Discussion on ASL Node Number Policy Changes

AllStarLink
1

Please see AllStarLink Node Number Policy Changes.

This thread will hold any technical discussions about the chnages.

2

After a search, I can't find where the term "online" has been unambiguously officially defined for the purpose of this policy. There are various system topologies and legacy implementations where the node status and what needs to be done to avoid reclamation is not clear cut from this policy statement.

More particularly, node number "use" or being "active" might reasonably be considered by some to be indicated or inferred based solely on any one of multiple public-facing ways, many of which are independent of each other:

* "Online" icon in the Searchable Node List,
* any of 4 different DNS records variants (2 for either of ASL or HamVoIP),
* being explicitly labeled as "ONLINE" on the stats page,
* having reported stats on the stats page,
* "Registered" appearing in the State field in the response of the "iax2 show registry" Asterisk command (for either ASL or HamVoIP),
* listed as connected on the stats page of another node,
* bubble map presence, and
* presence in the Active Node List.

Q1: What is the specific criteria being officially used by AllStarLink.org to evaluate whether the node has been online in the last 24 months?

Q2: Is there a public-facing way for the holder of a node number to confirm that the node has been officially marked as active?

Seeking authoritative non-speculative replies only.

Thanks in advance and 73,
Bennett Smith WB5GVY

3

The specific criteria is very simple - the node has registered with the network registration servers at least one time in the last 24 months. This is the sole criteria for "active" or "online".

Yes. There are two places:

  1. You can look at the public searchable nodelist: AllStarLink | Nodelist | Searchable Node List. I recently changed it so it will show a full 24 months of nodes. If a node is not on the list, it hasn't been seen by the registration servers in 24 months.
  2. You can look at your nodes under Portal -> Nodes once logged in to your account. I just added a column to show the time there directly for convenience.

I don't know what you mean by "inferred" or "independent" in this statement. There only one canonical expression of use/active/registered in AllStarLink - if the node is currently registered to the network and online.

1 Like
4

Is there going to be a mass email sent out to all registered account holders? I only found out about this through a random Facebook post.

5

The first wave of emails have already gone out with people who have a node number that's been dormant for more than 4 years. Next wave in April-ish will be 3 years, and then we'll be instituting a rolling 2 year period going forward.

2 Likes
6

Ok good deal. I know I don’t come here and read the news or forums that often. I think it’s a good idea to do this reclamation, and I’m glad to hear emails are being sent. Thanks for all that you and everyone else does, it is underappreciated.

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7

We try not to send out too many mass emails, tlhough we have a much better system for it now that we have had in the past. We run into a lot of.... interesting... responses to large emails from some people.

8

Sounds good. Of academic interest for me, as I have two node numbers, one of which has been expanded to several NNX nodes, almost all of which are currently online, the other is online with the original node number.. Sounds like people are getting more than sufficient warning.