The following application was submitted (UTC) on Tue, 08 Feb 11 11:15:37 +0000 Items with an '*' were required items in the application form. PERSONAL INFORMATION ==================== Family Name (Last name, Surname)*: Maluwa Full Name*: Leo Employer/Organization*: Malawi SDNP Position/Title*: Assistant Network Engineer Business Address ---------------- Malawi SDNP, P.O. Box 31762, CHICHIRI, BLANTYRE 3, MALAWI. Business Phone: +265-1-874-979 Alternate Telephone: +265-1-875-872 Email*: leo@sdnp.org.mw URL: http://www.registrar.mw FAX: +265-1-873-44 Date of Birth: 1985-12-07 Country of Residence*: MALAWI Passport Name: Passport Number: MW465522 Passport Issuing Country: MALAWI Passport Issue Date: 2009-07-07 Passport Expiry Date: 2019-07-07 WORKSHOP SPECIFIC INFORMATION ============================= Workshop Applied For*: SI-E: Scalable Network Infrastructure Reason for Track Choice* ------------------------ The larger population of Malawians is still not connected to the internet. There is however a growing demand for internet services especially now with the wide use of mobile gadgets for connection. Scalable Network Architectures will allow Malawi's to expand and accommodate heavier loads while maintaining performance, usefulness and usability regardless of growth in demand. As a network engineer working in an expanding ISP, I am very interested to start to tackle the issue of expansion with scalable architectures from the start. Training in Scalable Network Infrastructure will equip me and my working colleagues with the necessary knowledge and skills to be used in the growth of our network. TECHNICAL SKILLS ================ Unix User?*: true How much have you used it? -------------------------- I have used much of what UNIX offers including the networking, automation of processes with shell scripts, monitoring and management of services using services running on its platform. Have you been a UNIX admin?*: true Describe your experience (length of time, versions, etc.) --------------------------------------------------------- I have worked on Fedora Linux versions for over 2years. The latest versions being Fedora 14 and the earliest Fedora 5. I have also briefly worked with Soralis and Ubuntu version 10. Unix family operating systems provides me with the opportunity to extend the functionality and behaviour of system's operation. More to that there is usually good support to technical challenges from several forums available on the internet. Have you used/administered TCP/IP nets?*: true Describe --------- Malawi SDNP network runs on TCP/IP. As a network engineer in this institution, I configure and manage components of the network including routers, switched and servers. Have you set up and/or administered any of the following? Please give details Bind or any other Nameservers* ------------------------------ I configure and manage the DNS servers for the .mw ccTLD running on BIND. I also manage and maintain servers supporting zone files for domains on Malawi SDNP nameservers. Mail Transport Agents (ex. Sendmail, Exim, Postfix, Qmail)* ----------------------------------------------------------- I administer and configure sendmail running on Malawi SDNP's mail, SMTP and MX servers. In all these are 8 servers located in 3 different locations of the currently. Mailing List Managers (e.g. Majordomo or other list manager)* ------------------------------------------------------------- None. Web Systems/Servers (e.g. Apache, IIS or other web server)* ------------------------------------------------------------ As the lead technical person at Malawi SDNP, I have set up and managed several web systems running on the Apache web server including the .mw ccTLD management system, the main Malawi SDNP webserver, internet and email client billing and management system, client complaint tracking system, router configuration management system, MRTG and several other monitoring and management software for the complete ISP network Have you configured or otherwise managed any of the following? Please give details. Routers* -------- I have configured and managed several routers running in different router operating systems including Cisco, Mikrotik and AirOS. I have been working with both static and dynamic routing in Cisco and Mikrotik for our national wide wired and wireless network. Switches* --------- I manage and maintain numerous switches of varying sizes both in my operations centre and in connections points and client locations. Network Monitoring Systems* ---------------------------- I configure and manage MRTG, NAGIOS and CACTI for monitoring our network systems distributed in various geographical locations across the country. Network Operations Center (NOC)* -------------------------------- As in charge of the network and software engineering at my institution I handle technical queries in the Network Operation Centre. Plans are currently under way to automate client support by implementing a request tracking software options for which is Request Tracker (RT). CERT WORKSHOP APPLICANTS ONLY ============================= Which area of security interests you? ------------------------------------- What security interventions have you experienced? ------------------------------------------------- How do you intend to use the knowledge gained at the workshop? -------------------------------------------------------------- ROLE IN NATIONAL NETWORKING ACTIVITIES ====================================== 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* ----------------------------------------------------------------------- My current employer, Malawi SDNP is a Malawi Government Programme executed by the National Commission for Science and Technology established under the Science and Technology Act. The main objective of Malawi SDNP is to assist with development of Internet and Information Services with emphasis on sustainable development. My responsibilities include development, installation and maintenance of our ISP Internet network, database systems, servers, software, client systems and hardware. I also assist in user support in the network operations centre. As the chairing organisation of the Malawi Internet Exchange point, Malawi SDNP is contributing in reducing cost of interconnection by making sure traffic between local ISP does not have to go through international routes. This is creating appetite for more local internet and information services as accessibility to this services within the country gets better. Aside from that I am also heading the team modernising the .mw ccTLD by automating registration and billing processes. This is in turn attracting more patronage of the local TLD and attracting more internet presence of local business. As more businesses get on line, evidence for more demand to internet connection is becoming more apparent. The demand for internet services is in the end attracting more investors to internet infrastructure. 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* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ My computing environment consists of computers and servers running on Windows and UNIX family operating systems connected by switches and routers running different router operating systems As a national ISP engineer I am in control of several other network components in different geographical locations running on TCP/IP via remote access using remote access clients. Our ISP connects to the rest of Malawian Internet Service Providers via an internet exchange point supported by participating internet providers. Malawi SDNP connects to the international internet through an under sea optical fiber connection. This is supported by V-SATs for redundancy. Scope of your institution (check all categories that apply)* ------------------------------------------------------------ Commercial Network Provider Other: Government Approximate number of full time staff at your institution* ---------------------------------------------------------- 9 How your training and current work prepare and qualify you for the track you wish to attend* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My Computer Science Degree education gives me a good background to the design and implementation of computer systems. My work experience gives me the know how to the real life challenges faced in the implementation of computer systems. I have great confidence that the combination of my education background and work experience in a challenging software and network systems environment are enough to tackle scalable network infrastructure training at the workshop. How you expect to use the knowledge you gain at the workshop after you return to your country* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I intend to advance the design of networks and achieve scalability using the skills from the training. In so doing I hope to influence my work colleagues and indeed engineers working in other ISPs to adopt scalable network infrastructures. I believe this will go along way in achieving high performable networks that tolerate stress gracefully. If you have previously attended AfNOG or INET Workshops for Developing Countries Year and track you attended --------------------------- A precise description of how you have used the training you have received in the past ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The significant advances in networking which have occurred in your country specifically because of your knowledge and effort --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FINANCIAL INFORMATION ====================== Are you are requesting financial aid from the AfNOG Workshop for attending the workshop and meetings, or for travel costs?* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Requested aid to cover the attendance fees. Explain why you are asking for financial assistance. How will your organisation and your country benefit from your training? What other sources of funding have you approached, and what were the results? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Unfortunately I would not be able to raise up to $2000 to cover for the accommodation. However as the networks of Malawi and Malawi SDNP expand, it is important that implementation personell be equiped with the necessary know how on scalable network architectures. I have approached my institution for funding support. Unfortunately, the institution is undergoing a transition process and much of its finances will not be released by the time of the workshop and thus may not be able to fully support the workshop. How will the finances be paid? Your Institution ----------------- Malawi SDNP Your Government --------------- Malawi Your personal contribution -------------------------- 1100 Amount you ask from AfNOG (less than $1,000)* --------------------------------------------- 900 REFEREES ======== First Referee* -------------- Dr Paulos Nyirenda, Malawi SDNP Coordinator, Tel: +265-1-874-979 Mobile: +265-888-824-787 Email: paulos@sdnp.org.mw Second Referee* --------------- Eric Akumiah Administrative Manager T/F: +233-21767466 M:+233-243380612 E:eric@aftld.org END OF APPLICATION