March 2009 - Roundtable

External hard drives for Linux
by schwartz 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

I'm thinking of buying an external USB hard drive for my Linux desktop. I'm concerned that these USB drives might be non-generic, somehow dependent on XP/Vesta or have fixed file systems ( NTFS or FAT36 ) or just slow. Are any of the above an issue, or do they do a reasonable job. I just want to use one for storage, not to run an OS on. Best Buy has a SimpleTech 1 TB for $150. Future Shop has Comstar One-touch 1 TB for $150. I don't think my BIOS can handle 1 TB drives but for that price I'm temped anyway. Any information would be most appreciated.

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Re: [RndTbl] Roundtable Digest, Vol 51, Issue 2
by Kat 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

I bought a LaCiE drive last year and from what I gathered most external USB drives are preformatted as FAT32. I'd recommend using FAT32 if there's any chance you'll do something like dragging it over to a friend who is using Windows. I keep mine plugged in at home all the time. I've noticed rarely (once every few months), I'll try to use Amarok or Kaffeine, but it can't find the file. If I open up the drive in some sort of file manager, it's enough of a kick in the pants that Amarok realizes that the drive is actually connected. Transfers tend to be slow. I came across this post by accident a while ago (which I haven't really investigated yet): -------------- 'I had the odd Linux version mount external FAT32-drives (USB sticks) with some crappy mount parameters that it would have been quicker to write the data on the HD with my own hands - yes, literally. So if you happen to use Linux.. Try mounting the external FAT drive without the "sync" option, i.e. with "mount -o async". But you'll have to remember to umount the external device manually before removing it; sometimes a lot of the writing happens only delayed at the time of umounting - at least it did sometimes with my SuSEs.'

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MUUG Meeting, Mar 10, 7:30pm -- MySQL Replication
by gedetil＠cs.umanitoba.ca 03 Mar '09

03 Mar '09

The Manitoba UNIX User Group (MUUG) will be holding its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 10. The meeting topic for this month is as follows: MySQL Replication Replication is a feature of MySQL that allows you to configure a MySQL daemon to be a "slave" that retrieves and executes logged changes from another MySQL daemon ("master"). Mark Jenkins of ParIT Worker Co-operative (parit.ca) will give an overview of the feature, discuss configuration and security, and demonstrate three key applications of replication: 1. Near-realtime offsite/offsystem backup, with point-in-time recovery 2. Failover - having a MySQL slave server take over and provide equivalent service when a master fails 3. Load balancing - one MySQL master server handles all writes, many slave MySQL servers handle read operations. This fits the workload profile of most dynamic websites. (e.g. Wikipedia) The group holds its general meetings at 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of every month from September to June. (There are no meetings in July and August.) Meetings are open to the general public; you don't have to be a MUUG member to attend. ********************************************************************** Please note our meeting location: The IBM offices, at 400 Ellice Ave. (between Edmonton and Kennedy). When you arrive, you will have to sign in at the reception desk, and then wait for someone to take you (in groups) to the meeting room. Please try to arrive by about 7:15pm, so the meeting can start promptly at 7:30pm. Don't be late, or you may not get in. (But don't come too early either, since security may not be there to let you in before 7:15 or so.) Non-members may be required to show photo ID at the security desk. Limited parking is available for free on the street, either on Ellice Ave. or on some of the intersecting streets. Indoor parking is also available nearby, at Portage Place, for $3.00 for the evening. Bicycle parking is available in a bike rack under video surveillance located behind the building on Webb Place. ********************************************************************** For more information about MUUG, and its monthly meetings, check out their Web server: http://www.muug.mb.ca/ Help us promote this month's meeting, by putting this poster up on your workplace bulletin board or other suitable public message board: http://www.muug.mb.ca/meetings/MUUGmeeting.pdf -- Gilbert E. Detillieux E-mail: <gedetil(a)muug.mb.ca> Manitoba UNIX User Group Web: http://www.muug.mb.ca/ PO Box 130 St-Boniface Phone: (204)474-8161 Winnipeg MB CANADA R2H 3B4 Fax: (204)474-7609

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Fwd: Calgary Open Source Solution Festival: April 17th & 18th. More Info: http://cossfest.ca
by Gilbert E. Detillieux 02 Mar '09

02 Mar '09

FYI... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Board] Calgary Open Source Solution Festival: April 17th & 18th. More Info: http://cossfest.ca Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:07:48 +0000 From: John E. Jardine <john.e.jardine(a)cossfest.ca> To: undisclosed-recipients:; We would like to invite you and the members of your group to attend the Calgary Open Source Systems Festival (COSSFEST - www.cossfest.ca) COSSFEST is a two day event featuring multiple speaking tracks and workshops demonstrating the use of Open Source to lower costs, and increase the capabilities and competitiveness of your business. COSSFEST brings together thought leaders in the technology industry, technology professionals, businessmen, and computer enthusiasts to share the latest news and Open Source know-how. COSSFEST 2009 will be held April 17th and 18th 2009 at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary. We ask that you pass this information on to your group members, and contact us if you would like to contribute. We are currently looking for: - sponsors to help offset the costs and highlight Open Source in the wild (http://www.cossfest.ca/sponsorpackages) - speakers to share the knowledge (http://www.cossfest.ca/cfp) - volunteers and any other ideas to make the event bigger and better! You can contact us at info(a)cossfest.ca for more information. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to seeing you on April 17th & 18th!

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