On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 02:08:12 -0700 (MST)
"der.hans" <
PLUGd@LuftHans.com> wrote:
> moin, moin,
>
> This email is meant to be the beginning of a collaborative effort.
>
> Yup, this is the original moin, moin wiki :).
>
> We need to decide what requirements we have for a distribution. After
> that we can see about which distributions we'd like to support[1].
>
> I'm very tired right now ( and need to research a problem at work ),
> so my initial list isn't so good. Sorry. I'll have to leave it up to
> the list[2].
>
> Please make suggestions. Once we have a fairly stable and mostly
> agreed upon feature list we can qualify distributions and then decide
> which ones we want to have available as defaults at InstallFests.
>
> ###
> distro requirements:
> - we can install it
> - package management
> - secure ( e.g. no root-only distros )
> - usable on intel/amd/ppc 200 processors^
>
>
> good things to have:
> - can do security-only updates*
> - can do dist upgrades
> - we have people who use it*
> - available for x86 and PPC
> - Live CD for hardware testing
> - partition resizer that understands Linux and m$ partitions
> ###
>
> * probably should be requirements
> ^ subject to number tweaking
>
> Anyone want to start a thread like this for hardware requirements?
>
> [1] Apologies to Alexander and Dennis as I know they hashed about on
> some things a couple of months ago and this might be part of what they
> covered.
>
> [2] Note the random sig that came up for this email...
>
> ciao,
>
> der.hans
> --
> # https://www.LuftHans.com/ http://www.AZOTO.org/
> # If you don't think for yourself, others will think for you --
> # to their advantage. -- Harold Gordon
If this weekend's InstallFest is any example of things to come, we'll
get a wide variety of requests. Everything from simple installs to
hardware RAID to Gentoo.
So, here's where we need triage.
Is it a simple install for a newbie who will dual boot? Then we need
a safe choice and an experienced installer. FC3, Mandrake, Ubuntu, Mepis
look like safe bets here.
Is the box being dedicated to Linux, then we can widen the choices a
bit. Maybe even be adventurous and install Debian or Slackware
depending on how much the user wants to learn. And some do! We've had
people that have gone from newbie to Gentoo in a week!
A dedicated box is something a new installer-person can handle
without fearing they wll trash any data. Good way to learn and get more
people experinced in installing!
It's not unusal for someone to go through 3 or 4 distros in the first
month or two. Trying different ones to see what they like. So what we
install may get replaced within a week.
The more difficult installs are an opportunity for all to learn, so
we don't want to turn them away, I think. *Unless* there is the risk of
doing real damage. One InstallFest someone brought a laptop with all
the company financial records and mentioned that he had to meet with the
auditors on Monday!
Even if we can't do a Gentoo install or hardware RAID. We can still
be of service by pointing them to the issues they will face and maybe
some places online to look for help.
I know der.hans would like to see a totally automatic
over-the-network install, but I think that is some ways done the road
and in fact may not be desirable since going though an install is an
important learning experience for all. The key is preparation to make
the install process as smooth as possible and be able to deal with
problems that come up in a professional manner. Even if we can't solve
a problem, as long as it's not a show-stopper we can always come back to
it or, at least, explain what needs to be done.
How about an IRC channel during the InstallFest? Might be an easy way
to ask everyone for help without leaving the install you're working on.
I know a question came up Saturday about hardware RAID on Dell 620
Precision Workstations that I could have answered (and saved a couple of
hours frustration) except I was in another room doing an install.
Again, the goal we should focus on in these discussions is that we want
the person to walk out with a Linux box they can really use. That means
the printer is setup, Internet and mail work, music plays, etc. and
we've spent a minute showing them some of the features and where the
config tools are.
To make this happen we need to learn with each InstallFest so any
problem we run into we follow up and solve and have the solution
available for the next InstallFest.
An example of this is Fedora Core 3 doesn't play MP3s out of the box.
Playing MP3s is something that most people want to do with a computer
and the solution isn't hard[1], but we need to know the solution and
make it one of the standard things we do each time Fedora is installed.
This means creating a follow up sheet for each install and creating a
checklist for that distro.
Yes, it means chasing a lot of details, but the payoff is that the
InstallFest will be a fun learning experience for all.
Anyway, my 2 cents worth and hope it didn't sound too much like a rant.
Dennisk
[1]
http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-fc3.shtml#xmms
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