tlug: Net Day

[joem <joem@example.com>]

Smack wrote:
>> TLUG are happy to help setting up Linux Server in Kanto Area.
>> We are non-profitable organization. So we do this set-up without
>> charge. Note you need personal computer and nearly 40000 yen to
>> keep permanent connection.

Scott wrote:
> Well, this being Japan and all, if we sysadminned for free it might
> lessen our value in the eyes of other prospective clients/employers.
> I'm a darn good sysadmin, and my time is worth good money, and I intend
> to make people realize that :)  I have a propensity towards poor people
> skills, so I have to dazzle people with my ability rather than my smooth
> talking in order to earn my dinner (ie, I have to be more like Reagan,
> who did a dang good job of keeping us from being nuked by the soviets,
> and less like Bill Clinton, who likes to go around screwing every a** in
> DC and taking credit for the reforms passed by the republican congress)
> :)
> Which isn't to say I wouldn't like to also be benevolent and work for
> real cheap to set up or even maintain one or two servers for a school,
> because that looks good and it makes people like you because you're a
> nice guy, but at the same time they don't think you're a bum who wants
> to just mess with their systems.  If you charge SOME $, they think
> you're more of a legitimate sysadmin and not just some guy who likes to
> push buttons and drink lots of caffeine.

I'm not sure if I agree entirely with this ... While it's a "good" thing
to both make money personally and to get funds for our group, I think
Smack was thinking more in terms of community service for groups that
don't have a lot of money to spend.  Many professionals donate time and
resources to good causes, without lessening their appeal to their
employers or customers.  TLUG itself is a group of professionals donating
time to a project which will bring no monetary reward. 

Steve said he thought that maintenance was the big issue here, not setup,
and I agree.  If we were to donate time to set up a server at a school, we
have to be prepared for long-term support.  If we were to do this, we
should start off with one school first and see what the long term demands
become.  
  

Joe Marchak
joem@example.com


---------------------------------------------------------------
Next TLUG Meeting: 11 April Sat, Tokyo Station Yaesu gate 12:30
Featuring Tague Griffith of Netscape i18n talking on source code
---------------------------------------------------------------
a word from the sponsor:
TWICS - Japan's First Public-Access Internet System
www.twics.com  info@example.com  Tel:03-3351-5977  Fax:03-3353-6096