[UCIMC-Tech] does Makerspace have a spare PC (even if stripped-of-RAM+disk) for WRFU streaming?

Tue Dec 15 12:00:55 EST 2015

There are, in principle, no shortage of server-class machines to use for
this.  Glad to hear there might be rack space/cooling capacity left in a
server room.

John Koontz once stated at a IMC Tech Working Group/Chambana.net workshop
(2012) that he has a garage full of
"lightly used" rack-mountable server-class machines.  They might be
pre-loaded with a Scientific Linux flavor of some sort.

Cheers,

-Stewart

On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 2:48 PM, Stuart Levy <stuartnlevy at gmail.com> wrote:

> This is a good point - though I think that it comes out to be mainly a
> point about getting into streaming altogether, rather than about choosing
> local vs. cloud service for a piece of the streaming setup.   To do
> streaming at all, we *have* to have one local computer involved in the
> process - we can't stream if that goes down, or loses its internet
> connection, or if its audio capture path flakes out, etc.   So I see the
> key choice not as between needing local support vs paying for someone
> else's reliable service, but between requiring local support for one
> computer vs. two of them - or else not taking on streaming.
>
> Assuming we do go with our own server, I'm assuming I would be (the first
> person to be) in charge of administering it.
>
> But yes, it would in any case be crucial to have multiple people who know
> how to administer whatever streaming tech we use!
>
> On 12/14/15 1:40 PM, Emily Knox wrote:
>
> Although I'm sure we have PCs that could be used for this purpose I'm not
> sure that this is the best way to go.  Who will be in charge of
> administration of the server?  Is there a transition plan in place for when
> that person moves on for whatever reason?
>
> We are currently having this problem with chambana.net.  I realize that
> it often seems more cost effective in the beginning to use home grown
> solutions but in the end they often end up costing more (or dying) because
> no one is willing to take on the work for free.
>
> Just my two cents.
>
> Emily
>
> On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 1:27 PM, UCIMC Operations Director <
> <ucimcoperationsdirector at gmail.com>ucimcoperationsdirector at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi, Stuart,
>>
>> I ditto Gergana and Jay.  Also, I can show you where the office has a
>> couple of donated units and there is an Apple unit under the far side desk
>> of the Public i office/groups room next to the office.
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> Sophia Lewis
>> Interim Operations Director
>> UCIMC * 202 S. Broadway Ave. #100, Urbana, IL 61801
>> 217-344-8820 * www.ucimc.org
>>
>> UCIMC = media + art + technology for community empowerment and social
>> change.
>> We are powered by hundreds of volunteers and small donations.
>> Become a member <http://www.ucimc.org/content/membership> or make a
>> donation today <http://www.ucimc.org/content/donate>. View all our
>> programs <http://www.ucimc.org/content/ucimc-projects>.
>>
>> On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 12:37 PM, Jay Schubert < <jay.schubert at gmail.com>
>> jay.schubert at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm pretty sure there are still 10-15 donated machines in the janitor's
>>> closet opposite BTP which the board decided should be for IMC projects as
>>> first priority.  They're core 2 duos and there are also stacks of hdd's and
>>> most of the machines have ram.  I think the ones with red dots all post.
>>> There are also lcd monitors down there.
>>>
>>> - Jay
>>>
>>> On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 12:31 PM, Stuart Levy <stuartnlevy at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey all,
>>>>
>>>> I'm not sure how best to ask something of the Makerspace in general -
>>>> hope you don't mind it going to you.
>>>>
>>>> Question: does Makerspace, or the IMC in general, have a spare PC in
>>>> good condition - *even a stripped one,* lacking disk or RAM - which
>>>> could become WRFU's dedicated internet streaming server?    If so, could
>>>> I have it?    I'd like to populate it with any needed hardware and set
>>>> it up somewhere.
>>>>
>>>> Details:
>>>>
>>>> WRFU still aims to start internet streaming, hopefully close to the turn
>>>> of the year.   Don McClure and I were talking about this last night.
>>>>
>>>> Chris Ritzo had set up a demonstration server using AirTime
>>>> software+service, during the October anniversary gathering.   It worked
>>>> well, but depended on using AirTime's cloud servers -- which meant we
>>>> got support (good) but have limited & expensive storage for archiving
>>>> programming (not so good).   The service also costs about $500/year for
>>>> a reasonable number of streams (not great either).
>>>>
>>>> It's supposedly also possible to install the same AirTime software onto
>>>> a *local* computer, let it be the streaming source, and archive programs
>>>> onto its filesystems.   Then we could archive lots of programs, and
>>>> wouldn't need to pay AirTime's cloud charges, at the cost of having to
>>>> maintain and back up the machine ourselves.    I think that's the best
>>>> way to go.
>>>>
>>>> Am hoping there's a donated shell-of-a-PC which could serve.   AirTime
>>>> is supported under Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, so I'd probably install that.   I
>>>> would go and buy any needed hardware to make it functional.
>>>>
>>>> We'd need to find a good place for it where it'd (a) have a good
>>>> internet connection, (b) be reasonably accessible but (c) be fairly
>>>> protected from temperature extremes, being tripped over, etc.
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> IMC-Tech mailing list
>>>> IMC-Tech at lists.chambana.net
>>>> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/imc-tech
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> - Jay
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
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