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KLUG Meeting Notes - 01/16/2001
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 January 16, 2001 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 - Dirk Bartley {WELCOMED TONIGHT AS NEW KLUG CHAIR!!!}
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
THIS WEEK'S KLUG PRESENTATION: (9 active participants tonight)
*****************************************************************
Making it -- For Programmers and Other People
by Robert G. Brown
The "make" utility is a critical part of compiling
any but the most trivial programs on most systems
today. Understanding how make is used leads to a deeper
understanding of how a lot of interesting things are
done in Linux. For example, make is commonly used for
compiling only what is needed when a change is made to
some of many source code files.
We can also use make for any processing that is
related to the update times of specified files.
Such as collecting files into a common database,
or transaction processing. Again, the idea here is
to reduce the amount of work we do, limiting it to
only what has changed, so that we don't execute
anything that has not changed.
Bob handed out three pages of notes to accompany his
detailed presentation from the "portable podium!" The
first page gave an example of compiling four modules
into a program called priceview.c. He showed us the
makefile, written the long way for example and then
he showed the short cuts to get the job done nicely!
The second page included using make, macros, and
dependencies. A summary reviewed the overall principle
of dependencies. The touch command was mentioned.
The third page was a man listing of the many option
switches and their function.
An additional 'live' example of make usage was shared with
the gathering. The make utility is being used in a web
application to enable very high traffic access to current
database information. You had to be there for this one...
incredibly flexible application for compiling simplification.
{STRESSED} The real magic of make is revealed when you have to
make changes to some code in a module after it is compiled.
He recommended the O'Reilly make manual for a reference.
Robert Brown is a founding member and previous chairman
of KLUG, and has over 20 years experience in software
development in numerous environments, disciplines, and
industries. An intermittent user of UNIX systems for close
to 10 years, Bob has developed software for the distributed
processing and client-server models, and now has his first
experience in building and administering his own network.
When he's not bouncing between network nodes, or client,
he can be seen cycling on the Kal-Haven trail, hiking the
countryside in search of nature photographs, or helping to
organize volunteer activities around computing, for KLUG
and the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery).
Make
http://www.instantweb.com/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?query=make&action=Search
<programming, tool> The Unix tool to automate the recompilation,
linking etc. of programs, taking account of the interdependencies
of modules and their modification times. Make reads instructions
from a "makefile" which specifies a set of targets to be built,
the files they depend on and the commands to execute in order to
produce them. Most C systems come with a make. There is also one
produce by GNU.
["Make - A Program for Maintaining Computer Programs",
A.I. Feldman, TR No 57, Bell Labs Apr 1977].
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
II. NEXT WEEK'S MEETING - TUESDAY 01/23/2001
********************************************************************
Disk Management
by Adam Williams
Working with disk drives can be a dangerous and tricky task.
Fortunately Linux offers several tools for partitioning disk,
creating and resizing file systems. Beyond those basics,
there is Logical Volume Management, Software Raid, and disk
spanning files systems. Learn not only what these terms
mean but how easy it is to use them, and how robust that
free operating system really is.
Adam is a network administrator based in Grand Rapids, but
the network he deals with is all over Michigan, with a
couple of hundred workstations, running Linux and other
Operating Systems. Not only does he deal with domain issues
at work, but he is also the owner of the domain
"whitemice.org". Recently married and ensconced as a KLUG
officer (independent events), Adam has been a regular
contributor to technical discussions on our main mailing
list, both presenting and solving some of the most
challenging networking and configuration problems.
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
III. LINUX OR KLUG RELATED PROJECT REPORTS -
*******************************************************
WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW KLUG OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS!!!
*******************************************************
KLUG "PC SHOW" PUBLIC RELATIONS PROJECT LEADER is Scott
Cleveland. The KLUG banner was viewed at the annual meeting.
This group will be displaying our presence at the JANUARY
2001 computer show at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds!!!
Those who have expressed interest in helping with this
project should quickly contact "Scott Cleveland" at
<scottacleveland@hotmail.com>
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. Robert G. Brown is supervising
the overall operation, remotely at times. The Linux OS STILL
remains cool, calm, and constant! Running Squid, NFS, sendmail,
and the Apache web server local now to host the Boogie web site!
We need help configuring these new services... the web server
is up. A game testing machine has been configured. Various
upgrades and enhancements being applied currently, including a
replacement (233 MHz Pentium Pro) server going in. The <CTRL>
"->" annoyance has been eliminated, the Win32 folks found
themselves switching desktops instead of what they expected.
Contact "Peter Buxton" <somercet@hotmail.com> to help out or
for more info.
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> or Dirk Bartley <bartleyd2@net-link.net>
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 "Robert G. Brown" <bob@acm.org> or Dirk Bartley
<bartleyd2@net-link.net>
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...
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
INSTALLMASTER
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/inst-mast.html
WEBMASTER (Boogie's Cyber Cafe)www.boogies.com
PROJECT MANAGER Post-Production Video Outreach
More info from "Dirk Bartley" <bartleyd2@net-link.net>
*****************************************************************
# 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, Adam Williams
<awilliam@whitemice.org>. A Pentium Class Desktop
PC is Available for Use in KLUG Presentations!
Contact Dirk Bartley <bartleyd2@net-link.net>
# 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 Dirk Bartley for more info <bartleyd2@net-link.net>.
# ************** 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