MESSAGE
| DATE | 2008-04-02 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] [ruben@mrbrklyn.com: Re: [nylug-talk] need to refer client for Red Hat help / OLPH project]
|
----- Forwarded message from Ruben Safir -----
X-Original-To: nylug-talk-at-nylug.org
Delivered-To: nylug-talk-at-nylug.org
X-Spam-DCC: Misty: gotham 1170; Body=1 Fuz1=1 Fuz2=1
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.2.1 (2007-05-02) on gotham.nylug.org
X-Spam-Level:
X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.6 required=5.2 tests=AWL,BAYES_50,
FB_WORD1_END_DOLLAR,SARE_SUB_RAND_LETTRS4,VNX_BODY_PRICE autolearn=no
version=3.2.1
X-Spam-Tagged-By: NYLUG Spam/Virus Tagging
X-Spam-Pyzor:
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2008 21:17:59 -0400
From: Ruben Safir
To: NYLUG Technical Discussion
In-Reply-To: <001901c89476$43fb65e0$210aa8c0-at-chameleonxp>
User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.6i
Subject: Re: [nylug-talk] need to refer client for Red Hat help / OLPH
project
X-BeenThere: nylug-talk-at-nylug.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9
Precedence: list
Reply-To: NYLUG Technical Discussion
List-Id: NYLUG Technical Discussion
List-Unsubscribe: ,
List-Archive:
List-Post:
List-Help:
List-Subscribe: ,
Errors-To: nylug-talk-bounces+ruben=mrbrklyn.com-at-nylug.org
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by www2.mrbrklyn.com id m331JDIN018446
On Wed, Apr 02, 2008 at 12:01:43AM -0400, JH Earthlink wrote:
> Hi all,
Hello and welcome to the NYLUG mailing list. Being new to the GNU/Linux world you should be
aware of a few things. First, for us old times, every few months it seems that
a similar message gets posted to some GNU mailing list that I actively participate.
I salute your enthusism, and I hope this post can spread some light.
>
> It seems like you folks are far more advanced Linuxians
I'm not sure what that is, but address people who use GNU OS's
as a nation, as if your an outsider seems a bit over the top
but I'll let it slide. GNU OS's are about inclusion from the
moment you touch the keyboard or SNDIN of a GNU/Linux OS. So
I hope you enjoy your entry to the wide GNU world and find that it
allows you to use computers in a way tailored to your unique
living expereince. GNU users are not all or even a majority
large conglomerate or big iron users, although we have plenty
of those.
Between me and kids we have 15 systems in use within the house
and none of them even have a raid array.
> than I am, and dealing with larger conglomerations of computers.
I'm a freelance computer tech, who supports Windows, Macintosh,
some Linux, and (blast from the past), Atari.
A large number of folks in both the NYLUG and NYLXS community predate
atari :)
Think VIC20, and punch cards on VMS.
>I do a lot of work with Puppy Linux on older computers. More on that later.
>
> I have two items I'd like some feedback on. First, I've got a brand-new client,
> who has a dual-booting (very old) computer with Windows 98 and some
>version of Red Hat on it.
Somewhere in the /etc directory is a file that will likely tell you
what is the exact version of redhat. You can use the cat command
read the file.
> Best guess on the RH is some version between 7 and 9.
Or between 4 and 5. Keep this machine off the unfirewalled net.
>If anyone can tell me how to find a version number in RH, that would help -
> I looked, and it wasn't obvious.
>
> Here's the kicker - the computer was set up by a whiz-kid grad student
> who is no longer available to support him.
>
> Plus, the whiz-kid did some programming, and customization of the RH install.
This is normal for a deeloper. Either tools are added or servers compiled. The
core is likely not changed, although he likely played with the services directory
under /etc/rc.d or /etc/init.d
> The EU has no clue what. And of course the w-k didn't bother to document anything
> - that would have been too adult and responsible...
Maybe, or maybe he wasn't paid to do so or maybe something else. Documentation is
a huge amount of work and most normally people only do it when paid to. Or maybe
there were economic reasons. I didn't document the internals of changes I made
to customized systems unless substantially compensated.
> Sadly, the install CDs, documentation on commercial programs installed, and anything
> else you need is buried under (tall) piles of paper - not an easy, or organized work
> environment...
Sounds normal.
>
> I was able to fix several of this guy's issues - replaced his broken CD drive with a nice
> DL DVD burner, diagnosed his dead speakers (blown amp), and started working on his dead
> scanner - 'twas unplugged at the AC - lights up now but no scan yet.
>
> But he's having browser issues in RH, and I'm not familiar with RH at all. I looked at the Firefox rpms,
> but not knowing his RH version I wasn't sure which were the right ones.
Older versions would likely have issues with libraries for firefox.
Use the
locate
command
locate firefox-bin
or try to learn the
find
command ....
man find
also try
man rpm
> And an Opera rpm I downloaded wouldn't unpack.
>
> I'd like to hook this EU up with someone who knows RH better than I do, so he can get his more
> esoteric problems dealt with. I don't want any $$$ for the hookup - I'm just trying
> to connect an older Linux user with the right person to help him. I charge $30/hr for time
> and the EU was OK with that - I'm sure he'd pay more if needed - but he's not rich, and not
> in good health either.
>
Well I'm out. I charge nearly $200.00 an hour for computer work, but if he visits me at
Montefoire Hospital I'd be happy to deal with his health issues in the Pharmacy are prevailing
rates.
> If there's anyone in this LUG who has the time/chops to help this guy - or even help me
>to help him, your contact info would be much appreciated! As a tech, I feel an ethical
> responsibility to get a fix here. If you come to me with a problem, I own it until it's
> resolved - one way or another.
You'll learn better soon, BUT there are some great kids here on NYLUG and if my son was
in from Milwaukee where he dorms, I'd send him.
>
> ----------------------
>
> The second item is a project I started with a guy I know who sells used computers. He said to me
> that if I could get a free Linux distro to run on old laptops, AND work with a wireless PCMCIA
> card, I'd have the Holy Grail, and people would buy them like hotcakes.
This is an old idea, not a new one. A lot of installfests are spent installing old systems.
The truth is, as a business model I have deep doubts. It's been tried a lot of times, but
there is little money in it and one has to remember that old equiptment is like an old lightbulb.
Aside from being expensive to run, the systems simply burnout with age and use. In this day and
age it is questionable to bring anything short of a Pentium 4 or AMD Duron on line, regardless of
cost, unless your setting up an educational lab or something like that because the costs of hardware
is greater than the costs of running it.
> That seemed like a do-able thing, and after running through a bunch of distros, I found one that seems
> to be pretty universally installable on older laptops.
>
> The winner is Puppy Linux 2.15CE (Community Edition) - it's got a nice assortment of programs and more for d/l.
> Available at: http://www.puppylinux.org/user/downloads.php?cat_id=1
>
> There are a few neat things about Puppy for non-corporate use - or with some tweaks, maybe even
> a Biz Puppy.
> It's VERY fast - the fastest distro I've ever worked with. It's also small, a typical install is under
> 100 MB, although you can fatten it up easily. Even better, it's not only a 'live CD' distro, it
> has what I've never seen in any other distro - a so called 'multi-session' feature, where you can
> do work and save it BACK to the CD you booted from.
Doc Searles of Linux Magazine likes this distro and the developers. Frankly though, all GNU distro's
are equal. That is the ammendment to Baggage's Law of computing,
The real OLPC project has spent a ton of money and time thinking about this.
> Assuming, of course, that your 'puter has a
> CD burner installed. The ideal distro for Internet cafes - put your own personal hard drive in
> your pocket and walk out...
That's another issue and I disagree. Internet Cafes need more, not less, to run a cafe properly.
Thats a different problem and I disagree.
>
> Last, but not least, Puppy will run entirely in RAM if you have 256 MB installed - and that makes for
> some rippin' speed!
That is also old. How do you think the systems install?
> The only downside for corporate use is that Puppy user default is 'root' with all the power and danger
> that implies. But a locked down version for workstations could be tasty.
>
> We (my computer reseller colleague and I) put some ads up on Craigslist and got no bites. So I started
> a project on Fundable - http://www.fundable.com/ - it's a website where you can set up a project and ask
> for donations. This can be for personal stuff or civic/charity/biz projects.
>
Thanks for the tip. Grind on and learn more. Be methodical about your learning.
> I call my project "One Laptop Per Human aka Born Again Computers'. I'm deliberately spinning off the OLPC -
> One Laptop Per Child project. But in my case, I don't want to build new computers,
> I want to take old laptops, put Linux on them, set them up for wireless, and sell them dirt cheap.
> Heck, it keeps 'em out of landfill, and gives poor people a chance to own a computer, and get on
> the Web. Until I find something better, I'll Puppy-ize them.
>
> You can see my group at:
> http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-03-31.9591205345?email=jhecht-at-ix.netcom.com
>
that is tacky for a first post.
> You're welcome to visit, and if you feel the project is worthwhile, to donate any amount you can
> afford - it would be deeply appreciated!
>
> To whet your appetite, here's the pitch from the site:
>
> You may have heard of the OLPC - One Laptop Per Child Project. http://laptop.org/ They're building great, kidproof computers from scratch, with an innovative Linux operating system. They're awesome - but they sell for $200. I'm a pro computer tech who's also a eco-head/hardcore Green. I want to re-cycle old laptops as wireless Web browsers - and I've found a way to do it! Better a (working) laptop in your lap, than in landfill because it can't run the latest Window$ bloatcode...
>
That is more than tacky for a first time poster. It's spamish.
> So I want to start the One Laptop Per Human Project. It will provide functional wireless laptops to people at prices they can really afford in this Bush-ravaged economy. $60-$70 for a working wireless laptop!
To repeat, those are very ungreen machines. But if you run into some picturebooks, email me.
>
> These computers are literally 'Born Again' - all traces of Windows have been erased, and a (much faster) Linux operating system has been loaded and tested. They work - or they don't go out the door!
>
> Even better, my recycled old laptops actually run FASTER than most new Windows Vista laptops - at least those that cost less than $1,200!
>
> I've spent over three years testing among the 300+ different versions of Linux, and have found a free version that installs on every old laptop I've tried it on. It's called Puppy Linux 2.15CE (Community Edition). It's a brilliant version of Linux that runs blindingly fast and comes with a ton of free programs, including a MS Word compatible document writer, and an Excel compatible spreadsheet - among dozens more. All free, all legal, and very fast! You can learn more about Puppy at www.puppylinux.com.
>
> With the addition of a $15 wireless card, I can make almost any old laptop into a dog-gone good Web browser with a lot of useful, easy to work with programs thrown in as a bonus. I'll give the (very modest) specs that are needed at the end.
>
> I'm working with a computer reseller who has access to a lot of old computers. But we're both pretty low on funds. I want the $600 to buy old computers, install Puppy Linux, and set them up with wireless cards. Then we'll sell them at blowout prices, $60-$70 per computer! Next, we'll flip the money over, and buy another group of old computers. We'll keep doing this, over and over until we have hundreds, thousands, of working computers and people begin to see that Linux isn't hard to use - it's easy, it's fun, and it's WAY faster than Vista! Less bugs, too...
> For those of you who doubt my ability to do this, I offer the 'Puppy Challenge'. Bring me your (working) laptop that meets the (minimal) specs below. If I can make it walk and talk, using Puppy, contribute $50 to the fund. If I can't make it work, you owe me nothing!
>
> To do this conversion, your computer must have the following (very low) specs:
> *Must be a Windows computer
> *Must have at least a 233 MHz CPU (processor)
> *Must have at least 64 MB of RAM (memory)
> *Must have at least a 4 GB hard drive (tiny!)
> *Must have a working CD player
> *Must have a working PCMCIA slot for the wireless card (laptops)
> *If a desktop, must have an open PCI slot for a network card
>
> More info about me is at my website: www.zenarrow.com
>
> Call if interested?
>
> Thanks,
>
> John Hechtman
> www.zenarrow.com
> "Computer help in NYC"
> service 212-459-4323
>
> _____________________________________________________________________________
> Hire expert Linux talent by posting jobs here :: http://jobs.nylug.org
> The nylug-talk mailing list is at nylug-talk-at-nylug.org
> The list archive is at http://nylug.org/pipermail/nylug-talk
> To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://nylug.org/mailman/listinfo/nylug-talk
Ruben
--
http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Interesting Stuff
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
http://fairuse.nylxs.com DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002
"Yeah - I write Free Software...so SUE ME"
"The tremendous problem we face is that we are becoming sharecroppers to our own cultural heritage -- we need the ability to participate in our own society."
"> I'm an engineer. I choose the best tool for the job, politics be damned.<
You must be a stupid engineer then, because politcs and technology have been attached at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt. I guess you missed that one."
© Copyright for the Digital Millennium
_____________________________________________________________________________
Hire expert Linux talent by posting jobs here :: http://jobs.nylug.org
The nylug-talk mailing list is at nylug-talk-at-nylug.org
The list archive is at http://nylug.org/pipermail/nylug-talk
To subscribe or unsubscribe: http://nylug.org/mailman/listinfo/nylug-talk
----- End forwarded message -----
--
http://www.mrbrklyn.com - Interesting Stuff
http://www.nylxs.com - Leadership Development in Free Software
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
http://fairuse.nylxs.com DRM is THEFT - We are the STAKEHOLDERS - RI Safir 2002
"Yeah - I write Free Software...so SUE ME"
"The tremendous problem we face is that we are becoming sharecroppers to our own cultural heritage -- we need the ability to participate in our own society."
"> I'm an engineer. I choose the best tool for the job, politics be damned.<
You must be a stupid engineer then, because politcs and technology have been attached at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt. I guess you missed that one."
© Copyright for the Digital Millennium
|
|
