On 10/11/07, Don Gould <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > All, > > Neil Stockbridge spent some time developing a distrubuted system to tell > people where they could go to get 'big files' of their choice. > > Concept - On the internet you could get a list of the files and their > locations. By going to the location you could get the actual file via wifi. > > It was modeled on some research that Neil did, google for 'yellow chair'. > > People on my neighborhood network have been able to get a large store of > FOSS for month. > > Neil do you have your big files web site still set up? I'm not sure if > mine is still working correctly? > > I have to confess that I had trouble keeping up with Neils work because > of my lack of linux expertises and I was putting my time into > understanding other stuff that the time that Neil just 'knows!' :) > > Christopher Sawtell wrote: > > I agree this exercise is probably a terrible Johnny come lately, but > > we have been very well served by e-caf in the past. Now that that > > business has folded, and folks were bemoaning the absense of a > > Definitve Source of Linux and other FLOSS in Christchurch I thought > > that it would be worth-while experimenting to see if such a source was > > still needed, especially as we could conduct the experiment at no > > cost, bar a 'bus ticket or three. So we now have what we have. > > > > I'll update the website tomorrow once the new files are on the drive. > > > > btw, Anybody know of a "Corporate Patron" who would like to give us > > the necessary electricity to run a small machine 24/7 so we could > > create a Linux and F/LOSS WiFi Hot-Spot? > > Yes - the CCC. > > We've got 5 computers running all the time in the CIA.
What are they? Disc sizes? You'll need an 80 gig minimum to offer a resonable selection of the major Linux/*BSD distros. DVD burner/cutter? What times is this 'CIA' open for business? > It's currently > got a net connection and if we want to keep it then we have to show > better use than it's getting at present. So how much traffic do you want to show? We'll be needing to d/l all the files for Ubuntu 'Gutsy Gibbon' in a week's time. Would you be able to get them? > We just need to find a 54mbit wifi card for one of the machines with a > linux driver so that people can associate with it. I know it's not exactly politically correct in these hallowed surroundings to suggest that the easiest way is to buy an access point, plug it in and use it. It would save an awful lot of futzing around. They are not terribly expensive. Take care though, a DVD is still going to take a while to tranfer, ~20 minutes theoretical best by my mental arithmetic, and probably at least twice that in practice. > I'm sure Addington net would also do something more with us if we wanted to. Who are Addington net? > They were very supportive of the CRRA project to set up the CIA. Please could you decipher the alphabet soup? > With respect to the 6 month trial... Consideration needs to be given to > the fact that software budgets for schools are going to be given back to > schools in the next 3 years. Business advantage is growing from FOSS > standards - eg in the printing arena we now want customers to give us > SVG formats. Media are doing more and more to draw attention to the > fact that running Linux on your desktop gives you less risk from hackers > and virus at present. The government in all its wisdom will doubtless 'bless' some large Corporate and the little people won't get a look-in. > I suspect that the resource isn't going to get used much in the next 6 > months. But if we don't start putting these resources in place now > then, when our community (Christchurch community, not Linux community) > actually need/want/demand the resource, we're not going to have the > skills and experience as a community (Linux/FOSS) to step up to the > challenge. Rumor has it that Vista has taken off like a lead baloon. That leaves a space for us. > > /random thoughts :) > > In the mean time, great work Chris, I agree with Nick's comments (or the > centerment that I'm sure went with them) we/someone have/has to START > some where. So we now have the possibility of two public access Linux and F/LOSS archives. Splendid! -- Sincerely etc. Christopher Sawtell
