[Nottingham] Notlug RFC1

[Martin]

Duncan John Fyfe wrote:
> Okay folks here are more musings on future events and a request for
> comments on them.
[...]
> 
> Questions I need answering:
> 
> 1. Do you have ideas for sessions to add to the list ?

Yes.


[...]
> 4. Can you help bring any of them about (particular expertise or just
>  an appreciative audience)

Yes, could be volunteered, although I would rate myself as still at n00b
status.


> 1. Beowulf Cluster(s)
> 
> Spend an evening having fun with a beowulf cluster. So we put
> together a Beowulf cluster and do what with it ?
> 
> The first person to suggest run SETI stuff on it gets shot.

There are various other more deserving projects at the moment (until the 
SETI folk get their act together (:-)).


> I think we need a 'LUG project' to put together something fun which
> would: a) Get everyone involved. b) Teach us a bit about developing /
> running things on a Beowulf cluster. c) Look good. d) Be fun to do.
> 
> Off the top of my head the only thing I can think of is rendering a
> small animation via Film Gimp.
> 
> This could involve sound, graphics, scripting for and rendering via
> Blender and or Film Gimp, viewing (with popcorn of course) and 
> ultimately release under a random copyright licence passed backwards
> through a bable fish.

Sounds like an excellent idea, although I can well see the session
running over a good few meetings.

What would be good, is if the cluster could then be left hooked up to 
the web to be used as a group compute resource. The only problem though 
would be where to get 'free' electricity and internet hookup.


> 2. Software Review
[...]

I think what would be useful and interesting is a list of what tools,
utils and packages people make everyday use of, and why which versions 
they use.

Often a problem with Linux is knowing what can be done and with what!



> 3. The Next Step
[...]
> but a session where the veterans could help expand neonates use of 
> Linux into new areas could work.

As for item 2 but for the more unusual or advanced stuff...


> 4. NCC-1701-E
> 
> I guess something like: Given a standard distro what should I install
> and how do I go about setting up a cool secure website with all sorts
> of whistles and bells (dynamic updates, database backend,
> authentiaction, authorization, yodelling penguin in the corner) ?
[...]

Yes!

And then add it to the NLUG supercluster?


> 5. Distro Specific Evenings

I'm firmly on Mandrake 9.2, however I'd certainly be interested in
seeing how other's can demo their favourite distro.


> 6. Hardware
[...]

Not too much of an interest for me, unless someone has put together some
sort of supercomputing water cooled monster! Or alternatively, a
Pixie-II or a quiet home multimedia system (;-))



And for a topical addition:

Antispam and antivirus measures. Also to clear up the stories of how
Linux is vulnerable to viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, or whatever
and how or not.

(Now riding at 1.6kBytes/s to 4.2kBytes/s of WinWorms crap.)


I think a few beers are needed to nail a listing and nail a few to that
listing.


Cheers,
Martin

-- 
----------------
Martin Lomas
martin@ml1.co.uk
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