Stalemate

[jay]

As of 8pm this evening, my science collaboration simulation project is on standby. The colleague from Simon Fraser University who is responsible for the satellite link from Devon Island back to the Internet told me today that no outside access would be permitted... "no teleoperation of field computers from mainland sites." I have... a teleoperation project. So we wouldn't be able to access our remote computers through their firewall. So no project.

Two weeks before shipping... a complete redesign may be needed. Possibly dumping files into an http directory, setting up an extended VPN, listening at several dedicated ports (mapped to IP addresses or devices)... I'm freezing all travel plans and funds transfers until/unless the firewall issue is resolved. Stalemate.

At least our missing ATV and parts were found today. They had been in a San Jose warehouse for 5 days. I wouldn't recommend ABF Trucking... grr.

Comments

[handslive.livejournal.com]

Worse, this is probably some department (or equivalent) sized policy recently (i.e. in the last 12 months) put in place for "security" reasons. A lot of places have been clamping down on things, sometimes without thinking them through or without considering any compromises.

Sometimes the money stick can be used to wack things into some sense of normalcy, but you have to watch for bruising on both sides.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

With a bureaucracy, I could play politics... but this is from a lone ranger. I have no leverage except funding... which is now on hold.

However, international space politics come into play... this guy is from a Canadian university, trying to leverage his control of network interfaces into a future funding stream for his cash-strapped lab at Simon Fraser. CSA awarded him a grant, but hasn't paid-up yet.