[luau] HOSEF<-->BILUG outreach

[Warren Togami]

Eric Jeschke wrote:
> Aloha,
> 
> I visited the HOSEF web site and did not find any information about a
> mailing list; apologies in advance if this list is not the appropriate
> venue. 

This list is the proper place for HOSEF discussion.

> 
> We had our BILUG meeting last Saturday and discussed the possibility (as
> discussed in the group IRC chat the other night) of getting some of your
> donated machines for educational LTSP installations over here on the Big
> Island.
> 
> The short summary of it is 1) everyone present seemed interested and
> enthusiastic about the idea;  2) we identified only some limited space
> for storing machines at the present time; 3) it is unclear how much
> human resources we have at our disposal; and 4) we only have one
> firm LTSP commitment and a couple of additional interested schools at
> the present time.
> 

We will cleanup and test machines before they are shipped to your island 
so human resources would be less of a problem.  (Less junk to throw away 
too.)

Did the one school with a firm LTSP commitment say they would pay for 
their LTSP server and networking equipment?

> My feeling is that we should probably try initially for a limited
> rollout of about 40-50 machines.  We have an adult education center here
> in Hilo that definitely will take 20 boxes (it is an old Linux lab that
> is in bad shape now with about 6 feeble machines left working, but room
> for many more).

If these are faster standalone Linux desktops, you could use a very 
similar setup as Michael Bishop's soon to be diskless network bootable 
Linux workstations at McKinley Community School.

> We have 2-3 other schools that have expressed interest,
> but no firm committment.  If we can get the other machines into a couple
> of other schools, then with the two or three labs it might provide a way
> to demo the idea to yet other schools and get them on board.  I'd
> estimate that we have about 6 people that we can count on as far as
> effort; all are quite capable technically in both Linux and harware in
> general.  Some others might get involved once we demonstrate that we
> have something rolling.  Starting small will also make sure we don't
> bite off more than we can chew.

Is there any chance that educators from those schools will be visiting 
Oahu anytime during the year?  If so please contact me in advance and I 
can give them a quick tour of Mid-Pac's Linux lab.  Just SEEING it and 
hearing of the maintenance long term cost benefits would have most 
people sold.

> 
> We also were agreeable to try out a Gnomemeeting conference with your
> group there; the problem will be finding a decent time; during a regular
> meeting would be best, from the standpoint of having as many people
> around to participate.
> 

Agreed.  The problem I have on my side is I have zero experience with 
Gnomemeeting and no camera equipment.

Does anyone on Oahu have a compatible camera and handheld microphone?
Does anyone on Oahu have experience using Gnomemeeting?

Warren Togami
warren at togami.com