[KLUG Members] KLUG Meeting Notes for 08/19/2003
magoo
members@kalamazoolinux.org
19 Aug 2003 23:59:48 -0400
KLUG Meeting Notes: Tuesday - August 19, 2003 7:00PM
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
II. NEXT WEEK'S MEETING INFO <=== BIND (DNS) Shorts!!!
III. KLUG MAILING LISTS
IV. KLUG & LINUX NEWS FLASHES
V. KLUG CONTACT & MEETING INFO
Tonight's Meeting Moderator: KLUG Chairperson - Todd Pillars
I. PRESENTATION RECAP
THIS WEEK'S KLUG PRESENTATION: (38 active KLUG participants)
*****************************************************************
GNOME, The Ximian Desktop, & The Future
by Chris Lahey
Everyone knows of the GNOME project, but where does it come from
and where is it going? Chris will talk about the history of the
project, the Gnome 2.x series, and future plans for the GNOME
desktop.
SEE CHRIS'S PRESENTATION http://kalamazoolinux.org/presentations/
Presentation Summary
************************
W O W ! ! ! Tonight was a big night for KLUG attendees! This was
the largest audience in the history of the group. WHY? KLUG paid
to fly Chris Lahey in from Boston, where he works as a core code
developer with Ximian / GNOME. GNOME stands for GNU Network Object
Model Environment and is the most popular Linux desktop. Ximian
produces XD2 (Ximian Desktop 2), Evolution (e-mail client), Red
Carpet (program update services) and is developing Mono (an open
source, Linux-based version of the M$ .NET development platform).
Check out Ximian / GNOME products at http://www.ximian.com/products/
Chris used his IBM Thinkpad running Red Hat v7.3 with OpenOffice.org
on Ximian Desktop 2 (commercial version of GNOME v2.2) and the KLUG
XGA display projector to share with us the past, present, and future
of Ximian / GNOME. There was plenty of information to delight those
in attendance and Chris answered many questions during and after the
presentation. His speaking style was perfect for this audience and
he was, as is said, talking our language and preaching to the choir!
He was among instant friends and his Open Source peers. We had FUN
and the humor was evidence that he felt comfortable in our midst.
> > > P R E S E N T A T I O N O U T L I N E < < <
History (GNOME 1.x)
--------------------------
August, 1997: GNOME project started
January, 1998: RHAD started
Mar 3, 1999: GNOME 1.0
October, 1999: Helix Code and Eazel Incorporated
Mar 16-18, 2000: GUADEC 1
May 25, 2000: Bongo GNOME 1.2
August 15, 2000: Helix GNOME 1.0
August 15, 2000: Foundation of the GNOME Foundation
April 2, 2001: GNOME 1.4
History (GNOME 2.x)
---------------------------
July 18-20: Boston GNOME Summit
June 26, 2002: GNOME 2.0
February 4, 2003: GNOME 2.0 Desktop for Solaris
February 5, 2003: GNOME 2.2
June 2, 2003: Ximian Desktop 2
August 1, 2003: Novell acquires Ximian
September 10, 2003: GNOME 2.4
Spring, 2004: GNOME 2.6
2004: GVADEC
Current Usage (examples)
---------------------------
Extremadura
80,000 computers in schools
Community computer centers
Over 18 million Euros saved
Brazil
107 Telecentros targeted in 2003
Each unit serves around 3,000 people
GNOME 2.x ideals
----------------------------
Usability
- Simplification, Consistency
Internationalization
- Unicode, Pango
Accessibility
- All sorts of different needs
Portability
- Gtk2 on Windows, Language bindings
Usability
----------------------------
Consistency
- HIG
Simplicity
- Fewer Options
- Less confusing for users
- Fewer configurations to support
- gconf-editor
Internationalization
----------------------------
Unicode
- UTF8
- ASCII compatible
Pango
- Unicode layout
- Right to Left support
Strong i18n team
- String freeze (to give translators time)
Accessibility (disabilities)
----------------------------
Architecture
- ATK, gail, ...
- Semantic information about UI elements
gnopernicus, gok, ...
Blind users and developers
2002 Helen Keller Award
Portability
--------------------------
Gtk on Windows
- gimp, gaim, xchat
Language Bindings
- Python, Perl, C++, C#
Ximian Desktop 2
--------------------------
Printing
- Setup dialog
- Cups integration
Integration
- OpenOffice.org
- Windows integration
Usability
- Control center
- Keyboard shortcuts
Future
---------------------------
2.4
- Accessibility tools
- Epiphany
- gucharmap
- gcalctool
2.6 (Possibilities)
- New file selector
- New mime system
Lockdown and Configuration Management
- GConf, LDAP
Cairo
- Much better rendering model
- Printing
Mono
- C#, Gtk#, Windows compatibility
- Embeddable
Further Information
---------------------------
URLs
- GNOME - http://www.gnome.org/
- Ximian - http://www.ximian.com/
- Novell - http://www.novell.com/
- Extremadura - http://www.linex.org/linex2/linex/ingles/index_ing.html
- Brazil Telecentros - http://www.telecentros.sp.gov.br/english/index.php
Documentation
- http://www.gnome.org/start/2.2/
- http://www.gnome.org/start/2.3/
Born in Ann Arbor, MI, Chris Lahey started working with the GNOME
project in 1997. He has worked at Ximian, Inc. in Boston, MA since
early 2000. There he helped develop the evolution groupware suite
and now works on the Ximian Desktop team, packaging and developing
GNOME based desktop software. He attended the University of
Michigan and was working in the IT field when he was tapped by
the GNOME Project team to produce stellar code.
http://www.ximian.org
NOTE:
Novell Acquires Ximian to Expand Linux Solutions and Open Source
Commitment (Aug 4, 2003)
Joe Felisky the Technical Director of the Great Lakes region for
Novell and Karen Downard the local Novell Field Rep were in the
audience tonight to meet a core developer from the organization
that they just acquired and hear this presentation. Also, Chris
Lahey's parents who live in Ann Arbor were in attendance! Having
your mom and dad plus key representatives from your new parent
company made this presentation extra special for Chris AND for us.
Novell's Joe Felinsky will be presenting to KLUG on October 21st
about Novell's Nterprise Linux Services... DON'T MISS THIS!
II. NEXT KLUG MEETING - TUESDAY 08/26/2003
******************************************************************
BIND (DNS) Shorts: DNSSEC & SDB
By Adam Williams & Peter Buxton
Tonight we have two BIND/DNS presentations.
Adam Williams, System Administrator and local LDAP Guru will be
demonstrating BIND SDB and SDB LDAP in particular. SDB is a layer
in bind that permits domain name information to be drawn from
various sources such as an RDBMS or LDAP server. This lets you
simply use 'named' as a DNS front end to a centralized or
pre-existing source of host information.
http://www.venaas.no/ldap/bind-sdb/
Peter Buxton will present on the subject of DNSSEC. Security
Extensions for DNS. http://www.dnssec.net/
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". 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. Adam is the KLUG
Program Director and has been responsible for booking the
many outstanding presentations that KLUG offers to the Open
Source GNU Linux community. Adam is a wizard with LDAP and
is known internationally for his support of this project.
Peter Buxton has been messing with computers since middle school but
has stubbornly refused to learn programming until recently. He
learned to manually configure sendmail.cf and ppp comand lines while
he used, as few others did, OS/2 on his desktop. This personal quirk
proved a valuable asset when he switched to Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 in
1999, as linux.net.support is a vital resource (especially for Debian).
Peter is a network administrator for a large international corporation
with facilities located in Kalamazoo. Soon to be a father!!!
III. K L U G M A I L I N G L I S T S -
*************************************************************
Diversified mailing lists can be found on the KLUG web site.
http://kalamazoolinux.org/listserv/
Facilitated by - John Bridleman listmaster@kalamazoolinux.org
Sign up and participate to serve the Open Source community!!!
(240 plus registrations on the "KLUG members" mailing list)
IV. K L U G & L I N U X N E W S F L A S H E S ! ! !
=====================================================================
SAMBA V3.0.0RC1 RELEASED
"Samba 3.0.0 RC1 has been released as of 8/16. Probably the most
important new feature is its Active Directory support, but the rest
of the new features can be found at the website."
http://developers.slashdot.org/developers/03/08/17/
1829240.shtml?tid=185
=====================================================================
RICHARD STALLMAN ON SCO, DISTRIBUTIONS, DRM
"Open for Business has an interview with GNU founder and free
software zealot Richard M. Stallman (RMS) discussing the SCO
situation, the single RMS-approved free Linux distribution and
DRM in the Linux kernel. RMS also describes non-free software
as a 'predatory social system that keeps people in a state of
domination and division.'"
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/08/17/1655243.shtml?tid=117&
tid=187&tid=88&tid=99
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SCO ATTORNEY DECLARES GPL INVALID (SCO STILL REALLY SUCKS)
"According to heise (German, fishbait), SCO's chief counsel Mark
Heise (unrelated) of Boies, Schiller and Flexner has declared that
the GPL violates the US copyright law and is thus null and void.
SCO's legal position is actually a little too crazy to believe:
The GPL allows unlimited copies, the copyright law allows one.
Therefore, the GPL is invalid." [BULLCRAP!]
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/14/1521256&
mode=thread&tid=106&tid=123&tid=185&tid=187&tid=88&tid=99
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WHO IS DAVID AND WHO IS GOLIATH?
"The story of SCO versus IBM has been compared to a story of
David versus Goliath, except that we all want Goliath to win.
I put it to you that IBM is not, in fact, Goliath, but that
Linux is. IBM is just Goliath's powerful right arm, and Goliath
has been awoken from a peaceful slumber."
http://newsforge.com/newsforge/03/08/13/1724202.shtml?tid=10
=====================================================================
REQUEST FOR URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP
DEAR SIR/MADAM:
I AM MR. DARL MCBRIDE CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SCO GROUP, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CALDERA SYSTEMS
INTERNATIONAL, IN LINDON, UTAH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I KNOW THIS
LETTER MIGHT SURPRISE YOUR BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS
COMMUNICATIONS OR BUSINESS DEALINGS BEFORE NOW.
Note: This is a *parody* and should not be take seriously - Ed.
http://newsvac.newsforge.com/newsvac/03/08/17/2117210.shtml?tid=16
=====================================================================
TEMPLETON, EFF CHAIRPERSON INTERVIEWED
"I have just published an interview with Mr Brad Templeton, chairman
of the board of the EFF, over at Greplaw. Mr Templeton presents,
among other things, his view on spam and freedom of speech among. If
that's not enough, there is also a rather unique tongue-in-cheek
interview with Professor Lessig."
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/07/31/1248201&
mode=thread&tid=111&tid=126&tid=153&tid=95&tid=99
=====================================================================
LOS ALAMOS TO USE AMD'S OPTERON IN LINUX CLUSTERS
"eWeek is reporting that Los Alamos National Laboratory announced
it will use more than 3,300 Opteron chips in two of its Linux
clusters..."
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/15/0347203&
mode=thread&tid=106&tid=142&tid=185&tid=187
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A LOOK AT THE UPCOMING GNOME V2.4
"Gnome 2.4 is arriving early september. Sayamindu Dasgupta has
installed the 2.3.5 development release to see what's in store,
and has written a very nice overview of the upcoming release."
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/14/1215238&mode=thread
&tid=131&tid=189
=====================================================================
DEBIAN TURNING 10
"On August 16th, the Debian Project will celebrate its 10th birthday.
Check debCONF for the birthday party nearest you!"
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/13/0459257&
mode=thread&tid=117&tid=185&tid=90&tid=99
=====================================================================
KDE/LINUX USABILITY REPORT AVAILABLE
"Relevantive AG, a German consulting firm who recently completed a
study on Linux usability, posted their results in English translation
today..."
http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/12/2224218&
mode=thread&tid=106&tid=121&tid=185&tid=189
http://newsforge.com/newsforge/03/08/13/1622242.shtml?tid=23
=====================================================================
LINUX AND THE UNIX PHILOSOPHY
"Mike Gancarz takes his oft'-quoted original book, The Unix Philosophy
and spruces it up for the Brave New World of Linux with Linux and the
Unix Philosophy. Since The Unix Philosophy was written, Unix has
undergone many changes and evolutions. Now with Linux emerging as the
new face of Unix, he has updated his book with the same philosophy and
tenets that were in the first, but updated the book to include
considerations for the Open Source community and the new world of
Operating Systems in which we live."
http://books.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/12/1216204&
mode=thread&tid=106&tid=130&tid=185&tid=190
=====================================================================
TEST CENTER IN FOCUS: LINUX
Just in time for LinuxWorld, the Test Center screens a promising
cadre of Linux candidates to aid IT in deciding which recruits best
suit its goals. Secure IT with Linux.
http://archive.infoworld.com/tc/tclinux.html
=====================================================================
LOOKING FOR THE LINUX LEADER
Suzlik kicked off the night with a short speech, making reference to
the day's events and how we'd all look back on this dinner as a
celebration of when Red Hat - the "Linux leader" - stood up for the
Linux community and its customers.
At that point a few ideas became clear:
- Red Hat is faster than IBM at recognizing it can turn SCO's
enterprise user licensing threat into a positive PR story.
- Linux legal theater has saved us from a summer that's not delivered
too much compelling technology news.
- SCO has no friends, anywhere.
- Red Hat wants to be known as the "Linux leader." Suzlik made the
same comment twice in one day.
http://weblog.infoworld.com/techwatch/archives/000015.html
=====================================================================
DESKTOP LINUX BREAKING GROUND
Desktop Linux started gaining momentum in 2002. Only nine months
later, Linux potential looks very real. While some critics take a
cynical view, the record does not prove them correct.
DesktopLinux.com Contributing Editor Tom Adelstein discusses where
the Linux desktop has experienced growth and some upcoming launches
to keep your eye on.
http://www.linux.org/news/2003/08/13/0003.html
=====================================================================
A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO PYGTK AND GLADE
Ready to move up from designing Web pages to designing applications?
It's easier than you think.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/6586
=====================================================================
ULTIMATE LINUX BOX: A WORK IN PROGRESS
Taking advantage of the Opteron blitz to make this year's Ultimate
Linux Box truly ultimate.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=7069&mode=thread&order=0
=====================================================================
JOINING THE CULT OF LINUX
"'People want stuff that conforms to standards or is similar to what
they already have,' says Aberdeen analyst Bill Claybrook. 'Nobody
wants some 'open-source' thing by Joe Blow. Enterprises who have
5,000 or 10,000 users don't want that stuff.'
http://linuxtoday.com/it_management/2003081600426OSBZSW
=====================================================================
STATE OF THE GNUCASH PROJECT, A CALL FOR HELP
"Although GnuCash comes up in every discussion of needed software to
get Linux on the desktop, the GnuCash project currently has only
about seven active developers... and enjoys far less exposure than
many projects of a similar size..."
http://linuxtoday.com/developer/2003081600326OSCYDT
=====================================================================
OPENOFFICE.ORG V1.1 RC3 RELEASED
"OpenOffice.org 1.1 RC3 is functionally equivalent to the final
version, which is coming soon..."
http://linuxtoday.com/developer/2003081502326NWDTSW
=====================================================================
ARE WINDOWS AND LINUX TECHNOLOGY EQUALS?
"Statistics about dramatic Linux sales growth are numerous, but
here is one of the most telling: Sales of Linux servers in the
U.S. grew a jaw-dropping 90 percent in Q4 of 2002 compared with
the same period the previous year, says Gartner Dataquest..."
http://linuxtoday.com/it_management/2003081500326OSBZDT
=====================================================================
LATEST STATE OF ALL THINGS LINUX
Did you know that 36% of developers prefer commercial versions of
Linux and 15% prefer a non-commercial version, but that the majority
of developers (49%) say that it doesn’t matter? Were you aware that,
on the desktop, KDE has moved ahead of GNOME for the first time?
(65% versus 56%, with a good many developers using both).
http://www.linuxworld.com/story/33914.htm
=====================================================================
IS YOUR NETWORK SAFE? TRY THESE TOOLS AND FIND OUT!
If you're connected to the Internet, keeping your network secure
should be a top priority. Patching servers shows that you're mindful
of the risks, but testing your network for vulnerabilities is the
only way to gain real confidence that you're safe from crackers.
Use our hands-on guide to analyze just how safe or assailable you
actually are.
http://www.linux-mag.com/2003-05/security_01.html
=====================================================================
WHAT TIME IS IT?
Q: How can I set all of my machines to the same wall clock time?
A: Synchronizing the time on all machines on the same network is
incredibly useful and very simple. The Network Time Protocol
daemon (ntpd) does all of the dirty work for you. If you have
DNS configured and are connected to the Internet, you can
synchronize with an external NTP master server or you can set
up your own local master server and synchronize all of your
machines to it. In the latter case, you'll only need to monitor
the master system for reasonably accurate time.
http://www.linux-mag.com/2003-05/tech_support_01.html
=====================================================================
MANAGING LINUX SYSTEMS WITH WEBMIN
Webmin gives you an easy, browser-based solution for virtually any
day-to-day Linux/UNIX administration task. Now, there's a definitive
Webmin guide for every beginning-to-intermediate sysadmin. Written
by Webmin's primary developer, Managing Linux Systems with Webmin
delivers authoritative, step-by-step coverage of the latest version
of Webmin, from basic installation to centrally managing multiple
servers.
http://www.linuxcentral.com/catalog/?prod_code=B000-342&id=C1Cv7rJAsYFCo
=====================================================================
IN THE OPEN SOURCE SPIRIT KLUG CALLS FOR MEETING SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS
Please don't make us RANT about organization needs for volunteers!
We need additional volunteers to act as the "Meeting Firewall"
to handle Chamber access control and security issues. The Chamber
has asked us to safeguard their assets as KLUG members come and
go from the meeting room each Tuesday night. Bob truly does need
help with this function which requires that you get to the meetings
early and see that everything is locked up as the meeting attendees
leave. We have several other KLUG volunteer positions available
and many of these duties could be shared if you have an interest.
G E T I N V O L V E D I N K L U G N O W ! ! !
Please contact installmaster@kalamazoolinux.org for more details.
See http://kalamazoolinux.org/organize for position descriptions.
=====================================================================
THE WMU COMPUTER CLUB - YAKKO IS THEIR MAIN LINUX SERVER!
The Computer Club at Western Michigan University exists to promote
a better understanding of computers for both members of the club
and members of the WMU community. This goal is achieved through
various club projects, member presentations, Linux Install Parties,
and discussions at our meetings. Do you need help getting your
computer to function properly? Are you interested in installing
Linux? Do you just want a place to hang out and have a good time?
If the answer to any of those questions or any other question is
'yes' then you should come check us out. We welcome anyone
(regardless of computer experience) who is willing to share
whatever talents they have, listen to others, and have a good
time. http://yakko.cs.wmich.edu/
=====================================================================
KLUG SUPPORTING MEMBERS CAN GET THEIR PICTURE ON THE WEB SITE
Want your picture posted with your name as a KLUG Supporting
Member? Send the tasteful graphic file and your request to
webmaster@kalamazoolinux.org.
=====================================================================
KLUG NOW OWNS A NEW XGA VIDEO PROJECTOR
Adam reported that KLUG has upgraded the video projector from SVGA
to XGA!!! From 800 x 600 to 1024 x 768, it should boost presentation
viewing pleasure. This projector is well rated:
INFOCUS LP335 DLP PROJECTOR
1000 LUMEN - XGA - LP-0335-V + Extended 12 month warranty
Digital Light Processing DLP which provides sharp images under
variable lighting conditions.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/office/portable_pc_projectors/
Anyone know of a buyer for our 2 year old KLUG SVGA projector?
We should ask $800 for this unit and it is in excellent condition.
It has about 150 hours on a 1000 hour bulb. Works just fine.
It is an InFocus model LP425ZVB with padded carrying case.
Contact Todd chair@kalamazoolinux.org for more info.
=====================================================================
KLUG NEEDS VOLUNTEERS TO FILL SEVERAL VACANT POSITIONS
"Firewall" and Education Director volunteer slots are still vacant.
Please contact chair@kalamazoolinux.org for more details.
Volunteers are needed for Beginner's Nights and Installfests.
Please contact installmaster@kalamazoolinux.org for more details.
See http://kalamazoolinux.org/organize for position descriptions.
=====================================================================
********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - *********
KLUG NEEDS SPEAKERS FOR THE WEEKLY LINUX RELATED PRESENTATIONS!
********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - ********* - *********
Contact Adam if you can give a presentation on any area of Linux
related subject or application. He would also like to hear your
suggestions for topics and possible speaker referrals. Do you
know anyone who is using Linux in Southwest Michigan and might
be willing to share their Linux expertise by making a technical
presentation? Professional, individual, or commercial speakers
on Linux accepted. Contact programdirector@kalamazoolinux.org
with your referrals and ideas. See the meeting schedule for open
dates. http://www.kalamazoolinux.org/meetings/schedule.php3
=====================================================================
V. K L U G C O N T A C T & M E E T I N G I N F O
*************************************************************
KLUG WEB SITE http://kalamazoolinux.org
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 the Kalamazoo Chamber
of Commerce office building downtown.
346 W. Michigan Ave. - Kalamazoo, MI 49007
http://kazoolug.org/meetings/maps.php3 <=== MAP!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kalamazoo Linux Users Group, Inc.
6749 South Westnedge Avenue
Suite K-288
Portage MI 49002
e-mail address: chair@kalamazoolinux.org
NOTE:
Effective January 1st, 2002, KLUG has been granted 501C3 status by
the IRS. This is a big step forward. Now all donations (including
hardware, services, cash, or membership dues) are tax deductible!
>><< send corrections, additions, flames to the KLUG scribe >><<
Ralph Worick
recordingsecretary@kalamazoolinux.org
= or =
KLUG Meeting Notes Assistant Editor
Bruce Atherton
Taz <htgage3@chartermi.net>
Copyright (c) 2003 Kalamazoo Linux Users Group, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU
Free Documentation License".
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl.html#TOC1