NOTE: In order to process your application, you must complete each of the following four sections, as well as meet all listed requirements. When completed, mail the document along with any and all attachments to the network administrator mailing list. Applications that do not follow these instructions will be duly ignored. Server Application for EsperNet =============================== Drafted by Ian R. Justman, et al. Amended 03/01/2004 by Ian R. Justman Amended 10/12/2008 by Sean Rees (eri) Amended 04/13/2010 by Timothy McGrath (Hikaru) Initial Requirements -------------------- Before applying to EsperNet, you and your site must meet the following basic requirements: ===================================================================== IF YOU ARE RUNNING AN OPERATING SYSTEM BY MICROSOFT AND ARE CONSIDERING APPLYING FOR A SERVER, S T O P! Servers running under any operating system by Microsoft will NOT be accepted. Absolutely NO exceptions. ===================================================================== 1. You must be running some variant of Unix. FreeBSD and Linux are preferred. Your system must be capable of running our IRCd with SSL enabled. 2. You must have a fixed IP address. 3. Your site must be up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the long term. 4. Your site must have a decently fast link. We recommend at least 1 megabit symmetric. 5. You must be able to maintain a presence on EsperNet to participate in administrative matters, aid in enforcement of rules, and be available to help those requesting help. 6. You must be familiar with EsperNet's Policy Statement and follow it. 7. You must be an operator on an existing EsperNet server for at least three months prior to applying for a server. 8. Your server must run a time-synchronization daemon, such as NTP. 9. Your server, if approved, must be able to run a Blitzed Open-Proxy Monitor (BOPM) with our configuration. NOTE: It is NOT required that you have a registered domain name, as your server will be integrated into the "esper.net" domain. Information =========== Server Information: ------------------- 1. IP address 2. Desired EsperNet server name 3. Server machine type, amount of memory, processor type, OS, and version 4. Does this machine perform other tasks (e.g. mail, news, DNS services, etc.)? 4. Link speed 5. Major backbone connections 6. Geographical location Personal Information: --------------------- 1. Real name 2. Phone number 3. EsperNet nickname 4. Do you own and/or have full administrative control over the server? 5. If the answer to either question posed in #4 is "no": a. Person/organization in charge of the server b. Telephone number of above c. E-mail address of above Freeform Answer Section: ------------------------ 1. How much IRC experience do you have? 2. How much experience have you had with EsperNet? 3. What do you feel you could contribute to EsperNet? 4. If you have any IRC operators in mind, please list them now. 5. What kind of schedule would you be able to follow, i.e. how much time could you devote to EsperNet per week? You must be actually at your computer during that time, actively participating in EsperNet-related affairs. 6. Anything further to add? Feel free to write as much as you feel like writing. Additional Files: ----------------- You must also attach the results of THREE different ping times and traceroutes to each of EsperNet servers on TWO days of the week. Consult http://www.esper.net for a current list of servers. The schedule you should follow should be as follows: Wednesday @ 3 a.m., noon, 8 p.m. -8 GMT (PST) Saturday @ 3 a.m., noon, 8 p.m. -8 GMT (PST) You don't have to be EXACT with this schedule. An hour on each side is acceptable. When you collect ping times, please use as large a sample as possible. At least 100 packets is recommended, though the more collected, the better picture we'll get. The results of these SIX sets of pings and traceroutes must all be sent in along with your application. If any of this information is missing, your application will not be accepted. Additional Requirements: ------------------------ You must hold harmless all involved in EsperNet, including but not limited to, EsperNet users, server administrators and operators, and hub administrators. As an administrator of an EsperNet server, you must care about EsperNet's development by actively participating in its operation. Remember, you form the backbone of this network, therefore the users rely on you. We need your support to actively nurture EsperNet's spirit by being someone upon whom we can depend. As such, we require that your server be available for the long term. If you're interested in a "short-term" connection, please do not apply. Thank you for your interest in applying to EsperNet.