Hosting a Linux install Party

dbarron

I thought it might be somewhat fun to host a linux install party at the local library sometime during the summer.
An issue that plagues me though is the library's internet is too slow to do a netinstall (sadly true). Is there a way I could host a package store (or complete ISO or something) on perhaps my laptop that the clients could load/pull from. The goal being that I could get a few client pcs booting off a USB drive quickly, then move USB to next install.
Make sense? Any suggestions of how to accomplish this? I wouldn't necessarily have to be doing a Solus install if other distros would better adapt for this?
Maybe it's a silly idea...maybe no one will show up...who knows?

nova

Not sure how committed you are doing it at a library specifically, but you might have more luck organizing with a computer club on a campus (where the internet is much faster). Many engineering and computer science students are interested in running Linux, whereas at a library you might risk running into older folk who attend in hopes of a more basic computer literacy session versus a full-fledged OS-switch. At a university or community college you wouldn't have to deal with these problems and given that STEM students already come from a somewhat-technical background, you could move forward a lot easier. I would still recommend debian-based distros to beginners solely due to the plethora of documentation and troubleshooting available online.

dbarron

Well, one of the problems with that is...I'm a senior (more or less). I think I would feel more awkward in a college/university surrounding, as well as expect there to be less technical need there.
I write, so I have a personal relationship (you might say) with our local library. I wouldn't say I have to do it there, but just thought of somewhere I could have a function without requiring funds deposited or anything.
But you do raise a good point (as to where)..I could still advertise it through the local library and have the function elsewhere. That would certainly make it simpler, if I could get permission to do so at a local college campus.

nova

dbarron If that's the case then perhaps a library would be simpler. I can't vouch for your location but I do know that where I live personally our libraries typically only offer computer literacy courses to retired seniors, nothing more advanced. Although to be fair I do live in a sparsely populated area

brent

dbarron I think what you propose is noble and brave. I believe there is a demographic willing to make a break from WIN/MAC to opensource/unix. I was one of them over 2 years ago. There's people who made this break 30 years ago. To have them all together would be an experience. Hopefully you will find support in your community. You already had a target audience in mind before the college suggestion. Stay true to it. Or cast a wider net. I find a coffee shop nauseatingly cliched and pretentious but maybe better for your bandwidth. If you are a writer and you know your community, then you certainly know how to put your feelers out.
That said, Justin's possible snapshot mass install would be incredible "happening" in the hippie sense of happening.
The big ideas from everyone regarding this are inspiring.

Justin

Solus doesn't do a netinstall. All packages required to install the OS are on the ISO. You only need internet for updates post-install or software installation.

If organised well enough in advance it may be possible for us to provide a snapshot ISO with current stable to you so when they install they have the current packages.

WetGeek

Justin it may be possible for us to provide a snapshot ISO with current stable

That would be an outstanding idea. And 4GB USB2 drives are dirt cheap these days. (Amazon: $25USD for a 10-pack.) I'd suggest going there with a box of 10, and if you have more than 10 students, while the first group is installing, just talk about Solus for a while, then start the next group installing.

If cost is an object, charge 'em $2.50 each to cover the cost of the drives, which they can take with them.

dbarron

Well so far (thought process wise), I don't see having physical media sufficient to the task very realistic. The best thought there is advise everyone to buy their own USB drive, bring it and I install the installer ISO onto it. I don't want to upfront USB drives (I'm retired, fixed income) or even DVDS (esp since not everyone may have those anymore). That's why a network approach seemed to make sense to me. Also the uncertainty of how many attendees.
If everyone had a newer machine with USB 3, it might be fast enough to not be a problem to rotate/share USBs..but that's unlikely.
Yeah, I knew I had never seen a netinstall for Solus.
Ok, ideas folks? Just so you know, I had followed up and initiated contact with a local college, but being as it was late Friday afternoon, no response yet.

Justin

@dbarron If you can bring several laptops. Then you can write 2-3 USB drives at a time on each using dd.

dbarron

Well, I have only one laptop...not sure how many people usually have working duplicates 🙂

Justin

I have 4, but 2 I got for free, one was $300AUD and the other one my main laptop is about 5 years old (but still working well). I also have a work laptop that my work wouldn't mind me using for such an event. Dig around on eBay (especially if you're in the USA) there are loads of cheap laptops. Alternatively, you could see if there's another person around that already has Linux on their laptop that could bring theirs and help make USB drives.

dbarron

Ok, I have made progress (maybe), the library has informed me that they have recently upgraded their entire wireless system and things are much better.
I have composed a two-page flyer, with front being the 'catch eye' and second page with real info on it. I would put these in local schools but my time frame is May 25, when schools will be on break here. I will put in the library, perhaps the youth center, possibly some churches. Other ideas welcome? I don't want to spend money on this, so I don't want to go commercial on it, beyond printing a small number of flyers. I will setup a local event on Facebook when I have all the details worked out.
I've also used virtual box to install some candidate ISOs, and learned that strangely I had to have the largest virtual hd on Solus Mate. I had to wheel and deal some packages out to get the first upgrade to work, then reinstall (due to cache size) even after increasing the virtual HD size a bit. So, it's been a learning experience.
I'm going to ask people to register with me via email, so that I can know what I'm dealing with and so that I can tell them what I expect them to bring (DVD or USB drive).
Now, all that, I wonder how many people show up for this...or if I'm spinning wheels for nothing. (I'm hopeful and it probably depends on my advertising).

I would love to share my documents for feedback, here is a link for a google-drive shared folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/159lcQdDNzoDxo8rsAjMGQD1OT93KfZr3?usp=sharing

brent

I would definitely introduce FOSS and it's philosophy into your text; as compared to closed architecture systems (the other 2) and what it means. Maybe re-word it or change it in first 'graf to reflect this.

Sell the security (you kind of do)--Wall St. depends on linux as does parts of the W.H/Fedgov.

One sentence somewhere for provenance reasons?: Tovalds/alternate OS/Richard as origin?

Sell near end the FREE part: no more buying word processing suites, graphics programs, etc etc.

I like the questions prefacing the sections. And the anecdotes. Bullet point or indent them then start answers under them (optics).

Maybe a simple positive computer graphic at top/

Two cents if it's worth anything. I'm trying to approach this flyer like someone curious about changing and excited about opportunity. The problem with anything like this is anticipating a specific demographic to write to--I don't even know what it is.

But rock on. It's a good thing you are doing for the community.
edit: another idea: maybe one sentence inviting linux-experienced users to be part of this, too.

WillHole

Thanks for sharing that's very good actually