AmesMUG Officers: Fwd: New MUG server

Brandon Newendorp bnew at iastate.edu
Thu Oct 19 15:29:45 CDT 2006


--
Brandon Newendorp

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Travis <travler at mac.com>
> Date: October 19, 2006 1:52:34 PM CDT
> To: Brandon Newendorp <bnew at iastate.edu>, Tom Hillson  
> <hillson at iastate.edu>, John Rearick <jrearick at iastate.edu>, AmesMUG  
> Officers list <officers at amesmug.org>
> Cc: Ben Reagan <ben at benreagan.net>, Travis Franck <travler at mac.com>
> Subject: Re: New MUG server
>
> Hey Everyone!
>
> Reading my previous email, it sounded a bit "businessy".  Didn't  
> mean that -- this is a fun thing and I'm super happy as always to  
> help the MUG.  I guess I was just tired from a long day at work.
>
> The machine is shipped!  I dropped it off with UPS this morning and  
> it should arrive at Curtiss Hall on Tuesday (c/o John).  The  
> tracking number is:
> UPS Ground #1Z41538W0351751195
>
> I was using the machine quite a bit before this, but I have tried  
> to clean it off mostly.  It still has some random applications and  
> it ran a wiki, etc. for a bit, so some services are turned on.  I  
> figure you're like to reformat the whole thing anyway, or just  
> install the RAID drives.  As far as log-in information, I created  
> an account on the machine.  I don't actually remember the username,  
> but there is only one and you should be able to see it if you try  
> to log in with VNC (which is turned on; Chicken of VNC will find it  
> using Bonjour just fine).  The password for both VNC and the acct  
> is 'novideo' .  I think, once you find out the username, ssh and  
> other services should be turned on.  I tried to leave some of that  
> open for you guys, just in case that would make diagnosing the  
> video problem easier.
>
> Brandon et al:  I didn't think anything would change donor access- 
> wise, but I guess I thought it had been a couple of years and there  
> has been some turn over of MUG leadership, so I guess I was just  
> laying it out there for everyone again.  Glad everyone is happy  
> with the current arrangements.  ;)
>
> Let me know how it goes with the G5.  I hope it really is something  
> simple like the video card.  Like I might have mentioned before, I  
> tried replacing it once, but didn't have a Mac-compatible card, so  
> I don't think it was a fair test.  Tom's card might prove more  
> useful.  Hopefully you guys can diagnose the problem pretty soon/ 
> quickly.  And I hope you guys can log-in okay.  I'll be away from  
> my normal computer next week, but I'll try to check email if you  
> have any questions.
>
> Other things:  It is a 160GB harddrive, 512MB RAM (sorry, it sucked  
> for me too), dual 1.8Ghz G5 machine.  It has Airport installed, but  
> didn't have an antennae.  I didn't include a keyboard or mouse,  
> since I'm sure there are tons of those in Curtiss already.  Oh, and  
> I didn't get a chance to really label the machine with "AmesMUG",  
> but I'm sure John can look after that.
>
> I'm glad this is working out.  Let me know if I can help in some  
> other way.  Hopefully this new computing power will allow for some  
> cool activity in the future.  ;)
>
> Travis
>
> p.s.  For those who don't know me in person, I'm a Class of 2001  
> ISU graduate that helped co-found (or co-revive, as Tom might  
> argue) the ISUMUG/AmesMUG.  I've done a few different things over  
> the years, including employment at Adobe and Apple.  Now I'm  
> currently a graduate student studying climate change at MIT.
>
>
> On Oct 17, 2006, at 6:08 PM, Brandon Newendorp wrote:
>
>> These are definitely reasonable in my opinion.
>>
>> Travis, to address a couple of them:
>> Donors will absolutely have privileges on the machine, as they  
>> have right now.  I think our current thought is to use the G5 as a  
>> server (due to the video issues).
>>
>> As far as repurposing the G4, we've had some discussion about  
>> putting it in our office space as a faster machine than our  
>> current iMac.  We will look into our options with it, though.   
>> Thanks again for the donation - it is much appreciated.
>> --
>> Brandon Newendorp
>>
>> On Oct 17, 2006, at 4:52 PM, John Rearick wrote:
>>
>>> These strings seem reasonable.  I have CCed the officers list so  
>>> we have a record of the terms.  I don't think we will have any  
>>> objections.  You can ship the machine to:
>>>
>>> AmesMUG c/o John Rearick
>>> 301 Curtiss Hall
>>> Iowa State University
>>> Ames, IA 50011
>>>
>>> Thanks a lot.
>>>
>>> John Rearick
>>>
>>> On Oct 17, 2006, at 4:50 PM, Travis wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sorry, John, you're email got lost in my inbox.
>>>>
>>>> I have the machine already to be shipped.  I'll pay for UPS  
>>>> ground, so I'll need an address that it be accepted at.  Should  
>>>> it go to Curtis or somewhere else?
>>>>
>>>> Does the following also sound reasonable?
>>>>
>>>> *  The club gets full privileges for the machine for as long as  
>>>> they want to use it, but it if is retired or not used (e.g., if  
>>>> the video problem can't be fixed by you guys), then the machine  
>>>> comes back to me.  This is just because it is a favor for me to  
>>>> get the machine, and I feel responsible for its final resting  
>>>> place.  I'm perfectly happy if it is used as the server, but  
>>>> otherwise maybe it should head back to me.
>>>>
>>>> *  Ben, Corey, myself and other donors get the usual privs  
>>>> (though Corey doesn't seem to need them at the moment).  I don't  
>>>> think this has been much of a burden and is actually beneficial  
>>>> for money and support.  I know when the G4 was bought, it was  
>>>> said that donors get an account in perpetuity, which still makes  
>>>> sense to me.
>>>>
>>>> *  The G4 finds a new purpose or is sold.  Corey, Ben and I co- 
>>>> bought that, so we'd like to see it used or maybe sold to give  
>>>> the club some funds.  This can be discussed and I have no strong  
>>>> opinions, but just that it is thought about.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hope this makes sense.  Let me know what you think and what  
>>>> address you want me to send it to.  I'll try to ship it before  
>>>> Friday, because I'm out of town all next week.
>>>>
>>>> Travis
>>>>
>>>> p.s.  I feel horrible "attaching strings", but I guess I'm just  
>>>> trying to be clear about things up front.  These shouldn't  
>>>> change anything though...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Oct 6, 2006, at 7:49 PM, John Rearick wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I believe the consensus is that we would like the G5.  What do  
>>>>> we need to do?
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>>
>>>>> On Oct 4, 2006, at 1:48 PM, Travis wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> It runs headless now, I'm just worried about OS upgrades.  For  
>>>>>> instance, I don't know how you would install OS X Server on  
>>>>>> this machine.  Yeah, you could swithc the harddrives between  
>>>>>> machines, but that is a pain and you might not want that for  
>>>>>> your (suppose to be dependable) server.  Also, in the future,  
>>>>>> it might be a pain to upgrade headless to 10.5.  And this  
>>>>>> machine could never get an official repair, if that ever  
>>>>>> needed to happen.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Just trying to outline the concerns.  Let me know what the  
>>>>>> club says.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Travis
>>>>>>
>>>>>> p.s.  btw, I tried a PC video card in it and didn't get  
>>>>>> anything, but it could also be just because it wasn't a Mac  
>>>>>> card.  I know sometimes there are still mac-specific versions.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Oct 4, 2006, at 2:35 PM, John Rearick wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sounds like a great deal.  I can probably borrow a different  
>>>>>>> video card to troubleshoot.  If it is the video card, I'm  
>>>>>>> sure we can probably just run it headless.  I will bring it  
>>>>>>> up at the officer's meeting tomorrow and hopefully have an  
>>>>>>> answer there.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Oct 4, 2006, at 1:18 PM, Travis wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> John,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Did you want to weight in on this?  Too much trouble to get  
>>>>>>>> the new machine working?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I don't have another G5 video card to see if that is the  
>>>>>>>> problem (which was be a simple fix).  In my limited  
>>>>>>>> diagnosis, it is either the card or the slot/motherboard.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Travis
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Sep 26, 2006, at 7:40 PM, Ben Reagan wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Travis,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Ultimately, the MUG should make this decision.  I do like  
>>>>>>>>> the idea of having a newer machine than what we have;  
>>>>>>>>> however, the G4 machine we have is quite stable and  
>>>>>>>>> although it's not brand new, it meets the club's needs as  
>>>>>>>>> far as I know.  My opinion is to pass on this newer  
>>>>>>>>> machine, but John's opinion will carry more weight.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Ben Reagan
>>>>>>>>> ben at benreagan.net
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Sep 25, 2006, at 2:54 PM, Travis wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Hey you guys,
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I'm writing the two of you first, just to fly this by  
>>>>>>>>>> you.  I got permission to pass along a dual-G5 1.8 Ghz  
>>>>>>>>>> tower for the MUG to use.  The only problem is that the  
>>>>>>>>>> graphics card is really flakey.  Normally it takes about  
>>>>>>>>>> 30 mins of playing with (zapping pram, restarting, etc.)  
>>>>>>>>>> until it turns on and powers the monitor.  Today I've been  
>>>>>>>>>> trying for several hours with no luck.  VNC works and all,  
>>>>>>>>>> but it will be hard to install a new OS on the machine.   
>>>>>>>>>> The other catch is that this machine can't go into a shop  
>>>>>>>>>> to get repaired (the main condition that allows me to pass  
>>>>>>>>>> on the machine), so if it is the motherboard or something,  
>>>>>>>>>> it would have to be done by us or not at all.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thoughts?  Is this worth something to the MUG, even though  
>>>>>>>>>> we just got the server up and running again?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> travis
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

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