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Members not in attendance at this
meeting included Jim Lucha,
, Martin Fleming, Jim Grey,
, Alan Shoemaker, Don Evinger, Mac
Shaver, Klaus Herzog, Isaac Sladana, Ossil Macavinta, Michael Karshner, Dana Rodin, Todd Lyons,
Dave Reisz, Gary Taylor, Ken Howels, Hung
Nguyen, Kandy Phan, Tad Peters, Forrest
Sherman, Tom Nielsen, Clint
Byrum, Craig Carignan, , and
Jim Vassilako. Greg Rawson provided a
presentation on configuring a Linux system to permit the use of a Serial
Console. Greg explained that this
can be a convenient way to access a number of ‘headless’ systems using a
single laptop computer. The
special hardware cost is limited to the number of null modem cables needed,
…one for each system. Additionally,
only a single connection needs to be made to switch from machine to machine.
This is what Greg does to manage his ‘test’ networks.
It could also be used to set up a ‘manager’ system based on
‘conserver’ { http://www.conserver.com/}
at a remote location that would be connected to systems to be managed.
As many members are aware, one of
the disadvantages to restarting a system from a remote location is that you
can’t see console messages during the restart.
Using a serial console allows these messages to be displayed during the
boot process. Using the
handout that he provided, Greg took members through each step required to set it
up on a ‘Slackware’ based system.
After the configuration was complete members were able to see the
configuration in operation on both the managed and manager systems. Donna Schrokosch, provided a
brief update on the activities at the Hawthorne Center, and the work she has
been doing with Ben Cooper on ‘New” processor technology.
Lisle has been developing a website: www.ionprocessor.com
related to this work. While
the site is currently underdevelopment, members who are interested in this
project can follow the developments as they are updated at the site. Donna also mentioned that the 2nd
Annual Linux Expo at the Fairplex is scheduled for November 22nd.
LUGIE members are encouraged to start thinking about ‘possibly’
setting up for a booth at this event.
More discussion will be held over the next few months as the Expo date
approaches. Please let us know your
interests. Jeff provided a recommendation
that members take a look at Linux Format Magazine { http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/
} which is available at
Borders and Barnes and Noble among other bookstores for about $15.00 per issue.
Each issue contains useful Linux Software on CD.
Jeff also mentioned that Red Hat will no longer be distributing low cost
versions as ‘boxed’ distributions.
They say they will continue to provide the ISO’s for download.
Meanwhile, Jeff suggests that this is an opportunity for LUGs to fill the
gap by taking over the distribution.
If there is any interest in this among members of LUGIE, this topic will
be revisited over the next few meetings. Greg has take up the challenge of organizing and coordinating the
presentations that will be part of all our future meetings.
He is looking for topic suggestions from members as well as volunteer
presenters. Please get in touch
with Greg, on or off list is ok, if you have suggestions or want to make a
presentation. It is an
excellent opportunity to learn something new, and developing a presentation with
a brief handout doesn’t take a lot of time.
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