Hi Alex, Now that I have Xubuntu working properly, and 8.10 supports UMTS as a mature networking component, I see the real need for an optimized network router. The user level network manager doesn't start until after the user has logged in. That is generally late on a PC - it gives multiple users the opportunity to have different networking configurations and for a single user to dynamically and manually control what is going on. I feel, however, that that is generally not what (at least) I want.
I would like a utility that starts very early in the boot-up process and measures signals and determines which networks are available. Then based on speed and costs sets up routing to use the most optimal network. A utility that starts early could configure networking early, and all of the usual system level stuff (such as NTP) could start up, long before a user logs in. I propose the following: Ethernet module: ifconfig, etc. - without routing UMTS module: startup pppd - without routing WLAN module: wpa_supplicant, etc. - without routing Routing module: checks what is available and modifies routing. Configuration module: web-based GUI Ideally, it switches between modules as necessary. Alex, I have seen something like this before, I think I could implement it pretty easily. It might give me a chance to do some programming again, obviously, I'd use picolisp Then I remove the user level NetworkManager. Cheers! - Rand -- UNSUBSCRIBE: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
