Synopsis:
Whether it is at the office, on the campus or at home, secure network
traffic is becoming more and more important. Learn how you can set
up your own basic virtual private network with OpenVPN, and what
advantages and disadvantages might be found in using it.

Bio:
Brian MacLeod is a Linux System Administrator and developing VOIP
geek at Georgia Gwinnett College. When he is not exorcising the
Micro$oft demons or listening to echoes in telephones, he likes to play
around with critical network services to see what he can break…
err… improve.

============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).

with presenter Daniel Howard

Synopsis:
Building on the success of a 7 school Enterprise LTSP pilot project
that delivered over 2,000 Linux computer systems to Georgia students
last year, Atlanta Public Schools is expanding their comprehensive
Linux computer program into at least 30 more schools over the next
two years. Now Dekalb County schools have also begun a Linux
classroom pilot, while charter schools, community centers, and Boys’
and Girls’ Clubs all over Atlanta are discovering why Linux is the
superior choice for providing reliable, secure, high performance,
education compatible computing with minimized costs and liabilities.
A great deal of this success is due to the evangelizing, promotion
and support efforts of the Georgia Open Source Education Foundation.
Come get an update on how we’re helping bring Linux into schools
and communities throughout Georgia one venue at a time, and what
a difference it’s making to students and non-profit organizations in the
greater Atlanta area.

Bio:
Daniel Howard is a founder and CEO of GOSEF, a non-profit
group dedicated to promoting and sustaining the use of Open
Source Software in public and non-profit institutions through
advocacy, outreach, support, and recycling of donated hardware.
He has been a dedicated Linux evangelist and supporter since
2004, when he and William Fragakis established a highly successful
computer program at his daughter’s elementary school by converting
aging or dysfunctional Windows classroom PC’s into Linux thin clients
using K12LTSP with dozens of Open Source educational applications.
The substantial improvements in student performance attributed to the
Linux technology at Morris Brandon Elementary convinced
administrators to install Linux student computers throughout the
Atlanta Public Schools system.

For more background, see the GOSEF.org web site.

============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found here.

========
PS: There may be some Linux / ALE related T-Shirts available
at the meeting for a nominal donation that will go to a worthy Open
Source project. Grab a shirt and say “Linux” wear-ever you go!

A public invitation to Free Software, Free Technical Help
and Free Information from the generous, patient, friendly
and informed Open Source technology professionals of
Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts and Ubuntu-Georgia

Saturday, May 17, 9:00am to 5:00pm
at Emory Law School Gambrell Hall, Room 5e
[ Directions to Gambrell Hall ]

ALE Install Festivals are a great way to RESTORE, REVIVE OR RECYCLE
OLDER PC’s and keep them out of the landfill. EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR
CURRENT PC BY MAKING MORE FUNCTIONAL, FAST & FRIENDLY!

We help provide all the peripheral parts like monitors, mice and keyboards so
that all you have to bring is your laptop or computer CPU case and we’ll help
you discover how seamlessly Ubuntu Linux will work for you and your system!
And note that experimenting with Ubuntu is entirely USER SAFE. By default,
the Ubuntu exploration and installation processes will KEEP ALL YOUR
EXISTING SYSTEM DATA AND FILES IN TACT AND ACCCESSIBLE
(though you can also choose to entirely remove all M$ viruses from
your system as an additional bonus of choosing to switch to Linux).

AND WHETHER YOU COME TO OBSERVE, EXPERIMENT OR INSTALL,
IT COSTS YOU NOTHING!

Like most everything Linux, the ALE Linux & Ubuntu Install Festivals are
totally FREE and OPEN to anyone and everyone interested in learning
how using their computers and exploring the internet can be cheaper,
simpler, easier, safer and a whole lot more fun.

Other features of the Spring 2008 Install Fest will include:
– Hands on demo systems where you can experiment with all that Linux offers
and find out just how simple and familiar free computing choices are.
– Assistance with safely booting your AMD/Intel PC or Mac with an Ubuntu Live
Install CD so you can freely explore and test the free Linux Desktop environment
and any of the many dozens of useful free programs that are included, all without
making any changes to your existing system whatsoever.
– Knowledgeable, patient help with installing Linux onto your system hard drive
when you decide that Free Computer Freedom is a really great deal!
– Free Copies of the Ubuntu Hardy Heron (v8.04 LTS) Live Install CD will be
available to everyone attending. Note that free Ubuntu Live CD’s can also be
ordered, requested or downloaded for burning anytime atUbuntu.com/getUbuntu
– Demonstrations of the free Ubuntu Desktop and other major Open Source
software like Open Office packages will be offered at the Install Fest.
– Light refreshments will be available throughout the day and lunch will be
available for a modest contribution.
– A plethora of Linux & Ubuntu experts at the ready to assist with any questions
about anything involving Open Source, Linux and Ubuntu.

An event schedule and related information can be found HERE.

To learn more about Ubuntu GNU Linux and the Hardy Heron 8.04
release specifically, please visit Ubuntu.com

For any additional information needs, please contact:
Aaron Ruscetta, 404.315.0406 // aruscetta@gmail.com

Synopsis:
– While Linux has formed a strong presence in almost every realm
of computing, digital media production is a specialty application
arena where Open Source software has only recently begun to offer
competitive options for professionals. Historically, the proprietary
file encoding formats and specialty hardware requirements of digital
media had hindered the development of OSS tools for audio & video
production, but the tide is changing as commodity hardware has
become more media capable and the digital formats have become
more open and standardized.
– Using comparisons to some of the popular commercial software
products available for the de-facto computer platform for pro media
production, Mac OSeX, our presentation will be evaluating a few of
the promising and capable OSS competitors found in Ubuntu Studio
(8.04). In tandem with our look inside Ubuntu Studio, we will be
making more specific platform comparisons as ALE’s Bjorn Roche
discusses the unique challenges he faces in developing XO Wave,
a multi-track audio editing and mastering package that he maintains
both commercially for Mac OSeX and as a free (as in beer) offering
for the Linux community.

Bios:
– Bjorn Roche is a long time Linux user and entrepreneur software
developer specializing in tools for audio production and primarily
working with Java for it’s cross platform strengths. In addition to
creating and maintaining his cross platform XO Wave audio editing
and mastering package, Bjorn has made numerous contributions
to the OSS community. Most significantly, he was an instrumental
developer of the Mac OSeX Core Audio layer which greatly simplifies
and facilitates porting of Open Source audio tools to and from the Mac.
– Aaron Ruscetta is a 30 year veteran of video, audio and computer
media production in all of its incarnations of form and format, both
analog and digital. Working as an independent contractor under his
business moniker of Image Architects for over 15 years has also
allowed him to very flexibly pursue his many computer geek and
videot savant passions, with titles ranging from College Instructor
in Computer Graphics and 3D Animation to Junior Linux System
Administrator to Director of Entropy Containment. Aaron has been
a consistently active contributor to any community that has been
willing to tolerate his eccentricities, serving in numerous officer roles
during 10+ years with the Amiga Atlanta users group and serving with
ALE for several years as an Event Coordinator and Meeting Moderator.

Links:
XO Wave / XO Audio
Ubuntu Studio

============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).

Synopsis:
– What do you do when an install-script-generated,
self-signed X.509 certificate expires? The X.509 certificate
will be an organizing theme to talk about an assortment of
topics ranging from the history of secure socket layer to
privacy enhanced mail (PEM) file formats. By the end of
the talk, you should know how to replace an expired
certificate. You should also have a better understanding
of how secure connections work.

Bio:
– Stephen is an Editor of the open access journal Molecular
Vision (molvis.org). He began his Linux journey in 2000
with Red Hat 6.1. The journey continues today with CentOS
4.6 and 5.1.

==========================================
(mayday, mayday, mayday)
* PLEASE NOTE THE ROOM CHANGE *
Classroom C-1130 (C Building)
Georgia Gwinnett College
1000 University Center Lane
Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Parking and C Building Virtual Map are HERE
http://tinyurl.com/27h46j

You are welcome to park in any UNMARKED (Student) parking
spaces on campus. Parking in the spaces marked visitor may or
may not yield a ticket.

We will be meeting in C-1130 this month, and I am currently
working out the details for later months’ meetings. Hopefully
we can be assigned a regular room that fits us well.

Unlike the previous meeting space, you CAN bring food and
drink to this classroom!

This is a casual brain storming and volunteer organizing
session to consider a plan for expanding ALE outreach and
improving support for the increasingly diverse groups of
people who are now being introduced to (and liberated by)
Linux and Open Source computing.

Everyone reading this is invited to bring ideas and materials
addressing the project goals of building a concise Open Source
educational presentation and delivering it to various Atlanta
area public venues as detailed in the proposal below.

PROJECT PROPOSAL:
– Given the increasing numbers of successful OSS projects
like Ubuntu, gOS, Firefox, Linspire, OLPC, Open Office,
Mandriva and EEPC, it is clear that Linux and OSS computing
are expanding and gaining greater public acceptance in the
consumer, educational and business market places. To
build on this momentum and public attention, this seems
an especially opportune time for our ALE users group to
expand its outreach and educational efforts to better include
and welcome the diverse groups of freedom seekers that are
now settling the Open Source frontier. Toward that goal,
I’m inviting participation in a project idea that I’ve
tentatively dubbed ALE OSPREX, standing for
Open Source PRomotion and Educational eXchange.

The vision is to build a pre-packaged, community crafted,
easy to deliver 30 to 60 minute presentation targeted at
the general computer user and focused on the numerous
advantages and simplicities of installing and using today’s
ubiquitous Linux and OSS solutions for common computer
tasks. The presentation would be a ready and thorough
teaching tool which active OSS advocates could use
for hosting Linux promotional events, educational forums
or installation workshops at schools, libraries and other
public venues.

In combination with the distribution of Live Install CD’s of
user friendly Linux distros at the events, or as an invitation
to participate in a Linux installation festival, hosting regular
OSPREX presentation events at various locations around
Atlanta could quickly expand the base of enlightened Linux
and OSS users throughout our region. (e.g., one hope is
that we can arrange 2 or 3 OSPREX events as lead up to
the May 17th Ubuntu/ALE Install Fest).

To reach the initial goal the OSPREX project might only
require the commitment of 2 or 3 motivated OSS evangelists,
but to be truly successful in providing broader public education
on the value and values of Open Source, I hope that many
more members of this group will want to contribute their time
and expertise.

With sincere appreciation for your attention,
Aaron Ruscetta
ALE Event Coordinator
arxaaron at gmail
404.315.0406

=====================
**NOTE that this meeting was moved from the Thursday,
April 24th date announced at this month’s ALE Central.

Synopsis:
– A properly designed presentation can be extremely powerful.
From bedtime stories as children to computer slide shows at
work, we can all recall examples of presentations that were
effective, interesting , entertaining and educational

As common fare at conferences, user group meetings and public
events, presentations are also a big part of in the Open Source
movement. Involvement in this community gives us quite a
few opportunities to present on the advantages and use of Open
Source software for both our professional colleagues and the
general public.

This talk will examine how a proper presentation is more than a
concern for keeping the audience awake. We will cover every
consideration, from preparation to handouts, computer slide
shows to no slides at all, handling “that AL guy in the second row”
to “Wowing the room.” You might even learn what a “bathroom
review” is.

This presentation on presentation was designed to be effective,
interesting , entertaining and educational, so we’re promising
you won’t be disappointed!

Bio:
– Derek Carter (goozbach as his online friends know him) is active
participant in the Open Source community. Part-founder of two
Linux users groups. A former Linux instructor for Guru Labs (The
industry leader in hands-on Linux training). He has taught Linux
classes all over the United States, and the world for such companies
as Red Hat, IBM, Novell, HP, Lockheed Martin and others. Derek
has been actively using Linux as his primary OS since 1999. He’s a
certified RedHat instructor and examiner. He’s also a Star Wars
geek who has been known to dress up as obscure characters and
wait in line for the premiers.

====
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm in lecture room 1C
of the Emory Law School, Gambrell Hall building.
Directions to our Emory Law School venue can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).

Synopsis:
As the popularity of computing clusters increase, so do the number of
clusters running Linux. Vernard will relate his experience with how
Linux fits in these environments.

Bio:
Vernard Martin is a founding member of ALE and a Senior Problem
Wrangler for the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University
where he runs their high performance computational environment. He has
been using Linux longer than any sane human being would care to admit.
He lives right outside Atlanta, GA with with his cat Lieutenant and of
course, his own baby cluster.

=======================================
The ALE North East meetings are held at 7:30pm on the First Thursday
of each month and are hosted at Georgia Gwinnett College, Building C,
room C-1260. Map links and directions to Georgia Gwinnett College location
are posted at the side bar link.

Synopsis:
For Georgia Gwinnett College, the question was not whether to switch
to IP telephony or not, but whether to continue doing IP telephony on
a $40,000/year proprietary system or to migrate to an open source
system where support is less than $1,000/year. While the choice looks
obvious, the path was not always this clear. Brian will present the
road GGC followed from idea to fully functional, operation critical
status.

Bio:
Brian MacLeod is a Linux System Administrator and developing VOIP geek
at Georgia Gwinnett College. He has worked for several University
System of Georgia institutions that have called Lawrenceville home.

============================
We will be meeting in our usual Gambrel Hall room 1C venue.
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm
Directions to Emory Law School can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).

Map links and directions to Georgia Gwinnett College
location are posted at the side bar link.

The new volunteer meeting moderator for the N.E. group is
Brian MacLeod, and he will be also providing the main presentation
for the N.E. meeting on Thursday, March 6th entitled:

“Kickstart Your Linux Boxes”

Synopsis:
Kickstart is an installation method created by Red Hat for the purpose
of quick deployment of Linux computers. It is available for most Red
Hat based distributions (CentOS, Fedora, etc). I will go into some of
the advantages and disadvantages of this method, and what gains we
have made at Georgia Gwinnett College by using it.

Bio:
Brian MacLeod is a Linux System Administrator and developing VOIP geek
at Georgia Gwinnett College. He has worked for several University
System of Georgia institutions that have called Lawrenceville home,
and has previously presented at ALE meetings on Kickstart, SYSLINUX,
and DHCP Failover.

Footnote:
The meeting may also include further discussion about the direction of
ALE-NE (jumping off from the Feb. ALE Central meeting), including,
as always, volunteers for presentations, as well as discussion about what
people would like to see in the future.