Proposal for Region 3 Collaboration Server (Recommended by Region 3 E-Conferencing Ad Hoc Server 14 March 2000) Purpose: The purpose of this server will be the experimental server to support efforts of Region 3 E-Conf efforts. The purpose of our efforts remain to push out developments to Region 3 entities and to share our efforts beyond Region 3 but we find it would allow the group to be more effective to have an experimental server that is used for early (and agressive timeline) developments. We plan to continue to collaborate with the EWH (Entity Web Hosting) group and other appropriate IEEE entities. Proposal: The E-Conf group proposes that, using a model similar to the Region 3 ETI project, the Region purchase a general purpose (low-end) server for use to support the Region 3 E-Conf efforts. The server would be a PC-clone with 256MB RAM, 2 ~ 20GB HDs, ~450MHz processor, low end video card, monitor, and network card. The server would be Linux-based and run mostly free software although we propose to buy a commercial newsgroup product that features both a newsreader and web broswer interface. The server would be housed at UAB in the same room that houses the IEEE ETI System purchased by Region 3. Similar to the ETI agreement, we propose IEEE Region 3 would execute a letter stating that the server would be turned over to the UAB IEEE Student branch at the time of its decommisioning from this project. The server would reside electronically at r3-collab.eng.uab.edu and initially support the newsgroup for both newsreader and web broswer access. It will support the development efforts of the R3 E-Conf committee and the use of these 'products' by R3 committees as well as other other entities in R3 that wish to try these products. As always, the intent will be to convince IEEE to follow up on R3 E-conf efforts with production service offerings based on what is learned by R3 E-conf efforts. It is worthwhile to note that this model has already resulted in deployment of IRC conferencing by IEEE EWH and an early news server (without web browser interface) is under trial by IEEE EWH. Costs (estimates at present): Server (ram, video card, monitor, network card) $1500 DNEWS Software $500 Miscellaneous $500 ====== $2500