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KLUG Meeting Notes - 11/28/2000
KALAMAZOO LINUX USER'S GROUP
MEMBERS AND GUESTS - COME JOIN US FOR A MEETING!!!
http://kalamazoolinux.org/meetings
WE MEET WEEKLY, EACH TUESDAY AT 7:00PM.
Our meeting site is Room 4202 of Dunbar Hall on
the campus of Western Michigan University.
Tuesday November 28, 2000 7:00PM
KLUG Meeting Notes - Summary
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
II. NEXT WEEK'S MEETING INFO
III. PROJECT REPORTS
IV. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tonight's Meeting Moderator:
Chairperson - Robert G. Brown
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
THIS WEEK'S KLUG PRESENTATION: (14 active participants tonight)
*****************************************************************
Debian Linux Installation and Overview
by Peter Buxton
Debian (DEB like in Debbie) is a GNU/Linux distribution
built from 3900+/- packages of entirely free software and
entirely maintained by about 500 volunteers. It is available
for i386 (PC compatibles), DEC Alpha, Motorola 68K and
PowerPC, SPARC, and others.
Unlike Red Hat, S.u.S.E., Mandrake, et al., Debian does not
use the Red Hat Package Manager, but .deb files and a variety
of control programs, both graphic and command-driven. Like
OpenBSD, another slightly eccentric distribution, Debian
emphasizes stability and security over fads; however, opting
for the latest and bloodiest is well-supported.
Peter told us about the installation process. In a jumble
of "requires", "replaces", "depends", "recommends", and
"suggested" definitions, he convinced us that most of it made
sense. DPKG-Deb handles the file names and contains the
package descriptions. The tar.gz file uncompresses all the
files into the directory structure. dselect is employed for
configuration. Peter enjoys the FSF* spirit and the stable,
low $, and secure operation of the Debian reality. He did
say that he dislikes the .inf vs. man page format used for
the Debian help files. Only complaint we heard... except
for the "debian discussion list" cautions (read: newbie flame
warning).
WHY WOULD YOU USE DEBIAN LINUX? You might want to check that out!
WEB RESOURCES:
http://www.debian.org
http://www.debianhelp.org
THE CURRENT DEBIAN GNU/LINUX SOFTWARE VERSIONS:
---------------------------------------------
Debian v2.2 / aka Potatoe/ Stable version
(not compatible with X Windows v4.0)
http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/
---------------------------------------------
Debian v2.3 / aka Woody / In development
(compatible with X Windows v4.0)
http://www.debian.org/releases/unstable/
---------------------------------------------
Debian, like Unix itself, is more intimidating than other
distributions or OS's at first. The main mailing list,
Debian-user, is possibly the best free help around for a
single distribution, though it can be a minefield of LARTs
for the unwary newbie. (Not unlike Usenet at that. :)
* Free Software Foundation
Peter Buxton, known to a few as Thomas O'Bedlam, has worked
with PC's for many years. He routinely explored OS's that
were far from the MS "sheep path." He knows programming,
OS's, hardware, networking, and his way around the internet.
Peter works hard on the KLUG/Boogie Cyber Cafe support team.
He was inspirational for several current KLUG members during
the last two evolutionary digital decades. As networked
computers created the opportunity for idea and info exchange,
Peter used the forum to promote respect, understanding, and
tolerance in several areas of social controversy. Read what
he says about the Debian distribution on his personal web site.
http://www.concentric.net/~Bedlam/
"p. buxton" <somercet@hotmail.com>
--------------------------------------------------------------
COME TO A MEETING TO GET THE REAL GOOD STUFF!!! YUMMY!
There were two delicious dessert breads, one was banana
and the other one was covered in sweet brown sugar, served
after the meeting! VERY NICE TREATS!!! Cold and nutritious
milk was consumed, by the pint, by KLUG members during chat.
T H A N K S Adam & Michelle Williams and Robert G. Brown!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
II. NEXT WEEK'S MEETING - TUESDAY 12/05/2000
********************************************************************
Linux for Beginners
by Bruce Smith
THE BEGINNER'S MEETINGS ARE HELD the first Tuesday of each
month. Linux basics and distribution installs are the
lessons of these evenings. If you do want KLUG's FREE help
installing Linux on your computer at one of these meetings,
see URL: http://kalamazoolinux.org/meetings/installform.html
Contact the KLUG Installmasters for more information:
installmaster@kalamazoolinux.org
Now's the time to get started! Linux is becoming a mainstay
of free software, free choice, dependability and power.
Note:
As Linux matures as an OS, the educational needs are evolving.
The Beginner's Meeting format is changing with those needs.
It is difficult to cover all the basics in one meeting. Linux
is not just for CS experts and IT professionals. The "BASICS"
meetings are intended for those with limited experience with
Operating System's or even Personal Computer's. Your comments
and questions are welcomed!
Bruce Smith is a Systems Administrator and Software
Developer for Armstrong International Inc. where he
is responsible for a HP-UX network of Servers,
Workstations, printers and X-Terminals spanning five
buildings in Three Rivers. Bruce has a degree in
Computer Science and Mathematics from Central Michigan
University. (go Chips! :)~ Bruce runs Linux, almost
exclusively, on all his PC's at work and home, and
runs a lot of Armstrong's networking services on Linux!
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
III. LINUX OR KLUG RELATED PROJECT REPORTS -
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ > N E W S F L A S H < +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Y O U ARE ASKED TO REMEMBER THAT K L U G IS...
A ---> VOLUNTEER <--- ORGANIZATION!!!
Please Honor the Spirit of the GPL! Is it REALLY Free?
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
VOLUNTEER CLUB POSITIONS NOW AVAILABLE:
All KLUG positions are NOT occupied currently.
See IV. 'GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS' for a list of vacancies!
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
THE KLUG ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS IS IN JANUARY!
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize
Start thinking about your choices and make nominations.
Anonymous nominations for every elected position!!!
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/nominate.html
BOOGIE CYBER CAFE - KLUG's public commercial Linux project.
Stop in and see this "pay-to-compute" implementation.
Check out - http://www.boogies.com/ Site by Matt Crampton!
This successful public demonstration of the flexibility and
suitability of Linux in a commercial environment provides
great exposure. This project provides a share of the profits
to fund KLUG activities. Members check on this LAN, remotely,
several times a day. The network support for Boogie has been
taken over by Peter Buxton and Ian Schirado. Robert G. Brown
is supervising the overall operation, remotely at times. The
Linux OS STILL remains cool, calm, and constant! Netscape was
moved off one PC as a staff "productivity enhancement" measure.
Running the Apache web server local now to host the Boogie
web site! A game testing machine has been configured.
Various upgrades and enhancements being applied currently.
Contact "p. buxton" at <somercet@hotmail.com> to help out or
for more info.
KLUG "PC SHOW" PUBLIC RELATIONS PROJECT LEADER is Scott
Cleveland. Those who have expressed interest in helping
with this project should contact "Scott Cleveland" at
<scottacleveland@hotmail.com>
WEST MICHIGAN POLIO NETWORK WEB SITE - MIKE SAMS FOUND!!!
Mike, this project's coordinator was located recently.
The site development is still heading into the final stages.
WMPN has asked us to assist them in getting their info
published for public use and good. The web content includes
information on post-polio disorders.
More info from "Robert G. Brown" <bob@acm.org>
THE LINUX VIDEO OUTREACH PROJECT -
We are looking for a new "Post-Production Video Project
Manager." Any ideas? See the intro footage demo at
http://www.imago3d.com/KLUG An idea has been proposed to
include footage of KLUG meeting activities. A visual
demonstration of this "community supported" OS. The
subjects covered in the video include the internet, Linux,
and KLUG. This video will be presented repeatedly on local
public access channels for educational and KLUG/Linux
promotional purposes. KLUG presents "The Internet Demystified"
More info from <bob@acm.org>
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
IV. GENERAL KLUG ANNOUNCEMENTS
WHAT IS KLUG? -
KLUG is a volunteer group formed by and for LINUX
system users in the Kalamazoo Michigan area. We
support, promote, and develop activities related
to the use, study, and application of LINUX in the
local community.
THE BEGINNER'S MEETINGS ARE HELD the first Tuesday of each
month. Linux basics and distribution installs are the
lessons of these evenings. If you do want KLUG's FREE help
installing Linux on your computer at one of these meetings,
see URL: http://kalamazoolinux.org/meetings/installform.html
Contact the KLUG Installmasters for more information:
installmaster@kalamazoolinux.org
Note:
As Linux matures as an OS, the educational needs are evolving.
The Beginner's Meeting format is changing with those needs.
It is difficult to cover all the basics in one meeting. Linux
is not just for CS experts and IT professionals. The "BASICS"
meetings are intended for those with limited experience with
Operating System's or even Personal Computer's. Your comments
and questions are welcomed!
IF YOU KNOW OF ADDITIONAL LINKS that should be included
in the KLUG LINKS page... please send e-mail suggestions
to <linkmaster@kalamazoolinux.org> so the LINKS team
can review the content of the site.
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/links
REDHAT LINUX CERTIFICATION information is available
from a KLUG officer. See the club listserv for more
info or check certifications on the Links page.
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/links/certification.html
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ > N E W S F L A S H < +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Y O U ARE ASKED TO REMEMBER THAT K L U G IS...
A ---> VOLUNTEER <--- ORGANIZATION!!!
Please Honor the Spirit of the GPL! Is it REALLY Free?
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
VOLUNTEER CLUB POSITIONS NOW AVAILABLE:
All KLUG positions are NOT occupied currently.
Please consider serving the members as one of the following...
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
WEBMASTER
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/web-mast.html
INSTALLMASTER
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/inst-mast.html
LINKMASTER
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/link-mast.html
LISTMASTER
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/list-mast.html
WEBMASTER (Boogie's Cyber Cafe)www.boogies.com
PROJECT MANAGER Post-Production Video Outreach
More info from "Robert G. Brown" <bob@acm.org>
*****************************************************************
# J O I N & S U P P O R T K L U G !!!
# Be a KLUG Supporting Member! $25 annually *
# ($.50 per meeting) TRULY A GREAT BARGAIN!!!
#
# THE SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE (= #)
*****************************************************************
# GREAT MEETING PRESENTATIONS. Your opportunity
to share your Linux experiences and see what
other people are doing. Come enjoy a meeting!
If you have an IDEA FOR A KLUG PRESENTATION or know
of a good speaker, we want to hear about it! Make
contact with our KLUG Program Director, Brenda
Williams! <brenda@cvalaw.com>
A Pentium Class Desktop PC is Available for Use
in KLUG Presentations! Contact <bob@acm.org>
# NEW GOLD EDITION CD GIFT FOR KLUG PRESENTATIONS!
In addition to the sincere appreciation felt
for those great KLUG presentations, presenters
will be given a gift of a new GOLD EDITION CD-ROM!
# NON-COMMERCIAL OR PERSONAL WEB SITE HOSTED on the
KLUG server. Single page .html files can be sent to the
interim KLUG webmaster@kalamazoolinux.org for
posting. These are intended to be low traffic web
sites displaying appropriate content.
# CHECK OUT THE NEW KLUG LIBRARY PAGE - See the updated
inventory listing of our KLUG Library. The items listed in
green are only available to KLUG supporting members.
We have Debian, SuSE, Mandrake, and WinLinux distribution
packages available in our library along with several others.
Did you know we have *non-Linux* distribution additions!
Everything else is available to anyone that can come to a
KLUG meeting. If you would like to check out one of these
items, please check it off and submit the form on the KLUG
library page. We are sharing these next two items as an F-Y-I !
Please do show up at the meeting if you have books requested.
What about you? Do you need to return any KLUG library books?
Contact Adam Williams for more info <awilliam@whitemice.org>
# ************** BSWARE SOFTWARE DISCOUNTS ****************
=========================================
RED HAT VERSION 7.0 HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!
=========================================
This Linux distribution now comes on two (2) CD's.
Supporting Member Discount on BSware is $1.50 per
CD or 50% off! Bruce distributes a non-commercial
version of Redhat! Notice - BSware prices are $3
per CD. A Great Deal!!! Thanks Bruce!!!
See http://kalamazoolinux.org/bsware/
NEW 50 Mb CREDIT CARD SIZED LINUX CD-ROM'S ARE HERE!
See Bruce's KLUG web site to find out what Linux
distributions and application software he has available.
E-mail him in advance about your needs and pick up your
CD's at the next meeting. bruce@armintl.com
# A PHP SIG HAS BEEN FORMED - FOR ALL those interested
in learning this powerful server-side scripting language.
THE FIRST MEETING WAS HELD Tuesday, June 13th at 7pm.
See the listserv info on the KLUG web site. Newbies and
experienced PHP developers alike will have ample opportunity
to share and encourage one another in the use of PHP. More
info from "Tony Gettig" <tony@gettig-group.com>
http://kalamazoolinux.org/listserv/ SIGN UP NOW!!!
# MAKE SURE YOU ARE SIGNED UP for the KLUG mailing list!
**********************
THIS IS THE WAY TO GET THESE WEEKLY KLUG MEETING NOTES! <-- HEY!
**********************
Diversified mailing lists can be found on our web site.
http://kalamazoolinux.org/listserv/
Currently Available KLUG Lists:
- Common List (All Members)
- Assistance for New Linux Users
- Merits/Weaknesses of different Operating Systems
- PHP
*****************************************************************
TAX DEDUCTIBLE STATUS - STILL WAITING FOR THE IRS!!!
The 501c3 application was sent to the IRS in December.
We have received notice that they are proceeding with
the processing of our request. We hope to hear from
them soon with notice of our charitable deductibility.
Charitable and tax-exemption status is routinely granted
to educational not-for-profit organizations. This should
help us attain our financial goals. We need working
capital for increased Linux promotional activities.
WEST MICHIGAN SEARCH & RESCUE - Web site is done.
Go there and see this KLUG public service project!
The site is ready for the next phase of development.
Contact Brenda Williams with questions or comments.
<brenda@cvalaw.com> Web site http://www.wmsar.org
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
Bring a friend... who was disappointed by a proprietary OS!
THANKS to MORRISON INDUSTRIES, INC. for providing their
VGA Projector to support KLUG and Linux presentations.
THANKS to ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL, INC. for providing their
much appreciated IT Resources to support KLUG and Linux.
>><< send corrections, additions, flames to the KLUG scribe >><<
mag00@voyager.net or magoo@yakko.cs.wmich.edu
Space & Time Coordinates: Planet Earth During the Holocene Period