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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">As some of you have noticed I can be
flakier then a lethal case of psoriasis, but I've finally got a
couple of images ready to muck with those 50 or so machines that
are providing cover for the rats' nest right now. Unfortunately,
I'm planning on leaving town for a few weeks to go camping so I
won't be able to show folks how I'd like to process the buggers.
But I have actually typed up a set of instructions if folks can't
be bothered to await my second coming.<br>
<br>
I took one of the dual core machines, installed Kubuntu 14.04,
imaged it and then set it up as a local server. It is over
towards the computer hardware wall on one of the tables, ready for
enterprising folks to have at. It is a boxy Dell a wifi PCI card
so it can get the internet and its ethernet is configured to
provide a connection of other boxes through a little switch. The
machine (whose hostname is Spartacus) is also attached to a KVM
switch so it can share its monitor, keyboard and mouse with up to
3 other machines that are being worked on. There is a black
button to control which machine has the KVM's attention at the
moment. So Spartacus is configured with a number of services.<br>
1. Apache web server which has the incomplete instructions about
how to image the new boxes (there is also a crumpled piece of
paper there with some of the instructions).<br>
2. Samba file server to host the images, one for the old Dells
under the server rack (40 GB hard drives) and the other for the
somewhat newer dual core machines near the 3D printer.<br>
3. Approx, a deb installation file caching proxy, so you can
quickly download and install Debian and Ubuntu packages instead of
downloading them afresh for each machine. When I have time when I
get back I'll put the approx cache on an encrypted partition so it
will be harder to muck with. I'll also use the machine to host
Linux & BSD distro isos. I'll also include instructions about
how to use approx for your personal machines with a few
easily-to-follow instructions.<br>
<br>
I put all that stuff at sudoroom, but wasn't able to totally
finish the instructions when I was there. But I mailed an updated
"index.html" file and an updated installation script to an account
that I set up on Spartacus and its clones, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sudoroomie@gmail.com">sudoroomie@gmail.com</a>.
If some helpful person wants they can open Thunderbird, download
the 2 files and put up them in /var/www/html. You'll have to sudo
to get them there, that directory is owned by root.<br>
<br>
Anywho, the upshot is, boot up Spartacus, hook up a machine you
wish to image, then follow the directions on Spartacus (use a web
browser to go to <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://localhost">http://localhost</a>). You can use the live CDs or
the 256MB USB stick I left there to install the image. When I get
back I'll make another install image or two for Debian testing and
maybe a 64 bit Ubuntu 14.04 image, as well. <br>
<br>
The instructions are annoyingly long and don't cover many of the
cases that will undoubtedly emerge. If & when I get back in
September I plan to start hosting a regular Friday
afternoon/evening Linux InstallFest where folks can come to get
Linux help, share tips, get access to installation media, and
perhaps eat some warmish pizza when I get back from my weekly
donation run at 9PM. <br>
<br>
If you want to install Linux on the machines without my image
server there are a bunch of DVDs in a Microsoft Developer kit
binder over on hardware wall. But if you don't want to place the
box in a home somewhere, please label the sucker appropriately so
people who want to use them know what they are getting in to.
Also, this should go without typing, please leave my KVM switch,
ethernet switch & USB stick more or less where they are, or at
least tell me where they have been moved.<br>
<br>
If any of you are at loose ends this month feel free to join me <a
href="https://www.google.com/images?q=Utica%20Reservoir&sa=N&tab=wi&gws_rd=ssl">dispersed
canoe camping</a> about 3.5 hours from here in the National
Forest in the Sierras. My first (and so far only) wife Kathy will
be driving up on Thursday or Friday nights so you can get a ride
with her or at least have her show you how to get there. We'll
have a couple of extra tents and a few bags & pads and have
extra chairs, plates, etc., so you just need to bring your food,
grog & clothes (provided the camping gear isn't otherwise
spoken for that weakend). I'm hoping I'll be able to get
intermittent Internet access at the coffee shop in Bear Valley,
about 3 steep miles away. Anywho, my home number is
510-763-0591. The phone is even dumber then I am so you'll have
to leave a call-back number loudly and clearly on our 20 year old
$5 answering machine. If I'm spared I'll be back in early
September.<br>
<br>
e<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 07/30/2014 09:42 PM, Marina Kukso wrote:<br>
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<div>Hi Ed,<br>
<br>
Just a quick ping (with a few other interested parties copied)
regarding the status of the computers and what we can do to
help! If the computers are already at sudo and if there's any
testing/setup that we can do now, just let me know.<br>
<br>
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Best,<br>
Marina<br>
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