[Mep-dev] The DTN Protocols and the MEP (and ACP)

[Bob McGwier]

No.  I agree with almost everything said here about using IP networking and
building the hardware and software.  We need to get on with experimentation
and not build protocols for now.  We can argue about the necessary store and
forward mechanism later.  I am personally looking to play with hardware,
software, and doing SDR work and using IP for the time being.  The interop
with those wishing to use our services will be much more time consuming than
store and forward in the end.  We need to be able to play with ideas now and
get on the air.

Bob




ARRL SDR Working Group Chair
Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats,
NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC.
" Don't despair, not even over the fact that you don't despair. ", Kafka


-----Original Message-----
From: mep-dev-admin@uppermeadow.com [mailto:mep-dev-admin@uppermeadow.com]
On Behalf Of Timothy J. Salo
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 6:49 PM
To: 'mep'
Subject: Re: [Mep-dev] The DTN Protocols and the MEP (and ACP)

Bob McGwier wrote:
> Tim seems to have specific objections to DTN as currently captured in
RFC's,
> Darpa WNan work, etc. as the "store and forward" mechanism.

I expressed no such opinion.

What I did say is that, in my opinion, the MEP project should
focus on delivering an IP-based network _before_ it gets
distracted by applications such as the DTN protocols.

> DTN as implemented in the code base I have been pointing to is link and
> network layer neutral for the most part.  It is a store and forward
> mechanism and runs on top of the transport.  There can be good and bad
> choices for the transport mechanism in any store and forward mechanism and
> it will not fix a bad choice.

Exactly.  The DTN protocols use the native protocols of the
underlying networks.  Not surprisingly, the most common
underlying network is an IP network (using either UDP or
TCP as a transport protocol).

If the MEP is a fully functional IP network, it will
support the DTN protocols, as well as countless other
existing and future protocols.

Bob, do you believe that the MEP should be something
other than a fully functional IP network?  If so, what?

--- snip ---

-tjs