Joe Metzger

ESnet Computer Systems Engineer

e-mail:	metzger@es.net
telephone:	+1-515-294-1939
facsimile:	+1-515-294-4491
office:	314 Wilhelm Hall
joined ESnet:	January 1997
joined SCL:	February 1992

Degrees Held:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, 1987

Old Projects

Implementing an ATM network.
Presenting a short talk about networking to AIS teachers.
Working with PGP

Interests

Telecommuting
I work for Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (also known as LBL) in Berkeley California. I live and work in Ames Iowa. I also have an office at LBL that I use from time to time. This is possible because technology is evolving to the state where you really don't have to reach out and physically touch computers very often. You can do almost anything over the net. ESnet, like many organizations has taken this a step farther by putting all of our production machines in a computer room with 24 hour operator staff. This way you don't have to see or hear the machines but if you have to push the reset switch, it is just a phone call away.
Technology is evolving to the point where the location of a computing professionals employer should not mandate where they have to live. People should be free to choose if they want to live and raise a family in Berkeley or Oakland (home of ebonics) or if they want to live in a small college town surrounded by corn fields (and the occasional pig farm).
Wireless Networking
Wireless networking can make better economic and technical sense than paying the phone company big bucks in some cases. I am currently using a system from KarlNet to connect my house to the Ames Lab network. This system provides about a 1 Mbps connection for about $2500 an end point. It requires a line of sight between the end points. Some people have used this system for distances up to 14 miles.
I have been so used to this wireless system that it was quite a shock when I recently realized that I was getting better throughput from my Berkeley office to my basement in Iowa than the person next door could get to his house in the SF bay area via PacBell ISDN. Too bad that they have hills and other obstructions in California. It is easy to get your antenna above the Corn in Iowa.
Video Conferencing
Can't live with out it... What else is there to say?

If I don't work for ISU, why am I still around?

I am no longer a direct Ames Lab or ISU employee. I have made a barter arrangements with Ames Lab management to exchange a small amount of my time for an office at Ames Lab. If you would like to contact me, please try email. My work arrangements call for frequent travel (I try to see my boss face to face once a month) and I don't check voice mail often. If you have questions about SCL related issues, try email to help@scl.ameslab.gov for technical problems and elbert@ameslab.gov for policy/management issues.

Contact: Joe Metzger +1-515-294-1939 metzger@AmesLab.gov
Alternate: Maria Blanco +1-515-294-0982 mblanco@AmesLab.gov
Page prepared by Maria E. Blanco