[GLLUG] Penguicon Planning Meeting

[Charles Ulrich]

On Feb 8, 2008 3:35 PM, Stanley C. Mortel <mortel at cyber-nos.com> wrote:
> Charles, has anyone contacted you yet to get the materials from last
> year?  If not, contact me off-list and maybe we can set up a time to meet.

There isn't really a whole lot in the way of materials. I did use the
Computer Lounge page on the Penguicon wiki as sort of a "we got this,
we need that" list. I found a copy of it on my file server (yay for
backups!) and I've attached it to this message.

I also brought the volunteer badges, "border router", and misc
equipment and office supplies, and I'm of course more than happy to
bring this stuff again this year.

Organizing the lounge is not terribly hard. One challenge is making
sure we have everything we need equipment-wise, but the most difficult
part by far is simply motivating others in the group to contribute
equipment and volunteer time. Thankfully, Chick has always been
awesome with the volunteer scheduling itself because that's a pretty
big job.

There main goals of the lounge have always been to provide a place for
conference-goers to relax by surfing the web, checking their email,
posting to their blog, or whatever. Show off the capability of open
source. Stick to those and you can't go wrong. One of my personal
goals was to incorporate something new into the lounge each year so
that it's bigger and/or better than the one previous to it.

That really about sums everything up. And to reiterate, I definitely
want to remain part of the operations of the Computer Lounge, I just
won't have the time this year to be involved in most of the major
planning and face-to-face meetings.

Charles
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The Computer Lounge at Penguicon 5.0 is being run by members of the [GLLUG]. Our intent is provide Linux and open-source-based computers that anyone can sit down and use as well as show off the quality and utility of open source software.

Previous Computer Lounge pages:

* ComputerLounge40

= Lounge Features =

== Terminal Server ==

Last year we had 12 thin clients all served by a 2.4GHz machine with 1GB of RAM. A couple of times, we had all seats taken and things got a little slow but not unusable.

This year, we aim to have 20 thin clients total. A couple more if space/hardware allow. We'll have a beefier server and the distribution will be Ubuntu rather than Gentoo. If we can swing it, it would be nice to have half the stations logged into GNOME and half logged into KDE. (With the option to log out and select Enlightenment, fluxbox, XFCE, etc.)

According to sources, we'll be able to get a map of the hotel as the desktop wallpaper from Dan DeSloover.

== Media Workstation ==

There will be one media workstation available for people to use for areas where the terminal server won't quite cut it. Examples include mounting USB drives, mounting CDs and DVDs, and burning custom CD-ROMs. By default, this will be the only machine allowed to send jobs to the printer, but we may keep the printer info handy so that tech volunteers can allow other machines to print as well.

== The Burn Unit ==

The Burn Unit will be a Free/Open Source and Linux distribution burning station. We'll have a number of blank CDs and DVDs sitting next to the machine. Visitors to the lounge can simply pop a CDR in and choose the image that they would like to burn via a simple pointy-clicky interface. The blank CDs and DVDs will be free, but we may opt to charge a small amount if demand outstrips supply too quickly. in case we have to run out and get more.  Clay Dowling is currently working on a second iteration of the Burn Unit's interface.

== MythTV Demo(s) ==

Stan Mortel has offered us the use of his MythTV box as a demo machine for the lounge.

== Asterisk Demo ==

Ideal Solution has volunteered to set up a quick and easy asterisk demo. It will be comprised of an Asterisk server, a business VoIP phone, a digium phone card, and a POTS phone. It'll basically be like two tin cans and a piece of string. With voicemail. (Unless we can come up with some other cool things to do with it.) Guests will be able to play around with the Trixbox web interface.

== Computer Gaming ==

Caleb Cushing is organizing this year's computer gaming network with the help of Jason Green and Richard Houser. At present, the plan is to have 5 computers running various forms of Linux-native, virtualized, and perhaps even emulated video games. If time and space permit, a 6th machine will be devoted to showing off 3D-enhanced Linux desktops. (XGL and so forth.)

== Second Life Window ==

At this point, it's just a brainstorming idea, but the possibility was brought up at a GLLUG meeting that we could have a two-way "window" between the computer lounge and the virtual world Second Life. We would have a projector displaying the window on the wall or a screen and a webcam next to it to send the video into a virtual wall in Second Life so that the inhabitants of one world could see and interact with those of the other. Eduardo Cesconetto is following up on this idea.

== Installfest ==

This year, GLLUG is hosting an installfest in the computer lounge with all the extra space we'll have this year. It will run on Saturday from 12PM to 5:30PM. We'll be offering free one-on-one help for much of the day for anyone who wants to get Linux or FreeBSD on their machine. We need around 3 volunteers available for the installfest at any given time.

== Schedule of Events ==

* Friday

 * 10:00AM - Setup

* Saturday

 * 12:00PM - 5:30PM Installfest

* Sunday

 * 11:00 - Teardown

= Signs/Pamphlets =

* Signs warning about lost/stolen personal items

* GLLUG fliers

* Terminal server folder contents:

 * terminal server intro (plus diagram?)

 * GLLUG flier

 * tutorials

 * other propaganda?

* volunteer procedures/rules

* large-format GLLUG banner

* Demo signs

 * MythTV

 * Asterisk

 * Burn Unit

* Acceptable Use Policy

* Installfest signs

= Hardware Loans =

We're currently accepting loans of computer hardware over the course of the weekend of Penguicon. For terminals, we need systems in the Pentium-II class or higher with 17" or larger monitors. For the gaming systems, we're looking for more modern machines. LCDs GREATLY appreciated. If you're attending the con and would like to loan us your hardware for the weekend, please send an email to the GLLUG mailing list or bityard at gmail.com. We might be able to arrange a pick-up of hardware if you're not attending the con but would still like to let us use it.

= What We Have =

* Terminal server (Jeff Lawton, Ideal Solution)

 * 16 terminals + KM, 10 monitors (Jeff Lawton)

 * 5 terminals + KVM (Lee Putnam)

 * 2 terminals + KVM (Stan Mortel)

 * An HP thin client + KVM (Mark Szidik)

* Burn Unit machine + KVM (Charles Ulrich

 * 100 blank CDs and cash to buy more (Reb Neely)

 * 100 more blank CDs (Matt Arnold)

 * 50 blank DVDs (Jeff Lawton)

* MythTV demo (Stan Mortel)

* Asterisk demo (Jordan Robison, Ideal Solution)

* Box of patch cables (Jim Fick)

* Ubuntu giveaway CDs (Jordan Robison)

* 3 "Computer Lounge Staff" badges (Charles Ulrich)

* Tux buttons to sell (Chick Tower)

* Network Router (Charles Ulrich)

= What We Need =

* 6 monitors

* Power cords

* Extension cords

* Hardware for gaming machines

* Games for gaming machines

* Make sure we have a phone available for the security/tech people

* A media workstation

= What Needs to be Done  =

* Finish terminal server

* Signage

* Get demos together

* Tagging system for marking loaned hardware

* Get with Program Book person for lounge and activities

= Volunteering =

Chick Tower has offered to maintain the manning schedule for those who can volunteer their time in the lounge during the con. As soon as you have a clear idea of which 1/2-hour blocks of time you can give us, send them to Chick at c.e.tower at gmail.com. Be generous if you can, because it's going to be tough to keep the lounge manned at all times and we want everyone to be able to have fun at this convention.

Basically, we need three classes of Lounge Volunteers:

Technical Volunteers: Troubleshoot equipment, help users, answer questions, and so on. Based on last year's experience, there's not always a lot to do as a tech volunteer if the terminal server is stable. This year, we'll experiment with offering the tech volunteers the option of being out of the room during their shift as long as they can be reached by cell phone. Techs need basic Linux and networking experience. We'll need at least one tech volunteer on call from 12PM - 10PM on Friday and 10AM - 10PM on Saturday.

Security Volunteers: Keep an eye on the lounge to make sure nothing grows legs. Security volunteers can't also be techs during the same shift because they need to stay alert and aware of everything going on in the room. We'll need at least one security volunteer in the lounge at all times between setup and teardown.

Installfest Volunteers: Help new Linux/BSD users get Linux/BSD on their machines. Willingness to answer basic Linux questions required, ability to carefully explain complex technical subjects a major plus. Installfest volunteers don't necessarily have to sign up in order to help out, but it would be nice to know how much help we can expect.

As you send your times to Chick, let him know whether you want specific blocks of time or if you want him to just schedule everything for you. The more time you can volunteer, the better we'll be able to balance the schedule to make sure that everyone gets to enjoy the con to their maximum ability. The schedule will not be set in stone. So as long as everyone pulls their share, volunteers will likely get a lot more free time than what the schedule implies. Trading and bartering time with someone else is not forbidden, just please make sure Chick knows about it so that there isn't any confusion.

= Security Plan =

Currently, we do not plan to implement any elaborate system for security. Previous Penguicons have had absolutely no problem with theft or damage, so any system that might cause a bunch of extra work for us or would inconvenience patrons of the lounge does not seem necessary at this point. Nevertheless, if we want to continue to keep this record of perfect security, there are a few points that should always be observed:

* There should be only one entrance and exit point to the lounge. This creates a kind of check-point that makes it difficult for a person to escape with something valuable unnoticed. 

* There should be at least one security volunteer in the lounge at all times.

* Security volunteers should not allow themselves to get distracted by the goings-on of the lounge. If someone has a computer question, try to refer them to the tech volunteer on call if there is one.

* Walking around a bit is fine, as long as attention is not diverted from the entrance for too long.

* If a security problem arises, volunteers should call hotel security (if there is any) or the front desk. Volunteers may verbally confront a person suspected of theft, but they may NOT apprehend or detain anybody.

* Nobody but the lounge volunteers will be permitted to add, remove, or tinker with the hardware itself on the lounge equipment tables. 

* Any unwarranted intrusion, malicious use of a lounge computer, social engineering, or intentional disruption of the network will result in immediate expulsion from the convention. (This goes on the AUP and possibly terminal server login.)

= Program Book Blurb =

This year's computer lounge is brought to you by the Greater Lansing Linux User Group (http://www.gllug.org). Feel free to drop in to check your mail, browse the web, and perhaps find out a little bit more about open source software. You can also check out some demos that help show off the real power of Linux and use our CD burning station to take home your very own copy of Linux. Or sit down for awhile on one of our dedicated gaming machines and frag (or cooperate with others in fragging) other convention-goers to your heart's content.

(Note: we also need a blurb for installfest, probably)