[KLUG Members] KLUG Meeting Notes - 04/09/2002
mag00
members@kalamazoolinux.org
Thu, 11 Apr 2002 04:14:11 -0400
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. ***************
*** LOOK HERE ***
Our meeting site is the Kalamazoo Chamber <=== LOCATION HAS CHANGED!
of Commerce office building downtown. *************
346 W. Michigan Ave. - Kalamazoo
NE corner of Park and Michigan.
Park in rear lot off Water Street.
Use rear door, go to lower level.
http://kazoolug.org/meetings/maps.php3 <=== MAP!
Tuesday April 9, 2002 7:00PM
KLUG Meeting Notes - Summary
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
II. NEXT WEEK'S MEETING INFO <=== Web Site Management!
III. PROJECT REPORTS
IV. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tonight's Meeting Moderator:
Chairperson: Dirk Bartley
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
THIS WEEK'S KLUG PRESENTATION: (28 active KLUG participants)
*****************************************************************
Setting Up a Home Wireless Network with Linux
by Bruce Smith
Bruce presented an introduction to wireless networking, and
what it takes to add wireless to a small home network. This
included what equipment and software is needed to configure
a Linux laptop as a wireless node. Security considerations
about going wireless were also discussed.
PRESENTATION SUMMARY:
**********************
Bruce used his Linux laptop and the SVGA projector to show
us the basics of getting a wireless network added to a
small LAN. His presentation started with some general
information about 802.11b hardware and Access Point tips.
We discussed the "Wi-Fi" logo and the compatibility issues.
He showed us the Linksys WAP-11 Access Point he uses with
his Orinoco "Silver" 64-bit encryption PCMCIA wireless
network cards. He heard about reception problems with the
Linksys cards from a newsgroup. Bruce mentioned that the
Linux Journal February 2002 issue had a good article about
using SSH and a PC as an Access Point!
The next part of this discussion was security. By the way,
Bruce took questions throughout this presentation. He
mentioned that he placed his Access Point (aka 802.11b packet
transmitter/receiver) in his basement so that the range is
practically limited to inside his house. Great idea!
Neighbors could sniff and possibly even connect to your LAN
if precautions are NOT taken. You can limit access to the
LAN with a list of authorized MAC addresses. Bruce Defined...
ESSID - Unique name shared by all points in a wireless network
ESS - Extended Service Set
BSS - Basic Service Set
AP - Access Point
WAP - Wireless Access Point
Next he defined and configured the Linksys WAP-11 with
utility software. The configuration tasks included:
1. Set Channel & Frequency
2. Set ESSID
3. Enter password for encryption key generation
4. Enter allowed MAC addresses
The Linksys WAP-11 comes with a Windows program for configuration
by connecting it to a PC by USB cable. You can run the config in
VMware but don't try flashing your firmware in this mode.
Configuring the Orinoco PCMCIA wireless network card required
running wireless.tools.21-3.i386.rpm to use in setting the ESSID.
Bruce also demonstrated a utility called iwconfig which is similar
to ifconfig. There are lots of GUI monitoring utilities that will
show you how your network is performing. He showed us one called
neat. Find one named wavemon at www.jm-music.de/projects.html
The box says that the Linksys WAP-11 ($125) has a range of 1500
feet outdoors and 300 feet in a dwelling. This may be optimistic!
The Orinoco PCMCIA Wireless network cards ($50) are supported in
the Linux v2.4.x kernel.
Bruce hooked it all up and gave us a live demo of the operation.
IT WORKED GREAT! Consult the Usenet Newsgroup archives on Google
for more info on Linux and 802.11b wireless information. This
presentation was easy to understand and the level of attendee
interaction was high. Bruce did a great job of keeping it simple
while covering ALL the details needed to get up and blinking on
802.11b wireless in Linux!
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!
FOR A SPECIAL TREAT, VISIT -> http://kalamazoolinux.org/bsware/
Interested in the IEEE 802.11b wireless networking standard?
******************************************************************
WIRELESS EXPLORERS SHOULD CHECK OUT: the linux-wlan(tm) Project
http://www.linux-wlan.com/linux-wlan/index.html#AVS and GNU/Linux
----------------------------------------------------------------
We had a wide variety of snacks and beverages available to
attendees of the KLUG meeting tonight! Thanks to Dirk Bartley,
and John Dill II & the Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce for
providing these refreshments. Chocolate chip cookies, potato
chips and coffee were all consumed during and after tonight's
presentation! Wine was sampled from a Fennville winery that
is operated by a Unix devotee. This was not emulation software.
----------------------------------------------------------------
II. NEXT KLUG MEETING - TUESDAY 04/16/2002
********************************************************************
Command Line Interface (CLI) Web Site Management
by Paul VandenBosch
Hand coding of html pages using a text editor is the most
flexible way to create single pages of html code. The
advantages of hand coding are clean, efficient code, easy
experimenting with various commands and a first hand
knowledge of how your site works and how it is organized.
When a web site starts to grow, it becomes more and more
difficult to maintain a standard background, font and
script format across the entire web site using hand coding
techniques. This presentation describes a simple technique
that can be used to update and maintain a multipage website
using a text editor and a few linux commands. It allows
the user to edit the format of the entire web site by
changing one textfile.
Paul VandenBosch is the Building and Development Director for
the City of South Haven, Michigan. Paul's experience of growing
up in an urban neighborhood in Grand Rapids led him to choose
a career in urban redevelopment. He received a doctorate in
urban planning from the University of Nymegen, the Netherlands,
and a bachelor degree in urban planning and geography from the
University of Michigan. In his spare time, Paul is either
sailing, working on his sailboat, or dreaming about sailing.
He maintains a personal homepage that is a very popular website
for sailing enthusiasts. Paul and his wife Anne-Marie also
enjoy traveling and sightseeing by car. A linux user for about
a year, the user friendly characteristics of Red Hat 7.2 make
it possible for Paul to use a linux-only box for all of his
home pc needs.
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 E S ! ! !
*************************************************************
*************************************************************
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*************************************************************
READ EXTREME LINUX NEWS FEED - IT ALMOST HAPPENS HERE
http://slashdot.org/search.pl?threshold=1&min=0&op=stories
*************************************************************
*************************************************************
SOME BOOGIES PROJECT VOLUNTEERS MET AFTER THE 4/9
KLUG meeting for additional organizational info.
Contact "Robert G. Brown" <bob@acm.org> for details.
Learn while you contribute to a great public project!
*************************************************************
NOW YOU CAN USE THE URL HTTP://KAZOOLUG.ORG TO
summon KLUG web pages. Shorter and more exact!
You can still use the longer URL as a valid address!
*************************************************************
A KLUG PC RUNNING LINUX HAS BEEN PLACED AT THE
Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce to provide DHCP
services. This will enable easier internet access
for KLUG members attending meetings at the Chamber.
Lots more additions planned between KLUG and K C
of C. A newsgroup server, web server, networking,
and eventually EVERYTHING! The synergy is peaking!
Hardware is being installed and KLUG volunteers are
needed. Contact "Robert G. Brown" <bob@acm.org>
or "Dirk Bartley" <bartleyd2@net-link.net>.
*************************************************************
LIBRARY DATABASE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND POSTED
Dirk Bartley has prepared a database to assist you
in locating and requesting KLUG library resources
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/library/
*************************************************************
KLUG "PC SHOW" PUBLIC OUTREACH PROJECT WAS WELL ATTENDED!
The big yellow KLUG banner was again proudly displayed
March 3, 2002 at the ALSCS COMPUTER SHOW in Grand Rapids!
The show was from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Crowne Plaza on
28th Street near I-196 (formerly the Marriott). Again,
lots of Linux CD-ROM's were made available to the public
and many contacts were made. To get more info, please
Contact KLUG Chairperson "Dirk Bartley"
<bartleyd2@net-link.net>
TAX DEDUCTIBLE STATUS - STILL WAITING FOR THE IRS!!!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The 501c3 application was sent to the IRS in December 1999.
We had an appeal hearing with our lawyer and an IRS agent.
We are told to expect a decision before October 2001!!!
{Note: It is APRIL!!! What is the IRS's reason NOW?}
------------------------------------------------------------
The IRS has a better idea of what the organization is about.
We hope to hear from them REAL 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.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
KLUG IS NOW THE PROUD OWNER OF A PRESENTATION PROJECTOR!!!
SPECIFICATIONS OF INFOCUS LP425ZVB PROJECTOR - Cost $1,599.00
7.4 pounds, 9x12x3.9, 900 lumens, Manual zoom lens
SVGA (800x600) with compressed XGA (1024x768)
HDTV support, 400:1 Contrast, Throw 5 to 20ft
16.7 million colors, 2.4 to 12.6ft image size
16 degree key stoning, 1 Watt audio
MICHIGAN POLIO NETWORK WEB SITE - INFORMATION PUBLISHED
http://www.mipolio.org/ <=== Check This Out!
This project has a coordinator to wrap it up, Brenda M. Williams.
MPN has asked KLUG to assist them in getting their info
published for public use and access. The web content includes
information on post-polio disorders. For more info contact
"Brenda M. Williams" <bwilliams@cvalaw.com>
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 of
Ted & Thad Juszczak can review the content of the site.
If you haven't checked these links out lately, take a look.
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/links
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, VGA Projector, VGA Monitors, and Overhead Projector
are is Available for Use in KLUG Presentations! Contact
Dirk Bartley <bartleyd2@net-link.net>
BOOGIE'S 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's is being
supplemented by volunteers. 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's web site!
The web server is up. A game testing machine has been
configured. Various upgrades and enhancements are being applied
currently, including a replacement (233 MHz Pentium Pro) CPU
installed on the main server. Contact "Robert G. Brown"
<bob@acm.org> to help out or for more info.
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
===============================================================
THE KLUG STANDARD BEGINNER'S PRESENTATION - LINUX BOOT CAMP!!!
http://kalamazoolinux.org/presentations/beginner01.html
===============================================================
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
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.
<bwilliams@cvalaw.com> Web site http://www.wmsar.org
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ > 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. Some KLUG
volunteers are doing double duty. Please consider
serving the members as one of the following...
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
SEE THIS LISTING FOR KLUG OFFICE DESCRIPTIONS
http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/organize/
INSTALL MASTER Help with Beginner's Night Linux Installs.
NUTRI MASTER Provide cookies and milk for KLUG meetings. *
* {Reimbursement for refreshment purchases!}
BOOGIES PROJECT MANAGERS Help maintain public Linux showcase.
OTHER POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE, SOME FILL TWO VOLUNTEER SLOTS!
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, Ethernet/100 Web Connection, VGA Projector, VGA
Monitors, and Overhead Projector are 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>.
# *************************************************************
RED HAT v7.2.x HAS BEEN RELEASED
*************************************************************
************** BSWARE SOFTWARE DISCOUNTS ****************
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 the Red Hat Linux OS! Notice - BSware
prices are $3 per CD. A Great Deal!!! Thanks Bruce!!!
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
VISIT http://kalamazoolinux.org/bsware/
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
See Bruce's BSware web site to find out what Linux & other
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.
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
- more
*****************************************************************
TAX DEDUCTIBLE STATUS - STILL WAITING FOR THE IRS!!!
The 501c3 application was sent to the IRS in December 1999.
We have received notice that they are proceeding with the
processing of our request. We hope to hear from them
REAL 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.
WOW!!! STILL NO WORD FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE!
STILL NO 501(c)(3) ISSUED TO KLUG!!!
The Kalamazoo Linux Users Group would like to
thank the Law firm of Kreis Enderle Callander &
Hudgins for their generousity toward KLUG. Matt
DePerno has made contributions of his time to
assist us in our attempts to achieve 501(c)(3) tax
status with the IRS!!!
NOTE -
* Must come to three meetings to qualify as a full member.
Bring a friend... who was disappointed by a proprietary OS!
THANKS to ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL, INC. for providing their
much appreciated IT Resources to support KLUG and Linux.
THANKS to KALAMAZOO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE for providing their
well appointed facilities for our meetings. Jas Networks
has donated a 2.3 Mbit connection that we used during the
meetings to allow attendees to connect by wire and also
wireless 802.11b network connections through the Michigan
Wireless Network. Many projectors, flip chart easel and
projection screens have been made available.
>><< 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