The following application was submitted (UTC) on Fri, 25 Feb 11 14:14:54 +0000 Items with an '*' were required items in the application form. PERSONAL INFORMATION ==================== Family Name (Last name, Surname)*: Hussein Full Name*: Abdullahi Bihi Hussein Employer/Organization*: Somali Research & Education Network (SomaliREN) Position/Title*: CTO Business Address ---------------- Opp. Mohamud Ahmed Ali Secondary School, Qura Dher, Hargeisa, Somalia Business Phone: +252-24721241 Alternate Telephone: +254701545583 Email*: abdillahibehi@somaliren.org URL: www.somaliren.org FAX: Date of Birth: 1982-05-15 Country of Residence*: Somalia Passport Name: ABDULLAHI BIHI HUSSEIN Passport Number: P00049717 Passport Issuing Country: Somalia Passport Issue Date: 2010-04-24 Passport Expiry Date: 2013-04-24 WORKSHOP SPECIFIC INFORMATION ============================= Workshop Applied For*: SS-E: Scalable Internet Services Reason for Track Choice* ------------------------ Virtualization of Internet services using open source products, deployment of server farms, being able to deploy scalable,reliable Internet services with a special consideration of bandwidth-limited situations and environments, security of the Internet services and the servers. TECHNICAL SKILLS ================ Unix User?*: true How much have you used it? -------------------------- I have been using Unix/Linux on and off in the last 5 years depending on the requirements of the clients and the necessity to opt for a Unix/Linux platform. I was mainly a Windows heavy user up until I attended AFNOG 2010. Have you been a UNIX admin?*: true Describe your experience (length of time, versions, etc.) --------------------------------------------------------- I have been a Linux systems administrator briefly in a Windows server-dominated university NOC. Our sendmail server was running on Redhat Enterprise Linux 4. I was working on my Unix (FreeBSD 8.1) skills lately as we are planning to deploy SomaliREN's Intranet. Have you used/administered TCP/IP nets?*: true Describe --------- I have been a support sys admin at my university for 2 years during which time I was responsible for managing and troubleshooting a TCP/IP network of over 1000 nodes. Currently, I work with SomaliREN as the CTO which makes working with networks one of my core responsibilities. Have you set up and/or administered any of the following? Please give details Bind or any other Nameservers* ------------------------------ Yes. I have setup and administered Bind on RHEL 5, Ubuntu Server 10.x, FreeBSD 8.1. I have also worked on Microsoft's DNS servers that came with Windows 2000 server upto Windows server 2008. Mail Transport Agents (ex. Sendmail, Exim, Postfix, Qmail)* ----------------------------------------------------------- I have worked with Sendmail. I tried out Exim and Postfix.I deployed Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010 and administered them since 2006. Mailing List Managers (e.g. Majordomo or other list manager)* ------------------------------------------------------------- No. Web Systems/Servers (e.g. Apache, IIS or other web server)* ------------------------------------------------------------ I have worked with Apache and IIS (briefly on the latter). Have you configured or otherwise managed any of the following? Please give details. Routers* -------- Yes. I worked with Cisco routers and Vyatta, the open source routing platform. Switches* --------- I worked on Cisco and 3Com switches. Network Monitoring Systems* ---------------------------- I tried out Cacti and Nagios but have not worked with them in a production environment. Network Operations Center (NOC)* -------------------------------- This is an area I would like to know more about. The university NOC I worked at had operational issues that I sometimes refrain from calling it a NOC but simply a server room. Currently, in SomaliREN, we are planning to deploy a distributed NOC. 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* ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SomaliREN is the national NREN of Somalia and has a membership base of nine institutions. It is a startup NREN which was mainly focused on its own establishment and planning for carrying out its mandate. I am the Chief Technical Officer of the organization, and my duties include and revolve around planning and implementing the technical aspects of interconnecting the member universities, which we are still struggling with. With the arrival of the Eassy project at the Somali coastlines, I believe, the skills and knowledge I gain from AFNOG will assist me in playing an active role in the growth of the communications sector as well as help me fulfill my duties as the NREN CTO more effectively. 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* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ At the country level, the Eassy project was expected to be operational early this year which, in my opinion, has been hampered by the political issues the country has been going on since the last two decades. Microwave connections bring broadband connectivity to the Northern parts of Somalia (Somaliland) from Djibouti; in other parts of the country, VSAT is the predominant option. In SomaliREN, we haven't yet deployed our NOC; however, a network plan developed in collaboration with KTH, Sweden, describes the networking systems and software we will be using will mainly be opensource products. For the infrastructure, plans are to use fiber links and/or wireless radio connections. Scope of your institution (check all categories that apply)* ------------------------------------------------------------ Other: National Research and Education Network Approximate number of full time staff at your institution* ---------------------------------------------------------- 12 How your training and current work prepare and qualify you for the track you wish to attend* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have completed my M Sc. in communications and networks, and have done the routing paper of the new CCNP exam. I have also strengthened my Unix administration skills since the last AFNOG. How you expect to use the knowledge you gain at the workshop after you return to your country* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I will apply the knowledge and skills gained from the workshop in fulfilling my duties as the CTO of SomaliREN. It is SomaliREN's mandate to train the sys admins of the member institutions as well; which will give me the opportunity to share my experiences and knowledge through that channel. We are still trying to start up a local NOG and hope to succeed by the end of this year, also through SomaliREN. If you have previously attended AfNOG or INET Workshops for Developing Countries Year and track you attended --------------------------- 2010 Scalable Network Infrastructure A precise description of how you have used the training you have received in the past ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The training helped me gain the necessary skills to effectively plan a parallel SomaliREN network to that has been designed for SomaliREN with the help of KTH.I also planned and conducted several inhouse trainings for some of the IT staff of the member institutions. I also consulted for a wireless Internet service provider in my area for three months. The significant advances in networking which have occurred in your country specifically because of your knowledge and effort --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nothing so far. 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? ------------------------------------------------------------------- SomaliREN's financial capacity is not yet strong enough to sponsor me for this workshop; and I haven't approached any other sources of funding. As SomaliREN is a non-profit organization that will serve my country's higher education institutions, my technical expertise will directly contribute to realizing the organization's vision. How will the finances be paid? Your Institution ----------------- Your Government --------------- Your personal contribution -------------------------- $850 which will cover my return ticket Amount you ask from AfNOG (less than $1,000)* --------------------------------------------- 1000 REFEREES ======== First Referee* -------------- Prof. Suleiman Guled Chairman, SomaliREN amouduniversity@hotmail.com Tel. +25224454004 Second Referee* --------------- Dahir Hassan Arab CEO, SomaliREN dahirhasan@gmail.com +254712111942 END OF APPLICATION