| President: | Jack Reed | WA4FXX |
| Vice President: | Dennis Bodson | W4PWF |
| Secretary: | Mike Skelly | KA8OPJ |
| Treasurer: | John Maher | WD4MIS |
| Activities Chairman: | Mike Callaham | NW3V |
| Editor: | Mike Callaham | NW3V |
| August 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Meetings: | Third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 P.M., Red Cross, 4333 Arlington Blvd. (US 50), Arlington,VA. Nonmembers are invited to attend. |
| Net: | Tuesday (except meeting nights) at 7:30 P.M., 144.87/145.47 MHz FM |
| WWW: | http://www.w4wvp.org/ |
| Roster: | http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.html |
| Affiliate: | ARRL, FAR |
| Information: | Jack Reed, WA4FXX, wa4fxx@amsat.org (e-mail), (703) 685-7933 (phone). |
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At the September 16 meeting, we'll see whether a recently donated Compaq Pentium is up to running a GNU/Linux operating system. In particular I hope to try one or more of the following bootable distributions: Damn Small Linux, Knoppix, and tomsrtbt.
Linux, by itself, is the kernel--the main part--of a popular operating system (more accurately, a family of operating systems). It is distributed as source code under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means it is free software, as defined by the Free Software Foundation, and Open Source Software as defined and certified by the Open Source Initiative. The GPL specifies anyone can compile the source code to make executable programs, and can sell or give away copies of those, and can modify the source code and compile and run it, and can sell or give away the executable versions of the modified code. The only catch (in the view of some) is that if one distributes an executable program compiled from modified source code, then one must make the modified source code available for free.
But an operating system (OS) has more than a kernel. Operating systems that have a Linux kernel also have a variety of other software. Because much, most, or all of this other software was developed by the GNU (GNU's Not Unix) Project or is licensed according to the GPL, these operating systems are more correctly called "GNU/Linux" operating systems.
Linux was originally developed for Intel 80386 CPUs, but it has now been modified to run on everything from Dick Tracy-like two-way wrist TVs to mainframes and supercomputers.
Only a masochist, paranoid, or zealot (such as myself) would compile Linux from scratch. Most Linux users install a GNU/Linux operating system, and applications (such as web browsers and word processors), by obtaining and installing a Linux distribution ("distro"). These can be purchased on CDs or downloaded for free (legally!) from the Internet. Examples of "major" distributions that have been around for years include Slackware, Debian, and RedHat. These are not just collections of software; they typically include special installation software to simplify the installation process, and package management software, to keep track of dependencies among software packages and simplify the process of keeping software up to date. (Yes, there are bugs, as well as constant improvements, in GNU/Linux OSs and applications.) The package managers developed by major distributions (e.g., dpkg and apt for Debian, and rpm for RedHat) are adopted by other distributions (e.g., Knoppix and Damn Small Linux use the Debian package management software).
Although the price is right, one thing that deters some would-be Linux users from installing Linux on a PC is the complexity (in some cases) of the installation process, and the requirement (in some cases) to repartition and reformat one's hard disk(s). Surprisingly, it's not necesary to install Linux on a hard disk in order to run it. There are some distributions of Linux that can be booted from a floppy disk, a CD, a DVD, or a server on a local area network (LAN), and which do not mount (i.e., use) the PC's hard disk (if any) unless instructed to do so by the user.
A venerable example of this genre is tomsrtbt, which fits on a floppy disk. It is designed for experts. It does not have a graphical user interface (GUI). It requires knowledge of arcane commands in order to get it to do anything. But it can do a lot. For example, it can be booted on a worm-infected Windows PC, mount the hard disk in read-only mode, and offer it's contents up as a web server for remote backup.
A more recent and noteworthy example of the genre is Knoppix, which can be booted and run "live" (i.e., without installation on a hard disk) from a CD or DVD. Knoppix has reached #3 on the chart (of popularity) at DistroWatch. The CD version includes, among other things, the OpenOffice.org office application package that works like, and can exchange files with, Microsoft Office XP. Recent versions of Knoppix can be installed on a hard disk, if desired.
Older PCs with limited resources might not be able to run Knoppix. For example, I have a Pentium box with 48MB RAM that could not boot Knoppix version 3.1. But it could boot Damn Small Linux version 4.5, which is a stripped-down version of Knoppix. It is stripped down to 50MB, so that it can be put on (and may be purchased on) a business-card-sized CD, which can fit in your pocket protector--er..., pocket. Among the things stripped out are online help pages, so it's really for expert users. But it's neat. There must be a lot of expert users out there, because Damn Small Linux has reached #8 on the chart at DistroWatch.
So here's what I propose to do with the Compaq Pentium at the September meeting: First, let's see whether it can boot Damn Small Linux 4.5. If it can, and if I don't get too carried away playing with it, we can raise the bar and try to boot Knoppix version 3.1. On the other hand, if the PC can't even boot Damn Small Linux, we can lower the bar and try booting tomsrtbt 2.0.103. If we can boot Damn Small Linux or Knoppix from CD, we could install them on the hard disk, overwriting the version of Windows (and any viruses, worms, or trojans currently there). However, we might, instead, try installing a major distribution, such as Debian, having confidence that the PC can run a Debian-derived distro.
I hope you'll enjoy this program. If you wish, bring your own laptop or desktop and try booting Damn Small Linux, Knoppix, or tomsrtbt on it, without doing anything to the hard disk.
Our October meeting will be off-site: we'll tour the new ARC National HQ Disaster Operations Center (DOC) at 2025 E Street on Tuesday, October 21st, probably at 6:30 pm, although details are not yet final. There may be transportation from the ACC. Our online newsletter, at http://www.w4wvp.org/latest.html, will eventually be updated with details.
NCAC "will be holding SET'03 in MDC on Saturday 4 October between 1000 and 1600 hours local time. The SET is designed to facilitate Section Level Leadership's ability to assess the section's current state of readiness for a real emergency, to focus attention on the development of our skills with which to attract a customer base and to assess your ability to implement and use the MDC Emergency Response Plan procedures at maximum effectiveness in an emergency-like communications environment." Additional details are available from a document file, "SET'03 GUIDELINES," available from ARES Arlington County Emergency Coordinator (EC) Alan, KO4ALA. Alan wrote, "The simulation will involve a plane crash, and there will be an effort to involve the Red Crosses various ARES/RACES groups are linked to."
AARC hams Alan, KO4ALA, George, KR4MU, Mike, NW3V, and Jack, WA4FXX, as well as Barbara, WA4FXX/YF, provided comm support for The Arlington Police/Fire/Sheriff 9-11 Memorial 5K Race. Thanks!
President Jack WA4FXX called the meeting to order at 1943L at the Arlington Chapterhouse of the American Red Cross., and began with a round of introductions. The attendance list was misplaced after the meeting. Pat Buckley, a recent newcomer to Arlington, expressed an interest in Amateur Radio and Red Cross in general.
The minutes of the July meeting, as published on the webpage and distributed by e-mail, were approved. There was no treasurer's report available. WD4MIS was unavailable for the meeting.
W4PWF had no report from FAR, except to remind all of the FARfest on 9/6 at the Howard County Fairgrounds.
WA4FXX reported that Arlington's Deputy Chief of Police and Special Assistant for Emergency Planning Hall will arrange for two VHF-UHF dual band transceivers for the EOC. Lisa Thompson and KO4ALA haven't finalized plans for the corresponding antennas.
KO4ALA described an SET for the region (National Capital and 7-8 nearby counties) This SET places greater emphasis on the ARES MAT (Mutual Assistance Team) structure. There is also a Responders' Run (9/11 Memorial Walk) on September 6, for which we will also support Red Cross, in the Crystal City area. (See a link in the July minutes).
W4PWF said that ARRL has deep concerns about BPL (broadband over power lines) proposals. There is also discussion about regulating by bandwidth rather than modes, since PSK3 would fit in CW bandwidth. Look for news in January.
WA4FXX thanked the Red Cross Chapter for use of the building on Field Day. For the Arlington County Fair, we requested use of a communications vehicle from Red Cross National, but John Perry thought that all would be in use. We'll follow "quot;plan B,"quot; and share space with the regular Red Cross table.
Sally Cooney described the "quot;Action Heroes Campaign,"quot; a fund-raiser for Red Cross. Each of 64 teams will be asked to raise approximately $1000. WA4FXX tabled further discussion. "quot;Radioman"quot; will have about a month to raise the money.
KR4MU is trying to arrange a tour of the new Red Cross Headquarters building for us.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike KA8OPJ, Secretary
As we go to press (ca. 2003-09-15 0300Z), the National Hurricane Center extrapolates the most likely potential track for Hurricane Isabel to pass close to Washington, DC, sometime between 2 PM Thursday and 2 PM Friday. However, the forecast shows a wide range of uncertainty. For updates, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ or monitor NOAA weather radio station KHB36, 162.550 MHz. If a strike looks likely, monitor 14.325 MHz for the Hurricane Watch Net, which is currently not active.
ARLB058: Amateurs plan to activate in advance of Fabian
ARLB057: Sole ARRL Director Race is in Hudson Division
ARLB055: Pro-BPL comments lack technical substance, ARRL says
This is just a sample. For other recent bulletins, check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, or listen to W1AW.
Linux distributions (from Linux Weekly News).
The Arlington ARC Roster is online at http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.html. Do we have your info correct? If not, please contact the Treasurer (John, WD4MIS) or webmaster (Mike, NW3V).
The Arlington Amateur Radio Club
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203
