-fi. That way we keep the fibre line just for us and the LAN and we also avoid running out of IP addresses in the range.
Sounds sorted to me and 80/20 seems plenty for us.
Looking good folks.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well I like the sound of all of this. I think that TL idea about the wifi is a good one. Yeah access to the router is a must. Also where is the router sat is a question I would like asked but I think we should do a list of them rather than bits and bobs.
Doing a bit of digging, there are some issues with that router if you exceed 256 ip addresses, so we'd definitely need to turn off the WiFi imo. (Read the Amazon UK page comments for info).
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
So am I good to go back to The OC and says all fine and thanks very much or there there any questions we need to ask?
From my POV no.
Perhaps the only addition would be to see if they are willing to do a keg deal like last year this October?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
That went down really well last time yes can we ask that. Also will go over it again this weekend before signing my stuff off.
Thanks for the efforts guys
Sent from my Nexus 5
I was thinking that it would be a good idea to annouce that we have a truley dedicated line in to the room, and that we have access to the router etc to help with any memories of the last LAN.
Thoughts?
Agreed.
Quote from: TeaLeaf;401359Agreed.
I will type up copy and run it pass you lot first :)
Good idea.
Just post it up dude.
Well it has gone down well, well done guys.
Albert ask the question will the switches do us. Well the answer is that will have to unless we have some supply us with ones we can use with out issue.
Other than a couple of dead ports (which we really ought to label as dead on the switch), the switches work just fine. They have more than enough throughput for our needs and I would maintain that the problems were not the switches, so we're sorted. Yes it would be nice to upgrade them some time real soon (as they are starting to fall over on some ports), but we're still not short of places to plug in, yet.
Switch prices are coming down too: 24 port gigabit plug & play, £67.18.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-SG1024D-24-Port-Gigabit-Rackmount/dp/B003UWXFM0
Are we running a star/tree layout for the network? (switch per desk, each switch uplinked to a switch at the server) If so we need 5 switches, so total replacement cost if we changed all 5 switches would be £335.90. We have £829.22 in the bank and a further £150 (approx after currency conversions) in our Paypal account, so £979.22 total.
£979.22 balance
-£300.00 hosting (due in Nov)
£679.22 net of hosting
-335.90 5 x switches (assuming the one I linked is agreed as 'fit for purpose')
£343.43 net of presumed switch purchase
-LAN costs?
£?????
We could buy prior to the LAN, but I'd rather not be pushed into buying stuff yet unless we have an actual need. So, do we actually need them right now? If we do then I reckon we could buy them prior to the LAN and do the upgrade.
Any follow-up comments on this?
Sorry mate just saw this will think on
Sent from my Nexus 5
Final call for comments please!
Sorry tl not had a chance to have a real read or chat with anyone life's been very hectic will catch up with ninja this week.
Sent from my Nexus 5
While not professing to be an expert, if the switches still work don't spend the money. I'm assuming the switches are out of warranty?
Quote from: Ninja_Freak;401927I'm assuming the switches are out of warranty?
Yep. We've had them a while now.