Australia's Great Linux-Based Satellite Network

yBshy4 writes "This article may interest the Slashdot folk. LinuxWorld Australia is reporting on Australia's largest satellite network, covering some 800,000 square kilometres, or most of the state of New South Wales, has gone live. The network consists of 75 Linux-based satellite routers that provide Wi-Fi (802.11b) connectivity to country towns that are unable to get DSL. The routers are engineered by Ursys and run Debian providing gateway services such as DNS and mail. According to the article, Ursys chose Debian 'because of its packaging support, which facilitates the ability to push updates to the routers remotely.' Ursys tried to use Windows but it was 'too unstable.' Hopefully this is an important step to providing better Internet access to regional areas across Australia. Anyone know of similar Internet access projects around the world?"

Comments

Now, even the

[Phidoux]

roos can do the single-handed surfing thing.

Wonderful Bruce!

But what about the hidden costs of Linux?

[Channard]

I mean, if Oz is going Linux, it's not going to be cheap. Just think how much it'll cost to buy all those kangaroos extra-large pocket protectors.

Re:But what about the hidden costs of Linux?

[peroskar]

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Re:My wallet just shriveled.

[Phragmen-Lindelof]

I plan to spend my sabbatical in Australia next fall. At home, I use a cable modem which costs (US)$30-$40 (I forget), has no bandwidth limitation (to the best of my knowledge) and is fairly fast (sometimes faster than the university's Internet2 connection, although the "IT tsars" on campus are probably causing problems). What should I expect (wrt Internet) at a university like ANU?