[bulug] Re: LUG Server: Purchased
- From: "Jimmy C. Chau" <jchau@xxxxxx>
- To: bulug-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 08 May 2009 21:37:08 -0400
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Thanks, Alex.
But for the PVR thing, with enough resources and the right setup, it
can work reliably. There are many documented cases where a
Linux-based PVR works; all we have to do is read through them and
select the best. Also, the fact that we're not limited to USB ports
for connecting the USB tuner (I assume; correct me if I'm wrong,
Ryan), we can select from a wider range of tuner cards (increasing the
probability that our system will work when built). Another advantage
that we have (over my flaky [laptop + USB TV tuner] combo) is more
resources; we can probably get some funding for this from the SAO
(especially if we can somehow make this available to all of BU (not
sure if our server can handle that load though); maybe if only LUG
members can adjust the recording schedule & everyone else can watch
the recordings)).
The only reason why my PVR setup was flaky was because I bought the
cheapest USB TV tuner that I could find that someone online mentioned
worked under Linux: HVR-950. There are however TV tuner cards that
are designed to work with Linux and for which the manufacture provides
support; for example, the pcHDTV HD-5500 (which a friend working on
the PVR thing for Ingalls a few years back mentioned).
Also, many higher-end TV tuners have hardware to do the transcoding
(so it wouldn't tie up the CPU as much).
Ryan, do you know if this server will be installed near a cable TV
connection?
BTW, does CS (I assume counter strike) run on Linux? Well, doesn't
matter for me anyway: a recent update of a few Xorg-Intel packages
destroyed the already minimal graphics performance on my computer; I
hope that gets fixed soon (since I already migrated my config files to
the new version and downgrading would be a pain).
- -Jimmy
BTW, are we ever going to have that key signing party? How about a
key server? Don't know if that will help us.
Alex Whittemore wrote:
> First, I'm a huge fan of some of these ideas: the theft system is
> actually something I was even thinking of coding over the summer as
> is. A little bit different, and more iphone-specific, but I'm game
> for whatever. Also, the PVR idea sounds super cool, although I'm not
> sure of its practicality (getting media systems like that to work
> nicely is damn near black magic, god forbid you add actual
> transcoding into the mix. The machine will fry).
>
> My favorite idea, though, is definitely the game server. I will
> personally install, configure, maintain, and admin a CS source
> server. I actually used to do it as a hobby, but on a machine in my
> basement. A machine of that power with BU's kind of bandwidth would
> be a phenominal gaming experience for everyone on the eastern
> seabord. For that matter, you could probably give the game server
> system it's own VM and run two or three at once (provided that was
> the only high-processing application - for example, the PVR thing
> would wipe out any of this).
>
> Anyway, count me in if you decide to give some game servers a VM.
> I'll personally volunteer to run them.
>
> On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 8:45 PM, Jimmy C. Chau <jchau@xxxxxx
> <mailto:jchau@xxxxxx>> wrote:
>
> Wow. Where did you find the funding? The XKCD event?
>
> Anyway, with that much computing power (and electrical power), seems
> like a waste to let it go idle. Seems like you can run several
> virtual
> servers on it (virtual machines).
>
> * Perhaps distcc in sandboxes for us Gentoo users (during
> off-peak
> hours)? Might be tough to setup & secure though.
> * CUPS server for all those BU printers? I have some of the
> printers setup on my computer. But I don't know how to set
> it up
> so that it respect/uses the quotas, which BU might require
> if more
> people start printing.
> * Game servers? There are probably few better ways to attract
> people. Setting these up probably won't be so hard, but
> securing
> them probably will.
> * Email, Voicemail, Video chat, for BULUG members? I know email,
> have a vague idea about voicemail, & am clueless about video
> chat. Not sure how much these would be used though.
> * The forum, website, etc...
> * Throw in a few good TV tuners & start serving up content?
> PVR for
> LUG users? Maybe extend the service to ENG/Ingalls (I know
> they
> were looking into this & it might be a good way to convince
> them
> to share funding).
> * Might be a bit late to setup for this year, but there's a live
> webcast of the commencement. Convert this to an open format &
> serve it?
> * I've had this idea for a while, but I never set it up & didn't
> have a stable enough server to do so: a network based
> anti-theft
> system. Basically, there's a client that runs on the client
> computer, which when activated, periodically sends information
> about its location (IP address, route to server, nearby
> wireless
> networks) to a server & waits for a response. It also uses the
> signal strength of the nearby wireless networks (if this
> information is available) to determine if the computer is being
> moved. (You can also throw in stuff like data from the
> accelerometer in the hard drive for motion detection.) And
> if it
> is attached to a wired network, it will monitor the wired
> connection. If the client stops receiving responses from the
> server, detects enough motion, or notices that the connection
> breaks (before the client is deactivated via a password
> protected
> or a USB token based control), then it will sound an alarm that
> notifies people nearby of theft (while it continues to relay
> information about its location via any method available to the
> server). The server also tracks the responses of the
> client & if
> it no longer receives responses from the client before the
> client
> deactivates or if the client notifies the server that it is
> being
> moved, the server will relay this information to BUPD (possibly
> with additional information from NSEG to determine a location).
> o Of course, the client will be open source so that the
> user
> can be sure that there is no spyware. Make the
> server open
> source too.
> + Throw in a web bug tracking interface, support
> forum,
> etc..
> o The communications between the client & server should
> be secure.
> o The server should clear any records it has on the client
> once the client deactivates.
> o Offer this in a pilot program as a service to BU LUG
> members.
> o Then talk to folks @ IT/PCSC to see if they want this
> service; show them usage info from the pilot.
> + If they agree, ask for more funding for BU LUG to
> support this & similar efforts.
> # Profit. I mean enjoy never having to worry
> about funding for BU LUG again. :)
> o Pitch this as a senior project to one of the professors
> (e.g., Paschalidis
>
> <http://www.bu.edu/ece/people/faculty/o-z/ioannis-paschalidis>
> can probably help with the stochastic model) before the
> summer is over? (Complex project; will take a lot of
> time to
> get right.)
> + You'd probably want to get some help on the
> stochastic
> model; false positives mean false theft reports
> to the
> police and missed detections mean stolen computers.
> o If you don't want to do this, but think it's a good idea,
> let me know & I can work on it a bit.
>
> Well, that should be enough ideas to fill your summer.
>
> BTW, what throughput do you have for your network connection?
>
> -Jimmy
>
> Ryan Mullen wrote:
> > I'd like to officially announce the purchase of a general
> purpose LUG
> > server. Due to time constraints it won't be online until the
> beginning
> > of next semester, but that gives me a full three months to
> configure
> > it. This replaces the old Dell tower I had donated that ran BU
> Linux
> > and had too little storage space to mirror any large projects.
> >
> > Specs:
> >
> > -Quad-core Intel Q8400 2.66GHz CPU
> > -8GB DDR2-800 RAM
> > -(3) Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB HDDs
> > -Western Digital 80GB HDD
> > -PC Power and Cooling 420W PSU
> >
> > The machine will run vanilla CentOS and the three 1TB drives
> will be
> > configured for software md RAID5.
> >
> > Seeing as we have plenty of horsepower and storage space, we
> can now
> > act as official mirros/repos for the Ubuntu and Gentoo
> distros, which
> > many of you may benefit from.
> >
> > I am taking suggestions for other resources to be served, so
> fire away.
> >
> > Ryan
> > _________
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> --
> -Jimmy C. Chau
> <jchau@xxxxxx <mailto:jchau@xxxxxx>>
> <chaujc@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:chaujc@xxxxxxxxx>>
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>
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- --
- -Jimmy C. Chau
<jchau@xxxxxx>
<chaujc@xxxxxxxxx>
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