[Gloucs] Next meeting

[Mick Brooks]

On Tue, Sep 14, 2004 at 10:25:53PM +1000, Ian Cunningham wrote:
> I hope you don't mind me writing a reply.

Not a bit!

> I have just joined the mailing list as I am really wanting to learn
> linux so that i can create a home network with a linux server running
> as my firewall / mailclient / ftp.   I dont expect to learn all this
> overnight, i know it will take time.

Well then, welcome. I found the NAG book a good overview of how Linux
works with networks - it's available free online here (and other
places):

http://www.faqs.org/docs/linux_network/

and if you make it to a meeting (or if we can get an install day sorted)
drop me a line beforehand, and I'm sure I can lend you a real paper copy
for reading in the bath...

> what i was really wondering is when you will be holding your next
> install day?

That's a very relevant question. It seems we're commited to do something
on the 9th of October[1], but don't yet have a venue....

Are we going to be able to cobble something together at short notice?

[1] http://www.triv.org.uk/linuxday/

> I have the hardware ready and i have just downloaded
> slackware 10 which i think would be best suited to my needs (please
> tell me if you think another distro would be better, eg. mandrake,
> debian, suse, redhat). 

Try Slack out for a bit, and see how you go - you can always switch
later. We'll all have a million differing opinions on distros, but would
probably all agree that your first will not be your last. Just remember
to put /home on a separate directory, so that your files can survive a
few re-installs.

> I would really like to meet people who use linux on a regular basis as
> i think it a facinating idea, and after reading how microsoft have
> managed to disrupte a plan to stop spamming emails, i think i need to
> get my learning cap on.
> 
> I do hope you can/will help me in my quest.

Hopefully we'll have some meetings arranged for you to come to soon. In
the meantime, feel free to ask about anything you're unsure about; we'll
do our best.

-- 
Mick Brooks
michael.brooks at physics.ox.ac.uk