Common use machines: upgraded and ongoing usage

[David Tangye]

I have upgraded the software packages on the 3 PCs out the back: dugong the reprap PC, the gcts-genuse1 PC, and this gcts-HP-d530-USDT-DM536P PC. I also removed all old kernels etc on all these machines, including 'low-latency' ones on one machine. (Does anyone remember why they were there?)

1. If any software fails to now run, its because you have not installed it in a robust fashion. Let me know asap and I will go though what it is, and get it sorted so the oddball software has a better chance of withstanding std upgrades on that machine in future. I seem to remember that the reprap PC had issues with something last time I did this. Steve: do you remember what the software in question was? I know I resolved something. I just cannot remember if I made it a temporary fix or fixed the issue for all time.
2. In similar vein: latest tars of Arduino and slic3r software can be installed in tandem with the older stuff from the repos. the objective of installing from teh repos first is to get dependencies, hopefully versions of them that still are adequate for when you install later versions of the Arduino and slic3r software from tarballs etc. If these tarballs etc are installed into /opt/[sw name]/[sw version name] and .desktop and/or a /usr/bin/[executable file or symbolic link] is correctly defined, the software should work in future, irrespective of upgrades and any addition of other user accounts on that machine. This is now correctly documented for the Arduino IDE on the Arduino Project wiki page, section "Installing the Arduino IDE".
3. I think I should change dugong to a more memorable name. How about gcts-reprap1. And how about a better name for this this gcts-HP-d530-USDT-DM536P PC? Steve: what use is it generally intended for? 
4. I think I should also change account 'gctechspace' on gcts-genuse1 & 'reprap' on dugong - both standardised to 'gcts'. This makes it easier to login in locally, and also to ssh, between machines. Right now arbitrary names are a pain to remember. I will not do this until after Sunday though, as there are some issues re how ubuntu account security profiles work that I need to research first - its not as simple as making a few changes in /etc/password etc and /home etc as it used to be for about 25 years :-/.
5. Tonight we also briefly discussed reviewing where common stuff should reside. This is documented at http://gctechspace.org/doku.php?id=where_to_find_stuff. It might need review and refinement, especially in the light of more folk -
1. creating Arduino sketches, openscad and stls etc on various machines, and 
2. needing a place to read and update common info, eg about the machines and their configurations mentioned here, and
3. perhaps also with folk using their Pis etc as X servers, running apps on 'apps servers', eg the reprap machine to serve as a common '3D print server'.

Food for thought. Comments and suggestions needed?

Sorry if you get this twice. We almost just need a discussion group/email list for 'gcts-active-sig-members'. Its a bit tricky working out how to broadcast to the optimum width of ppl.