From russell at coker.com.au Wed Mar 2 21:59:38 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:59:38 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] wifi dongles Message-ID: <2459819.pAxSYsNVQ6@xev> Usually I use Wifi with laptops that have built-in devices (which are usually good and always good enough to not neede a dongle) and phones/tablets. I have a couple of 2.4gHz USB dongles for the rare occasions when I need to connect a PC, they aren't great but are good for that purpose. Now I have a relative who can't conveniently get an Ethernet cable to their PC with the latest Optus changes (the cable-modem compatibility thing was turned off so the NBN device at the other end of the house has to be used). I've got them using one of my 2.4gHz dongles which is giving poor performance and also drops out when it gets hot (IE when the CPU is busy and hot air is blown out the back near the USB ports). The issue is what features should I look for in a good wifi dongle. USB 2.0 is capable of 40MB/s (320Mbit/s) which is faster than an NBN connection, but I guess USB 3 is worth looking for as a check that the product isn't ancient. What's Linux compatibility like for such devices? I haven't bought one since before 5gHz wifi was introduced. Can I just assume that they all work? Should I look for support for older Windows versions, IE something that's got Win7 support probably uses an interface that Linux kernel developers have had plenty of time to reverse engineer? 5gHz is a required feature for me as that frequency tends to have less interference. Are external antennas good? Adverts claim that the antennas give a 5dB signal gain which should give a real improvement to reliability and speed if it performs as claimed. Is 802.11n (multiple antennas) worth getting? Optus supplied them a Sagemcom Gateway F at ST 3864V3 HP (note HP not AC which is higher spec). Apparently the HP model supports 802.11n, but will it be useful? Reliability from one end of the house to the other is what's needed not high speed. Kogan and eBay seem to have similar devices on offer but eBay has a better range and lower prices. I guess the market for lemons applies and I should just buy the cheapest thing from eBay. nmcli dev $DEVICE connect $ESSID password $PASS As an aside all the documented ways of getting Wifi to work on Debian in a way that can start on boot before a user login failed apart from running the above command. PS My intention is that this list will have general discussion of free software related issues such as buying suitable hardware, with a preference towards things that have regulatory issues specific to our region of the world (IE wireless stuff). We could get a separate list for meeting announcements if people want that. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From neonsignal at meme.net.au Thu Mar 3 12:41:45 2022 From: neonsignal at meme.net.au (Glenn McIntosh) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2022 12:41:45 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] wifi dongles In-Reply-To: <2459819.pAxSYsNVQ6@xev> References: <2459819.pAxSYsNVQ6@xev> Message-ID: <665cf5ae-68db-c09e-5592-f24c8f1ed302@meme.net.au> On 2/3/22 21:59, Russell Coker via Flounder wrote: > Now I have a relative who can't conveniently get an Ethernet cable to their PC > ... so the NBN device at the other end of the house has to be used). I've got > them using one of my 2.4gHz dongle> 5gHz is a required feature for me as that frequency tends to have less > interference.> > Are external antennas good? Adverts claim that the antennas give a 5dB signal > gain can't help with software compatibility, I've only tried a few cheap wifi dongles and they've all worked on Linux (though some needed the non-free drivers) But when trying to range through a house, it is worth understanding what lies between the dongle and the access point. In the GHz range, you don't get a heap of refraction, so the line-of-sight becomes important. A lot of things can block, attenuate or reflect the RF, including human bodies, reinforcement in concrete, appliances, and so on. So it can help to have a 3m USB extension and place the dongle up above the level of these barriers, and similarly have the access point up high. The 2.4GHz band is certainly subject to more sources of interference due to the popularity of this band (bluetooth, microwave ovens, other people's wifi etc).But it has lower free-space losses, and can be a little more forgiving of small objects in the path. And unfortunately even the 5GHz band is starting to get a little crowded. These are both relatively unregulated bands. The 5dB passive omni antennas are definitely worthwhile for increasing range. They achieve the gain by 'flattening' the donut shaped radiation pattern so that more energy goes into the horizontal plane; this of course means that the antenna needs to be facing the right way (pointing up/down). But increased power is a poor substitute for an uncluttered transmission path. Glenn -- pgp: 833A 67F6 1966 EF5F 7AF1 DFF6 75B7 5621 6D65 6D65 From russell at coker.com.au Fri Mar 4 23:42:53 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Fri, 04 Mar 2022 23:42:53 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Flounder Meeting tomorrow (Saturday) 1PM Melbourne time Message-ID: <137202591.mYa7yICl8Z@xev> https://flounder.linux.org.au/events/march-2022-mailservers/ Mailservers, hands-on tutorial setting up Postfix, etc. Above is the link for the event. Maybe some discussion of Matrix. https://flounder.linux.org.au/events.ics Above is the link for the iCal file which I encourage people to use as the primary source of notifications. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Sat Mar 5 20:51:42 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Sat, 05 Mar 2022 20:51:42 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] VMs Message-ID: <10625189.PQbkzANj0e@xev> My Internet service was restored at 7:30, I only just got home to do email. You can use your VMs now but I'll shut it down overnight as the server is a R710 and it's next to my bed. Email me or Matrix me to arrange other times to have VMs online. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Sun Mar 6 21:29:33 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2022 21:29:33 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] March Meeting report Message-ID: <5491318.O0ZyZBMyMH@xev> https://flounder.linux.org.au/2022/03/06/march-2022-meeting/ The above page has the March meeting report. I encourage everyone to consider getting a Matrix account (ask me for one at luv.asn.au or select one of the many other servers giving free accounts) and a Mastodon account (NZOSS processes applications quickly). -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From dwight at wwwalker.com.au Mon Mar 7 09:52:52 2022 From: dwight at wwwalker.com.au (Dwight Walker) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2022 08:52:52 +1000 Subject: [Flounder] how do I join #flounder:luv.asn.au using element.io Message-ID: Hi I have tried to find on element.io where to join #flounder:luv.asn.au but cannot find it. I googled and found no real help apart from contacting support at element.io or join a room Element Web/Desktop and ask in there. On element.io, there are only public rooms and nobody in the Matrix HQ public room answered my question re joining #flounder:luv.asn.au with element.io recently. Does anyone on this list know how to join #flounder:luv.asn.au using element.io on Matrix? This is very difficult and not clear for me. If you have done it, reply to this list to tell me how to do it. I have looked round the element.io GUI and there is people and rooms and search on public rooms list. I may need an invite to join #flounder:luv.asn.au. luv.asn.au site has nothing re joining #flounder:luv.asn.au. My username on Matrix is wwwalker via element.io so @wwwalker:luv.asn.au. I can create a private room and invite somebody to my private room on element.io but cannot join another room that is not public on element.io as it does not come up on public room list when I search for its name. Cheers, -- Dwight Walker WWWalker Web Development Pty Ltd https://wwwalker.com.au From dwight at wwwalker.com.au Mon Mar 7 10:35:07 2022 From: dwight at wwwalker.com.au (Dwight Walker) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2022 09:35:07 +1000 Subject: [Flounder] how do I join #flounder:luv.asn.au using element.io In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <103664c10246b3b54ab1320b4ec27cc1.squirrel@wwwalker.com.au> I went to Element Web/Desktop and they said there is no knocking so person in #flounder:luv.asn.au has to invite me to join that room. I asked admin of room to invite me and he invited me and I accepted and I am now in room via element. On Mon, March 7, 2022 08:52, Dwight Walker via Flounder wrote: > Hi > > I have tried to find on element.io where to join #flounder:luv.asn.au but > cannot find it. > > I googled and found no real help apart from contacting support at element.io > or join a room Element Web/Desktop and ask in there. > > On element.io, there are only public rooms and nobody in the Matrix HQ > public room answered my question re joining #flounder:luv.asn.au with > element.io recently. > > Does anyone on this list know how to join #flounder:luv.asn.au using > element.io on Matrix? > > This is very difficult and not clear for me. > > If you have done it, reply to this list to tell me how to do it. > > I have looked round the element.io GUI and there is people and rooms and > search on public rooms list. > > I may need an invite to join #flounder:luv.asn.au. > > luv.asn.au site has nothing re joining #flounder:luv.asn.au. > > My username on Matrix is wwwalker via element.io so @wwwalker:luv.asn.au. > > I can create a private room and invite somebody to my private room on > element.io but cannot join another room that is not public on element.io > as it does not come up on public room list when I search for its name. > > Cheers, > > -- > Dwight Walker > WWWalker Web Development Pty Ltd > https://wwwalker.com.au > > _______________________________________________ > Flounder mailing list > Flounder at lists.linux.org.au > http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/flounder > -- Dwight Walker WWWalker Web Development Pty Ltd https://wwwalker.com.au From russell at coker.com.au Mon Mar 7 14:02:50 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:02:50 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] how do I join #flounder:luv.asn.au using element.io In-Reply-To: <103664c10246b3b54ab1320b4ec27cc1.squirrel@wwwalker.com.au> References: <103664c10246b3b54ab1320b4ec27cc1.squirrel@wwwalker.com.au> Message-ID: <2124712.bHjyzB45lK@xev> On Monday, 7 March 2022 10:35:07 AEDT Dwight Walker via Flounder wrote: > I asked admin of room to invite me and he invited me and I accepted and I > am now in room via element. Great that it worked finally, looks like a deficiency in element.io. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Mon Mar 7 14:09:41 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:09:41 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] volunteers needed Message-ID: <34307414.29nhl5iJuD@xev> We need more volunteers to make this a successful group. The first and most important thing we need is more featured training events. This is a big thing to do, but shouldn't be that difficult for the developer of a system. I can work with anyone who's ready to run the training to setup VMs and test it out before the meeting. Currently we have a volunteer to do something related to BSD Unix which is I think is a really good thing as most of us ony use Linux and could learn from other systems, that might be June. So we need offers for July and August. The next thing that would be beneficial is to have some more people to do the free software news segment. While Andrew Pam did a great job (better than me) and I hope he will continue it, I think that having different people on occasion will give a different perspective. We also could have multiple people speaking about FLOSS news at one meeting giving their different ideas of what's important. When the meeting is running it would be good if someone could be dedicated to the task of monitoring Matrix and email in case someone has problems connecting. After the last meeting someone emailed me saying that they wanted to join but couldn't work out how. Suggestions on how to impove the web site will be appreciated. If anyone would like to help run the site that would be great too! -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From NZOSS at etelligence.info Mon Mar 7 14:02:08 2022 From: NZOSS at etelligence.info (DL Neil) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2022 16:02:08 +1300 Subject: [Flounder] Combating spam Message-ID: Following-on from last weekend's installation of Postfix, members may be interested to join this meeting: NB PeterR also runs the local Linux group Hamilton Python Meetup Hosted by Peter Reutemann New Zealand Python User Group - Hamilton Monday, March 14, 2022 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM NZDT (0600~0800 UTC) Virtual meeting using NZOSS' BigBlueButton-instance (no client-download necessary, any recent web-browser should work) Combating spam in online forums is an ever-changing landscape. Can we design a system that can handle anything thrown at it? Ethan McKee-Harris spent nearly 18 months programming a package around this very idea and has a few things he would like to discuss. These range from actually solving the problem at hand, as well as ideas like software design, testing, and optimization. https://www.meetup.com/NZPUG-Hamilton/events/283776884/ -- Regards, =dn From NZLUG at etelligence.info Mon Mar 7 14:54:51 2022 From: NZLUG at etelligence.info (DL Neil) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2022 16:54:51 +1300 Subject: [Flounder] volunteers needed In-Reply-To: <34307414.29nhl5iJuD@xev> References: <34307414.29nhl5iJuD@xev> Message-ID: <4a539838-a752-bd72-07a1-267edda2fe7d@etelligence.info> On 07/03/2022 16.09, Russell Coker via Flounder wrote: > We need more volunteers to make this a successful group. > > The first and most important thing we need is more featured training events. > This is a big thing to do, but shouldn't be that difficult for the developer > of a system... After a life-time of vocational training experience, I will be more than happy to help people who would like to learn how put-together a course/presentation, or perhaps would like a 'sounding-board' or someone to practice-on (careful how you read that!). > After the last meeting someone emailed me saying that they wanted to join but > couldn't work out how. Suggestions on how to impove the web site will be > appreciated. If anyone would like to help run the site that would be great > too! With due apologies to the individual, this is a common occurrence with new organisations, and when using new tools - and we're 'enjoying' both! The BigBlueButton meeting-URL was not mentioned at https://flounder.linux.org.au/events/april-2022-mailserververs2/ Should it have been? In a university environment (per its gestation), BBB will often sit 'inside the network'. Accordingly, there are a few security features - but not many. Some are more practicable in our situation than others. That said, one of its 'easy to use' attractions is that there is no central 'credentials' database - and thus no such 'overhead' admin-work. The choices are: 1 'security through obscurity' Some groups rely upon their small number of members to keep the URL fairly unknown, but maintain the same URL for months/years. (cf nr 4) 2 'abracadabra' A conference can be set to only admit members who know an Access Code. Such a code would need to be distributed to intending attendees - and presumably a new code generated for each meeting. 3 'gatekeeper' A conference can similarly be set to only allow approved-persons to attend. This would require someone to act as Cerberus (inverted). Also that (s)he would have a list of members and/or intending attendees. 4 'rotational' Each month/meeting/period, we generate a new URL for use. This would have to be (re-)published in-advance, and confuses anyone who doesn't realise the practice (by trying to use that which worked 'last time') Per Russell's call for assistance, please note that options 2 and 3 require more 'work'/'workers' - both on the part of the attendee and of some 'administrator'! At the moment we've started at option-1. I'll be happy to facilitate as you (Russell) and/or you (member) see fit... -- Regards =dn From russell at coker.com.au Mon Mar 7 19:18:33 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:18:33 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Mastodon Message-ID: <2906905.c5h89ipCjH@xev> I've just installed the Tusky Android client for Mastodon from the f-droid repository. It seems to work well so far, I can't claim it's better than other clients but it does the job with no obvious bugs. It's a good place to start for trying Android clients for Mastodon, if you don't like it there are other free ones. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Wed Mar 9 23:23:02 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2022 23:23:02 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Official Mastodon account? Message-ID: <38301116.qiFQJxtjDK@xev> Would it make sense to have an official Mastodon account for Flounder? I don't plan on doing it myself because I'm not sure there's a lot of benefit and I've got plenty of other things to do. But if someone wants to volunteer to do it then that would be great! -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Wed Mar 9 23:27:49 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2022 23:27:49 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] volunteers needed In-Reply-To: <4a539838-a752-bd72-07a1-267edda2fe7d@etelligence.info> References: <34307414.29nhl5iJuD@xev> <4a539838-a752-bd72-07a1-267edda2fe7d@etelligence.info> Message-ID: <2274265.S3roxM1hJm@xev> On Monday, 7 March 2022 14:54:51 AEDT DL Neil via Flounder wrote: > On 07/03/2022 16.09, Russell Coker via Flounder wrote: > > We need more volunteers to make this a successful group. > > > > The first and most important thing we need is more featured training > > events. This is a big thing to do, but shouldn't be that difficult for > > the developer of a system... > > After a life-time of vocational training experience, I will be more than > happy to help people who would like to learn how put-together a > course/presentation, or perhaps would like a 'sounding-board' or someone > to practice-on (careful how you read that!). Sounds great! > The BigBlueButton meeting-URL was not mentioned at > https://flounder.linux.org.au/events/april-2022-mailserververs2/ Should > it have been? http://b.coker.com.au which is on that page redirects to the BBB instance we use. Short and easy to memorise URLs are best for this sort of thing as it's not uncommon for one device to lose access to BBB and for someone to need to quickly type the URL into another. This is something I had to do at the last meeting when my home Internet went out and I had to switch to 4G on my phone. > In a university environment (per its gestation), BBB will often sit > 'inside the network'. Accordingly, there are a few security features - > but not many. Some are more practicable in our situation than others. > That said, one of its 'easy to use' attractions is that there is no > central 'credentials' database - and thus no such 'overhead' admin-work. > > > The choices are: > > 1 'security through obscurity' > Some groups rely upon their small number of members to keep the URL > fairly unknown, but maintain the same URL for months/years. (cf nr 4) > > 2 'abracadabra' > A conference can be set to only admit members who know an Access Code. > Such a code would need to be distributed to intending attendees - and > presumably a new code generated for each meeting. > > 3 'gatekeeper' > A conference can similarly be set to only allow approved-persons to > attend. This would require someone to act as Cerberus (inverted). Also > that (s)he would have a list of members and/or intending attendees. > > 4 'rotational' > Each month/meeting/period, we generate a new URL for use. This would > have to be (re-)published in-advance, and confuses anyone who doesn't > realise the practice (by trying to use that which worked 'last time') > > Per Russell's call for assistance, please note that options 2 and 3 > require more 'work'/'workers' - both on the part of the attendee and of > some 'administrator'! > > At the moment we've started at option-1. I'll be happy to facilitate as > you (Russell) and/or you (member) see fit... Changing the Apache redirect is easy enough so rotating it occasionally wouldn't be difficult. If we chose the Gatekeeper method then the plan would be to just admit anyone who wants to join at the appointed time, I don't anticipate hecklers joining, and if they did we could just mute them. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From ianbrown78 at gmail.com Thu Mar 10 07:49:09 2022 From: ianbrown78 at gmail.com (Ian Brown) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 06:49:09 +1000 Subject: [Flounder] Official Mastodon account? In-Reply-To: <38301116.qiFQJxtjDK@xev> References: <38301116.qiFQJxtjDK@xev> Message-ID: Potentially it wouldn't be a bad idea. Do we have central hardware to run it on, or is it user contributed? I am happy to spin up a server if it is the latter. Cheers, Ian On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 10:23 PM Russell Coker via Flounder < flounder at lists.linux.org.au> wrote: > Would it make sense to have an official Mastodon account for Flounder? I > don't plan on doing it myself because I'm not sure there's a lot of > benefit > and I've got plenty of other things to do. But if someone wants to > volunteer > to do it then that would be great! > > -- > My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ > My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ > > _______________________________________________ > Flounder mailing list > Flounder at lists.linux.org.au > http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/flounder > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From russell at coker.com.au Thu Mar 10 13:14:04 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:14:04 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Official Mastodon account? In-Reply-To: References: <38301116.qiFQJxtjDK@xev> Message-ID: <3175655.jC2gXfRRe4@liv> On Thursday, 10 March 2022 07:49:09 AEDT Ian Brown wrote: > Potentially it wouldn't be a bad idea. > Do we have central hardware to run it on, or is it user contributed? > I am happy to spin up a server if it is the latter. http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/linux-aus/2022-March/023825.html I am generally opposed to running more copies of things, if you want to run something then by all means do it, but running things collectively means less effort on average and more time spent doing the main tasks of running users groups. https://mastodon.nzoss.nz/ The NZOSS server works well and is run with compatible goals so would be good for the purpose. > > On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 10:23 PM Russell Coker via Flounder < > > flounder at lists.linux.org.au> wrote: > > Would it make sense to have an official Mastodon account for Flounder? I > > don't plan on doing it myself because I'm not sure there's a lot of > > benefit > > and I've got plenty of other things to do. But if someone wants to > > volunteer > > to do it then that would be great! > > > > -- > > My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ > > My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Flounder mailing list > > Flounder at lists.linux.org.au > > http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/flounder -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From ianbrown78 at gmail.com Thu Mar 10 13:20:26 2022 From: ianbrown78 at gmail.com (Ian Brown) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 12:20:26 +1000 Subject: [Flounder] Official Mastodon account? In-Reply-To: <3175655.jC2gXfRRe4@liv> References: <38301116.qiFQJxtjDK@xev> <3175655.jC2gXfRRe4@liv> Message-ID: That is a good point. I have signed up to the NZOSS server which looks to be well run. You mentioned about the main comms channel being Matrix. How do I go about getting access to that? (Asking in the forum in case others have the same question.) Cheers, Ian On Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 12:14 PM Russell Coker wrote: > On Thursday, 10 March 2022 07:49:09 AEDT Ian Brown wrote: > > Potentially it wouldn't be a bad idea. > > Do we have central hardware to run it on, or is it user contributed? > > I am happy to spin up a server if it is the latter. > > http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/linux-aus/2022-March/023825.html > > I am generally opposed to running more copies of things, if you want to > run > something then by all means do it, but running things collectively means > less > effort on average and more time spent doing the main tasks of running > users > groups. > > https://mastodon.nzoss.nz/ > > The NZOSS server works well and is run with compatible goals so would be > good > for the purpose. > > > > > On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 10:23 PM Russell Coker via Flounder < > > > > flounder at lists.linux.org.au> wrote: > > > Would it make sense to have an official Mastodon account for > Flounder? I > > > don't plan on doing it myself because I'm not sure there's a lot of > > > benefit > > > and I've got plenty of other things to do. But if someone wants to > > > volunteer > > > to do it then that would be great! > > > > > > -- > > > My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ > > > My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Flounder mailing list > > > Flounder at lists.linux.org.au > > > http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/flounder > > > -- > My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ > My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ > > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From russell at coker.com.au Thu Mar 10 13:33:45 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 13:33:45 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Official Mastodon account? In-Reply-To: References: <38301116.qiFQJxtjDK@xev> <3175655.jC2gXfRRe4@liv> Message-ID: <4324997.QfYnO0Tekp@liv> On Thursday, 10 March 2022 13:20:26 AEDT Ian Brown via Flounder wrote: > You mentioned about the main comms channel being Matrix. > How do I go about getting access to that? (Asking in the forum in case > others have the same question.) Firstly you get a Matrix account, there are many servers giving free accounts. The one I run is luv.asn.au, if you want an account there just send me private email with the preferred account name. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From NZLUG at etelligence.info Thu Mar 10 16:40:55 2022 From: NZLUG at etelligence.info (DL Neil) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2022 18:40:55 +1300 Subject: [Flounder] volunteers needed In-Reply-To: <2274265.S3roxM1hJm@xev> References: <34307414.29nhl5iJuD@xev> <4a539838-a752-bd72-07a1-267edda2fe7d@etelligence.info> <2274265.S3roxM1hJm@xev> Message-ID: <44e74148-f90f-9257-7ca1-c0d5e58f6a33@etelligence.info> On 10/03/2022 01.27, Russell Coker wrote: > On Monday, 7 March 2022 14:54:51 AEDT DL Neil via Flounder wrote: >> On 07/03/2022 16.09, Russell Coker via Flounder wrote: > http://b.coker.com.au which is on that page redirects to the BBB instance I'm happy (in as much as that is worth) with the re-direct (as you are) - as long as it is obvious to the person who 'got lost', how (s)he gains access to meetings. wrt BBB 'security': >> The choices are: >> >> 1 'security through obscurity' >> Some groups rely upon their small number of members to keep the URL >> fairly unknown, but maintain the same URL for months/years. (cf nr 4) >> >> 2 'abracadabra' >> A conference can be set to only admit members who know an Access Code. >> Such a code would need to be distributed to intending attendees - and >> presumably a new code generated for each meeting. >> >> 3 'gatekeeper' >> A conference can similarly be set to only allow approved-persons to >> attend. This would require someone to act as Cerberus (inverted). Also >> that (s)he would have a list of members and/or intending attendees. >> >> 4 'rotational' >> Each month/meeting/period, we generate a new URL for use. This would >> have to be (re-)published in-advance, and confuses anyone who doesn't >> realise the practice (by trying to use that which worked 'last time') >> >> Per Russell's call for assistance, please note that options 2 and 3 >> require more 'work'/'workers' - both on the part of the attendee and of >> some 'administrator'! >> >> At the moment we've started at option-1. I'll be happy to facilitate as >> you (Russell) and/or you (member) see fit... > > Changing the Apache redirect is easy enough so rotating it occasionally > wouldn't be difficult. If we chose the Gatekeeper method then the plan would > be to just admit anyone who wants to join at the appointed time, I don't > anticipate hecklers joining, and if they did we could just mute them. Yes, if we're going through the above re-direct, then any BBB URL-change can be managed easily and 'behind the scenes' (entre-nous). Yes, as you say, if we have problems, Moderators have the power to mute or even 'boot' a "heckler"... (and yes, there was one incident during a recent meeting when 'the Mrs' needed immediate assistance, so the forgetful person's mic was muted for him, to spare any blushes) Am glad the BBB-instance is proving its worth! Thanks to NZOSS and their sponsor: CatalystCloud... -- Regards =dn From russell at coker.com.au Sat Mar 12 19:01:19 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2022 19:01:19 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] CTF Message-ID: <4325800.qObjzqJXAu@xev> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_the_flag_(cybersecurity) CTF contests are about completing challenges in computer security. The questions start out easy and get progressively more difficult. There are prizes available but that requires a huge amount of skill and effort. Some of the CTFs go for about 48 hours, that can be a couple of evenings of casually solving computer problems for someone who wants to avoid being at the bottom of the list but doesn't care about getting close to winning. For someone who wants to win that's 2 days of non-stop work and little sleep. I don't have the skill or energy to be in a team that gets close to winning, but in previous contests I've ranked about 50th percentile without too much effort. I think it would be good to enter some Flounder teams in future CTF contests, not with the aim of winning (if you want to win then good luck but I'm not going to join your team) but to learn about software engineering and have fun. My idea is to have one person with reasonable skills and experience lead each team and help the others learn while having fun. The way to do it would be for everyone to independently solve problems at the start (the easy ones), have the less experienced people solve the next set of problems with tips from the leader, then have the leader take over increasing amounts of the work as the problems get harder. For most people on this list I don't have a good knowledge of their relevant skills. I believe that David is qualified to lead such a team because of his experience with Coreboot, different boot loaders, different versions of Unix, etc. The teams for CTFs are often limited to 4 people, so if David and I each led a team then we could have 6 people with less experience at low level computer stuff work with us for a couple of evenings of relaxing software engineering research. I've run a team like this for past CTFs which was a fun and educational experience for everyone without any stress. My aim is to learn some things about software engineering, teach other people some interesting things, get a better score than half the teams that enter, and then get a good night's sleep. David could try and join with 3 other younger people who have the endurance for serious contests and a good knowledge of computer science and try to get in the high rankings. I think he could do a reasonable share of the work in a high ranking team if that's what he wants to do. But having a relaxing time getting half way up the scoreboard might be more fun. For anyone else who's interested in being a team leader for such things, you don't need a strong background in computer security. But you do need to know how computers really work, the way files are stored, the way memory is managed, how C programs work, etc are all required knowledge. Does anyone know of any CTFs being run in the near future? -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From ianbrown78 at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 10:10:23 2022 From: ianbrown78 at gmail.com (Ian Brown) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:10:23 +1000 Subject: [Flounder] CTF In-Reply-To: <4325800.qObjzqJXAu@xev> References: <4325800.qObjzqJXAu@xev> Message-ID: Looks like there are a heap of events planned for this year. https://ctftime.org/event/list/ I would be keen to join in as it is not something I am normally exposed to in my line of work. Cheers, Ian On Sat, Mar 12, 2022 at 6:01 PM Russell Coker via Flounder < flounder at lists.linux.org.au> wrote: > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_the_flag_(cybersecurity) > > CTF contests are about completing challenges in computer security. The > questions start out easy and get progressively more difficult. There are > prizes available but that requires a huge amount of skill and effort. > > Some of the CTFs go for about 48 hours, that can be a couple of evenings > of > casually solving computer problems for someone who wants to avoid being at > the > bottom of the list but doesn't care about getting close to winning. For > someone who wants to win that's 2 days of non-stop work and little sleep. > > I don't have the skill or energy to be in a team that gets close to > winning, > but in previous contests I've ranked about 50th percentile without too > much > effort. > > I think it would be good to enter some Flounder teams in future CTF > contests, > not with the aim of winning (if you want to win then good luck but I'm not > going to join your team) but to learn about software engineering and have > fun. > > My idea is to have one person with reasonable skills and experience lead > each > team and help the others learn while having fun. The way to do it would > be > for everyone to independently solve problems at the start (the easy ones), > have the less experienced people solve the next set of problems with tips > from > the leader, then have the leader take over increasing amounts of the work > as > the problems get harder. > > For most people on this list I don't have a good knowledge of their > relevant > skills. I believe that David is qualified to lead such a team because of > his > experience with Coreboot, different boot loaders, different versions of > Unix, > etc. > > The teams for CTFs are often limited to 4 people, so if David and I each > led a > team then we could have 6 people with less experience at low level > computer > stuff work with us for a couple of evenings of relaxing software > engineering > research. > > I've run a team like this for past CTFs which was a fun and educational > experience for everyone without any stress. My aim is to learn some > things > about software engineering, teach other people some interesting things, > get a > better score than half the teams that enter, and then get a good night's > sleep. > > David could try and join with 3 other younger people who have the > endurance > for serious contests and a good knowledge of computer science and try to > get > in the high rankings. I think he could do a reasonable share of the work > in a > high ranking team if that's what he wants to do. But having a relaxing > time > getting half way up the scoreboard might be more fun. > > For anyone else who's interested in being a team leader for such things, > you > don't need a strong background in computer security. But you do need to > know > how computers really work, the way files are stored, the way memory is > managed, how C programs work, etc are all required knowledge. > > > Does anyone know of any CTFs being run in the near future? > > -- > My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ > My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ > > _______________________________________________ > Flounder mailing list > Flounder at lists.linux.org.au > http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/flounder > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From russell at coker.com.au Mon Mar 14 15:55:49 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:55:49 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] CTF In-Reply-To: References: <4325800.qObjzqJXAu@xev> Message-ID: <2771237.zqus2JmsrA@xev> On Monday, 14 March 2022 10:10:23 AEDT Ian Brown via Flounder wrote: > Looks like there are a heap of events planned for this year. > https://ctftime.org/event/list/ > > I would be keen to join in as it is not something I am normally exposed to > in my line of work. Great! There's lots of them. Who else wants to do it? -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Fri Mar 18 20:39:31 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2022 20:39:31 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Fwd: [Linux-aus] 2022 Linux Australia Grants program is open Message-ID: <3258896.ssdUuQR2Vs@xev> If anyone wants help in applying for this then let us know. I'm thinking of applying for some money towards another Linux phone because the Librem5 that I have isn't enough. https://pine64.com/product/pinephone-pro-explorer-edition/ PinephonePro Explorer edition is $US400. https://pine64.com/product/pinephone-pinephone-pro-keyboard-case/ PinephonePro keyboard case is $US50. https://pine64.com/product/pinephone-usb-c-docking-bar/ Not sure if the Pinephone USB C Docking Bar works with the PinephonePro, it costs $US25. PinePhone Beta edition with "convergence" (presumably means the USB Docking bar included) is $US200. So that would be either $US475 or $US250 depending on the model. Linux phones is my thing at the moment. You can of course apply for totally different things. But if we get a few of us working on Linux phones that would be good for productivity. ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [Linux-aus] 2022 Linux Australia Grants program is open Date: Wednesday, 16 March 2022, 22:36:31 AEDT From: Jonathan Woithe via linux-aus To: linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au CC: grants at lists.linux.org.au Hi everyone Linux Australia is pleased to announce the opening of the 2022 grants program in support of free and open source systems and communities in Australia and New Zealand. Funding can be sought by members of Linux Australia for open source, open data, open government, open education, open hardware and open culture projects. Applications for funding will close at 23:59 on 4 September 2022 anywhere on earth with grant awards finalised by the end of September unless the grant funds are exhausted earlier. However, work funded through the program may continue past this date. Project timelines are negotiable, but in most cases projects should aim to be completed by the end of 2022. For more information and to apply, first log in to the Linux Australia website at https://linux.org.au/ Then click on the "Grants" banner or go to https://linux.org.au/grants-program/ If you have questions about the Grants program or would like to discuss ideas, please get in touch with the Linux Australia Council (council at linux.org.au). We look forward to reading your submissions. Jonathan Woithe (on behalf of the Linux Australia Council) _______________________________________________ linux-aus mailing list linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au http://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/linux-aus To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to linux-aus-unsubscribe at lists.linux.org.au ----------------------------------------- -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Fri Mar 25 18:56:19 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2022 18:56:19 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] Precursor Message-ID: <14334907.BVpzeXR35m@xev> https://www.crowdsupply.com/sutajio-kosagi/precursor#products This is an interesting project, a soft-core RISC-V in a platform the size of a phone with a hardware keyboard. Designed as some sort of hand held encryption device or PDA with lots of GPIO. Bunnie is one of the co-creators. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXlUQHhgcUk Here's Bunnie's keynote from LCA 2013. https://etbe.coker.com.au/2022/03/15/librem-5-first-impression/ https://etbe.coker.com.au/2022/03/19/more-librem5/ https://etbe.coker.com.au/2022/03/25/wayland/ Phone security is something that interests me at the moment. The Precursor is more of a project for people doing hardware hacking at this time. I'll probably get one when they have a native RISC-V CPU. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/ From russell at coker.com.au Thu Mar 31 15:19:35 2022 From: russell at coker.com.au (Russell Coker) Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2022 15:19:35 +1100 Subject: [Flounder] April 2nd meeting Message-ID: <2497028.o3Szxck31F@xev> The next meeting is the 2nd of April at 1PM Australian eastern time (+1100). When daylight savings ends we will continue having the meetings at 1PM Melbourne/Sydney time which will be an hour later in UTC. I'll start the meeting an hour early as usual to catch anyone who is confused about the start time. Anyone who's interested is welcome to join an hour early for idle chat. Note that the topic for the meeting is not to be discussed during the idle chat time (that tends to spoil it for everyone). For the May meeting, we talked about doing FOSS phones but we already had SE Linux on the events page. Should we make FOSS phones the topic for June? -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/