Linux Working Group - Meeting Minutes 2008/06/02

Attendance

• Mike Patterson, Mike Gore, Walter Tautz, Lawrence Folland, Phil Beldowski, Dave Gawley

Agenda items

• The Wiki topics on Ubuntu/Linux should be organized a bit better and some pruning should be done
• how about we create an IRC server to allow for realtime discussion not just respect to Linux but other topics within CSCF

-- WalterTautz - 06 Mar 2008

• torres.cscf runs an IRC server I use to talk to various IST people, and also some grad students. I can document how to connect to it and which channels to use (and which should be avoided, as the server is used by other parties) if need be.

-- MikePatterson

• 2008/04/08 (lfolland) I see there is some work going on relating to AD and Linux in ADAddUbuntu - I'd like to hear more about the status of this
• 2008/04/08 (lfolland) I've been working with our co-op student to start a standardized list of software/features that should be operational in each of our OS environments, eg: LinuxTestSuite

• 2008/05/22: MP: PAM account login lockouts?

Discussion

• Hosting Meeting - Lawrence

• Membership
  • meeting attendees
  • Daniel, Fraser, Guoxiang?

• Meetings
  • should meet regularly
  • Dave suggests at least after each Ubuntu release
  • LF/MP suggest termly

• Current image
  • standard grad PC image right now - Ubuntu 7.10
  • Aiming for 8.04 for Fall Grad PC images
  • Teaching workstations
  • currently have both Ubuntu and Kubuntu on our GradPCs
    • MP feels that makes sense to keep

• Classes of linux machines we manage:
  • GradPCs (~300)
  • "core" Front-Ends (2)
  • core mail/web/db (currently Solaris) (2/2/2)
  • Teaching Front-Ends (6)
  • Teaching mail/web/db (1/1/2)
  • Teaching CPUs (3)
  • Teaching workstations (Graphics and Nortel labs) (50-60)
  • Other: VMhosts (202-206) - experimental, xhier-independant
    • 2-factor authentication

• Current release levels
  • GradPCs -> 8.04 Fall
  • Dave is working with the CSI to get AD authentication on all Teaching machines for the Fall
    • MP is concerned about 8-character password restrictions
    • Authentication issues should be tabled until Clayton is involved
    • LF suggests a meeting (soon) to discuss authentication issues - including Clayton and Adrian

• MP: password lockouts after 5 failures
  • would like to have added to current image, with possibly 5-minute lockout

• Wiki space
  • Walter notes that the Twiki space is messy * Obsolete sub-items
  • agreed that Linux Working Group be responsible for the Linux Twiki Space

• Image Test Suite
  • LF would like a list of features and software that is standardized and testable
    • can include configuration options (eg: 5-minute lockout)
  • need to be able to test on new images and new hardware
  • See: https://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/twiki/view/CF/LinuxTestSuite

• New hardware for Fall?
  • likely - therefore will need to test new image on new hardware
  • dual-core vs quad-core - memory starvation, esp. Intel

• Action items
  • Dave/LF/MP: update mailing list and membership list - use mailman list: cs-lwg
  • Dave/LF to setup Authentication meeting
  • MP/Clayton to determine how to do the password lockout
  • Phil/Clayton - implement the lockout - modify PAM settings
  • Walter/LF to review Linux Twiki setup
  • Phil/Dave to review Test Suite
  • MG/Phil/Dave - review PC hardware for Fall
  • LF will book next meeting time/location

• Next meeting date:
  • seems to be interest in meeting again this summer - July/August - lots of items
  • preferred meeting room - should have projector, white board, eg: DC3323