On Tue, 2005-03-01 at 16:59 -0700, Charlie Bullen wrote:
> Hello All, I have gotten permission to do a demo for members of a class
> on (hold your noses) Windows XP pro. I tend to talk linux up and some of
> my classmates are interested.
>
> Here is the demo. Even though my laptop runs Redhat, I'm going to boot
> it from a clusterKnoppix disk. I then have a bash script that is just a
> buch of nested loops that run CPU usage up to 100% which I will run.
>
> Next I will launch openMosix and boot a couple of PCs over the network
> from my laptop, running clusterKnoppix. I will boot them in text mode.
> Next I will launch the bash script again, and via a nice openMosix
> viewer, will show them how the load on the CPU is now balanced between
> all 3 computers.
>
> Lastly, I will reconfigure openMosic to boot the PCs to a KDE desktop. I
> will then let whoever wants to, play around with the KDE desktops while
> I simultaneously again launch the bash script, balance the load amoung
> the 3 boxes, showing how each computer can still be used as a desktop
> with little or no degradation of performance.
>
> I have done all of this and it all works real well. The instructor is
> 99% sure that the classroom PC use PXE booting, but in case they don't,
> I'm bringing a mini-itx box that I have already tried all this out on
> just in case the classroom PCs don't want to play.
>
> I am also bringing my own router and cables just to be sure again.
>
>
> On the one hand the demo seems a bit complex, but as I am bringing
> enough of my own gear, which I have run the described demo on several
> times before, to do everything, without having to use any of the
> classroom gear, I'm very confident that all will go well.
>
> I can't wait to see what a bunch of windows people will think when shown
> what a real OS can do.
>
>
> I'll give a post demo report as well.
----
seems a little geeky to me - especially for a class on Windows XP which
makes me think that these aren't sophisticated computer users (or am I
missing the point?) Load sharing among desktops isn't something I have
ever tried or have wanted to ever try and it makes it seem irrelevant
from the word go but perhaps I would think differently if I saw what you
were doing.
The thing that really strikes me is your attitude towards Windows
(several references to your disdain and/or your expectations that we
would disdain Windows). Computer are a tool for us to use. Whether the
underlying OS is Linux or Windows or BSD or whatever, it's nothing more
than a tool. I have seen people draw stuff with a text editor and a
postscript printer that amazed me - they were knowledgeable about their
'tool' and the underlying OS had little to do with anything.
I think that there are some things that are really impressive about
Linux that seem so easy to overlook - but real Administrators can really
appreciate them...
- configuration files in plain text. Use any editor to fix the
settings.
Want to remove unneeded dictionaries from OpenOffice.org?
emacs /usr/lib/openoffice/share/dict/ooo/dictionary.lst
Want to change your dns server?
emacs /etc/resolv.conf
Want to provide granular control over who can access your files via
samba?
emacs /etc/hosts.allow /etc/hosts.deny
- real logs / real time
/var/log/take_your_pick
- change runlevels, functionality, personality, no need to reboot
telinit 3
telinit 5
emacs /etc/sysconfig/network #change hostname
service network restart
ifdown eth0
ifup eth1
- real time debugging...
/usr/bin/mozilla # reports standard out/standard error to terminal
- This is a real clincher - you actually can see
- what is going wrong if/when something is going
- wrong. Lots of times, it's hard to know what's
- the problem on Windows because there's no log
The last thing I would suggest is NOT to use KDE - it's too much like
Windows and it inevitably brings up the comparisons. Different is
better. You will be fielding comments/questions about why they will
think that Windows is a better desktop system (and in many respects it
is).
Craig
---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list -
PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
(text/plain)