Re: [ubuntu-uk] Remote Repos
On Sat, 2007-07-28 at 08:35 +0100, Matthew Larsen wrote: > whoa hang on, let me see if I got this right > > client has multiple ubuntu machines to update > each machine updates seperately over internet and kills bw bill > suggestion: is there a better way? > > Wouldnt it be easier for there to be a gateway which downloads a repo > if requested and then just caches it? > That's what I thought as well. I was trying to do a similar thing a few years ago, and in the end used apt-proxy dont remember the details now, but if you have more than one ubuntu machine update regularly, i think that is the way to go. but I see advantages in Ian's idea. Peace, Seif Attar -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
[ubuntu-uk] Help with custom live CD please?
I have a window of opportunity to attract attention in a large charity I have helped in the past, and I could very much use a custom (Ubuntu) live CD with a only a few differences from the standard: The boot splash logo, the in-process (Usplash?) screen, and the default wallpaper (as live CD). I have been trying over several long and so far unsuccessful days to follow some guides, and they are excellent, but success is still beyond me, also I tried reconstructor - almost perhaps, but still not working for me. I may only be missing a few vital points of understanding or skill. At least now I am able to use qemu (a first for me) I have stopped making coasters. Can anyone offer some hand holding about this please? I would like to be able to do it, but If a CD magically appeared by some other means I could change priorities from trying to create the CD to trying to influence the Charity. tia -- Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [uk-marketing] Article for local mag
Matthew Larsen wrote: > Hey Chris, > > Nice article although I feel you fall into the 'non-techie explanation > trap' as I call it. The article is aimed at non techie readers, so a non techie explanation is needed. Most of the computer users I know use a computer they use Windows. Period. They do not know or even want to know about 'software', let alone an 'operating system'. The marketing target is different to the target reader you have in mind, I guess. > For example in your first paragraph: > "Microsoft Windows (or Windows more commonly) is a bit like a brain > for your computer. It's the 'intelligence' that knows how to print a > document or display a mouse pointer or connect to the Internet" My view is that this is a really excellent way to describe the general concept of what is offered. That is, to people who think a computer *is* Windows. I would be confident that most people think this. Even a close family member with a brain as big as a planet and so fluent at use of a computer that it could be used by them in their sleep said to me recently - 'Linux is an operating system, yes?' This person is a marketing director level, but no tech qualifications. They had been using windows for years, and still did not know (or care!) that is was an operating system. This is the power of Marketing, specifically that of Microsoft's. I suggest there are a number of different target audiences to be communicated with, some have a *lot* of influence, but are thoroughly non technical. The lack of double glazing salespersons in the linux community means that we too easily expect - (and get) - criticism from technically weak statements. I picked up a 16 page booklet on the latest Office program by Microsoft. It did not contain a single checkable fact and no technical statements at all! This is how marketing is done. We should be doing the same. We need to identify who our target audiences are, and take action for all of them if possible. Look at the style and vocabulary content of different publications. Some have a very restricted vocabulary indeed. This would place constraints on deemed successful new content offered. I have a leaflet which is aimed for computer fairs and works fairly well for people who expect to manage their own computers. It seems to work best when they have already had some vague knowledge of the linux alternative, as many of these have had, but maybe never followed up. My leaflet would not be best for street handouts. And no one would put their knitting down because this leaflet attracted them! It is for a different audience. For example, a non techie article should aim to attract and excite a reader who would then show it to their FOFM (friend or family member) who is their technical support, and they say 'Hey I would like to try this!' 'This soap powder does not get viruses, is free, no strings, and can even run from a CD and on Ben's old PC!' And more in the same vein... :-) -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Two operating systems
- "Alec Wright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Sat, 2007-07-28 at 08:39 +0100, Matthew Larsen wrote: > > 5) type in 'setup hd(0,0) > Oh and that should be "setup (hd0)", or "setup (hd0,0)", probably the > former. If you boot of an Ubuntu CD, run it in "recovery mode". You get an option to "reinstall grub" there. (Which is what I had to do, when I installed windows XP on top of a computer already running Ubuntu. Games :( ) -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Two operating systems
On Sat, 2007-07-28 at 08:39 +0100, Matthew Larsen wrote: > 5) type in 'setup hd(0,0) Oh and that should be "setup (hd0)", or "setup (hd0,0)", probably the former. -- Alec Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Two operating systems
On Sat, 2007-07-28 at 08:39 +0100, Matthew Larsen wrote: > 4) type in 'root' followed by the info you got in 3 (ie if you got > returned HD(1,1) type 'root (HD1,1) I think it's case sensitive so that should be "root (hd1,1)", not "root (HD1,1)". I'm not entirely sure, but do it in lowercase just to be safe. -- Alec Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] [uk-marketing] Article for local mag
Hey Chris, Nice article although I feel you fall into the 'non-techie explanation trap' as I call it. For example in your first paragraph: "Microsoft Windows (or Windows more commonly) is a bit like a brain for your computer. It's the 'intelligence' that knows how to print a document or display a mouse pointer or connect to the Internet" is quite deceiving I find. My suggestion would be something along the lines of: "Windows is a piece of software called an Operating System. The Operating System (OS) is an interface between the hardware, software and the user. Without an OS computers are pretty useless machines!..." etc. I just find that saying things like 'its the brain of the computer' doesnt do anyone any favours in trying to explain whats going on "Let me introduce you to my favourite operating system" --> no-one will care what your favourite is. Its like saying a prius is my favourite type of hybrid. Maybe just saying "There is an alternative to Windows..." "Without getting into the nitty gritty and legalese, I think it suffices to say that Ubuntu is free" nice :-) "Ubuntu is safe" "Ubuntu is stable". I like these short statements a lot. Remember that in a magazine article more people read the top of the article than all the way through so you may want to re-structure a little. "Ubuntu is environmentally friendly" eerm be careful here. People will assume that it makes your PC emit less emmissions. May want to replace with "Ubuntu can run fast on any hardware so you dont need to upgrade every year" Hope these comments help :-) Regards On 24/07/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You seem to have a great understanding of marketing. I used to work for > a large British computer manufacturer (who shall remain nameless) and I > had a fair bit of involvement with the marketing department. > > They used to do things like send spam emails out and get blocked from > some mail servers purely to get people talking about them. And a venture > into selling Linux PCs got them on the news too. It worked though, they > are one of the only independent UK OEMs still going (just about). > > > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of alan c > Sent: 23 July 2007 18:46 > To: British Ubuntu Talk > Subject: Re: [ubuntu-uk] [uk-marketing] Article for local mag > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Fair enough. It's a difficult balance between factually correct and > > marketing. > > Understood. Marketing is to achieve an objective, though not quite at > any cost. However, the sound bites and advert bites or whatever that > we find ourselves immersed in, in the various media, in our daily > lives are never factually correct in the technical sense. > > Even if push comes to shove and promises are found clearly wanting, > the marketing blurb would have had a risk assessment and a damage > limitation strategy ready in the (marketing persons mind, say) strategy. > > A well known question is What is the worst that could happen (if > things went wrong)? > Would a slightly imperfect statement in a parish magazine or local > newspaper cause a national outcry - no. > > And in the unlikely event it actually did cause an outcry. What great > coverage! Priceless national debate about masses of windows viruses > versus one or two lucky mavericks in linux. But I dream. > > It is interesting to search say on 'Linux News'. There are a > surprising number of really eye catching headlines, some associated > with highly controversial content. It gets coverage. The skill is to > get noticed by various means without being dis-honourable. > > FWIW I think information is best aimed at a particular target > audience, with probably differing content for different purposes. > -- > alan cocks > Kubuntu user#10391 > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ > > > This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The > service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive > anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: > http://www.star.net.uk > > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ > -- Matthew G Larsen > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > +44(0)7739 785 249 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Two operating systems
hello You don't have to do any reinstallations. pop in your ubuntu-live CD and follow these instructions: 1) load up a terminal in live 2) sudo grub 3) type in: 'find /boot/grub/stage1' 4) type in 'root' followed by the info you got in 3 (ie if you got returned HD(1,1) type 'root (HD1,1) 5) type in 'setup hd(0,0) reboot and you should have grub installed. If windows XP doesnt display use the grub manual which tells you how to put the entry into the list manually (you have to set the windowsXP boot partition to the partition with NTLoader on it) Hope that helps Regards, On 27/07/07, Keith Powell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > alan c wrote: > > Keith Powell wrote: > >> I was rather scared of doing anything which may adversely affect the XP > >> drive, such as installing GRUB on it, as I didn't want to go to the > >> palava of having to reinstall Windows. > >> > >> Now, having read your replies, I'm confident of having the two drives > >> internally and selecting them with GRUB. I'll do it over the week-end. > > > > The biggest risk if there is one, with a dual boot install is the > > possible resize of the ntfs partiton I would guess, so I always > > suggest scandisk well and defrag at least once if not more, to ensure > > tidiest hard drive, Also obviously to have a backup in case of > > unforseen disaster. > > > > However, if you use a second hd for ubuntu, there is very little > > touched on the first drive at all. So (almost) no risk to data. > > > > If you do go for a ubuntu reinstall, an easy way would be to leave a > > large unpartitioned space on the drive (maybe the whole drive, > > partitions previously deleted), if you want a semi automagical > > install, anyway. > > > > Thanks for the additional information, Alan. Much appreciated! > > Cheers > > Keith > > > -- > ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/ > -- Matthew G Larsen > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > +44(0)7739 785 249 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Remote Repos
whoa hang on, let me see if I got this right client has multiple ubuntu machines to update each machine updates seperately over internet and kills bw bill suggestion: is there a better way? Wouldnt it be easier for there to be a gateway which downloads a repo if requested and then just caches it? Regards, On 27/07/07, Ian Pascoe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I've been trying to put some flesh around Alan's idea, not that easy with > three daughters constantly after your attention but here goes anyway. > > The web side of the house is fairly run of the mill stuff, so that's been > pushed to one side. Only thought is to keep any interfaces clean and > simple. > > Next, why would anyone want it? I think the main areas would be: > > * Unable to get access regularly to a high speed Internet connection > * unable to get access outside of an Intranet > * no Internet connection at all > > Additionally, there is also the small business, or school, that don't want > their bandwidth gobbled up by machines on the network each individually > updating themselves. I understand that in an ideal world the network would > be configured so that the updates are downloaded once and broadcasted to > each machine on the network as it connects, but this only really happens in > medium to large organisations, and those smaller ones that have SysAdmins > who can think outside the box (in my experience that is). > > As for the HDDs themselves, 40 or maybe 50 Gb, and ideally a compact design > with a chip set that we know functions well with Ubuntu / Linux. From this > you'll realise I'm looking at each HDD having one architect for one release > cycle on it. My only question is whether a USB v2.0 or v1.1 or mixture; > probably v2 only for availability reasons and data transfer speeds. > > Next is the physical side of things. As Alan says you need a central server > with about 400 - 500 Gb on it with the ability to handle updating at least 2 > HDDs at a time. I don't think more is needed as the uptake in the UK would > be fairly minimal but at least the service is there. The ideal locations > would be in developing countries. So the question here is whether to look > at sending items from the UK, getting local offices set up through the local > or nearby Loco teams, or just limit ourselves to the UK and Eire. > > Next is the physical location of the business. Well that actually doesn't > matter that much; in fact it could be quite easily run out of the proverbial > spare bedroom. > > This of course also leads onto the question of how you actually ship them > out to the client and get them back again. I realise that the HDDs are > designed to be portable but you still would probably need to have some > specialised packing to protect them whilst in transit that could be reused > to send it back to the "spare bedroom". > > Lastly, is how do we let people know that the service exists? Ideally, it'd > be from the official Ubuntu sites, and also from those sites linked to > Ubuntu and Linux. > > So that's my thoughts on the actual project, but what about the competition? > As Alan said there are people already out there who are doing this using > optical media. This is fine and a relatively cheap approach, as it only > costs the price of a couple of DVDs and the P & P; no worries about returns > or missing / broken HDDs. However, extrapolating the new legislation > surrounding recycling electrical items, I wonder how long it will be before > one off hit DVD / CDs will have to be green as well. > > Other questions which spring to mind are: > > * client gets their HDD, how do they pursuade apte-get or whichever to use > that repo? > * finances > * licencing > * sole tradeing or LLP for the business > * binaries / source code or both > * full time operation or hobby status? > > I think that this kind of goes hand in glove with the Marketing threads. > > What we really need is some well known brand to go Ubuntu and jump on the > back of that publicity. Or indeed, decide as a community what area we're > going to tackle first and get cracking there instead of aiming at the > elusive general public. > > E > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Alan Pope > Sent: 26 July 2007 14:36 > To: British Ubuntu Talk > Subject: Re: [ubuntu-uk] ubuntu-uk Digest, Vol 27, Issue 47 > > > On Thu, Jul 26, 2007 at 12:16:37PM +0100, Pete Stean wrote: > > Hmm, that hard disc idea sounds good in principal, but then you've got > > someone who is in the position of suddenly having to worry about DOA > > products etc etc - a complete headache waiting to happen :\ > > Not that I'm nay-saying or anything, but in reality it sounds a bit like > > hard work to me > > > > Indeed it does :) > > There are already people who sell a copies of the repo on DVD/CD, but I > don't know how popular those products are. > > Hard disks would be potentially harder work in some ways, but easier in > others. It's very e
