[Linux-aus] [Fwd: Application to Grants Scheme]

Sun Feb 15 13:18:15 EST 2009

Forwarded on behalf of Christian Ramilo for Discussion as per the grants 
requirements

-------- Original Message --------

Dear Committee.

Date: 14 January 2009

Project Name: Malak Telecentro Server and Multimedia Workstation

Aim of Project: To enhance the capacity of the Malak Telecentro to
provide broadband and multimedia facilities to communities in Darwin
using GNU/Linux and other FLOSS products

Person Resposible for Request: Christian Ramilo

Request: $1,980.00

                           Linux Australia Proposal
                           ========================

Author: Christian Ramilo <eo at darwincommunityarts.org.au>

Table of Contents
=================
Linux Australia Project Proposal: Malak Telecentro Server and
Multimedia Workstation
   1.1 Summary
   1.2 Background: Malak Telecentro
   1.3 Enhancing the Network
   1.4 Enhancing Multimedia Production Facilities
   1.5 Equipment Cost
   1.6 More Information

Linux Australia Project Proposal: Malak Telecentro Server and
Multimedia Workstation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.1 Summary
===========
   We seek assistance to purchase two computers for deployment at
Malak Telecentro in Malak, Darwin. One of the computers will be an
Ubuntu-based LTSP server for up to twenty client computers; it will
also provide proxy, firewall, and other services to the Telecentro
Network. The second computer will run Ubuntu Studio and will be used
for expanding multimedia activities at the Telecentro. Total cost for
the two computers, sourced locally, will be about $1,980.

1.2 Background: Malak Telecentro
================================
   The Malak Telecentro was established by Darwin Community Arts
([http://www.darwincommunityarts.org.au]) in October 2007 as a
community-based Internet access facility. It is the only facility of
its kind in Darwin.
   The Malak Telecentro -- in Shop 2, Malak Shopping Centre -- offers
broadband access to the Internet free of charge to the community. It
currently has a local area network of fifteen personal computers with
the Ubuntu GNU/Linux operating system, and one Apple eMac running Mac
OS X.  There are more computers that are in storage, slated for
setting up later. Free WiFi connectivity is available through an
Open-Mesh network.
   The computers and other equipment were donated by Charles Darwin
University and other donors. The furniture is mainly from NT
Government surplus stores. Other equipment was provided by Darwin
Community Arts, which operates the Malak Telecentro.
   NT Freenet (http://www.the-mesh.org) provide technical advice and
support for the Telecentro and related projects.
   The Telecentro is staffed mainly by volunteers from Darwin
Community Arts, Melaleuca Refugee Centre, Multicultural Council of the
Northern Territory, and NT Freenet. With the current number of
volunteers, we are able to open the Telecentro for community use
during these times: Tuesdays to Fridays, 2:30 to 4:30 PM, and every
second Saturday, 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Hours of operation will increase as
we recruit more volunteers.
   Most regular users are local residents, mainly young people, though
there are a few regular users from other suburbs too. The Telecentro
also hosts workshops and activities on digital media, including the
Our Malak/Connect Workshops (http://www.malak.org.au).
   In 2009, more digital and locative media workshops and events will
be hosted by the Malak Telecentro, especially digital video and audio
production and distribution; these workshops and events will be
supported by Australia Council for the Arts, Australian Hunman Rights
Commission, Arts NT, Community Benefit Fund, Scanlon Foundation, and
other organisations.

1.3 Enhancing the Network
=========================
   There are currently fifteen networked computers running Ubuntu
8.04. Until recently, these computers were running anything from
Ubuntu 6.06 to 8.10 and were managed individually -- since late 2007,
each one had whatever version of Ubuntu that was available at the time
installed on it; and each computer had to be upgraded individually. In
December, a server was set up to provide over-the-network installation
and maintenance, and another computer was set up for proxying and
content filtering. This setup has made management of the network and
the machines on it much more efficient. The machines still need to be
individually managed (such as for distribution upgrades), however.
   In 2009, we intend to expand the network to 20 computers, all
running Ubuntu 8.04 LTS. We believe it would be simpler and more
efficient (for the network and for our workers) to manage 20 computers
using LTSP and rather than managing each one individually. We can also
run other services, such as proxying and content filtering (which we
now run on two separate computers), on a single, more powerful server.
We need, however, to purchase a more powerful server than what we're
using now (which is a four-year old 2.5Mhz Pentium 4 with 1G of RAM
and a 40G HDD).
   Running LTSP also helps us with physical maintenance of the
computers deployed on the network. The computers currently networked
in the Telecentro are mainly four or five year old Celeron-powered
Ipex machines decommissioned by the University. A few of these
computers have had hard drive failures, or other component failures.
There are a number of machines in storage which have either replaced
failed ones or have supplied spare parts for maintenance of the
deployed machines. We wish to continue using these machines, however,
as part of our efforts at adapting Green computing. We can run these
computers without hard drives, and run then as long as possible rather
than consigning them to landfill while they're still working.

1.4 Enhancing Multimedia Production Facilities
==============================================
   Since March 2008, we've run Internet and digital media workshops at
the Telecentro. The existing facilities sufficed for the Internet
basics (webmail, web browsing), Text/Blogging, and digital photography
workshops; for the digital audio and video workshops and other
continuing production work during 2009, however, we will need at least
one powerful computer for production and post-production tasks. The
projects lined up for 2009 include podcasting workshops for
multilingual broadcasters, the recording and production of hiphop
songs by local artists, advanced video-making workshops and
train-the-trainer workshops, virtual murals and graffiti (and other
digital public art).
   Some existing computers may be run standalone (rather than as LTSP
clients) for audio and video capturing and basic editing but more
intensive work, involving intensive effects or mastering, will have to
be done on a more powerful machine, which will run Ubuntu Studio 8.04.
   This proposed Multimedia Workstation will be complemented by our
other digital video and audio equipmnent and will eventually be
installed in a dedicated Multimedia studio also at Malak Shopping
Centre.

1.5 Equipment Cost
==================
   We wish to purchase two V3-M2A690G Asus Barebone computers from
local supplier Hallmark Computers; each computer costs about $990 (inc
GST), with the following specifications:
- Asus V3-M2A690G Barebone
- AMD Phenom 9550 Quad Core CPU
- 2Gb Transcend 800Mhz DIMM's
- Seagate 7200.10 500Gb SATA HDD's
- Upsonic ProOffice 650Va UPS

1.6 More Information
====================
   For more information on this application, please contact the following:
   General and Management: Christian Ramilo, Executive Officer, Darwin
Community Arts, eo at darwincommunityarts.org.au, 0414 682 350
   Technical: Sam Wilson, NT Freenet, kahn at the-mesh.org, phone 0427394316.

A copy of the project summary text file is attached.

Yours faithfully

Christian Ramilo
Executive Officer
Darwin Community Arts Inc
Phone (08) 8945 7347
Mobile +61 414 682 350

-- 
--==--
Steve Walsh
RHCE
Vice President / Sysadmin team member - Linux Australia
Networks and Technology - Linux.conf.au 2008

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