Summary: Scope and Support
Margaret Honey (mhoney@tristram.edc.org)
Wed, 2 Apr 1997 16:45:38 -0400
In our brief conversations in the Scope and Support discussion there two
key points that I will ventre to say this group agrees upon:
* We have each made commitments to supporting non-propritary systems --
specifically, this means going with network designs that are TCP/IP
compatible. The reason for this is simple. The district or
community-based organization does not have to rely on a vendor to support
the system, but can grow and cultivate network management expertise locally.
* With regard to the issue of support, Bob Carlitz said it well when he
wrote "In Common Knowledge:
Pittsburgh and in our Pittsburgh community networking projects, we have
tried to distribute the support just as we distribute the infrastructure.
The underlying idea is to "democratize" the use
of the technology." Building knowledge at the local level -- in a way that
is decentralized and shared -- is critical to supporting both the technical
and learning infrastructures in networking initiatives.
I'm certain we will have an opportunity to continue these conversations of
the next two and a half days in Pittsburg.
I look forward to seeing yo all there.
Regards,
Margaret