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Weekly Thesis Status Report

Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology

The Royal Institute of Science and Technology


WEEK 16



Title: End users Capacity Building, Supporting, Network Management and Security
Implementation.
Case Study: ICT4RD WAMI-CHALINZE Pilot Site
Student: Rajabu Kitindi
Date: 23
th
JUNE 29
th
JUNE 2008


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Contents


1. Report purpose ............................................................................................................................ 3
2. Deliverables of the week ............................................................................................................. 3
3. Successes Story ............................................................................................................................ 4
3.1 Developing and uploading www.wami.ict4rd.ne.tz website ................................................ 4
3.2 Installation of iPath collaboration Tool ................................................................................. 4
3.3 Configuring proxy to authenticate via openLDAP ................................................................. 4
5. Deliverables for the coming week. .............................................................................................. 6













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1. Report purpose

This is a feedback report on the status of thesis work going on at WAMI pilot site. This is
one of the pilot sites under ICT4RD project whose aim is to research on how the use of
information and communication technology can contribute to the development of rural
areas. On this context, ICT4RD through communication systems Design course run by
the Royal Institute of technology Stockholm, Sweden has built a Wide Area Network
connecting three villages, Chalinze, Lugoba and Miono through Wami.
The thesis work is continuation of the CSD course that covered building network,
developing, implementation and training developed solutions to end user. Objective of
this thesis work is to strengthen usage of network and services installed, manage and
secure this network, thus contribute to the development of this particular area and nation
at large.
2. Deliverables of the week
This week we proceed with establishing business model for internet usage, this task
include a comprehensive study on how to integrate openLDAP, Radius and Apache to
work together. Apache has to be used to force internet users via authentication procedure.
openLDAP stores user accounts and radius is for authenticating users via openLDAP as
well as accounting. The table below will summarize tasks performed towards
accomplishing this scenario and other services we accomplishes.

Deliverable Due Data Percentage
completed
Status
Configuring proxy to authenticate
users via openLDAP
JULY 6
th
2008 30% on schedule
Configuring freeRadius to authenticate
users against openLDAP
JUNE 6
th
2008 30% On schedule
Developing and uploading website
www.wami.ict4rd.ne.tz
JUNE 29
nd
2008 100% On schedule
Visiting Chalinze health center and
secondary school for troubleshooting
and maintenance
JUNE 29
nd
2008 100% On Schedule
Installation iPath collaboration tool on
a working server
JULY 6
th
2008 90% On Schedule
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Other tasks like communicate and train local systems administrator are continuous and
therefore there is not deadline for this task.

3. Successes Story
3.1 Developing and uploading www.wami.ict4rd.ne.tz website

This is a project websites; the aim is to provide information to the public about this
project and associated services. We have an introductory page about wami village and
water projects fiber cable. In the home page we describe about our project. The most
important page is services page which describes services provided by the project, to
include mail services, VoIP services, Internet Services, Business Portal and iPath
Collaboration Tool. We have a link on website to each of these services. Website can be
visited using the link www.wami.ict4rd.ne.tz

3.2 Installation of iPath collaboration Tool
This is a collaboration tool for medical professionals to share experience, successes and
problems for the sake of helping each other. The tool is publicly accessible through
www.wami.ict4rd.ne.tz/ipath. It will be useful for medical professionals across wami and
to communicate with other medical professionals in the world.
The installation is complete. The process involved creating ipath database in the web-
server and creating associated tables. Upload customized ipath that collaborate with
care2x from CSD project and configure it to work. The configuration is in the progress
there are few things to fix for it to work properly. For example we need to install
successfully XSLT so as to combat error messages that appear during login process.

3.3 Configuring proxy to authenticate via openLDAP

This is a beyond milestone configuration that will provide a basis for villagers to generate
income via internet usage. Currently we have established a means for controlling http
traffic to go across and the idea is to proceed further to authentication. Hence we have
created a database for storing user information in openLDAP and we are studying on how
to configure proxy authenticate users against this database. The diagram below will
describe the entire authentication process.
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The above program does not extend to accounting. The idea is to establish payment for
every user connecting to the internet. We are studying the best way to accomplish this
task. For the moment we are trying to research on how radius server can establish this
service. The diagram below will show the entire process including accounting.
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4.0 Challenges
4.1 Conectivity
So far the biggest challenge on this site is the connectivity. Connectivity to various
centers is not stable. From time to time problems occur either in fiber or in wireless side.
This week we have problems on fiber link between lugoba and Chalinze. Fiber link
between wami and miono is working fine, however wireless link between miono water
station and miono health center is not working again, and hence kikaro secondary school
will not be in a position to get any services. Electricity at chalinze secondary school is
back, however there is no adaptor to power up the radio as well as send/receive data.
4.2 Authentication Configuration
Study on authenticating users via LDAP and radius was made this week. However, test to
the configuration did not reveal positive results. We are still researching on the reason
behind.
5. Deliverables for the coming week

On the coming weeks we will be in a position to configure dhcp at each access point at
each center. The access point at each center will be responsible to supply IP addresses at
particular center in a given range. This will simplify ip address management and tracking.
Also we plan to develop a template for www.wami.ict4rd.ne.tz website and publish,
configure proxy to authenticate users through LDAP database, configure freeradius to
work with ldap database.