[PLUG] Advanced Topics Meeting on Netule - Follow up.

[Kenneth G. Stephens]

On Thursday 29 August 2002 12:40 am, David Mandel wrote:
> This note is primarily for people who attended the Advanced Topics Meeting
> last week.  I'm trying to get some feed back on things.
>
> Also, I want to thank everyone.  You gave Dale and I a lot to
> think about.  From my point of view, the meeting was very worth while.
>
> (1)  Was the meeting location acceptable?
>      I'm trying to get a feel for how much I want to use it
>      for things like this in the future.  I know parking is tight
>      in the neighborhood.
>
> (2)  A couple people ask me to post my slides.
>      I will post my slides on the net sometime next week.
>
> (3)  The big question people had was, "Why should I help?
>      What is in it for me?"
>      This is a good question.  The theory is that if successful,
>      it should lead to name recognition and consulting gigs.
>      I certainly willing to talk to anyone about how to make
>      this happen.
>
> (4)  Several people proposed virtualizing the individual Netules
>      using something like User Mode Linux.  We have considered
>      this.  In fact, Karl Hegbloom has looked at this in detail.
>      I even had a slide on this, but I didn't show it.
>
>      I think Netules probably could be virtualized using UML,
>      and there could be many many advantages to this.  This would
>      isolate the Netules from the hardware, make the systems
>      scale better, and make them easier to backup and replicate,
>      and this is only the beginning of the advantages of using UML.
>      Right now, time and resources are a concern.  If they weren't,
>      I would definitely take this approach.  Indeed, one could
>      consider the whole Netule project as a way of building root
>      file systems for UML.
>
>                                           Sincerely,
>                                           David Mandel
David,

A distribution is more than the software.  A distribution needs to have also 
(in no particular order of importance and some points may be redundant):
1.  A viable mailing list for support, 
2.  Training for both the installers/supporters and users. 
3.  User community/target market.
4.  Documentation.
	Howtos
	Quick Step intallation instructions
	Detailed man pages
5.  Purpose or niche.
6.  Sponsor or support organization willing to organize the other points.
7.  Be fun to use. (Why not just work, to start with?)
8.  A unique mascot.(I can supply a picture of my dog with antlers)  87)

-- 
Ken Stephens
www.cad2cam.com
www.cadtocam.com