BELUG meeting Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 at 6:30pm
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Steve Herber
Jun 9, 2025, 8:37:32 PMJun 9
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BELUG: Supporting Linux and open source for 21 years.
The next BELUG meeting is Tuesday, June 10th at 6:30pm.
The Zoom link, with password, is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/131116407?pwd=OFkwZzZWMVhDdlhMTU91K2lOVkQvZz09
Meeting ID: 131 116 407
Passcode: 117647
The in-person location is at the North Bellevue Community Center:
North Bellevue Community Center
4063 148th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA. 98007
Please come early to help set up the room.
The meeting will follow a new format:
introductions all around
collecting technical questions to answer later
a review of the previous meeting topics
discussion future meetings with a focus on digital photography tools
our best answers to your technical questions.
In May Kevin lead the discussion. Thank you Kevin.
The AI generated transcript from the meeting is below.
We cover a wide range of topics for new and old linux users.
I hope you can attend our next meeting.
Thank you,
Steve Herber her...@herber.us cell: 425-281-0355
Software Engineer, UW Medicine, IT Services
Meeting summary for BELUG (05/13/2025)
Quick recap
Kevin discussed his current offsite backup strategy and his consideration
of switching to gocrypt Fs combined with rsnapshot for easier recovery and
better encryption. The group also discussed various Linux distributions
and their experiences with them, with Kevin sharing his work with a
German Linux company and his experience with Zoom. Lastly, the group
discussed various Internet service providers and their experiences,
with a brief mention of the upcoming Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (SeaGL).
Next steps
??? Kevin to get Jorge in touch with Steve regarding the fix-it event.
??? Jorge to provide details about the fix-it event date once confirmed.
??? Bill to research Linux distributions suitable for old netbooks.
??? Kevin to try Master PDF as an alternative to Adobe Reader for IRS documents.
??? Jorge to share information about cellmapper.net for finding cell sites.
??? Bob to look for a new email provider.
??? Kevin to follow up on his custom backup solution and share results with the group.
Summary
Backup Strategy and Recovery Discussion
Kevin discusses his current offsite backup strategy, which he finds slow
and difficult to recover from. He is considering switching to gocrypt Fs
combined with rsnapshot for easier recovery and better encryption. Bill
mentions he's also having backup issues. They briefly discuss rsnapshot
as a simple backup solution, with Kevin noting its hooks for handling
SQL dumps, though he admits to not properly backing up his databases. The
conversation ends with Kevin asking Jerry if he has anything to discuss.
Linux Distribution Challenges and Solutions
Kevin discussed the challenges of finding a suitable Linux distribution
for his netbook, as Debian no longer supports it. Bill suggested that
there are still options available, but they may be harder to find. Jorge,
a Linux veteran, shared his interest in joining Linux groups and his
plans to organize a Fixit event with his Rotary Club, where they plan to
refurbish older computers by installing Linux. Kevin offered to connect
Jorge with their group leader, Steve, for further assistance. Archit,
a software nerd, introduced himself as a long-time Linux user and was
guided by Kevin to the correct room at the Bellevue Community Center.
Compromised Computer and New Condo
Kevin discussed his recent experience with a compromised computer,
which led to the cancellation of his bank accounts and credit cards. He
mentioned that he had to pay around $300 to rectify the situation. Kevin
also talked about his new house, which is a condominium on one floor,
and the challenges of moving his server and other equipment. He mentioned
that he needs Steve's help to tweak a few things on the server. Kevin
also shared that he had to replace his previous Prius, which he was
not happy about. Jorge introduced himself as a new member from the West
Seattle Linux Users Group.
Kevin's Linux Work and Device Plans
Kevin discussed his work with a German Linux company and his experience
with Zoom. He also shared his work on IoT devices and his involvement
in writing the IPv6 stack for tiny devices. Kevin mentioned his plans
to replace his old machines with new ones and his preference for Linux
over Windows. He also discussed his experience with a Pixelbook laptop
and his interest in Framework laptops due to their replaceable batteries
and upgradable parts.
Linux Distributions and User Experiences
The group discusses various Linux distributions and their experiences
with them. Jorge mentions using Linux Mint 22.1, while Kevin uses a
distribution called Univention Corporate Server for his home system. Kevin
also mentions experimenting with Gentoo 2. The conversation touches on
the activity of the West Seattle Linux Group, with some uncertainty
about its current status. Kevin asks if anyone has tried new Linux
distributions recently, but no one reports trying anything very new.
Linux Distributions and Home Network Setup
Kevin discusses his experience with various Linux distributions and
operating systems, including Alpine, Pop OS, and Ubuntu with KDE. He
mentions using Alpine in Docker containers and considering it for his
server due to its small size and potential security benefits. Kevin
also talks about his home network setup, including naming devices after
Starcraft characters and using VLANs for security. The conversation
touches on smart home appliances, reverse proxies, and HTTPS setup,
with Kevin describing his complex Caddy configuration for automatic
TLS. Finally, Kevin shares his approach to running server applications
on his desktop computer, which has powerful GPUs for local AI processing.
ISP Comparison and Recommendations
The group discusses various Internet service providers and their
experiences. Kevin inquires about Verizon and T-Mobile's home Internet
services, while Jorge shares his positive experience with 5G service. They
compare prices and speeds of different providers, including Comcast,
Ziply Fiber, and others. The conversation then shifts to cell tower
locations and signal strength, with Jorge recommending cellmapper.net
for finding cell sites. Bill mentions his unique situation in a closed
community with limited Internet options. The discussion concludes with
recommendations for email providers, with Fast Mail and ProtonMail being
suggested for their security features.
Northwest Linux Fest and Security Concerns
Kevin shares his experience attending the Northwest Linux Fest,
highlighting talks by Mad Dog and a Microsoft representative. He discusses
security concerns in Linux development, including repository poisoning
and the potential risks of remote workers from North Korea. The group also
touches on the upcoming Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (SeaGL) scheduled for
November 8th and 9th. Jorge mentions that Mad Dog has been presenting at
Northwest Linux Fest since around 2000, and the group expresses interest
in attending future events.
The next BELUG meeting is Tuesday, June 10th at 6:30pm.
The Zoom link, with password, is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/131116407?pwd=OFkwZzZWMVhDdlhMTU91K2lOVkQvZz09
Meeting ID: 131 116 407
Passcode: 117647
The in-person location is at the North Bellevue Community Center:
North Bellevue Community Center
4063 148th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA. 98007
Please come early to help set up the room.
The meeting will follow a new format:
introductions all around
collecting technical questions to answer later
a review of the previous meeting topics
discussion future meetings with a focus on digital photography tools
our best answers to your technical questions.
In May Kevin lead the discussion. Thank you Kevin.
The AI generated transcript from the meeting is below.
We cover a wide range of topics for new and old linux users.
I hope you can attend our next meeting.
Thank you,
Steve Herber her...@herber.us cell: 425-281-0355
Software Engineer, UW Medicine, IT Services
Meeting summary for BELUG (05/13/2025)
Quick recap
Kevin discussed his current offsite backup strategy and his consideration
of switching to gocrypt Fs combined with rsnapshot for easier recovery and
better encryption. The group also discussed various Linux distributions
and their experiences with them, with Kevin sharing his work with a
German Linux company and his experience with Zoom. Lastly, the group
discussed various Internet service providers and their experiences,
with a brief mention of the upcoming Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (SeaGL).
Next steps
??? Kevin to get Jorge in touch with Steve regarding the fix-it event.
??? Jorge to provide details about the fix-it event date once confirmed.
??? Bill to research Linux distributions suitable for old netbooks.
??? Kevin to try Master PDF as an alternative to Adobe Reader for IRS documents.
??? Jorge to share information about cellmapper.net for finding cell sites.
??? Bob to look for a new email provider.
??? Kevin to follow up on his custom backup solution and share results with the group.
Summary
Backup Strategy and Recovery Discussion
Kevin discusses his current offsite backup strategy, which he finds slow
and difficult to recover from. He is considering switching to gocrypt Fs
combined with rsnapshot for easier recovery and better encryption. Bill
mentions he's also having backup issues. They briefly discuss rsnapshot
as a simple backup solution, with Kevin noting its hooks for handling
SQL dumps, though he admits to not properly backing up his databases. The
conversation ends with Kevin asking Jerry if he has anything to discuss.
Linux Distribution Challenges and Solutions
Kevin discussed the challenges of finding a suitable Linux distribution
for his netbook, as Debian no longer supports it. Bill suggested that
there are still options available, but they may be harder to find. Jorge,
a Linux veteran, shared his interest in joining Linux groups and his
plans to organize a Fixit event with his Rotary Club, where they plan to
refurbish older computers by installing Linux. Kevin offered to connect
Jorge with their group leader, Steve, for further assistance. Archit,
a software nerd, introduced himself as a long-time Linux user and was
guided by Kevin to the correct room at the Bellevue Community Center.
Compromised Computer and New Condo
Kevin discussed his recent experience with a compromised computer,
which led to the cancellation of his bank accounts and credit cards. He
mentioned that he had to pay around $300 to rectify the situation. Kevin
also talked about his new house, which is a condominium on one floor,
and the challenges of moving his server and other equipment. He mentioned
that he needs Steve's help to tweak a few things on the server. Kevin
also shared that he had to replace his previous Prius, which he was
not happy about. Jorge introduced himself as a new member from the West
Seattle Linux Users Group.
Kevin's Linux Work and Device Plans
Kevin discussed his work with a German Linux company and his experience
with Zoom. He also shared his work on IoT devices and his involvement
in writing the IPv6 stack for tiny devices. Kevin mentioned his plans
to replace his old machines with new ones and his preference for Linux
over Windows. He also discussed his experience with a Pixelbook laptop
and his interest in Framework laptops due to their replaceable batteries
and upgradable parts.
Linux Distributions and User Experiences
The group discusses various Linux distributions and their experiences
with them. Jorge mentions using Linux Mint 22.1, while Kevin uses a
distribution called Univention Corporate Server for his home system. Kevin
also mentions experimenting with Gentoo 2. The conversation touches on
the activity of the West Seattle Linux Group, with some uncertainty
about its current status. Kevin asks if anyone has tried new Linux
distributions recently, but no one reports trying anything very new.
Linux Distributions and Home Network Setup
Kevin discusses his experience with various Linux distributions and
operating systems, including Alpine, Pop OS, and Ubuntu with KDE. He
mentions using Alpine in Docker containers and considering it for his
server due to its small size and potential security benefits. Kevin
also talks about his home network setup, including naming devices after
Starcraft characters and using VLANs for security. The conversation
touches on smart home appliances, reverse proxies, and HTTPS setup,
with Kevin describing his complex Caddy configuration for automatic
TLS. Finally, Kevin shares his approach to running server applications
on his desktop computer, which has powerful GPUs for local AI processing.
ISP Comparison and Recommendations
The group discusses various Internet service providers and their
experiences. Kevin inquires about Verizon and T-Mobile's home Internet
services, while Jorge shares his positive experience with 5G service. They
compare prices and speeds of different providers, including Comcast,
Ziply Fiber, and others. The conversation then shifts to cell tower
locations and signal strength, with Jorge recommending cellmapper.net
for finding cell sites. Bill mentions his unique situation in a closed
community with limited Internet options. The discussion concludes with
recommendations for email providers, with Fast Mail and ProtonMail being
suggested for their security features.
Northwest Linux Fest and Security Concerns
Kevin shares his experience attending the Northwest Linux Fest,
highlighting talks by Mad Dog and a Microsoft representative. He discusses
security concerns in Linux development, including repository poisoning
and the potential risks of remote workers from North Korea. The group also
touches on the upcoming Seattle GNU/Linux Conference (SeaGL) scheduled for
November 8th and 9th. Jorge mentions that Mad Dog has been presenting at
Northwest Linux Fest since around 2000, and the group expresses interest
in attending future events.
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