What is ‘Marbled Fennec Networks’?
The project is the end result of a very loose knit group of computer networking hobbyist. We work together to bring IPv6 connectivity to other hobbyist’ homelabs and devices, while making things such as IPv4 port forwarding and IPv6 connectivity easier to access and deploy.
What is ‘FurrIX’?
FurrIX, or furrix.zone, is a subproject of ours that is responsible for all of the router gear, IP address allocations and network operations.
Why do y’all do this?
To learn new skills relating to IT and ISP technology, to practice building and maintaining computer networks, to apply our skills and make the IPv6 internet more accessible. But mostly, we run the project just for fun.
The whole idea is that Marbled Fennec Networks and FurrIX will try to provide a space that can get accepted members connected to the greater IPv6 internet and they then can learn and experiment with networking within their homelab.
Do you accept just anyone?
It is not that simple. Our resources and time are limited, so we tend to limit who and what we accept into our project and network. Anyone can make an application through the support desk, but that doesnāt mean youāll be accepted in. We have to be mindful of current server load, network bandwidth and ability of our volunteer staff to keep up with everyone.
Whats the cost?
For project members, project guest and end users- nothing. We don’t sell bandwidth or hosting; we don’t provide support beyond getting our users up and running on the network and we don’t have a staff overhead because our project runs on a purely volunteer handled basis.
For the project’s core group, we foot the operational cost of MFN and FurrIX ourselves, usually taking turns every month or two to front the cost of keeping the lights on. At the end of the day, The project only exist because we want it to and we put in the effort to keep it going.
What about reliability of your network?
Marbled Fennec Networks is not a commercial company or a commercially sponsored project. MFN does directly sponsor and help with the operation of FurrIX, but neither is a commercial company. We have maybe two or three volunteer techs on a good day handling tickets, creating/modifying connection profiles, working on routing, keeping the firewall in check and so on. If you need a service provider who has pure uptime and commercial stability in mind; you need to look elsewhere, just being very upfront about this.
For most homelab users, our network will likely do okay for getting their services/VMs publicly accessible. We deliver IPv6 connectivity just for that purpose. Bandwidth might be a little limited, but hey, at the end of the day..folks get online even if they are behind a 5G, LTE or otherwise limited configuration internet connection.
While our volunteer techs do strive for quick turn around on tickets and emails, fast connections for new members and firewall setup for homelabs; all of our volunteer staff have lives outside of the project that come first. Again, we do this for fun.
Something else to keep in mind is that because our time for moderation and project related task is limited; we tend to be choosy about which service applications we approve and work with. We cannot simply accept everyone onto our network. We have a limited set of resources such as volunteer techs, bandwidth and server hardware.
ā¦And the purpose of all this is?
For those involved in our project to learn, grow and have fun. I guess you could say it is one of those ābecause we couldā kind of things. Hopefully the project survives for a little while longer this time
around. We tend to come and go, as the finances arenāt always there to keep everything together.
Will yāall be here tomorrow?
We canāt make any promises, but we always try to survive another month.
It depends on having enough volunteer staff members to keep everything
updated and running; as well as having the financing from our core
members to keep the lights on. Iād like to say āYes! Weāll be here
until we burn out!ā but in all honesty with you, the projectās wake
takes a slow toll on various folks play money. Weāll do our best to
keep marching forward for as long as the money is there to do so.