Gated Consortium - Current Membership

# Merit GateDaemon Consortium

## Merit Network, Inc.

Telephone: (313)764-9430 Fax: (313) 747-3185
Internet Mail: consortium-interest@gated.merit.edu

## GateD and the GateDaemon Consortium
Current Membership Information

## (Scheduled to be Changed January 1, 1997)

(last updated November 26, 1996)

What is GateDaemon?
  The GateDaemon project produces GateD (pronounced gate- dee), modular routing software used worldwide to interconnect packet-switched networks. It supports multiple IP and ISO network routing protocols. The Internet community uses it as a de facto reference implementation. It is a platform for prototyping and for broad distribution of new protocols and features, such as policy-based route filtering. It gives organizations access to leading edge network research and development. Many companies use GateD to bootstrap the production of interoperable networking products.
What is the GateDaemon Consortium?
  It is consortium of universities, industry, and other organizations formed to foster and expand the current successful collaborations centering on the development of the GateDaemon software. Merit Network Inc. is the lead institution.
Who can join?
  Any organization in any country with an interest in the Internet or in internetwork routing protocols is welcome to join. Membership, while strongly encouraged, is not a prerequisite for the licensing of GateD source code.
How much does it cost?
  There are currently four levels of membership:
  - Sponsor: U.S. $50,000
  - Associate: U.S. $25,000
  - Affiliate: U.S. $15,000
  - Academic or Startup: U.S. $ 5,000

  Membership is for 12 months. The amount coincides with the level of participation an organization wishes to support. For example, membership at the sponsor level permits an organization to send more representatives to Consortium activities than membership at the Affiliate level.

Who else provides financial support for GateD development?
  Merit GateD development is currently only supported by membership fees from the Consortium. Merit will continue to seek funding from Federal and commercial agencies for a portion of the overall budget. Much of Cornell's GateD development was supported by the National Science Foundation grants.

How does my organization join?
  An organization must sign a the cooperative agreement (click to access the agreement) and pay the membership fee. To have a copy of the agreement sent to you contact

      	  Michelle Dotson
      	  Merit GateD Consortium
      	  Merit Network, Inc.
      	  4251 Plymouth Road, Suite C.
      	  Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2785
      	  phone: (313)764-9430
      	  email: consortium-interest@gated.merit.edu
      	  fax: (313)747-3185

What does my organization get by joining?
  10 benefits that the GateD Consortium will provide the following direct benefits to its members:

  1. New GateD Documentation for Internals
  2. GateD Test Tools
  3. On-line help with your questions
  4. Availability of Test-bed to test your products
  5. Early Release of New Code

     The GateD web page has a the GateD Consortium Member section which is a members only section. The new GateD documentation, test tools, test bed scheduling and early release of code will be provided on this members-only page.

  6. Attendance at the Annual Progress Review and Technical briefings scheduled throughout the year.

     At the Annual Progress Review, members will have input to the setting of priorities and timetables for the GateD development and deployment agenda, access at times of mutual convenience to GateD developers, and input to changes to Consortium membership annual fees after the first year.

  7. Additional technical training can be requested from Merit on the GateD software
  8. Regular Communications, semi-annually in hardcopy and electronic communications as appropriate, detailing particular developments and progress on GateD.
  9. Yearly summaries of project expenditures and Consortium financial plans.
  10. Opportunities for member staff to participate in consortium training and educational activities and consortium-sponsored internships and residencies.

  The Consortium will provide the following indirect benefits to its members:

  - The GateD software will continue to an independent source of routing protocols outside of commercial router products.
  - It will be easier to learn more about GateD and the features that are added to the distribution.
  - It will be easier to do project planning which is dependent on new GateD features.
  - New functionality which is needed by the Internet community will be delivered on a more timely basis.
  - The transfer of internetwork routing technology from academia to industry and back will become more effective.

What is the Consortium Agreement

  An organization must sign a cooperative agreement and pay the membership fee to join the Merit GateD Consortium. The GateD Consortium provides a grouping of users and developers from the academic, commercial and research portions of the Internet. This grouping of users and developers provides place where professional collaboration can develop and delivery new protocols implementations. The consortium agreement describes what benefits members of the consortium receive. It describes guidelines on how members interact with Merit and other members. The document also discusses issues about publications, copyrighting, licensing, proprietary information and intellectual property rights.

  If you have any further questions regarding the Consortium Agreement Agreement, please send to consortium-interest@gated.merit.edu.