[aklug] Re: Install Fest - last minute info

Hello AKLUG,

One user at a time, and pick your crowd with wise discretion. This forethought alone increases your chances of being understood, and that's what we are talking about. I myself have given up on home users. I'm to busy, technical, impatient and selfish.

I generally help by letting my love for open source bring open source networking and security solutions to the places that I choose to work - large multi state corporate networks. Business speaks money, and in today's times it's easy to genuinely fill a networking/security need with a open source solution. You will be doing open source a huge favor if in your place of work you have the wisdom to appropriately introduce and implement these solutions. This trickles all the way from the IT staff to the boardroom, it makes a sound impact as well as a really creative work environment for yourself.

From day one I have demanded to use Linux (Debian) as my main workstation within employment. Sadly with the linux box I have a marriage with windows box. There's just simply some things the linux movement hasn't done yet, and I certainly don't have the skillset or time to create those solutions - visio is one of them :) The simple fact is that microsoft isn't leaving business, and in fact it's hooks are sunk in deeper than ever. So when choosing a solution to leverage, make sure it plays well with everyone else's toys, have the wisdom to see this and conform. It's no longer about microsoft against the world, it's about how can you leverage a solution to be the most harmonious as possible within an aggressive environment, if we call it that...It behooves you to learn as much about microsoft and other players as you can.

Every little tool counts. May I suggest that one gets away from the gui for a time, master the command line and tools there within. Every time you drop to the shell to check your mail, connect to a device via ssh, read syslog or any other of the thousands of tasks is going to be a win. Not just for linux, but for business productivity, lol. Dare I say the gui is a direct threat to the longevity of linux in the NOC. I'll simply walk away from linux if comes the day I have no other way to administer a server other than via webmin, lol. Master the command line! The gui will always be there, trust, it's not going anywhere.

Here's a short basic list.
SNORT, mysql, apache, B.A.S.E
arpwatch
tac-plus
flow-tools
syslog | logcheck
custom nbtscan scan scripts to find domain rouges
cacti - really not that great :( I've moved to PRTG monitor now, not open source but one heck of a tool!
samba...
sftpd
ntpd
gnupg
nipper
apcupsd
synergy - had to mention it :)

Here's something really professional to remember when implementing any technology in business. Document the heck out of it, document it not only for your own use but for the person who will be coming in after you. Nothing is worse than seeing a perfectly sound solution leave the function because of administrative ignorance.

To sum up my strategy - learn it till your drunk, love it till your crazy, implement it precisely and try not to be a dumb ass :) That's the tough part.

2 cents,
--eddie

> Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:41:26 -0900
> From: barjunk@attglobal.net
> To: leeross@gci.net
> CC: aklug@aklug.org
> Subject: [aklug] Re: Install Fest - last minute info
>
> Quoting Lee Ross <leeross@gci.net>:
>
> > On Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:01:48 -0900, Damien Hull <damien@linuxninjas.tv>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Number 3 is very important. It's also the reason I don't like calling
> >> this event an "install fest". A monkey can figure out how to install
> >> Linux.
> >
> > Thanks for the compliment Damien. I can remember how difficult it was to
> > do the simple task of installing my first distribution of Linux. However,
> > I did manage to become proficient at installs after a period of time. I
> > get the feeling you're not interested in recruiting new people into the
> > Linux world or did I miss something and this Install Fest is, in your
> > eyes, for the CLI type?
> >
>
> > I've mentioned in the past, some ideas about what I'm seeing that keeps
> > people from getting involved in Linux, all to no avail. I've never seen
> > anyone comment on my remarks about addressing the issues confronting
> > Newbies making the transition from Windows to Linux and how some people
> > are not interested in CLI but would be happy to remain in the GUI world
> > without all the pain and expense incurred by using Windows.
> >
>
> Lee,
>
> Let me take this opportunity to let you know that there are some of us =20
> who feel similar to you, however, I don't speak for anyone but myself.
>
> My memory isn't great on this, but I believe that some conversation =20
> has taken place with regard to this on this list and continues. More =20
> conversation is needed.
>
> My personal choice for folks is to provide them copies of OpenOffice =20
> they can use on their Windows PC as well as turn them on to VMWare or =20
> Virtual box on their PC (as well as a Live CD) to give Linux/FOSS a try.
>
> Most of the conversions that have occured have been from one of these =20
> three methods.
>
> It's more difficult to convert a person that doesn't care how the =20
> computer works, so that reduces the low hanging fruit quite a bit.
>
> An example of this for me is my 15 year old daughter...she was willing =20
> to give it a try, but as soon as she couldn't use her iPod the way her =20
> friends do....it became an uphill battle. She wasn't willing to cross =20
> the chasm.
>
> Keep the ideas coming...sometimes we forget what new folks want/need.
>
> Our organization will grow stagnate without new users.
>
> > I personally thought this Install Fest was a great idea to get some of
> > that 90% market being held by Microsoft.
> >
>
> This echo's my sentiment as well.
>
> It would be good to hear others thoughts surrounding this topic as well.
>
> Mike B.
>
>
>
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Received on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:11:18 -0900