[cumbria_lug] Greetings

[Ian Linwood]

Hello Mark,

Monday, September 29, 2003, 12:46:24 AM, you wrote:

> Hello,

> Just thought I #8217;d email to say hi and introduce
> myself.

Hi, glad you've joined us.
I'm sure I reflect the rest of the CLUG in welcoming you, and
hopefully we'll all meet up on Oct 9th.

>I have checked on the database and we have 3 users signed up that say they are
> using Linux. I guess they are people in CLUG.

OK, own up - who are the lucky gits who gan receive broadband! I'm
stuck in the sticks with my 56k modem  :-(

> Anyway a little bit about myself, I am (regrettably) largely
> a windoze user.

We'll beat that out of you!

> I have recently got into Linux. I #8217;ve
> used computers since I was 4 and programming (BASIC on Amstrad cpc464!!) when I
> was 5. I #8217;ve used various forms of x86 machines. Currently I have a 2ghz
> p4, 750mhz Duron, 1600xp Laptop (smashed screen L) and on
> Tuesday I get my replacement 2.2ghz laptop (nice!!). I use
> WinXPmainly but am testing distros at the moment. I like
> Mandrake but just got Debian which I will install on
> the 750mhz tomorrow.

> I am a programmer through and through. I am a guru in
> PHP and am learning ASP for work projects. For .exe type
> programming I use Delphiand C++. My  #8216;primary trade #8217; is
> web tech stuff. I used to run a
> company called Viewline Ltd (viewlineltd.com) which I
> rescued from the grave for a mate.

If you're a programmer, then you'll fall in love with Linux. The tools
available are diverse and superb in quality.

As for being a PHP guru  :-) been there...

> Back to stuff to do with CLUG, I have the skills and
> resources to run a standalone website. Also being part of SRI I may be able to
> promote CLUG.

> When is the next meeting for CLUG? I might be able to
> help with a venue. In Aspatria we have a resource centre with
> meeting rooms, We also have a 1Mbit connection to the net
> (Satellite). We
> might have to pay a small fee for use of a room (8 Win2k Machines
> plus 8 WinXP laptops and a projector, plus my linuxbox) but it
> #8217;s less than £10 for an evening which would share down to
> virtually nothing! If a pub is more the place to meet I can probably get the
> internet relayed over to the pub across from the office and WiFi #8217;dfor us laptop owners.

Yee ha, porn AND drink! Bliss. ;-)

[snip]

> Does CLUG have a membership structure? Is there some  #8216;boss
> type person #8217;?

ROFL.
schwuk, has been the 'organiser' lately, and kindly maintains the web
site. No boss as such, it's more fun that way.

Look in the archives, there has been some moderate power struggles and
flame wars. It's fun. Please remember, you need a rhino's skin 'round
here.

> I also might have a small bit of work for anyone who
> can setup a decent cache server and firewall. We have one in the office and I
> want to make it more secure.

again, schwuk, trevor, myself, and several others in the group are pretty competent
at this kind of thing. sus them out on Oct 9th.

I'll try and bring along a friend who is an _expert_ at this kind of
thing. Load balanced squid boxes to load balanced firewalls, et al...

Kind of thing I did for a living, for Customs, Inland Revenue,
banks,etc...

> You may have noticed I am a bit of a newbie at Linux
> but with a very strong Win/DOS background I cam picking things up quickly. I
> used to think Linux was hard to use but being able to install things as easy as
> I have done has proved me wrong.

depends if your using RPM's or;

tar xzvf ...
./configure
etc....

ie. packages or source

> Something that might be a good idea depending on
> numbers is to organise a whole day event where we can play with
> linux boxes all day!. (bring your own base unit).

Phew! Only if we also bring food and beer as well...
I'll contribute, but I'll need somewhere to crash (alcohol and a Mini
Cooper DO NOT MIX) If it's geared up, I'll bring some food, beer, and an SMP box.

> Aspatria is a pretty good location as it is fairly
> easy for the Whitehaven and Wigton members.

Oi, what aboot me!

> I hope that I can be and active and useful member of
> CLUG. I have lots of ideas and resources that could be of use,

I'm sure we can think of a use for you ;-)

This looks good. I get the impression that geography is playing i's
part in natural selection.

ATDT.....brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

-- 
Best regards,
 Ian