Update on the Lack of Updates & PhD Acceptance

Just a quick post to let any readers know why there has been a lack of posts on the blog lately. I have been working like crazy on my thesis with the hope of completing it in the next month or so. I have also been preparing for the AINA 2009 conference I will be presenting at Bradford University in England. Also I have been working on a paper for a conference in Toronto (TIC-STH 2009 I think) with a deadline of May 1st May 31st (extended). So theres been alot going on and not much time.
As soon as I get the thesis completed though I hope to post alot more new content on the blog (as well as a potential redesign since this one seems a little cluttered and busy to me). Check back soon for alot more in-depth info on using ns3 since that is what I have been using for my thesis experiments lately. Update: I am set to defend on May 18th at Guelph. Let me know if you are interested in attending, I will provide more details via email.
In other news, the University of Guelph has officially accepted me to their Ph.D program to start in the Fall of this year (still under Dr. Denko) so I am pretty excited about having the opportunity to continue my research in Wireless Networks. I am still waiting on responses from a couple of other schools (Waterloo & Calgary) so if I end up getting accepted to either of those I will have quite a decision to make. Update: I have accepted a position at the University of Guelph and will be starting there in the fall of 2009.
Tags: Acceptance, AINA 2009, Guelph, ITC 2009, Ph.D., Project, Thesis, Toronto, Wireless
Cluster Computer Case Suggestions?

So I’ve recently come across a bunch of free computers and I’ve decided to try to hook them together to form a beowulf style cluster for running some of my simulations on since I think I can modify the code to be parallel. I have tested all of the computers and have them spread across my basement floor however I seem to have a problem. I need a way to enclose them into some sort of case or storage area. I don’t want to use wood and have been exploring some kind of plexiglass or similar material without much luck. So far the best idea I’ve seen has been the “Microwulf“.
Distributed Screen Saver Project

A couple of days ago while trying to stay awake while my simulations ran for hours, I came across this website: Electric Sheep. It seems like a really cool idea. It is a “distributed screensaver” that makes use of genetic algorithms to progress and improve itself. If the people who are using the screensaver press a button they can rate the screensaver good. This is then used as part of the fitness function in the genetic algorithm allowing the good screensavers to be carried along into the next generations.
Tags: Computing, Distributed, Project, Saver, Screen

Ns-2.33 (and nam) on Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron)