Listed below are some projects that I either completed or am currently in development on. This list is not inclusive and only contains projects for which no business interests are compromised by their discussion.
Java Based Multiple Architecture Simulator
This was actually a class assignment that I took a little further since the CS dept wanted to teach classes with it.
The source requires Java 1.3 at least to build, but it is a nice visual simulation of the 1, 2, and 3 bus simple risc architecture used to teach a systems organization class here.
Linux Based Firewall / Gateway Device
This is a continual development project that consists of a custom distribution of Linux that handles network traffic forwarding based on a firewall ruleset as well as network services such as DHCP and DNS.
The ISP OnlineXpress.net uses this project as a core business product and markets it very aggressively. The product allows a network to be connected to the Internet via a commodity dialup, cable, or DSL connection.
OnlineXpress.net Build
Online Computers, Inc. wanted to go into the Internet Service Provider Business. As I already had a relationship with the company, they asked me if I wanted to build the network from scratch. I readily agreed.
The network is broken into 3 areas, network services, enterprise solutions, and customer services.
The network services are bulk services that are needed in order for traffic to flow. These include routing, name service (DNS), authentication services (RADIUS, NIS), file sharing (NFS, Coda), and mail handling (SMTP). These services are all instantly failover capable.
The enterprise solutions are web hosting, email domain hosting, and network provisioning for small businesses. These services are all redundant and continuously backedup.
The customer services are dialup services, pop3 and web based email support, online content and faqs, and a proxy service to filter web traffic for parents who choose this option.
ArmorWeb / X-Net Consolidation
The primary focus of the project was to merge the users from both ISP's (ArmorWeb and X-Net provide Internet access via modem to local users) into one group as well as combining all of the services provided by those groups.
One ISP relied on their provider to supply DNS services while the other maintained the authoritative name server for its domain. Both groups provided hosting services and all of this information was combined into the DNS servers at ArmorWeb. This allowed greater control of the system administration and less dependance on the upstream providers.
If you are interested in the further details of the project, please contact me as I cannot release certain information in regards to the systems.
Thaxton Group / TICO Credit
The Thaxton group had a computer running the XENIX operating system on their network that was connected to a number of dumb terminals in an office. The system administrator wanted to move the database application that held credit records to a Linux computer so that he could share the file to a Windows NT computer and port the information into an Access Database. This required seting up a Linux server that would mesh with the existing network and moving the information from the XENIX computer to the Linux box.
Project RedHat
The Electrical Engineering Dept. at Clemson University wanted to convert an aging Windows lab running 3.1 on P75's with 8MB RAM and 540MB of storage into a Linux lab with 5 Pentium II class machines and upgrade the existing workstations to 32MB RAM and 2.1 gig storage. We ordered the parts, contructed the machines and performed upgrades, configured one server and one client and then duplicated those hard disks into the other machines and changed the IP settings so each was a registered station.
This involved configuring a Linux server (RHL5.1) to provide http, ftp, and nfs access to all of the lab and outside users. We setup WINE on the machines to run a windows executable for circuit simulations.
The lab is now used for ECE272, Java, and circuit simulations.
Linux Router / DNS / Server
While working at the PC shop in my hometown over the Christmas break, the question arose, "How can we give everyone access from our network to the internet through the cable modem?". The answer, of course, was to assemble a Linux PC with two network cards and enough storage and memory to get the job done.
The computer was built with an Intel 233MMX processor, 96 megabytes of RAM, and a 4.3 gigabyte hard disk. This provided ample storage to allow the machine to function double duty as a file server and a network device. The extra memory capacity allowed us to run services to provide domain name service for our internal network (it was not visible from the outside), smb file sharing (to allow Microsoft Windows Networking), gateway and routing, and a firewall. The firewall was used to allow for a higher degree of security and basically allows e-mail, ftp, web, and icq traffic to come into the network. IP masquerading was implemented to allow us to use the reserved ip ranges for private networks and to provide an extra measure anonymity for traffic originating behind the firewall.
The outcome of the project was that the PC shop (Online Computers, Inc.) now has the equivalent of a T1 connection for about $40.00 US each month.
Athletic Department Webpage
I was put in charge of developing a web site for the athletic department at Clemson University. With my coworkers at my disposal, I assigned each of them a section of the site to work on. Each person chose a team to construct a page for and the development ensued. This was an exercise in time and resource management that left me new respect for all of the people who are in management positions.