The UNIX® CRONicle

November 1999

Official Publication of the STL!/unix/usr/group

UNIX® is a registered trademark of the Open Group
Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds
Online version: http://www.sluug.org/cronicle/


Table of Contents


Next Meeting Details

Wednesday, November 10, 1999 at 6:30 PM
Sunnen Products, 7910 Manchester

6:30 PM Tutorial Big Disks & Your Database by Mike Kriz
7:00 PM Call For Help (An opportunity for you to ask technical questions of the group)

7:15 PM Social, off-line conversations, & book sales

7:20 PM Admittance to building may no longer be possible See Meeting Directions

7:30 PM Presentation Foundation Suite - A Logical Volume Manager by Timothy Akin

Tutorial

Big Disks & Your Database - Things to Consider by Mike Kriz

Abstract:

So, you've got monster disks and the logical volume manager is going to take care of your storage configuration needs.

So, what are your storage configuration needs? How do you want to allocate all that space out? What do you need to think about - performance, backups, striping, segregating, monitoring, understanding,

This tutorial will survey a few issues connected with the disk space allocated for your applications. The main type of applications/issues to be considered are database, static & dynamic files, nfs mounted file systems, and backup issues.


Biography:
Mike Kriz has been an Information Technology (IT) consultant specializing in UNIX and Oracle for over 15 years. He has worked for a variety of clients in the St. Louis market doing Oracle based business applications and data warehousing.

Called back by desperate demand, Mike Kriz will put aside the awesome responsibility of SLUUG treasurer for the evening to once again offer unfounded opinions on UNIX technical issues for all comers.

Mike has been a member of the organization for years and has been a board member, officer, and main tutorial presenter at various points in time.

This tutorial will probably continue a long tradition of tutorials ( with 2 page handouts ) that never end in the allotted 30 minutes. Come prepared ith your pertinent questions to help him keep up the tradition of running over the time slot.

His last SLUUG tutorial was on "The Password File" at the May 1999 general meeting.

Presentation

Foundation Suite - A Logical Volume Manager by Timothy Akin

Abstract:
VERITAS Foundation Suite is the leading on-line storage management software for enterprise computing environments. The Foundation Suite combines file system and disk management technology to ensure easy management of all storage, optimum performance, and maximum availability of essential data.

The presentation will include:

  • A brief overview of VERITAS Software and history of the Foundation Suite.
  • Key technical features of the Foundation Suite.
  • Advantages of an integrated volume manager and file system solution.
  • Environments that benefit from the Foundation Suite.

    Biography:
    Timothy Akin is a Senior Systems Engineer with VERITAS Software. Before joining VERITAS, Tim was a Principle Systems Engineer with Informix Software. His professional experience includes database management using Oracle and Informix and system management on Unix and NT.

    For more info contact Timothy Akin by sending mailto:takin@veritas.com .

    [ Editor's Notes:

    http://ibgwww.colorado.edu/~lessem/psyc5112/usail/peripherals/disks/logical/ Logical Volume Managers
    http://www.lemis.com/vinum/References.html The Vinum Volume Manager ( Open Source - FreeBSD )
    http://linux.msede.com/lvm/ Logical Volume Manager for Linux ( Alpha code )
    http://linux.msede.com/lvm/slides.html- LVM - A Logical Volume Manager for Linux

    ---- ]


    Special Promotion(s)

    The DNS and BIND cover DNS on Windows NT cover
    blue triangle right Title of the Month

    The 25% discount special is continued for DNS on Windows NT, & DNS and BIND, 3rd Edition (UNIX) book. Get a free Tee Shirt with any $30 purchase.

    All regularly priced titles are 10% off retail cost at the general meeting.
    (Excludes featured, or specially priced or promotional items)
    O'Reilly Logo

    The O'Reilly and Associates line of books is available at each monthly general meeting as a convenience to our members.

    Each month features a book related to that month's presentation or tutorial topic.

    Discounts off retail cost are offered to all members and each month's featured book(s) may be additionally discounted. Usually, all titles are discounted 10%, while special titles are discounted 25%.


    Upcoming Events

    Perl Mongers
  • [Not part of SLUUG]
  • November 4, 1999 at 7:00 PM
    ( TOPICS: ) To Be Announced
    CAIT, Training Room 024,
    5 N Jackson Ave at Forsyth Blvd,
    Clayton, MO

    Burn All GIFs Day November 5, 1999
    See http://burnallgifs.org/

    GIG-ANTIC TM Show & Sale
  • [Not part of SLUUG]
  • November 6-7, 1999
    Free Parking - Adults $4 - Children 8-12 $2
    Sat 10:00AM - 4:00PM Sun 11:00 AM - 3:00PM
    St. Charles Exposition Hall
    Take I-70 to Fifth Street Exit
    St. Charles, MO

    James Burke Lecture November 8, 1999 at 8:00pm
    free Loretto Hilton Theater
    Webster University/Old Orchard Section
    Webster Groves, MO

    [St. Louis UNIX Users Group stuff]
    SLUUG General Meeting Novemer 10, 1999 at 6:30 PM
    Sunnen Products
    7910 Manchester (at Hanley)
    St. Louis, MO

    Java SIG
  • [Not part of SLUUG]
  • November 11, 1999 at 6:30 PM
    IBM Websphere - Joe Metzger of IBM
    See http://www.ociweb.com/javasig/
    Novell, 600 Emerson Road, Suite 203
    St. Louis, MO

    Charity Lan '99
  • [Not part of SLUUG]
  • November 13-14, 1999 at 10:00 AM
    Computer Gaming Party & Tournaments
    Register at http://deech.betterbox.net/charitylan
    Firemen's Union Hall
    I-170 to Airport Road to Madison to 3rd Street
    St. Louis, MO

    Linux Business Expo
  • [Not part of SLUUG]
  • November 15-19, 1999
    Register at http://www.linuxbizexpo.com/
    Co-located with COMDEX Fall '99
    Las Vegas Hilton
    Las Vegas NV

    Steering Committee November 16, 1999 at 6:00 PM
    Daugherty Systems
    One City Place (2nd floor)
    Creve Coeur, MO

    Linux SIG November 18, 1999 at 7:00 PM
    See http://www.sluug.org/sluugls/
    ( TOPIC: ) Something Really Good by Some One
    Indian Trails Library
    8400 Delport Drive (at Midland)
    St. Louis, MO

    Perl Mongers December 2, 1999

    SLUUG General Meeting December 8, 1999

    Steering Committee December 14, 1999

    Linux SIG December 16, 1999


    Meeting Directions

    The STL!/unix/usr/group meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Sunnen Products, 7910 Manchester Blvd, just east of Hanley on Manchester.

    Directions From Downtown

    1. Take 40 West to the Hanley exit.
    2. Turn left (south) onto Hanley.
    3. Turn left (east) onto Manchester, then turn right ASAP into the Sunnen Products driveway.

    See map at http://www.sluug.org/info/sunnen.html

    (NOTE: A security guard from Sunnen is scheduled to be at the door from 6:20 PM to 7:20 PM to allow entry. After 7:20, the door will be unattended and attendees may not be able to enter.)

    The SLUUG Steering Committee meets the Tuesday following the general meeting at 6:00 PM in the 2nd floor training room of Daugherty Systems, One City Place in Creve Coeur.

    The SLUUG Linux SIG (SLUUGLS) meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at the Indian Trails Public Library.

    See map at http://www.stllinux.org/directions/


    Article(s): The following article(s) express(es) personal opinions and SLUUG exerts no more editorial control over such content than does a public library, bookstore, or newsstand. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information or Content expressed herein are those of the respective author(s) and not necessarily supported by SLUUG. SLUUG does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content, nor its merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
    SLUUG BBS Systems Update by Gary Meyer

    The BBS leaves CTItek.

    The systems michelob and dark moved from Wash U's business school to CTItek on July 30. We just moved them out of CTItek and over to Phoenix Networks on Wed. 20 Oct.

    A big thanks to Tony Zapfiropolis, the owner of CTItek. Tony took us in when we needed a quick home at a time when he was about to go thru the confusion of moving his own offices. When not activly working on Computer Telephony Integration and Linux at work, Tony has been an active participant in our group and the steering committee.

    We appriciated his hospitality and wish him well in those nice new offices in the building with Ramon's Jalapeno in Clayton.

    See previous month's newsletter article at http://www.sluug.org/~editor/9908.html#Article1 for very detailed background and some good references to alternative resources.

    Please contact Gary Meyer by sending mailto:gary@mail.sluug.org if you need more specific information on the hardware or other aspects of these SLUUG computer systems.

    http://home.postnet.com/~ellisd/sluug - Alternate SLUUG home page, if our server goes down.



    Attendance Survey Results

    Below are results of the attendance & survey sheets collected at the...

    SLUUG General meeting on 13 October 1999:

  • 38 Actual head count.
  • 31 Attendance & survey sheets were turned in.
  • 11 attendees requested our SLUUG email newsletter.

    Results of each question on our OPTIONAL survey/questionaire:

    1. Tutoral (only at General meeting):

  • What is an IP Address, Internet Addressing & Domain Names by Stan Reichardt

  • 9 - Excellent
  • 9 - Good
  • 5 - Fair
  • 2 - Late, didn't see.
  • 6 - No response to question

    2. Presentation:

  • DNS/BIND release 8.2 - why you need to upgrade by Dave Dickerson

  • 18 - - Excellent
  • 2 - - Good
  • 11 - - No response to question.

    SLUUG COMMENTS:

  • Tutorial too fast, go slower, remember it's a tutorial.
  • I feel smarter already.
  • I can not comment on networking.
  • Good information (background) on BIND.
  • IPV6?
  • Handout attendance sheets during announcements, when most people have arrived.
  • Questions should be welcomed during presentations, however, general rhetorical comments should be left unsaid.
  • Tutorial was good for a beginner, but went so fast would a new user understand it?
  • Presentation was excellent. He was a great speaker with a topic I deal with every day at work.
  • Uplifting and informative. Dave should do a video for ZDnet.
  • Good meeting.
  • Really neat stuff.
  • Excellent lecture!!

    OBSERVATIONS:
    This was the first time that we used a slide to explain the attendance and survey sheets. It seemed to help get positive reactions.

    The generally favorable evaluations for the tutorial were totally unexpected!

    Below are results of the attendance & survey sheets collected at the...

    SLUUG Linux SIG meeting on 21 October 1999:

  • 50 Actual head count.
  • 39 Attendance & survey sheets were turned in.
  • 10 attendees requested our SLUUG email newsletter.

    Linux SIG Presentation: RAID stuff

  • 10 - - Excellent
  • 6 - - Good
  • 1 - - Fair
  • 21 - - No response to question.

    Linux SIG COMMENTS:

  • The marketing emphasis was a little heavy at times, but otherwise the presentation was very good, clear and informative.
  • If I can only talk the bosses into a new controller...
  • Very good presentation. Learned a lot.

    OBSERVATIONS:
    This was was a good turn out with 10 requests for SLUUG newsletter. As usuall, about 11 people didn't turn in an attendance sheet. Although overheard comments were very favorable few people bothered to mark evaluation.

    OPINION:
    Dogs are smarter than cats.


    Quote of the Day from the October SLUUG Presentation on DNS

    "The problem with free software is -- nobody sells it." --Dave Dickerson

    (meaning nobody "markets" it; There are no sales people out there pushing it.)


    Interesting Browsing!

    Latest Release:
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/11474.html- QCad, the user-friendly CAD system for Linux is now open source

    Good Overview:
    http://lwn.net/1999/talks/Dists_ALS/- Linux Distributions: Well-known through Unknown http://linuxslides.com/- The Virtual Linux Conference - slides & presentations http://www.vmunix.com/fbsd-book/- A Comprehensive Guide to FreeBSD

    Bashing Stuff:
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/11582.html- ZDNet: Microsoft sets Windows 2000 D-Day-17 Feb http://linuxtoday.com/stories/10767.html- ZDNet Admits Mistakes in Recent Security Test

    Ugly Stuff:
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/9025.html- ZDNet: 'Christmas' virus can destroy PCs
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/9471.html- ZDNet: 'Thursday' [Word macro] virus outbreak
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/9491.html- IDG.net: New 'Thursday' [Word macro] virus set to detonate Dec. 13

    To keep up with NET events:
    http://www.linuxtoday.com- daily news of mostly (but not only) Linux events.
    http://www.slashdot.org- news for nerds - stuff that matters!
    http://www.freshmeat.net- daily updates of Internet software releases. (use "appindex" button).
    http://www.32bitsonline.net- Because There's More Than One Way to Compute.
    http://www.lwn.net- Linux Weekly News.
    http://www.webwatcher.org- Tracks when numerous WWW pages were last updated.

    For the Linux beginner:
    http://www.linux.org/ - What is Linux?
    http://www.linuxberg.org- Useful info and easy downloads.
    http://www.linuxplanet.com/ - ...for newbies.
    http://qlink.queensu.ca/~3srf/linux-admin/ - Linux Administration Made Easy" (LAME) Pre-Release
    http://metalab.unc.edu/LDP/ - The Linux Documentation Project
    http://www.msnbc.com/news/290531.asp#BODY - Unix/Linux Printing HOWTO Support Database

    Resources:
    http://www.linuxdoc.org - The Linux Documentation Project
    http://training.eklektix.com/talks/lw99-SystemAdmin/img0.htm- Linux System Administration in a Large Network Environment
    http://stommel.tamu.edu/~baum/linuxlist/linuxlist/linuxlist.html- Linux Software Encyclopedia

    Other Linux Sites:
    http://www.linux-center.org/en/- Linux Center -
    http://www.linuxworld.com- LinuxWorld -
    http://www.linuxpower.org- LinuxPower -

    To configure a Linux machine:
    http://www.monitorworld.com- Specs on over 2100 monitors from 150+ manufacturers.
    http://www.monitorservice.com- After Monitor FAQ page follow Performance Parameters link.
    http://www.hercules.com/monitors- The monitor data base that had the one that I wanted!
    http://www.o2.net/~gromitkc/winmodem.html- Knowlege base of Linux compatible modems!
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/9561.html- Chicago Tribune: Linux Corner: No noise from your speakers? Here's sound advice
    http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/Modem-HOWTO.html- The Linux Modem-HOWTO v0.04, August 1999

    Dual-booting:
    The following is a quick talk about Dual Booting, with specific steps for using the WinNT boot loader, and mounting NT file systems under Linux:
    http://ext2.org/99/06/newbieville/062099-newbieville1.shtml - Linux and Windows on one computer
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/8987.html ILUG: Dual-booting Windows and Linux, a tutorial for beginners
    http://linuxtoday.com/stories/8990.html LinuxForum: VMware Review - A virtual machine in Linux to run your Windows programs
    http://www.davecentral.com/ - Shareware, Freeware, Demos and Betas for M$-Windoze and Linux


    Unclaimed Property submitted by Mike Knight

    Find Unknown Riches and Impress Friends and Relatives

    Many states now have web sites where you can search for Unclaimed Property that as been turned over to the state. You can search for yourself or anyone else you care about. I found property for three relatives (but nothing for me).

    What is Unclaimed Property? According to The Missouri web site:

    Unclaimed property consists of cash from bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned-that is, for which there have been no documented transactions or contact with the owners in seven or more years. Other types of unclaimed property include uncollected insurance policy proceeds, government refunds, utility deposits and wages from past jobs. The Unclaimed Property Division does not handle real property such as land, houses, cars, boats, etc.

    The Missouri unclaimed property search can be found at
    http://www.sto.state.mo.us/ucp/database/search.htm reached from http://www.sto.state.mo.us/.
    Other states can be linked from http://www.unclaimed.org/ .


    Charity Lan '99

    Computer Gaming Party & Tournaments

    13 and 14 November.
    Doors open 10:00 AM Saturday.
    Gaming goes from Noon to Noon Sunday.

    The set up will be a standard 10-base-T network, with a few hubs and cables running pretty much everywhere. The servers will be built before hand running Linux. Expect mostly Windows95/98 running on the clients, though there may be a few people running various distributions of Linux.

    Contact "Deech Mestel" by sending mailto:dj@betterbox.net or, better yet, see http://deech.betterbox.net/charitylan for maps, registration, policies and all other information.

    The $15 entry fee isn't really that high, considering pretty much everyone will be walking away with a prize of some sort. Actually, if Activison comes through like they said they would, we should have a game (valued ~$50) for just about everyone to go home with. Also, its a charity event, the proceeds are for charity and most folks don't mind spending a little more for that.

    This is a 24 hour event, pretty much intended for the mature "hard core" kind of gamer. Not a Spectator Sport. If you want to pop in for the first hour or so to see what its all about, you are welcome to do so. Then if you are interested in joining, then run home, get yer 'puter and rock with us!

    Charity Lan '99 Motto: Shooting, Looting and Killing for Charity


    Space Satellites and the 'Net

    Via Satellite magazine is featuring an article about satellite technology making the internet fly as its "web-only" article this month. Read it at http://www.satellitetoday.com/ - Multi-media in the Sky. Part 2


    Big Bandwidth submitted by Gary Meyer

    Big bandwidth to your home in December.

    The tentative plan for the December meeting is a panel discussion between representatives of "big bandwidth" providers.

    DSL (both Sync and Asyncronous), cable modems thru cable TV companies, line-of-site microwave, and sattelite dishes are all avaialbe for small businesses and homes. We are trying to assemble a panel to discuss the relative merits of these technologies for our Wed. 8 Dec. meeting.

    And, if you cann't wait until then or want to study up in advance... the October issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN magazine has a multi-part article on this very subject. Each technology gets a few pages.


    Personal Commentary submitted by Almost Anybody

    The following PERSONAL COMMENTARY expresses personal opinions and SLUUG exerts no more editorial control over such content than does a public library, bookstore, or newsstand. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information or Content expressed herein are those of the respective author and not necessarily supported by SLUUG. SLUUG does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content, nor its merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.

    Seen on Slashdot:

    Windows hasn't increased computer literacy. It's just lowered the standard.


    Special Interest Groups (SIGS)

    As our membership grows, we have had some inquiries about the possibility of having Special Interest Groups in several areas. If you are interested in starting or participating in a SIG for System Administration, Networking, C, Object Oriented Programming, a specific vendor, etc., please call Dave Mills at 230-5151, extension 103, or contact any officer of the group.


    St. Louis Unix Users Group - Linux SIG (SLUUGLS)

    Visit the Linux SIG home page (http://www.stllinux.org/) for the latest meeting details.

    LOCATION DIRECTIONS:
    Indian Trails Public Library
    8400 Delport Drive
    (at Midland)
    (314)-428-5424
    Follow 170: Exit Page east to North-South Rd., go left on North-South Rd. to Midland, go left on Midland one block to Delport, the Library is on your left (see map at http://www.stllinux.org/directions/).

    For more information on SLUUGLS refer to the WWW home page for the group at http://www.stllinux.org/ or contact Matthew Feldt by mailto:linux@www.feldt.com


    Computer Telephony Integration User's Group (SLUUG CiTI)

    The CTI SIG is no longer having regular meetings and is currently using a webboard format.

    The Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) Users Group is a non-profit organization open to developers, end-users, sales people, and others who share the common interest of melding the telecommunications and computing worlds.

    For more information on SLUUG CiTI contact Tony Zafiropoulos by mailto:tonyz@ctitek.com or (314)878-9855.


    Digital Alpha SIG

    The Digital Alpha SIG is for those interested in Digital UNIX and the DEC Alpha architecture. Visit the Digital Alpha SIG's home at http://www.sluug.org/~newton/asighome.html for more information.


    St. Louis UNIX Users Group Steering Committee

    The SLUUG Steering Committee meets the Tuesday following the general 2nd Wednesday meeting at 6:00 PM in the 2nd floor training room of Daugherty Systems, One City Place in Creve Coeur. The guard can direct you to the meeting location. Anyone is welcome to attend. If you would like to become more involved in the planning of SLUUG, feel free to join us at the next Steering Committee meeting. Meetings usually last 1.5 to 2 hours.


    Sponsors

  • Analysts International http://www.analysts.com/
  • Andersen Consulting http://www.ac.com/
  • CIBER, Inc. http://www.ciber.com/
  • Cypress Systems, Ltd. http://www.cypress-systems.com/
  • Daugherty Systems http://www.daugherty.com/
  • Informix Corporation http://www.informix.com/
  • Maryville Data Systems, Inc. http://www.maryville.com/
  • O'Reilly & Associates http://www.ora.com/
  • Phoenix Networks http://www.pnix.net/
  • Phoenix Networks http://www.phoenixnetworks.net/
  • Renaissance Worldwide, Inc. http://www.rens.com/
  • Sun Microsystems http://www.sun.com/
  • Sunnen Products http://www.sunnen.com/
  • Sykes Enterprises, Inc. http://www.sykes.com/
  • Venmar Systems, Inc. http://www.venmar.com/

  • The Law Offices of Rich McLennan, send mailto:mclennan@mail.sluug.org

    For more information about sponsoring the St. Louis UNIX Users Group, contact Ed Wehner, send mailto:wehner@mail.sluug.org.


    SLUUG on the World Wide Web

    The St. Louis UNIX Users Group maintains a WWW page at http://www.sluug.org/. Visit us to learn more about who we are and what we do, visit other UNIX user groups' WWW pages, sign up for a SIG, or just to browse.


    SLUUG Administration is volunteer based.

    SLUUG is looking for volunteers to help with presentations, web page development, managing corporate sponsorships, and many other tasks. If you would like to help out, contact Chris Wanta by mailto:cfw1@mail.sluug.org or visit http://www.sluug.org/~cfw1/help.html.


    /usr/groups/other

    We publish other user group meeting schedules on a reciprocal basis. If you are a member of another non-profit group, please inform them of our policy and invite them to exchange meeting information by mailto:editor@mail.sluug.org, or call any of the SLUUG officers.


    Contacts

    BBS Questions Jim (Knight) Ford mailto:knight@mail.sluug.org
    Corporate Sponsors Ed Wehner mailto:wehner@mail.sluug.org
    Newsletter
    Submissions
    Editorial team: mailto:editor@mail.sluug.org
    Publisher Sanjiv Bhatia Home: (314)519-9272
    Work: (314)516-6520
    FAX: (314)516-5400
    mailto:sanjiv@aryabhat.cs.umsl.edu
    Editor Stan Reichardt Home: (314)298-1183
    mailto:editor@mail.sluug.org
    http://www.sluug.org/~stan
    mailto:stan@mail.sluug.org
    O'Reilly Books Dave Mills Work: (314)230-5151, extension 103
    mailto:mills@mail.sluug.org
    Presentations Open Position Send info/ideas to mailto:gary@mail.sluug.org
    Steering Committee
    Information
    Gary Meyer Home: (314)781-8644
    mailto:gary@mail.sluug.org
    SLUUG Secretary Rich Seible mailto:rich@mail.sluug.org
    SLUUG Treasurer Mike Kriz mailto:kriz@mail.sluug.org
    Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

    Computer Telephony
    Integration (CTI)
    Tony Zafiropoulos Phone: (314)878-9855
    http://www.ctitek.com/ctiusers/ctiusers.html
    mailto:tonyz@ctitek.com
    Linux Matthew Feldt Home: (314)429-5433
    http://www.feldt.com
    mailto:linux@www.feldt.com

    Submitting Articles to the SLUUG CRONicle

    If you would like to submit an article to the CRONicle of general interest to the members of the St. Louis UNIX Users Group,send mailto:editor@mail.sluug.org The deadline for article submissions is two weeks before the next general meeting.


    SLUUG PO Box

    The St. Louis UNIX Users Group has a P.O. box. All official correspondence with SLUUG should now be sent to:

        St. Louis UNIX Users Group
        P.O. Box 411302
        Creve Coeur Post Office
        St. Louis, MO  63141-9998