[NTLUG:Discuss] Newbies meeting

[Dennis Rice]

Kevin Brannen wrote:
I think it would be far easier to bring in a general purpose switch/hub 
and just wire them together in a stand-alone LAN.  Don't forget that 
Nokia has wireless access points already in place and working.  You 
obviously won't be able to connect to them, but my concern is about the 
channels you want to use not being available.

However it's done, that would give you the opportunity to show setting 
up DNS, DHCP, mail, Apache, Tomcat, ssh, CVS, etc.; and prove they 
really work by having the server on one machine and the clients on 
another.  You can show X in client/server mode (and explain that), and 
so forth.  Don't forget to show nmap too. :-)

If you can't get that many machines, but have access to VMware, you can 
make all but the host machine virtual and do the same thing.  Chris has 
told me he does this to learn new networking things.  It will require a 
pretty beefy machine if you plan to run 3+ VMs, but it is doable.  With 
the new VMplayer product, this could be quite doable.  Since I do have 
VMware, I could create the images for you if need be and give them to 
you on a DVD (or at least it sounds good in theory. :-)

HTH,
Kevin
===============================
Kevin,
Your points are very valid, and for ease, the quickest and safest 
solution.  Additionally, it would allow us to grow into the wireless 
mode, which is a set of demonstrations that also need to be accomplished.

Setting up DNS, DHCP, and Apache are fairly simple (intuitively obvious 
if you know what you are doing), mail I am not on top of, ssh I am 
working an expanding.  Tomcat I do not know, and CVS (subversion) I have 
yet to learn.  Anyone willing to work with me to help me learn, then I 
am, as always, willing to stand up in front and make a fool of myself to 
help others learn.  Of course then I can also put it into the book once 
I know what I am doing.  Then it will be available for everyone (for 
free even).

These are excellent topics, and in a few cases, could be expanded into 
the second session due to the amount of information that must be 
presented.  For those interested, we can set up a small network with 
lots of cables.  The big question is, how many members will bring in 
laptops for connection?  Becoming more detailed might also improve 
attendance.

What is an additional benefit, these topics could be transfered to the 
expo for presentations.  This would make the expo more interesting to 
the business environment.

Dennis