User:Bob

From Taclug

About Me

I'm Bob Holden and own EAWF (http://www.eawf.com), a Tacoma based business which specializes in supporting local Small Office/Home Office(SoHo) users with sales, support, and Internet based business solutions.

I've been in the Business Systems field since 1971, and have been instrumental in the growth and success of all sizes organizations from small offices and retailers, to large corporations and governmental agencies.

My Linux Experience

I'm running mostly RedHat and CentOS servers. While I am forced to work with windows workstation software tools for my business, I must say that Linux is being able to provide an adequate GUI solution for businesses, so much so that perhaps in a another year or so, we will see small and medium business owners look to Linux as a viable alternative to propreitary systems. I'm also enjoying playing with Knoppix and Puppy Linux as an extremely attractive solution for diskless workstations.

Recent news: FreeGeek Tacoma (http://freegeektacoma.org) is pretty much dead. In fact, if you look in the local Qwest Dex directory for Tacoma, you'll find us listed under "Animal Carcass Removal". QwestDex is so smart and caring that one of their idiots gave us a free listing and didn't tell us about it, and put it under a totally incorrect category. Now, the reality is that anyone who wants to revive FreeGeek Tacoma, is able to take all of the current assets of the organization and start off running with the organization. Want to run your own non-profit? This is your chance! Contact me!

What I'm Doing @ TacLUG

While I'm a functional Administrator for Linux Servers within my business, I'm:

• continually interested in learning more about Open Source Software solutions for business and the general public.
• I am also heading up the Category:Documentation project on this Wiki.

Hobbies and Interests

In addition to spending time with my wife, and communicating with my son who is a "bunny" at the Fab X10 plant of Intel in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, I also:

• Occasionally brew up a nice batch of Dark Ale and share it with friends.
• During the warm months I play music - keyboards, Guitar, Mountain Dulcimer, and Hammered Dulcimer.

Hobbies I've given up on for the time being are:

• Precious Metal Prospecting - Anyone want to buy a really nice backpack dredge?
• Magic - Prestidigitation and illusions.
• Flying R/C Planes - I have a really cool 5 channel high wing trainer(.40) with flaps, wheel brakes and all the fun stuff for sale. Contact me.
• Accordian - Again, for sale...tired of getting my gut pinched in the bellows. That hurts!!!

Why I'm Here

First, and foremost, I'm here to learn more about Linux, as well as to hear about new application uses and trends, and then to take the knowledge that I learn and apply it out in the real world to improve the profitability of my customers. My focus is primarily on servers, as I do hosting as a large part of my business.

I also have been in charge (sorta) of the

Documentation Project

Currently, the documentation, and handouts from the meetings are flittering around like bits of trash at the dump. I have attempted to undertake the responsibility for securing that documentation into a centralized repository which is the documentation section of this web site. If you have a copy of, or better yet, the original electronic copy of a handout, or other informational tidbit, please feel free to add it to this site, or get it to me in whatever manner is easiest for you so that I can post it on this site.