So, since I've been reading some MPLS books lately, I figured I'd throw together a small lab in order to play with different implementations and its associated distribution protocols:

I may have gone overboard.  However, I still haven't toyed with VPLS or RSVP-TE, yet.  More real hardware may be required, though.

So, I'm in Coudersport, PA for the next couple of days, visiting our sister data center, and attending an all-hands meeting.  It's very snowy up here:

Just as I was thinking that I'd rather be in the nice, mild weather of Charlotte, I see this:

*sigh*

Whoops…

NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse (New York) posted a story that said Time Warner had no more HD DVR boxes for customers. Apparently, there's a shortage of HD DVRs because the company that makes the boxes have been "overwhelmed by requests for them". Time Warner says that new boxes should arrive in two to three weeks.

http://www.allpvr.com/time-warner-runs-out-of-hd-dvrs/

If router configurations got you bored:

prox@laplace> show version and haiku    
Hostname: laplace
Model: m40
JUNOS Base OS boot [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Base OS Software Suite [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Kernel Software Suite [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Crypto Software Suite [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (M/T Common) [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Packet Forwarding Engine Support (M20/M40) [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Online Documentation [8.1R2.4]
JUNOS Routing Software Suite [8.1R2.4]


        Help me, Obi-Wan
        I just saw Episode Two
        You're my only hope

prox@laplace> 

After toying around with Asterisk over Christmas, I figured it would be neat to actually make use of the monstrosity I created, and use it for voice.

It was clear from the start that Linux soft phones were in pretty shabby shape.  Kphone was the best I used, but it didn't even handle simple DTMF tones, so logging into voicemail was difficult.  It also didn't seem to handle G.711 too well, and crashed almost every time it tried to initialize an RTP stream using the codec.  X-Lite for win32 seemed a bit better.  Anyway, hard phones were in order.

I ended up picking out a Polycom SoundPoint IP 300 mostly due to a recommendation from Lily, and the fact that the IP 301's replaced the 300's, just recently.  It ended up going for roughly $80 on eBay.  Aside from a funky web interface (that requires a complete reboot for any configuration change) and lack of two-way speakerphone, it works quite well.

Configuration of Asterisk was pretty simple, due to Debian's nicely-commented configuration files and frequent visits to voip-info.org.  In almost no time I had a couple extensions configured, voicemail working, and some trancy hold music.  It became apparent that some NAPTR and SRV records were required for a complete SIP setup, and I modified DNS settings after reading about the proper way of doing it.  I still think there might be a misconfiguration or something, since I still have to specify the SIP server name, in addition to just the URL.

So, I picked up two more 300's, and sent them to my parents and grandparents.  The project seems to have been a success, at this point.  I was going to setup some QoS, but it didn't really seem to be needed.  Call quality is still crystal-clear, even when maxing up the upstream on my residential Road Runner connection.  Asterisk also supports reinviting, so a call from NJ to Florida, although negotiated via my Asterisk server in Charlotte, is established directly between the two phones.

Now, I'm looking around for some [free] public SIP termination services.  It'd be neat to link up this system to the PSTN, even if it's for outgoing calls only.  I have a feeling I might have to pay, though.

beez pointed out an interesting site on #RPI, this evening: The Four Word Film Review.  From the site:

The fwfr is a film review site like no other- an ever expanding collection of extremely brief film reviews and summaries.  Submissions are welcomed from anyone- the only condition being no more than four words may be used.

Some of the reviews are priceless:

• Star Trek: Nemesis
• Charlotte's Web
• Mr. Mom

(No, I haven't seen Charlotte's Web)

I hate flash.  Does anyone have a workaround for this problem?

• Flash on Windows
• Flash on Linux

It's really annoying.

I almost forgot to write a year-end summary for 2006.  Apparently, I completely forgot about 2005, too.  Anyway, here goes 2006:

Work

Never a dull moment; lots of new assignments, toys, training, and project schedules that routinely made people cry.  I'm definitely still enjoying the work, and especially the promotion I received this year.  I suppose that's one good result of becoming a workaholic.

Exercise

Due to excessive amounts of pudginess, I started swimming again.  I picked up a metro pass from the local YMCA, and started swimming there at least two times per week, mostly in the evenings.  During the summer months, I used the pool in my development in the mornings, before work.  I fell into the routine of swimming around 1800-2000 meters (72-80 laps) in 30-40 minutes.

Website

I redid it, finally.

The old white-on-black design was getting really old, and the code behind it was completely unmanageable.  It wasn't even HTML 4.01 compliant, and looked fairly ugly.

The new site is cleaner, prettier (c'mon, don't you think so?), standards complaint (XHTML 1.0, CSS 3 draft), and much easier to maintain.  The photo galleries are now standardized on a customized version of picscript, and I've finally instituted a simple method of defending against comment spam.

Books

I've picked up reading, once again.  Previously, excuses included: no time, lack of interest, and ADD.  These didn't seem to be valid, anymore.  Among others, I read:

• OSPF and IS-IS: Choosing an IGP for Large-Scale Networks, Doyle
• The Da Vinci Code, Brown
• Iran: The Coming Crisis: Radical Islam, Oil, and the Nuclear Threat, Hitchcock

I actually met Jeff Doyle this year, during an IPv6 presentation he did at work.  Too bad I didn't bring any books for him to sign :(

Travel

I managed to stay in the US this year, traveling around a little bit:

• Las Vegas, NV
• The Grand Canyon (Tuscyon, AZ)
• Washington D.C. (SANSFIRE 2006!)
• Atlanta, GA
• Sarasota, FL

According to my director, I might be taking a few more work-related trips in 2007.  Fun!

Networking Foo

I extended my network a little bit, tore down some long-dead Xicada connections, and started a little Cisco and Juniper lab with the following:

• 4x emulated Cisco 7206VXR routers
• 1x Cisco PIX 506 firewall
• 1x NetScreen 5GT firewall
• 1x Juniper M40 (Olive) router

The lab is currently linked together with FastEthernet and simulated Packet over SONET interfaces.  All devices (except for the PIX) are dual-stack IPv4/IPv6, and running OSPFv2 and OSPFv3 routing protocols.  The Cisco and Juniper routers are also running MPLS with LDP.

I picked up the JNCIS FWV Juniper certification, and plan to get the JNCIS router certification sometime in 2007, mostly just for fun.

Computers and Code

Aside from some additions to the code section, I really haven't written any large amounts of non-work code, lately.  A couple fairly large applications I put together for work obviously can't be distributed :)

With the exception of a dead computer (replaced with a brandy new cheap Dell Dimension 2350!), I really haven't upgraded anything, lately.  I have inherited some antique equipment, though, which include an old HP 9000 and Sun Ultra 10.  The Ultra 10 is in almost mint condition, and works well (Solaris 10).  The HP 9000 was initially borrowed, and then inherited.  It's a little beat up, and running a six year-old version of HP-UX.  I've yet to find a use for this, or reason to scrounge around for a newer version of the OS.

Conclusions

Not a very eventful year.  Not exactly boring, though…