Tag: SNOPAC

Building the test node with Ansible and Debops

Ansible and Debops

I spent some of my early professional years doing what is now known as ‘DevOps’. As well as developing software for data communications products like X.25 Packet Switched Nodes, I also developed test harnesses, build tools etc. Thus, I have always been drawn to tools that ease the process of building, configuring and managing software devices.

I came across Ansible some years ago and adopted it for my personal needs (I stopped developing software professionally about 25 years ago, but still ‘tinker’). Therefore it was natural that I would seek to leverage Ansible when building a packet node.

More recently, I came across Debops, which is a suite of ansible playbooks focused on the management of secure Debian-based [Linux] environments. This includes the Raspberry Pi that I intend to use as the hardware platform for the nodes.

The reason for this sidebar is that I have chosen to create Ansible Roles for each of the software components and distribute them as an Ansible Collection. By using Ansible to manage the node, I can ‘cookie-cutter’ additional nodes and manage their configuration centrally.

NB: The AWX Project is a trademark of Red Hat, Inc., used with permission

Getting back into Packet Radio

Background

Way back in the 80’s and 90’s I used to be very active on packet radio. I had a well-equipped shack in the good location (VHF-wise) and had links on VHF and UHF (70 cm and 23 cm).

As always, of course, life got in the way and I had to pack (sorry) all the packet stuff away. Then I moved to a new location down by the river here in St Neots with ridges on the west and north sides. The result is very poor VHF/UHF. I can get into my local repeaters – GB3OV and GB3PI – but that’s about it.

I’d pretty much forgotten about packet until I got involved with OARC during the COVID Lockdown. OARC has a very active Discord server with two channels devoted to packet radio. The result was a re-awakening of my interest and hence – eventually – this project.

What am I trying to do?

If you look at the Packet Link Map, you can clearly see that St Neots is in a bit of a desert as far as RF links are concerned. Apart from GB7BED, there’s nothing in VHF or UHF range, so the idea is to put something up that will serve the local HAM community and extend the UK Packet Network.

I’ll start with a test node that has local 1200 BPS access on VHF and Internet links to the rest of the network. Once this proves the concept, I’ll build a second node that will (hopefully) be located in a better location. If this is successful, I’ll add a 70cm 9600 BPS link and maybe an HF 300 BPS link. The latter will most likely be delivered via my Remote Shack