Question about Clustering, What counts? Options

[KCKitsune]

OK everybody, I was reading up about Clustering on pg 55 of Unwired. My question is this: What counts as a node WRT clustering. Take for instance my character:

1. Cyberhand with Commlink (5/5), Biomonitor, and Datajack built in
2. Alpha Grade Cybereyes (Rating 1)
3. Alpha Grade Cyberears (Rating 1)

Would any of the other cyberware count as a node? Would the Biomonitor and datajack count? Also how would I go about figuring out the ratings of the combined node (if it's even possible).

Also since I bought a Rating 6 Firewall Program, can I use THAT to protect the node rather than the "ratings equal to the lowest respective ratings of the nodes"?

[Cain]

Technically, anything with a Device rating can act as a node. So, the answer to your question is "All of the above", plus anything and everything else.

(Wow, I just realized. You can cluster your *clothes*. Talk about super-powered underwear!)

Also since I bought a Rating 6 Firewall Program, can I use THAT to protect the node rather than the "ratings equal to the lowest respective ratings of the nodes"?

Once you've cracked the copy protection, you can upload the program as many times as you wish, to whatever device you wish. So, just give everything a copy of the Firewall, and you're good.

[KCKitsune]

The question I have is this: Since my commlink is Response 5, but everything else is either Response 1 (bodyware: Cyberhand & Biomonitor), Response 3 (Headware: Datajack) or Response 4 (Alpha grade 'Ware: Eyes and Ears). The Average Response of this node would be 3.6. Why would I want to cripple my system by putting all those into a Cluster?

Is it possible to just Cluster the Eyes and Ears and have a Response 4 sub-node than can run my sensor software? This node can then be slaved to my 'Link if I need it.

[Ryu]

You would likely want to have the comlink as one node, and everything else clustered to form another (Your clothing will only have RFID chips, rather than being fully computerised). The benefit of clustering is that you don´t have to subscribe umpteen nodes, and that resources committed to defense are shared.

[Ol' Scratch]

As far as I can tell, the point of a cluster is to be able to run lots of personas and programs at the same time, at the cost of those personas and programs running on the best hardware available. It's not something you want to use for running your top of the line programs.

[Cain]

The question I have is this: Since my commlink is Response 5, but everything else is either Response 1 (bodyware: Cyberhand & Biomonitor), Response 3 (Headware: Datajack) or Response 4 (Alpha grade 'Ware: Eyes and Ears). The Average Response of this node would be 3.6. Why would I want to cripple my system by putting all those into a Cluster?

Is it possible to just Cluster the Eyes and Ears and have a Response 4 sub-node than can run my sensor software? This node can then be slaved to my 'Link if I need it.

I think you did it right. As for just clustering some things, and not others, you should be fine.

As for why you'd do it, I think Doc is right: you create a cluster because you want to run a lot of programs, and/or have a lot of personas active. For example, you can run a one-man agent smith attack this way.

[KCKitsune]

You would likely want to have the comlink as one node, and everything else clustered to form another (Your clothing will only have RFID chips, rather than being fully computerised). The benefit of clustering is that you don´t have to subscribe umpteen nodes, and that resources committed to defense are shared.

Except if I cluster everything else I get a Response of 3 rather than a Response of 4 for just clustering the Eyes/Ears. Does clustering the other five pieces of gear give me a bit better ability to run more programs?

[Ol' Scratch]

Processing power is the sum of all the ratings cut in half. So the more you cluster together, the more programs you can run. Some of your cluster node's stats just start to dwindle towards the lowest rating as the reprecussion.

[Ryu]

The pure number of programs you can run goes up with the number of devices in the cluster (+1/2 device rating), but weak devices also reduce your rating cap.

With such a small number of nodes making up the cluster, doing it for the program cap is not exactly efficient. In that case I would do what Unwired suggests and slave all implants to the comlink. Both eyes and ears can contribute an IC to the defense of the comlink.

[KCKitsune]

The pure number of programs you can run goes up with the number of devices in the cluster (+1/2 device rating), but weak devices also reduce your rating cap.

With such a small number of nodes making up the cluster, doing it for the program cap is not exactly efficient. In that case I would do what Unwired suggests and slave all implants to the comlink. Both eyes and ears can contribute an IC to the defense of the comlink.

I was thinking of offloading the Sensor Software to the eyes/ears cluster and slave that to the 'Link. This would allow me to run the IC on the 'Link (and at the greater rating and Firewall). The others of course slave to the 'Link and kill ALL of the Wireless signals from them. You want to hack my cyberhand? Bring a chainsaw.

Why the frak does a Datajack need to communicate wirelessly? My BioMonitor I can sort of understand, but the Datajack... no.

[Blade]

Just so that you can connect it wirelessly to your commlink and use it as your DNI device.

[Ryu]

Your comlink is wireless, so nothing else needs to be. See the little subtext for cyberware in the gear chapter of the main book. Opt-in on a wired full connection to the cyberhand, done.

[KCKitsune]

Just so that you can connect it wirelessly to your commlink and use it as your DNI device.

OK, I can see what you mean. My commlink is built into my cyberhand. I don't need the 'jack to have any wireless capability. I took the datajack for the ability to slot datachips, LinguaSofts, KnowSofts, and use my sim module. I just wish that Technical skills were KnowSofts rather than ActiveSofts.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

In that case I would do what Unwired suggests and slave all implants to the comlink.

Which is like telling a hacker: Hack my comlink and get my implants for free.

Better remove wifi from any implant and link them internally like told in the main book, using the security tricks from unwired.

Both eyes and ears can contribute an IC to the defense of the comlink.

They always can, as IC can run on one node and act on another.

[KCKitsune]

Which is like telling a hacker: Hack my comlink and get my implants for free.

Better remove wifi from any implant and link them internally like told in the main book, using the security tricks from unwired.

I would most certainly remove Wireless from everything but the Commlink. As for my commlink: Firewall 6, System 5, Stealth 5, Encrypt 5. If I run that in hidden mode I am almost invisible... I hope... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

[Blade]

IIRC Stealth doesn't hide the commlink, it just "disguises" personas.

[Ryu]

Stealth is used whenever you enter hidden mode. That is often overlooked.

Not connecting the eyes and ears to the comlink is not a viable option, so your choice is peer/slave/cluster. Slaved implants can provide two IC, the cluster will provide one. Clusters require a critical mass of nodes to be beneficial, and slaving is superior to simple hook-ups, security-wise.

[Rotbart van Dain...]

Slaved implants can provide two IC, the cluster will provide one.

And peered implants will provide 2 ICs as well.

slaving is superior to simple hook-ups, security-wise.

Absolutely not, if the comlink is the chokepoint to the implants.

Peering them will require the hacker to hack the commlink, then hack the implants.
Slaving them will allow the hacker to wreck havoc across all implants as soo as he has hacked the commlink.

Slaving is only interesting for external nodes, usually for wireless ones like drones.

[Ryu]

So I spoof your comlink to active mode and go straight to your implants, which I can exploit easily because of the (generally) low device rating?

Edit: Never mind, you´ll use a different account type. (I was thinking that you use the comlink via the datajack here, so that spoofing orders with the access ID of the datajack would be possible. Using a standard account for the comlink, rather than an Access-ID one, nicely sidesteps that issue, while the password can be stored safely on the datajack.)

[Blade]

Stealth is used whenever you enter hidden mode. That is often overlooked.

Do you have the references?

[Ryu]

Reference: Matrix Perception, pg. 218, hidden nodes roll Firewall+Stealth.

[KCKitsune]

So I spoof your comlink to active mode and go straight to your implants, which I can exploit easily because of the (generally) low device rating?

Edit: Never mind, you�ll use a different account type. (I was thinking that you use the comlink via the datajack here, so that spoofing orders with the access ID of the datajack would be possible. Using a standard account for the comlink, rather than an Access-ID one, nicely sidesteps that issue, while the password can be stored safely on the datajack.)

OK call me dense, but what I think you're saying is that since I'll have the Wireless turned off ripped out of my datajack and have it connect to my PAN, that it can have the admin password/access and the commlink is just non-root access and connection to the Matrix.

Also since Stealth is not going to help me hide, then I'll get rid of it and get another copy of IC to run on the eye/ear cluster. It can then go after any intruder that's trying to hit my 'link. Is that doable?

Last stupid question: I'm running a rating 3 IC program on my 'link. Page 227 says that the response attribute is the same as the node it's running on, so If the IC is on my 'Link (Response 5), then it'll have a Response 5 and can run up to Rating 5 programs right? The Rating 3 of the IC is just the "skill" it has in counter-hacking, right?

[Blade]

Reference: Matrix Perception, pg. 218, hidden nodes roll Firewall+Stealth.

Thanks!

[Wasabi]

Technically, anything with a Device rating can act as a node. So, the answer to your question is "All of the above", plus anything and everything else.

(Wow, I just realized. You can cluster your *clothes*. Talk about super-powered underwear!)


Once you've cracked the copy protection, you can upload the program as many times as you wish, to whatever device you wish. So, just give everything a copy of the Firewall, and you're good.

The BBB describes a PAN in what Unwired terms a node with Slaved devices. If all your nodes are clustered you'd need to have any item talking to another item use a subscription. Since most items have a device rating of 3 that means 6 other devices that can talk to it. Sure you can firewall them all but why would you want to mess with the subscriptions?

It is easiest instead of mapping all that out to just use a PAN with slaved devices then subscribe to your teammates PAN's. Use Ergonomic program options on each commlink and you can have 10 programs running on a Response 6, System 6 commlink with no degradation.

Plus, when you have a firewall on each device a hacker can reside in that device and monitor its activity and you'll never know it unless each device also has an Agent/IC with Analyze searching. Its an intruding TM's dream because you'll never ever find a TM using rating 3 programs.

[crizh]

then it'll have a Response 5 and can run up to Rating 5 programs right?

No Programs Ratings are limited by System. Pilots, Agents and IC have a System equal to Rating.

Invest in the Optimization program option from Unwired.