Myth TV, Zap2It and Smoothwall at the SFD (was Re: [GLLUG] GLLUG and Software Freedom Day)

Tue Aug 21 16:09:09 EDT 2007

"As far as the business users out there - I am the online one that uses Smoothwall as a firewall box??"

Um - ONLY, not ONLINE and AM I, not I AM.  One of those days . . . 

Benjamin Cathey
System Administrator
Cathey Company
4917 Tranter St.
Lansing, MI 48910 USA
Phone:     517.393.4720
Fax:       517.393.4225
Toll Free: 800.333.1972
"Service is Our Profession"

----- Original Message -----
From: Benjamin Cathey
[mailto:benjamincathey at catheycompany.com]
To: Clay Dowling
[mailto:clay at lazarusid.com], Greater Lansing Linux User Group
[mailto:linux-user at egr.msu.edu]
Sent: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:20:27
-0400
Subject: Myth TV, Zap2It and Smoothwall at the SFD (was Re: [GLLUG]
GLLUG and Software Freedom Day)

>->> Myth TV - Argh - 
>->> 
>->> So I wanted to set that up myself but it looks like a myth TV box showing
>->> the game is probably OUT.
>->> 
>->> >From "Linux Pro Magazine" Latest Issue:
>->> 
>->> "In September 2007m Zap2It Labs will be dropping its free North American TV
>->> Listing service, which was used by several open source projects, most
>->> notably, MythTV."
>->> 
>->> So - that isn't very nice.  They cite "abuse by commerical firms that took
>->> the data that was supposed to be for personal, non-commercial use only," as
>->> the reason.
>->> 
>->> As far as the business users out there - I am the online one that uses
>->> Smoothwall as a firewall box??  It's a GREAT solution and the have an open
>->> (free) version with a TON of community support on modules which can be built
>->> in (for content filtration, A/V, IDS (and an actual REACTIVE IDS) - plus
>->> NAT, Proxy - and MUCH more.  I tried to sell the idea to another business
>->> but they would rather spend thousands to buy a stand alone box.  The nice
>->> thing about the smoothwall box is it is web configurable and allows complete
>->> control of traffic (with mods, QoS as well) and the lists (like snort) can
>->> be updated daily, plus snort rules can be selected etc.  That and you can
>->> add a DSHIELD mod which downloads the newest DSHIELD list daily and also
>->> submits you firewall results daily to help build the block lists.
>->> 
>->> It might be something to show off at this event - But I don't think I can
>->> seriously be the only person running it here.  I looked at other options at
>->> the time (IP Cop, etc) and smoothwall seemed the best.  I run it at home as
>->> well (tighter to keep out the porn)
>->> 
>->> Gotta work now - any feedback?
>->> 
>->> 
>->> Benjamin Cathey
>->> System Administrator
>->> Cathey Company
>->> 4917 Tranter St.
>->> Lansing, MI 48910 USA
>->> Phone:     517.393.4720
>->> Fax:       517.393.4225
>->> Toll Free: 800.333.1972
>->> "Service is Our Profession"
>->> 
>->> 
>->> ----- Original Message -----
>->> From: Clay Dowling
>->> [mailto:clay at lazarusid.com]
>->> To: Greater Lansing Linux User Group
>->> [mailto:linux-user at egr.msu.edu]
>->> Sent: Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:26:19
>->> -0400
>->> Subject: [GLLUG] GLLUG and Software Freedom Day
>->> 
>->> 
>->> >->> On Saturday, September 15th GLLUG will be holding an Open House on the
>->> >->> campus of Lansing Community College from 1pm to 5pm for Software
>->> Freedom
>->> >->> Day.  This event is a good opportunity for business owners, executives,
>->> >->> computer users and students to see how free and open source software
>->> can
>->> >->> reduce costs and improve productivity.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> We are planning four 10 minutes presentations which will be repeated
>->> >->> during the day:
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> * What is Open Source? *
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> A brief overview of what open source is, with a short history and some
>->> >->> prominent examples.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> * Why Open Source? *
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> What are the benefits of using Open Source software, with examples.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> * Open Source for the Home User *
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> A brief look at open source software for the home user, including
>->> >->> current trends and examples of how people are using it.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> * Open Source for the Business User *
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> How open source software is helping business by reducing costs and
>->> >->> making new things possible.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> While this is being presented by the Greater Lansing Linux User's
>->> Group,
>->> >->> I would like to emphasize that we will be presenting tools and
>->> >->> technology that is available to users of all popular operating systems,
>->> >->> including Windows, Macintosh and Linux.  You do not need to convert
>->> your
>->> >->> home or office to Linux to take advantage of the tools we will be
>->> showing.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> In addition to the presentations we will have the Burn Box available.
>->> >->> For those who are not familiar, the Burn Box is a CD Burning Kiosk that
>->> >->> lets you create CDs of popular software distributions including Linux,
>->> >->> FreeBSD and utility CDs.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> There will also be machines on site where visitors can see open source
>->> >->> software in use.  To that end, if people can volunteer to bring in
>->> their
>->> >->> machines and talk about the software they're showing, that would be
>->> great.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> Obvious candidates are Firefox, Thunderbird (possibly with the Calendar
>->> >->> extension, which makes it play nice with Outlook's calendar features)
>->> >->> and Open Office.  The Gimp, Inkscape, Scribus (page layout software)
>->> and
>->> >->> various media software are also good things to show off.  Games might
>->> be
>->> >->> good to show the home users (my wife loves the variety of Solitaire
>->> >->> games).  I plan to bring in a Windows machine and show PostgreSQL and
>->> >->> the Code::Blocks IDE with the source of a commercial application that I
>->> >->> sell.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> We could also use some corporate sponsorship to make this event better.
>->> >->>  If your company or your employer would be willing to provide $50
>->> >->> towards paying for refreshments we will happily give them space to
>->> >->> advertise their products and services.  If they can speak to visitors
>->> >->> about how open source software has helped their business that would be
>->> >->> even better.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> Before the list gets flooded with suggestions to do this on the MSU
>->> >->> campus: we considered that first.  MSU has a home game that day, and if
>->> >->> you aren't familiar with MSU on game day, there is no parking to be had
>->> >->> for love nor money, making it somewhat difficult to get visitors to our
>->> >->> event.  Speaking of which, if someone could bring a MythTV setup that
>->> is
>->> >->> showing the game, that would be really cool.
>->> >->> 
>->> >->> Clay
>->> >->> _______________________________________________
>->> >->> linux-user mailing list
>->> >->> linux-user at egr.msu.edu
>->> >->> http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>->> >->> 
>->> 
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>->> 
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>->> http://mailman.egr.msu.edu/mailman/listinfo/linux-user
>->> 

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