Welcome to the

Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts

Promoting Linux and Open Source Software Freedom in Atlanta Since 1994
Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts (ALE) is a diverse group of friendly people who enjoy the freedoms and benefits of GNU Linux Computing and Free Liberating Open Source Software technologies. From novices to network administrators, from smart phones to data centers, we strive to empower every information technology user with freely distributable software and to improve every computing environment with the superior security, functionality and flexibility of Open Source Operating System solutions. -- more about ALE --
For information about upcoming weekly and monthly meetings, please check the ALE Meetup Group Calendar. We do not, and never will, require anyone to sign up with Meetup (or any other service) to attend any of our meetings; we only use it as an additional platform to connect with others in the local Atlanta area who are also interested in Linux.

ALE NorthEast Mtg. for Thurs., May 1, 2008

Filed at 8:20 pm April 28, 2008 under by Ruscetta

The feature presentation for the ALE Northeast Meeting
of May 1, 2008, 7:30pm (* in the new room # noted below)
will be:

An introduction to TLS, OpenSSL,
and X.509 Certificates

presented by Stephen Cristol

Synopsis:
— What do you do when an install-script-generated,
self-signed X.509 certificate expires? The X.509 certificate
will be an organizing theme to talk about an assortment of
topics ranging from the history of secure socket layer to
privacy enhanced mail (PEM) file formats. By the end of
the talk, you should know how to replace an expired
certificate. You should also have a better understanding
of how secure connections work.

Bio:
— Stephen is an Editor of the open access journal Molecular
Vision (molvis.org). He began his Linux journey in 2000
with Red Hat 6.1. The journey continues today with CentOS
4.6 and 5.1.

==========================================
(mayday, mayday, mayday)
* PLEASE NOTE THE ROOM CHANGE *
Classroom C-1130 (C Building)
Georgia Gwinnett College
1000 University Center Lane
Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Parking and C Building Virtual Map are HERE
http://tinyurl.com/27h46j

You are welcome to park in any UNMARKED (Student) parking
spaces on campus. Parking in the spaces marked visitor may or
may not yield a ticket.

We will be meeting in C-1130 this month, and I am currently
working out the details for later months’ meetings. Hopefully
we can be assigned a regular room that fits us well.

Unlike the previous meeting space, you CAN bring food and
drink to this classroom!

OSPREX PROJECT MEETING, Tuesday, April 29, 7:30pm

Filed at 11:05 am April 24, 2008 under by Ruscetta

The first
ALE OSPREX PROJECT MEETING
has been scheduled for
TUESDAY, APRIL 29th, 7:30pm **
at
MELTON’S APP & TAP
NW corner of North Decatur Road
at Scott Blvd. intersection
Melton’s home page map

This is a casual brain storming and volunteer organizing
session to consider a plan for expanding ALE outreach and
improving support for the increasingly diverse groups of
people who are now being introduced to (and liberated by)
Linux and Open Source computing.

Everyone reading this is invited to bring ideas and materials
addressing the project goals of building a concise Open Source
educational presentation and delivering it to various Atlanta
area public venues as detailed in the proposal below.

PROJECT PROPOSAL:
— Given the increasing numbers of successful OSS projects
like Ubuntu, gOS, Firefox, Linspire, OLPC, Open Office,
Mandriva and EEPC, it is clear that Linux and OSS computing
are expanding and gaining greater public acceptance in the
consumer, educational and business market places. To
build on this momentum and public attention, this seems
an especially opportune time for our ALE users group to
expand its outreach and educational efforts to better include
and welcome the diverse groups of freedom seekers that are
now settling the Open Source frontier. Toward that goal,
I’m inviting participation in a project idea that I’ve
tentatively dubbed ALE OSPREX, standing for
Open Source PRomotion and Educational eXchange.

The vision is to build a pre-packaged, community crafted,
easy to deliver 30 to 60 minute presentation targeted at
the general computer user and focused on the numerous
advantages and simplicities of installing and using today’s
ubiquitous Linux and OSS solutions for common computer
tasks. The presentation would be a ready and thorough
teaching tool which active OSS advocates could use
for hosting Linux promotional events, educational forums
or installation workshops at schools, libraries and other
public venues.

In combination with the distribution of Live Install CD’s of
user friendly Linux distros at the events, or as an invitation
to participate in a Linux installation festival, hosting regular
OSPREX presentation events at various locations around
Atlanta could quickly expand the base of enlightened Linux
and OSS users throughout our region. (e.g., one hope is
that we can arrange 2 or 3 OSPREX events as lead up to
the May 17th Ubuntu/ALE Install Fest).

To reach the initial goal the OSPREX project might only
require the commitment of 2 or 3 motivated OSS evangelists,
but to be truly successful in providing broader public education
on the value and values of Open Source, I hope that many
more members of this group will want to contribute their time
and expertise.

With sincere appreciation for your attention,
Aaron Ruscetta
ALE Event Coordinator
arxaaron at gmail
404.315.0406

=====================
**NOTE that this meeting was moved from the Thursday,
April 24th date announced at this month’s ALE Central.

ALE Central Mtg. for Thurs., April 17, 2008

Filed at 11:24 am April 16, 2008 under by Ruscetta


Our feature presentation for the
Thursday, April 17, 2008, 7:30pm
ALE Central Meeting will be

Powerful Presentations

by Derek “Goozbach” Carter

Synopsis:
— A properly designed presentation can be extremely powerful.
From bedtime stories as children to computer slide shows at
work, we can all recall examples of presentations that were
effective, interesting , entertaining and educational

As common fare at conferences, user group meetings and public
events, presentations are also a big part of in the Open Source
movement. Involvement in this community gives us quite a
few opportunities to present on the advantages and use of Open
Source software for both our professional colleagues and the
general public.

This talk will examine how a proper presentation is more than a
concern for keeping the audience awake. We will cover every
consideration, from preparation to handouts, computer slide
shows to no slides at all, handling “that AL guy in the second row”
to “Wowing the room.” You might even learn what a “bathroom
review” is.

This presentation on presentation was designed to be effective,
interesting , entertaining and educational, so we’re promising
you won’t be disappointed!

Bio:
— Derek Carter (goozbach as his online friends know him) is active
participant in the Open Source community. Part-founder of two
Linux users groups. A former Linux instructor for Guru Labs (The
industry leader in hands-on Linux training). He has taught Linux
classes all over the United States, and the world for such companies
as Red Hat, IBM, Novell, HP, Lockheed Martin and others. Derek
has been actively using Linux as his primary OS since 1999. He’s a
certified RedHat instructor and examiner. He’s also a Star Wars
geek who has been known to dress up as obscure characters and
wait in line for the premiers.

====
Meeting time frame is 7:30pm to ~9:30pm in lecture room 1C
of the Emory Law School, Gambrell Hall building.
Directions to our Emory Law School venue can be found
HERE (or via the side bar link).

ALE NORTH EAST MEETING

for Thursday, April 3, 2008

Filed at 3:19 pm April 1, 2008 under by Ruscetta

The ALE North East meeting presentation
for Thursday, April 3rd will be
“Instant Supercomputer: Just add Linux!”
presented by
Vernard Martin

Synopsis:
As the popularity of computing clusters increase, so do the number of
clusters running Linux. Vernard will relate his experience with how
Linux fits in these environments.

Bio:
Vernard Martin is a founding member of ALE and a Senior Problem
Wrangler for the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University
where he runs their high performance computational environment. He has
been using Linux longer than any sane human being would care to admit.
He lives right outside Atlanta, GA with with his cat Lieutenant and of
course, his own baby cluster.

=======================================
The ALE North East meetings are held at 7:30pm on the First Thursday
of each month and are hosted at Georgia Gwinnett College, Building C,
room C-1260. Map links and directions to Georgia Gwinnett College location
are posted at the side bar link.