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Transcoding/Ripping Cluster using KIWI-LTSP

June 11th, 2009 by

We had a bit of High Performance Cluster (HPC) setup already to do distributed build using Icecream on KIWI-LTSP, now Mathis has written a “howto” use KIWI-LTSP for clustered ripping and transcoding, another kind of HPC use of LTSP network. Ready to run LTSP server is integrated in openSUSE-Edu Li-f-e DVD making it very easy to do such setups.

“Since the transcoding process can take a long time, the work can be split into several fragments which then can be processed by other machines on a network. The best way to accomplish this is to set up a server which controls the transcoding process, from which the (diskless) clients can boot.”

So why openSUSE KIWI-LTSP for this job? This is what Mathis had to say: “well, I just needed some OS to boot from the network, luckily it was LTSP,  so I saved some time gathering parts for an OS since openSUSE also provides the dvd::rip and transcode packages and KIWI-LTSP automatically resolves the dependencies, this is an extra point for it…”

It could  serve digital  studios as well or convert your DVD collection to use on home media center PC very quickly 😉

Posted in Documentation, Education, Server, Wiki | Comments Off on Transcoding/Ripping Cluster using KIWI-LTSP

openSUSE-EDU

June 9th, 2009 by

Almost three years ago now I was given the privilege of creating a sub project of the openSUSE linux project. That project is known as “openSUSE-EDU” aka opensuse-education. The idea I had was to gather open source software that was specific to education environments and use the many talents of the openSUSE community and it’s full time staff to optimize the software for openSUSE.  My first Teammate and mentor into the world of Linux Projects was,  Lars Vodgt.  Lars is one of the original SuSE linux team and a co-founder of the “openshoolserver” a project that spun off from SuSE just before the Novell buy out , and is today a very useful and powerful tool for educators in Europe.  He is wonderful leader, teacher and guide.  He seems to handle almost every detail of the project like it is just a minor addition to his daily work, although we all know that the list of software titles and daily updates are far from trivial.

My first concern was  in the area of LTSP and the desktop applications that would be used with it, many schools in the US were already utilizing the efforts of ” K12LTSP”, a specialized version of LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project), to reduce the cost of classroom computing. I wanted a SuSE linux version of LTSP because I dreamed of having a ubiquitous login process to my Novell network and SuSE \ openSUSE were the only Linux distributions ever to carry the Novell Client for Linx.  Somehow, somewhere, someone brought “Cyberorg” aka Jigish Gohil to the project. Cyberorg has taken us from my simple directions to install ltsp 4.2 as an add on, to having completely integrated, award winning  packages that include the GSOC work “easy-ltsp” ( http://en.opensuse.org/LTSP) .  Cyberog is now a leader in LTSP innovation and openSUSE’s Kiwi operating system image creation utility, with which he has created several ground breaking Live disks for educators (http://en.opensuse.org/Education/live)

My second concern, and where I spend most of my time, lay in the administrative tools available to schools that could drastically reduce licensing overhead.  With the help of  Lars’s and others, the repository now includes several administrative and curriculum enhancing titles  such as Moodle, ClaSS, openBiblio, Koha and openSIS.  openSIS is personal to me as I have been working the idea of a free and open sourced student information system \ Academic ERP (http://en.opensuse.org/Education_ERP) since the very beginning, and I am it’s  Project Manager. With these tools it is my hope that we can build a service community that will help educators everywhere build and utilize a modern WEB 2.0 site that not only enhances school management but engages the student bodies to their full potential with communication and collaboration tools native to their technology experience.

Over the last 3 years, much has been accomplished by the many contributors to openSUSE-edu, this year seems to be highlighted by new members who are bringing us the most complete Sugar desktop outside the OLPC project (http://en.opensuse.org/Sugar). The Sugar desktop for those who don’t know is an invaluable resource to elementary school computer integration programs, it uses iconic metaphors to simplify navigation while providing a multitude of  challenging and useful programs.

I hope that you will join and contribute with us towards these goals by visiting http://en.opensuse.org/Education and subscribing to our mailing list at http://en.opensuse.org/Education/Communicating#Mailing_Lists

Posted in Documentation, Education | 1 Comment »

Write Your Own Novelties

June 1st, 2009 by

Some people has the talent to write good stories. Probably most uses only a paper and a pen for this task. However, if you are searching for a respective tool, I maybe have another solution: Storybook!

(more…)

Tags:
Posted in Documentation, Miscellaneous | 4 Comments »

Searching for Stories from the OpenSUSE Weekly News

May 21st, 2009 by

Hello Mates,

the OpenSUSE Weekly News is searching about Stories from Visitors of the Community Week, and Summits from the Teams.

Emails are welcome by: saigkill@opensuse.org

Tags: , ,
Posted in Documentation, Events, lizards.openSUSE.org, Marketing | 2 Comments »

openSUSE-GNOME BugDay Weekend Wrapup

May 18th, 2009 by

As posted to the openSUSE-GNOME Mailing List.

Greetings!

Thanks to all who showed up to help on the bug day on
Friday, your efforts are greatly appreciated.

We started with just over 70 bugs and left the *obby
session available over the weekend.  By the end of the
weekend, we had reviewed 14 bugs (9 of which we closed).

These were all Critical and Major bugs listed for openSUSE
11.1.

I will be closing the *obby session this afternoon at about
1700 CDT.

Thanks again!
—
Christopher M. Hobbs [chobbs@siloamsprings.com]
Network Administrator, City of Siloam Springs

Posted in Desktop, Documentation, GNOME, Quality Assurance, Usability | Comments Off on openSUSE-GNOME BugDay Weekend Wrapup

Combine osc with git

April 15th, 2009 by

Yesterday Jan-Simon (dl9pf) tells me about an great Program calls “git”. Git is an Version-Administration Program. Anything knows the Problem. We working on an Project into our osc, and 2 Weeks later, we don’t know, what the last changes was. On this place can git help.Now following a short Introducting:

First of all we need an .git Folder. In my case i have all Projects in ~/osc/- As example i’m going to my foo.

$ ~/osc> cd foo
$ ~/osc/foo> git init
Then git says:
Initialized empty Git repository in /home/sascha/osc/foo/.git/

$~/osc/foo> echo 123 > datei1

$~/osc/foo> git add datei1
This adds datei1 to your .git folder. If you use git add * you can add more than one File.

$~/osc/foo> git commit -m”Initial Version” (Or what you want)
git says:
Created initial commit a7458cf: Test
1 files changed, 1 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
create mode 100644 datei1

$~/osc/foo> echo 456 > datei2
$~/osc/foo> git commit -m”Change 1″
git says:
Created commit d1ef978: Change 1
1 files changed, 1 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
create mode 100644 datei2
$~/osc/foo> gitk (this is an GUI)

That looks:

gitk

There you can find all Changes since “Intial Version”.  Git can also manage branches and can merge it perfectly. So i think that git is very good Tool. And an good completion. With an wrapper file it is also possible to add or remove files in osc and git. Very nice -)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Build Service, Documentation, lizards.openSUSE.org, Packaging | 2 Comments »

Problem with an selfmade DVD (DVD RECORDER)

April 12th, 2009 by

Symptom:

Since a few days i had an Problem with playing selfmade DVDs. CDs (Audio and *.avi) can be playes. Original DVD’s too. But i have made DVDs with an DVD RECORDER (for TV). Then i burn 2 Movies on the DVD and the Recorder makes an own Menu for the Movies. But if i insert the DVD to the DVD Player, the Device Monitor sayd me, the only three Alternatives are: open in Dolphin, open with Digikam and do nothing. If i choosed Dolphin, dolphin startsand then i see in the bottom an Red Line with the Error “No Access”.

First tries:

I listed the Directory:
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root   root          3 10. Apr 15:24 cdrom -> sr0
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root   root          3 10. Apr 11:45 cdrw -> sr1
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root   root          3 10. Apr 11:45 dvd -> sr0
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root   root          3 10. Apr 11:45 fb -> fb0
brw-rw—-+  1 root   cdrom         11,   0 10. Apr 11:45 sr0
brw-rw—-+  1 root   cdrom   11,   1 10. Apr 11:45 sr1
lrwxrwxrwx   1 root   root          3 10. Apr 11:45 scd0 -> sr0

lrwxrwxrwx   1 root   root          3 10. Apr 11:45 scd1 -> sr
My User is in the Group “cdrom”.

Then  i’ve checked /etc/udev/rules.d 99-my.rules:
There i found: KERNEL==”[sr*[0-9]”,GROUP=”cdrom”,MODE=”0660″

getfacl /dev/sr0 says:

getfacl: Removing leading ‘/’ from absolute path names
# file: dev/sr0

# owner: root

# group: cdrom user::rw-
user:sascha:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::—
For sr1 its the same output.

Then i go to  /usr/share/PolicyKit/policy/org.freedesktop.hal.device-access.policy and set the following:
— org.freedesktop.hal.device-access.policy.orig   2008-12-23
23:34:16.241840351 +0100
+++ org.freedesktop.hal.device-access.policy        2008-12-23
23:34:45.375339211 +0100
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@
<description>Directly access removable block
devices</description> <message>System policy prevents access to
removable block devices</message>
<defaults>
–      <allow_inactive>no</allow_inactive>
–      <allow_active>no</allow_active>
+      <allow_inactive>yes</allow_inactive>
+      <allow_active>yes</allow_active>
</defaults>
</action>

Then i made an reboot, but nothing happens. The same Error is
present.

Today i found out, that all non accessable DVD have the following
Rights:
dr–r–r–  3 sascha 4294967295   88 15. Okt 2006  DVD_VIDEO_RECORDER/
^^^^^^^^^^^^

Strange permissions.

SOLUTION:

Then i created an File in /usr/share/kde4/apps/solid/action with the following:

[Desktop Entry]
X-KDE-Solid-Predicate=[ StorageVolume.ignored == false AND OpticalDisc.availableContent == ‘Data|VideoDvd’ ]
Type=Service
Actions=open;

[Desktop Action open]
Name=Play DVD with video player (Kaffeine)
Exec=kaffeine -d %d DVD
Icon=kaffeine

After an relogin, the new Alternative are present. I can go to open with Kaffeine, and than we have finished this task.

BTW: Please check if KDE3/Kaffeine is installed. Without them the Workaround will not work.

Special Thanks goes to: slowhand/medwin

Tags: ,
Posted in Documentation, KDE, lizards.openSUSE.org, Usability | Comments Off on Problem with an selfmade DVD (DVD RECORDER)

Trying to bring Russian community together

March 6th, 2009 by

Tomorrow(07.03.09) we have scheduled meeting of Russian community.

Meeting will take place at 19:00 (GMT+3 (MSK)) on
#opensuse.ru channel (Freenode)

We are going to:

*Discuss some terms. And choose which translation of which term are more appropriate for translation.

*Fill up the glossary.

*Cleanup ru.opensuse.org wiki .

*Choose candidates for “Spokesperson program” from Russia.

*Discuss what’s wrong with wiki. Why peoples creating another suse portals. (like open-suse.ru, suseclub.ru,suseclub2.ru)

*Discuss what we can do to involve more users in community life.

I’m glad to see all interested Russian users on #opensuse.ru channel tomorrow.

Posted in Documentation, Localization, Wiki | Comments Off on Trying to bring Russian community together

Reading EBooks With Calibre

March 1st, 2009 by

Back in the (should I say: old?) days books were created from dead trees. Now, with the raise of different reading devices, we can read them digitally. Thanks to Kovid Goyal we can enjoy ebooks with the Calibre reader also on your ordinary PC or laptop.

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Documentation | 10 Comments »

Product Creation with the openSUSE Build Service

February 11th, 2009 by

Product

First of all, what is a “Product”? The openSUSE Wiki has the following statement on the Product Definition Article:

“A product is a defined set of packages plus extra information”

In the most simple interpretation this means a set of RPM files plus a set of metadata which contains the installation kernel, information about the installation work flow, hardware detection, languages, licenses, slide shows and the like.

Thus the most simple product imaginable is a basic set of RPM files for the system to be installed and a minimum set of metadata: an installation system consisting of kernel, initrd and the packages necessary for installation.

(more…)

Posted in Build Service, Distribution, Documentation, Software Management, Systems Management | Comments Off on Product Creation with the openSUSE Build Service

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