On 6 Feb 2002, John Scherer wrote:
> 1st I would love to help out setting up the installfest networks, keep
> me informed.

 As would I.

> Now, heres my thought:
> 
> I have a Linux box setup as a router, with 4 Ethernet cards installed (I
> can add a few more if needed) that we could use for other installfests. 
> I also have a few 10/100 Ethernet switches I could bring.  The router
> can run DHCP, FTP, HTTPD, etc...

 I also somewhat wonder how efficient read-only NFS would be, compared to
FTP/HTTP.
 Anyway, that would work so long as you mirrored most of the 
distributions, hopefully including updates.

> My thought was  having the router be the InstallNET backbone, with one
> 10/100 enet drop to each switch.  one switch per table.  Then if they
> need more drops at a table than the switch has available, they just add
> a hub/switch to the existing switch at the table (under InstallFest
> NetAdmin supervision)

 I had a similar idea, but at the base level, the same: segmenting the
network.
 Also a good idea on the switches; there was some question as to whether
all of the hubs we were stringing together were causing problems.  (I then
noticed that someone failed to correctly set the mode of the uplink port
on the particular hub, but it was still a concern!)  And obviously having
10/100 would help, especially if we actually used the server for network
installs.  (How prevalent was this on Saturday?  I'd say I personally saw
more CD media than network installs, but I didn't move around much.)  At
any rate, though, the lack of availability of such equipment is what keeps
the networks from working too well.  Offering to lend equipment certainly
helps.

> This setup would help debug network problems as well.  We would easily
> be able to tell what enet port the problem is originating from and
> isolate the problem if necessary.

 Yep.

> This could also be a learning tool for others to learn from.  As an
> installfest NetAdmin you could use this as a teaching tool to help
> educate others with more advanced aspects of networking.

 True.  Perhaps difficult, but it is possible.

> PS:  Someone though of adding something to the nametags at future
> installfests to identify those who are “helpers” or “admins”,  great
> idea.  I did the nametags you saw at the past weekends fest, and could
> add other info to the tags if desired.  I would just need to know who
> and what.

 Probably a good idea.  At the installfest at CodeWeavers, we wrote an
(A) on our nametags to indicate we were helpers, but a number of people
(myself included) have said that they'd like something more specific than
"helper," that is, their area of expertise.  (Asking a RedHat expert for
assistance on a Debian install? BAD idea.)
 What's up with those control characters around "helpers" and
"admins?"  ^S for left quote, and ^T for right quote.  It's weird.  Came
from Evolution, too.

> Any thought?

 I try to avoid it whenever possible.

     Jima