Welcome! NANOG is an educational and operational forum for coordination of network operations in North America. Membership is open and conference participants typically include senior engineering staff from Tier 1 and Tier 2 ISPs. For more information, see http://www.nanog.org/about.html.
Attending a Meeting
Presentation Guidelines
NANOG meetings are held three times a year, generally in October, February, and May or June. The conferences are held at a hotel conference center, in order to accommodate the number of attendees (575 at the February 2008 meeting in San Jose).
The meetings typically run from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning. NANOG meetings are quite informal, and include the General Session on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings; tutorials, BOFs, and tracks during the afternoons; and evening social events.
General Session
This single track of presentations is tightly focused on operational
issues of concern to Internet backbone operators. Presentations
generally last from 10 to 30 minutes. For more information on agenda
topics, see the Call for Presentations and How to Give
a Presentation at NANOG.
Tutorials
Tutorials last from ninety minutes to three hours, and focus on
introductory to moderate-level instruction for network operators. Some past
topics have included:
BOFs
Three or four BOFs are usually scheduled; each focuses on
engineering problems and technical issues of common interest to attendees.
Potential presenters should note that NANOG BOFs are in-depth
technical discussions, not opportunities for marketing.
Beer 'n Gear!
The
ever-popular "Beer 'n' Gear" even gives attendees a chance to
socialize while checking out the latest equipment from sponsoring vendors.
Network engineers, operators, and other technical staff from networking organizations are welcome to present a talk at NANOG. Speakers typically represent research institutions, academia, business, and industry; many work for major U.S. backbone providers or equipment vendors.
What Kinds of Topics Are
Appropriate?
As you can see from the Call for Presentations and previous agendas,
NANOG presentations are highly technical in content, and focus on operational
issues of critical importance to the operations community.
Attendees are quite sensitive to keeping NANOG presentations non-commercial, and product pitches are strongly discouraged. Repeated audience feedback shows that the most successful talks focus on operational experience, research results, or case studies. Presenters who are organizing a panel or BOF are encouraged to include speakers from several (perhaps even competing) companies and/or a neutral facilitator. See http://www.nanog.org/presentations.html for additional presentation guidelines.
If you would like to make a presentation at a NANOG meeting, please send an abstract and draft slides (PDF preferred) to nanog-support@nanog.org. Presenters must submit their abstract themselves, rather than working through a third party, an advertising/PR firm or marketing department. Merit will pass the abstract along to the NANOG Program Committee.
The NANOG registration fee is waived for:
Wireless cards are available for loan at the meeting. The wireless network requires authentication via an on-site, one-step, Web registration form.
NANOG meetings are hosted by local sponsoring companies/organizations known as "local hosts." A NANOG host receives Internet-wide recognition for their contribution to the ISP community. As the host, your name will be prominently displayed on all printed and online material about the NANOG meeting, and will be widely circulated on the 8,300-member NANOG email list. Some past former hosts are AOL/Time Warner Cable, Cisco Systems, CenterGate Research Group, the University of Oregon, Switch & Data, Sprint, Terremark, and Yahoo!
Staff from the hosting organization who are actively involved in setting up meeting facilities or on-site equipment are invited to attend the conference at no cost. We ask that staff from the hosting organization not directly involved with supporting the conference register as regular attendees.
Host Responsibilities
NANOG hosts provide the following services:
Detailed information about Merit's and the host's responsibilities for building and running the hotel network is available at www.nanog.org/host.html. Merit covers catering costs not picked up by sponsoring vendors, as well as all A/V costs, through the NANOG registration fee. Merit also hosts NANOG meetings periodically.
Hotel Recommendation and Group
Reservations
We recommend that local host ensures the hotel(s) can accommodate up
to 600 people. Additional hotel information is available at www.nanog.org/hotel.info.html.
Multicast-Capable Meeting Room
The meeting room (ballroom) should hold about 600 people. Most laptop users will
use the wireless network; approximately 10 ethernet connections are needed
as well. Merit will handle wireless and multicast connectivity.
Registration Desk
Six tables with chairs for sign-in should be located at the
entrance to the meeting facility. The local host provides maps to
local restaurants close to the hotel lunch location.
Local Host Web Page
At least eight weeks prior to the meeting, Merit will ask the local
host to create a Web page with the following information:
We will be glad to provide potential hosts with more information about
NANOG; please send e-mail to nanog-support@nanog.org or call Merit at
(734)764-9430.
NANOG counts on the support of the community for everything from presentations to loaner equipment and event sponsorship. Your presence as a NANOG sponsor gives you the chance to meet and talk with technology-savvy attendees representing a wide spectrum of networking organizations. In addition to high visibility at NANOG meetings, supporters are mentioned (and thanked :) on the Web, on the 8,300-member NANOG email list, and with public recognition during meetings.
Morning and Afternoon Breaks
Vendors or providers who cover the cost of a morning or afternoon break
can set up a tabletop equipment display, providing an extra chance
to interact with attendees. Two engineers representing the company can
display a banner and up to three white papers, and use the time to provide
technical information about the company's products. Both engineers get a
complimentary registration. Breaks are 30 minutes and are
sponsored by a single vendor.
Beer 'n Gear
Vendors or providers who would like to demonstrate equipment can
co-sponsor the evening "Beer 'n Gear," a wildly popular event where
attendees can unwind from the meeting, enjoy appetizers and beer, and look
over the new technology. The two vendor representatives at the Beer 'n
Gear should include experienced engineers who can answer attendees'
questions about the various products. Both engineers get a complimentary
registration. Beer 'n Gear participants also receive recognition as
the meeting's continental breakfast sponsors.
NANOG is a forum for engineering/operations coordination and education.
Just as NANOG presentations prohibit material relating to any specific
product or service offerings, equipment exhibits are limited to the "Beer
'n Gear" and mid-morning and afternoon breaks. We also urge vendors not to
sponsor hospitality suites.
Costs and Logistics
Sponsoring lunch, dinner, or a welcome reception is also an option.
Sponsorships for breaks or meals are available on a first-come,
first-served basis. If you would like to sponsor an event, please send
e-mail to nanog-support@merit.edu.
Please note that sponsoring a meal or break does not guarantee a
speaker or BOF slot during the meeting. Agenda planning is handled completely
separately from hosting or sponsorship activities.
Approximate food costs are:
Morning or afternoon break
(coffee, juice, fruit, cookies,
muffins, cola, water)
$4,000 Beer 'n Gear/Continental Breakfast $10,000 per
vendor
Questions and comments about NANOG are welcome—please send
e-mail to nanog-support@nanog.org.