[sf-lug] Belated writeup of last SF-LUG meeting

[Rick Moen]

Quoting aaronco36 (aaronco36 at sdf.org):

> Ken was wondering if an Intel Compute Stick with an Atom quad core
> CPU Z3735F (1GB mem, 1GB swap compressed, 5GB root, 64GB mounted
> micro SD) could possibly handle hosting requirements for the SF-LUG
> mailing list. 

Yes.  Sure could, easily.  Go for it.  FAFO.

The 1990s server that I retired on Sunday had far less grunt than that,
e.g., only half that much total RAM, and, believe me, it ran a whole lot
more than one mailing list.  (Except, the server had actual suitable
mass storage, as does the new one.)

Of course, the harder part is server administration and configuration,
so I advise playing around before migration.  But, hey, SF-LUG 
has the cumulative postings archive and membership roster, and is
welcome to run its own mailing list server any time.

About mass storage:  I would never even dream of running a server on a
microSD card.  Good God.  Or anything USB-connected as main storage
(though that is not anywhere near as bad as microSD).  Not reliable
enough by half, and there are _so_ many better things.

Some will claim otherwise, and I'll only say, "Sure, think that, and
find out."  

My new-ish (bought in 2013 ;-> ) Compulab Intense PC, the current
server, is case in point.  In order to keep it silent and ultra-cool in
operation, I put _neither_ a hard drive nor an SSD into the tiny
Compulab system box.  Instead, I bought a pair of best-of-breed Samsung
SSDs, and a Vantec external enclosure for each.

Each Vantec has a USB port and an eSATA port.  Which one did I use to 
connect the main storage to the system box?  eSATA, of course.  Because 
reliable and specialised for that role.  The Vantec USB port gets used
only to supply power to the drives, each from its own best-of-breed
AC-power-to-USB brick.

USB is great.  I love USB, especially USB 3.0.  But its best role is 
for detachable, not main, storage, and for the huge variety of
non-main-storage peripherals it can handle as a colossal improvement
over legacy connection buses that we now don't miss at all.

> I myself mentioned a local and prolific resource for downloadable
> installation images and software repositories for many popular
> distros, as well as for its providing a wide gamut of
> Free/Libre/Open Source Software (non-dental F/LOSS ;->) ; UC
> Berkeley's (Cal's) Open Computing Facility[05].

OCF has a hallowed history.  Also of note, the late and much-missed
student LUG "CalLUG" was an offshoot.