OK, this is actually a companion email to one going out in tonight's ALUG announce about the hosting changes, but here it is first, thanks to the way these things are scheduled.
Newsletter:
Please write or forward more interesting announcements to the newsletter address announce@lists.alug.org.uk because I'd like to put out more editions than one every week or so.
IRC meetings:
OPN is currently having even more problems than before. In addition to the netsplits, the most powerful of its IRC operators sending spam global notices at least twice daily now to raise money for himself. Despite a crushingly bad financial situation, he seems determined to hold onto complete control and incorporate the network as a Texas company. I've said before that I'd like us to move to a UK network, possibly either irc.underground.org.uk or irc.blitzed.org, but other suggestions (eg good chat servers) are welcomed.
Name changes:
A fully working non-Linux-kernel GNU is supposed to be released in the next six months. Should ALUG change its name (Anglian Local Users of Gnu -- ALUG?) to reflect this? We've always discussed other free software than just Linux anyway, IIRC, but I think 99% of members use GNU software.
On Monday 24 Jun 2002 3:05 pm, MJ Ray wrote:we can review
OK, this is actually a companion email to one going out in tonight's ALUG announce about the hosting changes, but here it is first, thanks to the way these things are
notices at least twice daily now to raise money for himself. Despite a crushingly bad financial situation, he seems determined to hold onto Newsletter:
Please write or forward more interesting announcements to the newsletter address announce@lists.alug.org.uk because I'd like to put out more editions than one every week or so.
IRC meetings:
OPN is currently having even more problems than before. In addition to
thescheduled.
netsplits, the most powerful of its IRC operators sending spam global complete control and incorporate the network as a Texas company. I've said before that I'd like us to move to a UK network, possibly either irc.underground.org.uk or irc.blitzed.org, but other suggestions (eg good chat servers) are welcomed.
The server is unimportant (as long as it is reliable). The fact that everybody is using the same server is important. I'm happy to change as long as we all do. Shall I start a no irc fork campaign. :-)
Name changes:
A fully working non-Linux-kernel GNU is supposed to be released in the next six months. Should ALUG change its name (Anglian Local Users of Gnu -- ALUG?) to reflect this? We've always discussed other free software than just Linux anyway, IIRC, but I think 99% of members use GNU software.
Changing the name will I feel confuse and alienate prospective new members. Keeping the Linux moniker and amending the FAQ is IMHO a better solution for the moment. If the alternative GNU kernel takes off after its release we could review the decision.
Just my 0.02 Euros worth.
MJ Ray markj@cloaked.freeserve.co.uk wrote:
Newsletter:
Ricardo, the server move ate your last message. Can you resend, please?
John Woodard mail@johnwoodard.co.uk wrote:
The server is unimportant (as long as it is reliable). The fact that everybody is using the same server is important. I'm happy to change as long as we all do. Shall I start a no irc fork campaign. :-)
I'll see if I can find an "interconnect" bot for the first few meetings after the move, unless anyone has one to hand?
Just my 0.02 Euros worth.
Maybe we can keep the Linux in there too... my suggestion was only a suggestion. If you want to be European, you could try Anglian Linux Und Gnu... ;-)
MJR
On Monday 24 Jun 2002 4:29 pm, MJ Ray wrote:
John Woodard mail@johnwoodard.co.uk wrote:
The server is unimportant (as long as it is reliable). The fact that everybody is using the same server is important. I'm happy to change as long as we all do. Shall I start a no irc fork campaign. :-)
I'll see if I can find an "interconnect" bot for the first few meetings after the move, unless anyone has one to hand?
Cool, just for safety sake.
Just my 0.02 Euros worth.
Maybe we can keep the Linux in there too... my suggestion was only a suggestion. If you want to be European, you could try Anglian Linux Und Gnu... ;-)
Cooler. Only if you are germanic. :-) Linux is so inextricably linked to Gnu that it can almost be classed as synonymous. However I do see your point they are not one and the same, just one released under the other's licence. And with ALUG covering both *nix (Gnu or otherwise) and "Free" software in general we need to make it clear what we are about.
John Woodard mail@johnwoodard.co.uk wrote:
On Monday 24 Jun 2002 4:29 pm, MJ Ray wrote:
I'll see if I can find an "interconnect" bot for the first few meetings after the move, unless anyone has one to hand?
Cool, just for safety sake.
Certain people seem to be really annoyed by it. Not sure why. It's just a temporary thing for in meeting-time. Can it be approved? Possibly, but how?
So, where to move to? The options, in my current order of preference:
OFTC -- seems to be quite a few good ex-OPN staff who walked away because of the same problems that have annoyed me so much (bad routing, bad code, bad management). Probably #alug on uranium.oftc.net (or irc.) is best for UK users. Pros: stable, growing, software-specific net, channel registered, some like-minded souls (eg #brits); Cons: only one UK server at present (but I sort of hope at least one more will appear).
IRCnet -- probably +alug on ircnet.demon.co.uk port 6669, but other servers may exist that work for you. Pros: big net, should always be available, is in the server lists of many clients, friendly operator normally available, some like-minded souls (eg +linux.uk); Cons: no services, have to use /ignore a bit.
tsw -- probably a channel on tsw.org.uk port 6667 or 7001. Pros: local server, friendly operator normally available; Cons: network connection has been rather unstable in the past.
Feel free to add to the pros and cons.
A good idea that was suggested was pointing irc.alug.org.uk at whatever server we're going to use. So, don't worry, this will only happen once. Just keep pointing your client at irc.alug.org.uk after that. Neill, can you update the auto-announcement to say that? Hopefully, this will be decided before next week.
MJR
On Tuesday 25 Jun 2002 2:15 pm, MJ Ray wrote:
So, where to move to? The options, in my current order of preference:
OFTC -- seems to be quite a few good ex-OPN staff who walked away because of the same problems that have annoyed me so much (bad routing, bad code, bad management). Probably #alug on uranium.oftc.net (or irc.) is best for UK users. Pros: stable, growing, software-specific net, channel registered, some like-minded souls (eg #brits); Cons: only one UK server at present (but I sort of hope at least one more will appear).
IRCnet -- probably +alug on ircnet.demon.co.uk port 6669, but other servers may exist that work for you. Pros: big net, should always be available, is in the server lists of many clients, friendly operator normally available, some like-minded souls (eg +linux.uk); Cons: no services, have to use /ignore a bit.
tsw -- probably a channel on tsw.org.uk port 6667 or 7001. Pros: local server, friendly operator normally available; Cons: network connection has been rather unstable in the past.
Alternatives are:
Stay with OPN and ride the storm out - should we leave a sinking ship? Maybe?
irc.blitzed.org another posibility.
Beg borrow or steal a server and run our own.
On Tue, Jun 25, 2002 at 05:24:00PM +0100, John Woodard said:
Stay with OPN and ride the storm out - should we leave a sinking ship? Maybe?
That would take quite a while....
Craig craigo@wizball.co.uk wrote:
On Tue, Jun 25, 2002 at 05:24:00PM +0100, John Woodard said:
Stay with OPN and ride the storm out - should we leave a sinking ship? Maybe?
That would take quite a while....
Indeed. These problems have been going on for many months and it's only getting worse... hence, despite the last failed move, I'm still trying to push it again.
John Woodard mail@johnwoodard.co.uk wrote:
irc.blitzed.org another posibility.
Not really. They don't offer anything different to OPN besides slightly better routing and a cabal instead of a tin god.
Beg borrow or steal a server and run our own.
That's effectively what tsw is.
MJ Ray markj@cloaked.freeserve.co.uk wrote:
So, where to move to? The options, in my current order of preference:
OK, as mentioned before:
Tomorrow's meeting will be on irc.alug.org.uk #alug which currently points to one of the irc.oftc.net servers. The contrib pages have been updated to match. The main pages should update tonight. If we change networks again, the irc.alug.org.uk will be updated too.
As not mentioned before:
There will probably be a quieter connection between networks during tomorrow's meeting, so that anyone who hasn't seen these emails can be told about the move.
I will be abandoning irc.openprojects.net #alug after tomorrow's IRC meeting. Apparently non-software projects and community channels are not welcome there, according to the OpenProjects "demigod". This week, two community channels were "juped" (forced closure) and everyone in them banned from the servers, according to reports.
MJR
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Craig -
John Woodard -
MJ Ray