A remote server dispatches an instruction packet to a node in a network through a linear communication orbit formed by a collection of nodes. The instruction packet propagates from node to node along the linear communication orbit until reaching the node. The instruction packet includes instructions for establishing a direct duplex connection between the node and the remote server. After dispatching the instruction packet to the node through the linear communication orbit, the remote server receives, from the node, a request for establishing the direct duplex connection. In response to receiving the request from the node, the remote server establishes the direct duplex connection. After establishing the direct duplex connection, the remote server issues instructions to the node to upload local data from the node to the remote server through the direct duplex connection.