The Shared IP Project

The Shared-IP project is a cooperative effort betwen a group of individuals within the Ottawa online community, and was facilitated by the communications within OX. This page is available on the web at: http://www.ox.ottawa.on.ca/ox/projects/shared_cost_ip

The structure of the Shared-IP project is very simple: Each individual person is contributing (financially and otherwise) to this project which allows each person's computer services to be available to the Internet 24 hours a day.

The people involved include:

Matthew Darwin (davin.ottawa.on.ca): Is connected via modem to jammys.net,
Alan DeKok (striker.ottawa.on.ca): Is connected via modem to jammys.net.
David Jones (inode.org): Is connected via modem to jammys.net,
James McOrmond (www.jammys.net): Is connected via 128Kbps ISDN to www.flora.ottawa.on.ca.
Russell McOrmond (www.flora.ottawa.on.ca or www.flora.org): Is connected via 128Kbps ISDN to the Internet in his office on Sparks St.; Russell has an apartment in the same building as James, so he also has an Ethernet connection to the Shared-IP gateway.

While not directly connected to the computers within the cooperative,

Michael Richardson (www.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca): and
Roy Hooper (toybox.ottawa.on.ca): Provide many backup services and support.

We are grateful to Ox for it's help in the discussions leading up to the establishment of this project.

Shared IP Connectivity

Obtaining a dedicated IP connection through a commercial access provider is an expensive proposition. While the costs for a phone line and computer hardware are easily born by the the average user, a dedicated net connection can cost hundreds of dollars per month. By sharing an IP connection, a group of people may be able to obtain the best of both worlds: service and price.

After many discussions and arguments in Ox, a group of people got together to form the shared-IP project. Initially, the group consisted of Matthew Darwin, Alan DeKok, Roy Hooper, David Jones, San Mehat, James McOrmond, Russell McOrmond, and Michael Richardson. Some people already had net connections and wanted to assist, while others didn't have a net connection, and wanted to get one.

The form of the project that was finally decided on turned out to be fairly simple:

 /\_/\_/\           #########           _________
/        \         #         #         [         ]-------- Russell (Home)
\   The  /        #   Flora   #        [         ]-------- Alan
 |  NET  |========# Community #========[ Gateway ]-------- David
/  (ISP) \ (ISDN) #    Web    # (ISDN) [         ]-------- Matthew
\  _  _  /         #         #         [_________]-------- James
 \/ \/ \/           #########                     (Phones)    ( Remote )
                    (Russell)            (James)              ( Sites  )

Here's a much fancier GIF of the network layout.

For one individual, an ISDN line may be overkill, both in terms of bandwidth and cost. By sharing the cost of the connection and the bandwidth, we can average out the load, and pay only one fifth of the cost each.

Costs are increased because each remote member is not directly connected to the central site LAN. Each remote member must now have a phone line out of their house, one at the central site, and modems at each end. Even still, the cost is lower than a dedicated 28.8k or ISDN internet connection.

Statement of Purpose and Structure

Purpose:: To provide some form of IP connectivity to interested parties in the Ottawa area.

Structure:: Mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. The Shared-IP Project is a loose cooperative of individuals. It is not a for-profit business, and it is not a non-profit organisation.

This connectivity will be provided on a non-profit basis. It is not free. Those who want it are expected to share the costs.

The 'project' owns nothing and controls nothing. All resources are owned by individuals who allow them to be used by other individuals.

All control is left in the hands of the individuals. The 'project' has no board of directors and no policy statements.

Technical details

A set of IP addresses are distributed among the people involved in the project. Each individual has some connectivity to the central site.

Last updated: Wed Jan 29 13:18:09 EST 1997 by Alan DeKok