RE: Operations: where are you going to sit?

[Roeland Meyer <rmeyer () mhsc com>]

I've worked in facilities where this ban existed, but not for the stated
reasons. These same facilities don't even let you bring in a transistor
radio because it is so easy to turn it into a transmitter. The EMI part is
usually part of the dis-information. These same places also prohibit
personal lap-tops, under the TEMPEST excuse. What they are really worried
about is espionage. I'll bet they have a ferocious firewall too.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel L. Golding [mailto:dan () netrail net]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 11:32 AM
> To: Roeland Meyer
> Cc: 'Mathew Butler'; 'Jade Deane'; 'Daniel Senie'; 'Matt Thoene';
> nanog () merit edu
> Subject: RE: Operations: where are you going to sit?
>
>
> I have worked in data centers where cell phones, FM radios, 
> Nextel phones,
> etc. were banned. The theory was that the radios could 
> somehow interfere
> with the equipment. This never made much sense to me. Are restrictions
> such as this common? Anyone have any thoughts on if this is rooted in
> truth or falacy? It's very hard to work on some type of 
> network problems,
> where you have to console in, while using someone standing 
> outside a data
> center as a "talker". 
>
> - Dan Golding
>
> On Wed, 6 Dec 2000, Roeland Meyer wrote:
>
> > Go to RadioShack, buy wireless FM, use it in the data 
> center. No license.
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mathew Butler [mailto:mbutler () tonbu com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 10:57 AM
> > To: 'Jade Deane'; 'Daniel Senie'
> > Cc: 'Matt Thoene'; nanog () merit edu
> > Subject: RE: Operations: where are you going to sit?
> >
> >
> > Small problem: You can't use CB for any kind of business 
> purpose. :( 
> > There's a separate business band that -can- be used for 
> business -- you have
> > to get a license from the FCC to use it, but that's 
> per-company and not
> > per-user.
> > -Mat Butler 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: Jade Deane [mailto:jade.deane () HelloNetwork com] 
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 10:39 AM 
> > To: 'Daniel Senie' 
> > Cc: 'Matt Thoene'; nanog () merit edu 
> > Subject: RE: Operations: where are you going to sit? 
> >
> >
> >
> > I didn't want to come off sounding like a Nextel proponent, 
> but it's a 
> > solution that's worked well here.  And yes, their 
> convoluted two way system 
> > is by no means traditional, and I'm open to suggestions ;) 
> > Perhaps a CB with a nice oak finish would be in order.  
> Breaker Breaker 1-9,
> > we have flapping. 
> > Jade 
> > -----Original Message----- 
> > From: Daniel Senie [mailto:dts () senie com] 
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 10:27 AM 
> > To: Jade Deane 
> > Cc: 'Matt Thoene'; nanog () merit edu 
> > Subject: Re: Operations: where are you going to sit? 
> >
> >
> >
> > Jade Deane wrote: 
> > > Loss of signal in a data center is a good point.  At a previous 
> > organization 
> > > I was slaved to, we brought this up with Nextel sales 
> people.  After about
> > a 
> > > week or so they purposed a small in-line receiver for the 
> various data 
> > > centers, and a thin Kate Moss looking yagi for each roof. 
> > Actually, this should be a passive device. Various types of slotted 
> > waveguide/coax are made, for example in the Heliax product line. An 
> > antenna on the roof (directional antenna only if you're on 
> the edge of a 
> > coverage area) and a slotted line through your facility 
> will provide 
> > good results. Think about it for all commonly used 
> frequencies (cellular 
> > and pager) that might be in use in your facility. This 
> isn't something 
> > you have to get via your wireless vendor, and it doesn't need 
> > electronics. 
> > Hospitals have used such setups for years to permit 
> doctor's pagers to 
> > function throughout buildings (even in basements). 
> > > Also, I can't stress the importance of a basic two way 
> mobile system.  We 
> > > use the Nextel i1000+ phones for our engineering staff 
> and NOC.  The 
> > > internet access features on these bad boys has been VERY 
> handy.  The 
> > ability 
> > > for a NOC member to check MRTG/Openview type information 
> and IMAP/etc. 
> > email 
> > > has been beneficial. 
> > Something for you to think about: Your Nextel phones are 
> NOT two-way 
> > radios in the traditional sense. They communicate handset 
> to handset via 
> > the Nextel network (even if you're right next to each 
> other). If you're 
> > in the midst of a storm or other natural disaster and your 
> local cell 
> > site dies, you've got no use of those radios. Also, in the event of 
> > emergency, cell sites become overloaded with folks sitting 
> in traffic 
> > calling people. You may find these radios least effective 
> when you need 
> > them most. 
> > The Motorola radios other folks suggested are FM transceivers on 
> > business (or FRS) bands. These communicate directly from 
> radio to radio 
> > (commercial gear also can use private repeaters). These are better 
> > choices, as they have no outside dependencies. 
> > > Jade 
> > >
> > > Jade E. Deane 
> > > Network Engineer 
> > > helloNetwork.com 
> > > Las Vegas, Nevada 
> > >
> > > Office: +1 (702) 938-9267 
> > > Cell: +1 (702) 604-4759 
> > > Fax: +1 (702) 456-1471 
> > > email: jade.deane () helloNetwork com 
> > > epage: 7026044759 () page nextel com 
> > >
> > > -----Original Message----- 
> > > From: Matt Thoene [mailto:matt () thoene net] 
> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2000 9:40 AM 
> > > To: nanog () merit edu 
> > > Subject: RE: Operations: where are you going to sit? 
> > >
> > > :: 
> > > ::I would add wireless phones in general.  If NOC staff 
> need to walk over 
> > to 
> > > ::another person's screen or to swap cables or interfaces in a 
> > > ::datacenter, you 
> > > ::probably don't want them tied to a desk phone.  You may 
> want to consider
> > > ::some basic 2 way radios (RF) in addition to 
> wireless/cell phones for 
> > > ::datacenter <--> NOC <--> restroom communication independent of 
> > > ::any ma bell. 
> > >
> > > ...especially since cell phones tend to get no signal in 
> Data Centers... 
> > > -Matt 
> >
> >
> > -- 
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
> > Daniel Senie                                        dts () senie com 
> > Amaranth Networks Inc.                    http://www.amaranth.com