VLUG Meeting Minutes 1999.01.19

COMDEX

We rocked! More detail in the postings that attendees made to the discussion list, but to summarize: the Linux booth was way at the back of the room, but was packed all the time. About 4000 brochures were handed out, almost all visitors were positive about Linux, we got some television exposure, and an award from the show organizers.

Discussion

• Hardware setup of an NE2000-compatible NIC
• How to compile Java programs under Linux
• When and where is the next installfest? (When: likely the 31st, where: not yet decided)
• Problems with a 486 not finding its bus mouse

Crass commercialism

The bulk-bought Tuxen were rolled out, and were even cuter than we had imagined, as well as being very economical due to the bulk discount. LinuxMall had thrown in Penguin Power buttons for the medium and large sizes (a US$0.50 value) at no extra charge, and suction cups for the small size so you can enjoy Tux in your car, too.

Membership cards were distributed. Discounts for showing the cards at Monk Office Supplies and Bolen Books are both under discussion.

We were reminded that the club still has lots of CDs for sale, of various distributions.

Presentation

Deid Reimer, on Samba and what it can do for you.

Break

Newbie Night

Discussion and Q&A on a variety of topics.

• The relationship between Windows authorization info, Linux authorization info, Samba, and its user map feature.
• How to use a Linux box to provide DNS fo DOS and Mac systems: read the DNS HOWTO!
• Product to run Windows applications with their windows appearing on X: look at VNC, at http://www.orl.co.uk/.
• How to set the screen saver delay under X? Look at xset. Not answered at the meeting but later on the discussion mailing list was how to do the same thing with the text console: use setterm.
• It would be nice to have a presentation on terminal and X configuration.
• Recovering damaged floppy diskettes with dd and the conv=noerror option.
• More talk about the installfest.

Adjourned for pizza and beer.