Interview with the project team of the month Sourceforge.net - GNS3

Hope everyone knows about sourceforge? If someone is not in the know, then sourceforge.net is perhaps one of the most famous platforms for opensource developments and their distribution. Besides the fact that I am always looking for the programs I need there first of all, I frankly like this community. The team blogs on its platform, and sometimes there are interesting posts there. One of which I bring to your attention.

In April, the GNS3 package was chosen as the project of the month . It is a graphical network simulator that allows you to design complex network topologies. The GNS3 team shared their thoughts on the history of the project, goals and direction of development.

SF: What made you start?

Jeremy Grossmann, creator and CTO, originally came up with the idea for his university graduation project. He was looking for a platform that could be used to easily learn and go through network certification, but could not find one. Then he made it himself.

SF: And what is the original goal achieved?

Yes, and even more so. It all started with the creation of a simple training utility, and is now used to build networks by Fortune 500 companies.

SF: Who can use your project to a greater extent?

Network specialists, and those who are going to become them soon. In general, to all those who are looking for the best ways to build and test computer networks.

SF: Is there really such a need for this graphics simulator?

Networking is an expensive and time-consuming task. GNS3 reduces costs by 90% and reduces time costs by more than 30%.

SF: Tell me the best way to get the most out of using GNS3?

Go to The Jungle and learn from the GNS3 experts. Get your hands on lab assignments, read the documentation, and start playing with the software.

SF: What has your team done to build and develop the community?

So in order:

• Created a cool software.
• Provided a place for communication and exchange of information between users.
• Used community feedback to improve software.
• We repeat.

SF: Do you think more frequent releases help build a user community?

Over the past year, we have released more than the previous 6 years. The quality of releases is more important than their quantity, but a quick fix is ​​crucial.

SF: When did you think your project shot for the first time?

In 2011, our project began unexpectedly, for us to take off. At that time, large network vendors such as Huawei, Cisco, HP, and Juniper began to release their own products with similar functionality. This allowed us to integrate the systems they developed, which was previously impossible.

SF: How did this happen?

Seeing the success of the project, large companies drew attention to this and wished to participate in this. In addition, their customers used our software.

SF: What is the end result of this event?

Our package summarizes parts of other people's developments, because we have the ability to integrate into the platform.

SF: What next?

Upgrade the platform to an all-in-one state (take anywhere, put anywhere, use anywhere).

SF: And when will this happen?

The work is already underway, there are working prototypes, so there will be a release within a year.

SF: Do you have the resources necessary for this?

Yes, large partners will help us.

SF: If you had the opportunity to start over, what would you do differently for GNS3?

We are doing this seriously from the very beginning. But until 2014, we did not know that we were doing anything special in the software and community. If we started to take seriously everything that we know and are able to do now in 2011, who knows where we would be now.

SF: Why?

If we would immediately pay close attention to user reviews.

SF: Is there any reason why you can't do it right now?

SF: We can. We have a full-time development team and infrastructure support. We push this project very high quality.

Thank you all for your attention!