Linux conference in NSW, 75 attend

75 computers, that is.

NSW is pushing out a mixed ISDN/satellite network based on Debian — oddly enough, Rural Link happens at the request of the State Library (solo ISDN was too expensive).

Telstra sources the satellite dish and the Linux-based Ursys BusiBox satellite router interfaces with ISDN.

An odd mix.

It’s nice to see Telstra genuinely working with FOSS, because “We also tried to develop an interface with Windows but got too frustrated as [we found it] too unstable.”

I guess a BSOD became “a blue scream of death” out in the middle of nowhere... nice to know that your local library can do an “apt-get install package” though. (-:

Comments

Chris said…

Leon
Can you explain why anyone would have a use for a service like the one provided by URSYS ie the busibox

http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;55499617;fp;2;fpid;1

If you run your mail and web server (ADSL connection to the Internet) is there any reason to have a third party provide this kind of support?

thanks

17 December, 2006 19:51

Leon RJ Brooks said…

I’m guessing not, unless the satellite link uses some weird format which is not available elsewhere.

I’m also guessing that most librarians would treat the box as an appliance, not knowing (or wanting to know) the first thing about how it works. In that case, Openness wouldn’t make a big difference.

19 December, 2006 09:59

new life for an old (FTX) PSU, improved life for one human

the LEDs on this 5m strip happen to emit light centred on a red that does unexpectedly helpful things to (and surprisingly deeply within) a human routinely exposed to it. it has been soldered to a Molex connector, plugged into a TFX power supply from a (retired: the MoBo is cactus) Small Form Factor PC, the assorted PSU connectors (and loose end from the strip) have been taped over. the LED strip cost $10.24 including postage, the rest cost $0, the PSU is running at 12½% of capacity, consumes less power than a laptop plug-pack despite running a fan. trial runs begin today.

every-application-is-part-of-a-toolkit at work

I have a LibreOffice Impress slideshow that I wish to turn into a narrated video. 1. export the slideshow as PNG images (if that is partially broken — as at now — at higher resolutions, Export Directly as PDF then use ‘pdftoppm’ (from the poppler-utils package) to do the same). 2. write a small C program (63 lines including comments) to display those images one at a time, writing a config file entry for Imagination (default transition: ‘cross fade’) based on when the image-viewer application (‘display,’ from the GraphicsMagick suite) is closed on each one; run that, read each image aloud, then close each image in turn. 3. run ‘Imagination’ over the config file to produce a silent MP4 video with the correct timings. 4. run ‘Audacity’ to record speech while using ‘SMPlayer’ to display the silent video, then export that recording as a WAV file. 4a. optionally, use ‘TiMIDIty’ to convert a non-copyright-encumbered MIDI tune to WAV, then import that and blend it with the speech (as a quiet b...

boundaries

pushing the actual boundaries of the physical (not extremes, the boundaries themselves) can often remove barriers not otherwise perceived. one can then often resolve an issue itself, rather than merely stonewalling at the physical consequences of the issue.

Plantagenet Penguinista

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