ROUTING

The internet is constantly changing and growing.New networks are continually added and links between networks are added and removed,fail and come back.It is the job of routing to determine the best path to the destination and to create a routing table listing the best path for all the different destination.

Working on routers was the most interesting experience and this made me understand on they importance in wireless networks.There are two types of routing and these are;

Static routing :this is term used when the routing table is created by manual configuration.This is sometimes convenient for small networks but can easily become very difficult and error prone for large networks.Worse ,if the best path becomes unusable because of equipment failure or other reasons,static will not make use of the best path.
Dynamic routing;is a method in which network elements, in particular routers, exchange information about their state and the state of their neighbours in the network,and then this information to automatically pick the best path and create the routing table.If something changes,such as a router failing or a new router being put into service,then the dynamic routing protocols make adjustment to the routing table.The system of package exchanges is known as routing protocol.There are many routing protocols that are used in the Internet including OSPF,BGP ,RIP,and EIGRP. During the configuration of the routers we found that dynamic routing was better than static routing.

Wireless networks are like wired networks in that they need dynamic routing protocols,but they are also different enough from wired networks that they need different routing protocols.Things are not clear when working with wireless networks.Wireless communication can be affected by objects moving into the path of the signal ,or by interfering signals.Hence this is one of the disadvantages of wireless connection and when setting up the routers the area must be clear.

Basically we worked on two types of routers and each router had to configured differently depending on the type of software.

INTERNET PROTOCOLS

Standards,standards everywhere?There's an old joke that a giraffe is actually a horse designed by committee and that animal we call networking has had its share of committees and standards over the years.Actually, the standards committees have done a great job.The standards and protocols that define the main networking protocols function pretty well, in part due to the modular nature of the key networking protocols. A protocol is simply a language computers use to speak to eachother.
Each protocol handles a specific set of tasks and as network standards have matured, the standards committees have been able to add improvements without rewriting the entire ''network stack''.
Most of computer users just know how to browse through the Internet,sent mails etc without realising what really goes on for them to receive those mails or send them.Take a key press as an example.First the keyboard controller chip in your PC senses that you have pressed a Key and works out which one.Next,the keyboard controller turns this information into a scan code ,a piece of data that represents the key you pressed and stores it in a small block of memory called a buffer .The Pc's operating system then checks the keyboard buffer for data,sees that something is in there and reads it.Finally,tha data is passed back to the application currently wailting for input,whre the keyboard data is analyzed and acted upon-maybe adding a character to a document or completing a password entry sequence.All the way through this process,things must happen just so,or the process won't work properly;in other words,there are protocols involved.To handle input from the keyboard,for instance,severial protocols and standards are in place to eliminate potential problem.This process is just for the keyboard now imagine more complicated processes,this is where now we see the importance of these protocols.
The three most popular protocol families mostly encountered in the real world are NetBEUI,IPX/SPX, and TCP/IP.

ENJOY LIFE

Nowadays almost everyone is busy with their lives each person thinking about what they are going to eat,what their are going to drive,wear etc .Parents worry about what they children are going to eat,they have to make sure that there's food on the table everyday,school fees are paid not to mention the rentals,electricity bills ,water bills etc.The children worry about their school results,they have to make sure that the parents are proud of them.Teens worry about who will like them,who's going to be their boyfriend or girlfriend and collage students worry whether they will find employment after graduating.

It seems like everyone is always soaked in their problems that so much that life becomes more of a burden and statistics have shown that most people are suffering from stress.So you might be asking whats the problem? Lack of rest and a free mind is the problem.Quite alright we might have this responsibilities tied around us but we also need to rest and enjoy life. Once in a while take a vacation go somewhere with your loved ones and enjoy yourselves forget about these bills for a while, believe me its worth it.

Many people think that for you to enjoy life you need a lot of money but i believe the most important thing is to be around loved ones and life will be good.

ENJOY LIFE.

MY GREATEST CHALLENGE

Ever since i decided to become an engineer my I've always wanted to do something that has never been done before something that would really change the lives of many and of course add knowledge to field. Coming to macha was an eye opener for me it made realise how much little knowledge we have about technology in general .Looking at the technology that we have now and at the rate it is advancing we know without doubt that probably by 2020 everything will be electronic although its already happening in other European and Asian countries like America, Japan etc where now things like shopping ,banking,driving are done electronically.

But one thing I've noticed so far the technology that we have is for the ' well abled' what about the disabled ,people who are blind,deaf or dumb does it mean that they will be cut off from the rest of the world.Well not only should we look at physical disabilities but the most prominent disability is language,Internet has brought the world together people from all over the world are able to communicate and so far the common language that is being used is English and probably french.So the question that we should be asking is ; what about those who cant speak any of those languages?what about those who can't see ?what are we going to do about it?or are they just going to be left behind in this wonderful and exciting journey of technology.

What if someone, somewhere could come up with a software that could translate English into different local languages or maybe coming up with a software which is in sign language to help those who are dumb. That person might be me or you.This is one of MY GREATEST CHALLENGES.

THE ROPE

He began his adventure after many years of preparation but since he wanted the glory to himself,he decided to climb the mountain alone.

The night felt heavy in the heights of the mountains and the man could not see anything.All was black....zero visibility and the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds.

As he was climbing,only a few feet away from the top of the mountain,he slipped and fell into the air,falling at a great speed.

The climber only saw black sports as he went down and the sensation of being sucked gravity.He kept falling........and in these moments of great fear it came to his mind all the good and the bad episodes of his life.

He was thinking now how close death was greeting ,when all of sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard.

His body was hanging in the air.........only the rope was holding him and in that moment of stillness he had no other choice but to Scream; HELP ME GOD!!!!

All of sudden ,a deep voice coming from the sky answered

- What do you want me to do?

_Save me God !!!

- of course i believe you can.

Then CUT THE ROPE TIED TO YOUR WAIST........

There was a moment of silence :and the man decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength.

The rescue team,tells , that the next day a climber was found dead and frozen, his body hanging from a rope.

His hands holding tight of it........

ONLY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE GROUND.

AND YOU? How attached are you to your rope?

will you let go?

Don't ever doubt the things from God. You never should say that he has forgotten or abandoned you.Don,t ever think that he does not take care of you. Remember that he is always holding you with his right hand. Is 41;13

THE MACHA COMMUNITY

Its been almost a week now since i came to macha and so far i have enjoyed stay here. The people are friendly and accommodating,they make you feel at home its like anyone who comes to this place is important to them.Macha is about seven hours drive from Lusaka and about 2 hours from the nearest town ,Choma.The area is surrounded by small village settlements and the area is well known for macha mission hospital and the malaria institute.The institute is the only malaria research center in Zambia and the center is involved in research work which includes ways of controlling the spread of malaria and finding the cure to malaria.
The occupation of most of these people is peasant farming and others are in craft business.There is a small dam which provides water to people of macha though in the dry season the dam is almost empty.One thing I've loved about this place is the people,during these few days that i have spent,i have met different people though most people speak Tonga which is the local language here but at least we are able to communicate.The greatest challenge for me now at least before i live this place i should be able to speak Tonga cause though the language is kind of difficult it is interesting and nice to speak.
The most interesting site that I've visited so far is the dam especially during sunset it is one of the most amazing views that one can never forget.This place is indeed a wonderful place to and i would'nt think twice if i was given a chance to stay in this place.

LETS DREAM

It's everyone one's dream to make it in life and to be successful,some people dream of becoming presidents ,doctors , best singers and others dream of becoming business tycoons etc. I remember when i was a kid my dream was to become a doctor and i as grow up i started having interest in other professions until secondary when i discovered that actually i had so much in interest in physical sciences. This helped alot when i went to the university to know which field i was going to pursue.Most people ask why i didn't do medicine because its been always what i wanted to do.

Quite alright been a doctor was my dream but when i went to campus i discovered that i was very good in physics and math ,so i decided to Marge my interest with a career that had something similar and engineering had it all.I changed my dream to suit my interest and this is the most important thing one should learn and that's to be flexible.

Many people have dreams and only a few live to achieve them but one thing most of us we tend to forget that to achieve our dreams we need to sacrifice alot.A dream is costly,it requires your brains,money and most especially time.Some people say time is the most valuable investment because its something that you cant gain back when you lose it.

Studying engineering for me is a dream come true and as i said earlier on it has cost me time,money and friends.It hasn't been easy for me because most of my time am studying and its only once in a while when i tend to have time to relax.Engineering is considered to be the most busy school on campus and the students are considered be book worms (a term used for students who study too much).
But you might be asking is it worth the sacrifice?Many great man who have made in life e.g Nelson Mandala,Martin Luther king,Bill Gates etc all had dreams but they had to sacrifice alot just to see they dreams fulfilled though others didn't live to see their dreams fulfilled and others are enjoying the lives because they hold on to them despite the hardships.
So its worth it after all keep dreaming.

TECHNOLOGY;BE AWARE

The increase of technology has made communication easy and efficient,and for most people it has become a source of income as well as there livelihood.Though technology seems to have many advantages apart from the those i have mentioned there are disadvantages,
Some disadvantages of information technology include:Unemployment - While information technology may have streamlined the business process it has also crated job redundancies, downsizing and outsourcing. This means that a lot of lower and middle level jobs have been done away with causing more people to become unemployed.Privacy - Though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient, it has also bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge.Lack of job security - Industry experts believe that the Internet has made job security a big issue as since technology keeps on changing with each day. This means that one has to be in a constant learning mode, if he or she wishes for their job to be secure.Dominant culture - While information technology may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture dominating another weaker one. For example it is now argued that US influences how most young teenagers all over the world now act, dress and behave. Languages too have become overshadowed, with English becoming the primary mode of communication for business and everything else.
So many times we tend to forget about the risks of what we do but let this be a reminder to all of us.

MACHA CONCEPT;KEY TO RURAL EMPOWERMENT

One might think that technology is only for the educated"civilised"but the community of macha village have proved otherwise.With or without an education background the people have shown that it's not the kind of education that one has to be able to do something great but the desire to make a difference and improving ones life style.Creativity is the driving force for the people of macha and one thing i learnt from this community is concept.As by definition 'concept's the collection of ideals and thoughts,and the most important thing is bringing these concepts to action.Most people in our country have the ideals but the problem is implementing those ideals,so this is the lesson that the we can learn from this community.The other important ingredient to this successful endeavour is cooperation and commitment,on one is above the other but everyone is important,hence every person is given the chance to do something with support from the community.

It took someone from another country to believe and empower these local people,someone who believed in a dream that somehow was impossible to accomplish.This really posses a great challenge to the us Zambians,just think about it,what if each one of us had such a dream? it would really change the lives of many people and we wouldn't have to depend on donors to feed us and who knows we could be the next japan.

Japan is one of the the smallest country in the world but it's is one of the leading country in technology.Am one person who has keen interest in japan's technology and from what i discovered the country has Incorporated all its citizens both from the urban and rural areas,this has greatly helped the country because each person is given the chance to contribute to the advancing technology.And did you know that Zambia is 100yrs behind in technology! believe or not but that's the truth.

So dear Zambians let us learn from these community (macha) and implement the same concept to other rural areas,we can be an example to other African countries.