What is ‘Marbled Fennec Networks’?
The project is the end result of a very loose knit group of five computer networking and IT hobbyist. We work together to bring IPv6 connectivity to other hobbyist’ homelabs and devices, while making 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 routing gear, IP address allocations, subnet management and network operations. FurrIX can be thought of as the backend for everything else on MFN.
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. 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 and guest- 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 and amateur basis.
What about reliability of your network?
Neither Marbled Fennec Networks and FurrIX are not commercial entities and make no warranty of our offered services. Everything we deploy and operate is done so as a use-at-your-own-risk situation. We have maybe two or three volunteer techs on a good day handling tickets, creating/modifying connection profiles, working on routing, dealing with the firewall and keeping up with our VMs. 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 configurable internet connection.
While our volunteer techs do strive for quick turn around on tickets and emails, working on 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.
…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 “because we could” kind of things.
Will y’all be here tomorrow?
We can’t 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. I’d like to say “Yes! We’ll be here until we burn out!” but in all honesty with you, the project’s wake takes a slow toll on various folks play money. We’ll do our best to keep marching forward for as long as the money is there to do so.