[afnog] AFNOG 2005 ANNOUNCEMENT & APPLICATION FORM

[Ayitey Bulley]

AfNOG 2005 WORKSHOP ON NETWORK TECHNOLOGY

In conjunction with the Sixth meeting of African Network Operators Group
(AfNOG) in April 2005, AfNOG is holding a Network Technology Workshop
prior to the meeting. The workshop will be held in facilities of the
Conference Centre, Maputo, Mozambique during 17th  – 22nd  April, 2005.

The workshop will offer advanced training to operators of existing
African Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who are participants in the
process of developing and enhancing a national Internet with regional
and international connectivity.  Attendance at the workshop includes
attendance at AfNOG's Sixth meeting, AfNOG 2005  (www.afnog.org) and
AfriNIC meeting (www.afrinic.net) which will be held in Maputo from 25th
– 27th April 2005 respectively.

This workshop builds upon the experiences of the previous AfNOG
workshops held in Cape Town South Africa, Accra Ghana, Lome Togo,
Kampala Uganda, Dakar Senegal and the INET workshops held during
1993-2000 at eight locations around the world.

GOALS

The goals of the workshop are:
1. To train a critical mass of trainers and professionals in network
infrastructure and services to be able to support an extension of
Internet-related activities within the African countries represented.

2. To identify and share individual and institutional contacts as well
as information sources that will assist the process of national
development, using international Internet connections.

3. To build robust professional linkages between all participants in the
programs so that the mentor-student and colleague-colleague
relationships formed during the workshop and conferences will remain
strong and of continuing usefulness well beyond the workshop and conference.
4. To increase the level of co-operation among existing projects and
activities for establishing public data networks in Africa.

5. To train people and groups of people who will return to their country
and region and who will teach others what they have learned at the workshop.

PROGRAM

An intensive program of instruction is planned for the workshop,
composed of four instructional tracks. Participants can attend only one
of the four tracks, since the tracks run concurrently. All participants
will engage in extensive hands-on training, setting up and managing
prototype infrastructure and services.

The course descriptions below include for each instructional track:

1. Who should attend this course.
2. What you need to know to enter this course and benefit from it
(Prerequisites).
3. What you will learn in this course (Subjects).


TRACK E0:- UNIX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION

Overall objective: After attending this track, students will be able to
install, upgrade, secure and competently manage the Unix operating 
system on standard PC hardware, and use it to provide essential Internet 
services on a network. It is aimed at students who are technically 
competent but may have had little or no prior exposure to the Unix 
environment.

Who should attend: Technical staff who are now providing Internet 
Services, or those who will be involved in the establishment and/or 
provisioning of basic national Internet Services in the country.

Prerequisites: Experience in managing PCs and installing software (such 
as installing the 'Windows' operating system), but not necessarily Unix. 
Some prior Unix/Linux experience would be of great benefit.

Training is hands-on in a well-equipped computer laboratory. All 
software installation on these machines will be performed by the 
students themselves.

The topics are expected to include:

·       Differences between Unix and Windows
·       Differences between FreeBSD and selected other types of
         Unix/Linux
·       Installation of FreeBSD
·       Essential command-line utilities and scripting
·       Administering, Maintaining and Securing FreeBSD Servers
·       Installing Software Packages using ports and packages
·       Maintaining Software Packages using ports and cvsup
·       The internal operation of Internet mail, web and DNS services
         will be outlined, and students will configure their machines to
         provide these services in a way which can support future growth.


NOTE: There may be time to cover other topics, either during the main 
programme or in the evenings, and applicants are encouraged to indicate 
on their application what other areas would be of interest to them.



TRACK  E1:- SCALABLE INTERNET SERVICES

Overall objective: After attending this track, students will be able to
build large-scale, resilient service platforms to support very large
customer bases.

Who should attend: technical staff who are now providing Internet 
Services to a regional/national organisation or in a service provider 
environment, with a growing user base.

Prerequisites: Extensive experience with installing and administering 
some version of Unix/Linux, installing software packages, extracting 
information from 'man' pages, creating configuration files etc. Those 
who are not fully comfortable with Unix would most likely find track E0 
more appropriate.

Training is hands-on in a well-equipped computer laboratory, making use 
of practical exercises to apply the techniques learned.

The topics are expected to include:

·       Scalability pitfalls
·       Approaches to clustering and resilience
·       Design and scaling of a web cache (Squid)
·       The Domain Name System
·       Operation of Internet mail
·       Configuration of an MTA (Exim)
·       Design of a large-scale mail cluster
·       Database backends
·       Cryptographic techniques and applications (ssh, ssl,
         certificates)
·       Server performance optimisation and monitoring; configuration
         management.
·       Securing and monitoring large-scale servers and services

The operating system to be used will be FreeBSD, but a summary of the
differences compared to other common Unix/Linux platforms will be provided.

Applicants should indicate clearly what version(s) of Unix/Linux they
currently administer.


TRACK E2:- SCALABLE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

Who should attend: Technical staff who are now operating a wide area
TCP/IP network, likely with international and/or multi-provider
connectivity. Those who will be involved in the establishment and/or
operation of a basic national network infrastructure in the country.

Prerequisites: Experience using TCP/IP-based networking technologies.
Subjects: Configuration and operation of larger scale backbones, including:
·       Basic routing
·       OSPF routing
·       BGP routing (limited)
·       Management of router configuration
·       NOC (Network Operation Center)
·       Exchange points between networks
·       Security

TRACK F2:- INFRASTRUCTURE RESEAUX IP (FRENCH TRACK) (same as Track E2)

·       Base des reseaux IP
·       Bases de configuration des routeurs Cisco
·       Routage statique (utilisation d'Unix et de Routeur Cisco)
·       OSPF
·       Architecture d'un reseau redondant
·       BGP
·       NOC services et application
·       Securite Reseau




PLACE

The workshop activities will be held at the Conference Centre, Maputo,
Mozambique. Participants will be offered double  room accommodation
during the workshop, the AfNOG and AfriNIC meetings, which follow.
Shuttle bus and taxi transportation is available from the airport to the
workshop accommodations.


DATES

Participants should plan to arrive in Maputo on or before 1800 hours on
Saturday 16th April 2005, and leave after 1800 hours on Wednesday 27th
April. 2005.

Workshop sessions begins the afternoon of, Sunday 17th April, and end in
the evening of Friday 22nd  April 2005. Tutorials begin at 0830 hours on
Sunday 24th  April 2005. The AfNOG 2005 meeting begins at 0900 hours,
Monday 25th April 2005, and AfriNIC 2005 Meeting begins at 0900 hours,
Tuesday, 26th – 27th April, 2005.

ELIGIBILITY

The workshop is specifically directed toward the needs of people from
Africa who are playing an important part in introducing and extending
public internetworking in their countries and region. Attendees should
be involved in establishing the Internet's presence, in
institutionalising its operation, and in assisting the country's schools
and universities, governmental agencies, local firms, and residents in
exploiting the range of services available through the net. By the
Internet, we mean the publicly accessible Internet, with unrestricted
access for educational and commercial institutions and the
not-for-profit community.

Working engineers from international and bilateral technical
co-operation agencies, as well as engineering professionals having
substantial involvement in international technical assistance
activities, are also eligible for admission as space allows.

Participants who have attended the AfNOG 2000 - 2004 training or any of
the INET Developing Countries Workshop will be considered eligible to
attend the AfNOG 2005 workshop on a space-available basis; however,
these former participants must apply for a course of study other than
subjects studied previously. Their request must be consistent with their
responsibilities in a national and/or regional context, and a convincing
argument for repeated attendance must accompany the application. This
should include a statement of the activities carried out as a result of
the previous workshop. Less financial aid will be available for repeat
attendees than for first-time applicants.


APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

To apply for admission, please complete the application form and return
it as soon as possible, but no later than 15th January, 2005. If you
expect to attend the workshop as the result of being awarded a United
Nations or similar fellowship awarded by a multilateral of bilateral aid
agency, please inform us of the details in your application.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the program and the
amount of financial aid available (if any) by February 15th 2005.
Please note that the workshop activity includes attendance at the AfNOG
2005 and  AfriNIC meetings. If you are admitted to the workshop, you
should NOT register separately for the meeting; that will be done
automatically for you.

NOTE: Applicants are required to submit their application via email, and
also to give an electronic mail address for future correspondence
regarding the workshop. A reliable FAX number should also be included on
your application.

Please be sure that all of the contact information you submit is legible
and accurate, or we will not be able to contact you.

VISAS

Every visitor to Maputo must have a valid passport in order to obtain
the necessary visa for Mozambique. If you apply to attend the workshop,
be prepared to obtain a passport immediately upon receiving an
invitation to attend, or sooner if practical, since visa procedures may
be lengthy.

It is the responsibility of participants to ascertain the visa
requirements that apply to them and to obtain any appropriate visas
(including transit visas) needed to attend the workshop and the related
meetings).  AfNOG will assist applicants in this matter by providing
visa application information as well as information regarding the
Workshop, AfNOG and its professional goals and activities.

HEALTH RESTRICTIONS

Accepted participants will be notified of any health restrictions and
regulations for entry into the country.

COSTS

The cost of attending the workshop and associated events is US.$1600.
This fee includes:

* All tuition and fees for the workshop.
* All lodging charges from Sunday, 17th April through Wednesday, 27th
   April 2005.
* All meal charges for the period starting with dinner on Saturday
   evening, 16th April through dinner on Wednesday evening, 27th April
   2005.
* Registration at the AfNOG 2005 meeting ( 25th April) and the AfriNIC
   meetings (26th  - 27th April), including the midday meals included in
   registration for those meetings.

Participants should bring the equivalent of U.S. $30 for airport
transfers. They may also wish to budget approximately U.S.$50 for
optional travel and other needs and activities (laundry, etc.) Saturday,
16 April, 2005 through Wednesday, 27th April 2005.

For some candidates, the AfNOG Workshop may provide financial assistance
to cover a part  of each participant's overall expenditures. If you
request financial aid for the workshop, please be certain to provide the
financial information that is requested in the application for admission.

Financial aid may take the form of either pre-paid airline ticket for
travel to and from Maputo or a partial coverage of the workshop fee.
The overall amount of aid available will be extremely limited. Please
make all possible efforts to secure whatever funding is possible from
sources known to you.

If you are requesting financial aid from the Workshop, please
tell us why it is necessary, how you expect to fund part of your
expenses, and what efforts you have made and are making to obtain
additional aid.

Please note that aid from AfNOG may depend upon your ability to obtain
partial financial support from other sources.




APPLICATION FORM
AfNOG 2005 WORKSHOP ON NETWORK
TECHNOLOGY FOR AFRICA
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Please fill out completely and email it by 15th January, 2005 to
workshop-apply at afnog.org

A.	Personal data
FAMILY NAME (LAST NAME, SURNAME) ONLY:
Full Name:
Employer/Organization:
Position/Title:
Business Address:
Business Telephone:
Alternate Telephone:
E-mail address:
Fax:
Date of birth:
Nationality:
Name as it appears on passport or other travel document:
Passport number:
Country issuing passport:
Date passport was issued:
Date of passport expiration:
Knowledge of English: Please rate your knowledge in these categories:
Listening/comprehension: minimal / fair / good / excellent
Reading: minimal / fair / good / excellent
Speaking: minimal / fair / good / excellent
Writing: minimal / fair / good / excellent
Please indicate with an asterisk (*) the most reliable addresses and
telephone/fax numbers above which can be used to reach you.

B. Course of Instruction

Instructional track applied for (Please select only one track; the tracks
will run concurrently):
[  ] Track E0 - UNIX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION
[  ] Track E1 - SCALABLE INTERNET SERVICES
[  ] Track E2 - SCALABLE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
[  ] Track F2 - INFRASTRUCTURE RESEAUX (French Track – same as TE2)

Please indicate your specific interests within the area you have chosen:

C. Technical Skills

1. Are you a UNIX user? How much have you used it?
2. Have you been a UNIX system administrator? Describe your experience
(length of time, versions, etc.).
3 Have you used/administered TCP/IP networks? Describe.
4. Have you set up and/or administered any of the following?
Please give details.
·       bind or any other nameservers
·       sendmail/smail/exim/postfix
·       majordomo/mailman or other list manager
·       apache/IIS web systems

5. Have you configured or otherwise managed any of the following?
Details, please.
·       routers
·       switches
·       network monitoring
·       noc

D. Description of Role in National Networking Activities
Bearing in mind that this information will be used to determine whether 
to admit you to the workshop, please provide in the format of your 
choice the following information about yourself. Please be sure that it 
is sufficiently clear, well organized and adequate for this purpose.

1. A description of your current employer, your position, your duties 
and responsibilities, and how they relate to current and future data 
networking activities in your country.

2. A brief description of your computing and networking environment
(operating systems, networking software, modems, etc.), including the
connectivity of your organization to the Internet and your country's
connectivity to the international Internet.

3a. Scope of your institution (check all categories that apply):
[  ] Commercial Network Provider
[  ] Academic Network Provider
[  ] NGO Network Provider
[  ] Other (Specify)______________

3b. Approximate number of full time staff at your institution:________

4. How your training and current work prepare and qualify you for the 
track you wish to attend.

5. How you expect to use the knowledge you gain at the workshop after 
you return to your country.

6. If you have previously attended AfNOG/INET Workshops for Developing
Countries,

a. Year and track you attended:

b. A precise description of how you have used the training you have 
received in the past:

c. The significant advances in networking which have occurred in your 
country specifically because of your knowledge and effort:

E. Financial Information
-------------------------
Your application must contain the following complete information if you 
wish to be considered for financial support to attend the workshop.

The Workshop fee is US$1,600. This includes accommodation and meals. 
Applicants are usually expected to provide their own funding (from 
whatever sources). However AfNOG or its sponsors may make a limited
financial assistance available to deserving candidates. Even if you 
request financial assistance you might not receive any, and your 
acceptance into the Workshop will be conditional on your ability to 
provide all or most of the funding yourself.  Although you may be well 
qualified and in great need of financial assistance, the maximum funds 
AfNOG or its sponsors may provide is US$1,000 in financial assistance 
for BOTH WORKSHOP FEES AND AIRFARE.

Payment for the workshop may be made by funds transfer, bank / certified
cheque or in cash.  Further details will be provided in the admission 
letter to successful candidates.

NOTE: Your acceptance into the workshop may depend on your ability to
provide some or all of the funding.

1. Are you are requesting financial aid from the AfNOG Workshop for
attending the workshop and meetings?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No

2. If you are requesting financial aid to cover the workshop fee, please
provide a complete list of funding sources in the following form. The 
list should contain all sources of funds that are available to you for 
payment of the workshop fee. The amounts should total U.S.$1,600.

1. Your Institution -- U.S.$ __________
2. Your Government -- U.S.$ __________
3. From international organizations -- U.S.$ __________
4. Your personal contribution -- U.S.$ __________
5. Amount you ask from AfNOG -- U.S.$ __________   (less than $1,000)
_________________________________
TOTAL Income = U.S.$1,600.00

         OR

3. Will you need financial assistance for airfare? If so, how much will 
you or your institution be contributing?

[ ] No, assistance for airfare not needed.
[ ] Yes, assistance needed.  (less than $1,000)
Amount of your contribution: U.S.$_________

4. If you are requesting financial support for airfare, please provide a
good estimate of round trip, lowest economy excursion airfare next April
between your place of residence and Maputo, Mozambique.

1. Airfare:
2. Airline:
3. Type of fare:
4. City of departure:
5. Source of your estimate:

Signature (your name as you would sign it): __________________________
Date:___________________


YOU MUST SEND YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION BY ELECTRONIC MAIL.
Completed applications should be sent to: workshop-apply at afnog.org
The "Subject" line of the message should contain your surname or family 
name in the following format:

Subject: AfNOG Workshop Application: <your-family-name>

If you have questions regarding this announcement and application, they 
may be addressed to: workshopinfo at afnog.org

To receive a copy of this announcement and application, send e-mail to:
application at afnog.org