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Waldo Bastian wrote:
>A KDED Module that keeps track of the internet connection status and
> that provides DNS lookup service with intelligent support for
> round-robin DNS.

I'd like to add: centralised proxy service. I have been debating how to=20
best handle this, and it seems to be a way out here.

This would, however, require that the caller app identify itself. For=20
instance, the configuration for proxying in KMail may be different from=20
that of the ioslaves. And Kopete, for instance, may require per-account=20
configuration.

If this isn't the place here, the functions would do well to indicate the=20
"localness" of the address that was resolved. That way, the app itself=20
may decide whether to use proxying or not.

More: mDNS, DNS-SD and service publishing.

>* Keeping track of online/offline status
>* Prevent unneeded connection errors when the user is offline

Apps should never present errors to the user about connections that were=20
not user-initiated.

>* Make applications aware of online/offline status
>* Improve dial-on-demand functionality to kick in only with
>user-initiated actions.
>* Improve dial-on-demand functionality by [optionally] being aware of
> the local net topology and differentating between local addresses
> (always available)
>and internet addresses (availability subject to online/offline status)

I have to point out that this is for simple and slightly more complex=20
networks only. For anything highly complex, this may not work.

Therefore, we have to make sure that the "always-on" mode, as it is now,=20
keeps on working.

>Proposed DCOP interface
>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
[snip]

No big comments on the interface, except what I noted above about the app=20
identifying itself.

Harri Porten said:
>What if there are multiple ways to connect to the Internet? Somehow the
>notion of a "profile" would be nice where a different connection would be
>used depending whether you are at home (LAN, DSL etc.) or travelling
>(cell phone etc).

I don't think this should be in the DCOP interface. The caller app just=20
has to ask for connectivity. If there is more than one connection=20
method/profile, there should be a dialog box popping up, asking that.=20
It's also almost certain that passwords have to be input.

Waldo replied:
>Shuld the concept of "local access" be coupled [optionally] to a profile
>as  well? (use case: laptop in local network with local access to
>workstation or  mailserver, home network may or may not provide internet
>access, when  disconnected from local network laptop can use dial-in for
>internet access, but will have no "local access" to mailserver)

I think so. Aside from the local interfaces' networks, we may want to=20
offer a way of editing the list of addresses, in an Advanced tab.

>Should profiles be exposed to applications?

Even though I've seen some apps do it, I don't think we have to, now. In=20
the future, some specific apps, like KMail, may want to know about the=20
profile. For instance, to choose a suitable SMTP server. But I don't=20
think it should be now.

=2D-=20
  Thiago Macieira  -  Registered Linux user #65028
   thiago (AT) macieira (DOT) info
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