Ideas for getting involved in FI-Apprentice projects

[Amitakhya Phukan]

Hi group,

Over a period of time, I have been thinking of how to get more involved in
FI-Apprentice and with FI. It seems that my skills fall short even on the
easy tickets. :) Maybe I am the only person who doesn't know these
technologies. I have no idea of Puppet/Ansible or anything that is so much
discussed around.

I had a very brief discussion with Kevin some time ago and I had this idea
that perhaps we could have a few servers where in we can "learn" a few of
the technologies that are bring used by Fedora and then feel more
comfortable to contribute.

At that time, I brought out the topic of maybe we can rent a few servers
from Digital Ocean/GoDaddy etc. Turns out they are quite heavy on my
budget. :)

Is it possible for Fedora to let a few servers dedicated for training ?
Moreover, is there some one like me who would like to join me learn so that
the contributions to FA/FI-Apprentice group could be more satisfactory ?

Please guide and sincere apologies to any and all who think this mail fall
in "junk". It is never my intention to disturb you.

Best regards,
Amitakhya Phukan

[Tristan Santore]

On 26/04/14 21:57, Amitakhya Phukan wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> Over a period of time, I have been thinking of how to get more
> involved in FI-Apprentice and with FI. It seems that my skills fall
> short even on the easy tickets. :) Maybe I am the only person who
> doesn't know these technologies. I have no idea of Puppet/Ansible or
> anything that is so much discussed around.
>
> I had a very brief discussion with Kevin some time ago and I had this
> idea that perhaps we could have a few servers where in we can "learn"
> a few of the technologies that are bring used by Fedora and then feel
> more comfortable to contribute.
>
> At that time, I brought out the topic of maybe we can rent a few
> servers from Digital Ocean/GoDaddy etc. Turns out they are quite heavy
> on my budget. :)
>
> Is it possible for Fedora to let a few servers dedicated for training
> ? Moreover, is there some one like me who would like to join me learn
> so that the contributions to FA/FI-Apprentice group could be more
> satisfactory ?
>
> Please guide and sincere apologies to any and all who think this mail
> fall in "junk". It is never my intention to disturb you.
>
> Best regards,
> Amitakhya Phukan
>
> infrastructure mailing list
> [e-mail]
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure

You can run puppet and ansible on a local machine without problems!
there is no need for a server!

Just install it, run it, set it up, start configuring and developing for
your CMS.

Further, I see security issues in allowing anyone to do whatever on FI
machines. There are development units for actual testing, but still. The
less access the merrier.

Regards,
Tristan

[Amitakhya Phukan]

Hi Tristan,

On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 2:55 AM, Tristan Santore <
[e-mail]> wrote:
> On 26/04/14 21:57, Amitakhya Phukan wrote:
>
> Hi group,
>
> Over a period of time, I have been thinking of how to get more involved
> in FI-Apprentice and with FI. It seems that my skills fall short even on
> the easy tickets. :) Maybe I am the only person who doesn't know these
> technologies. I have no idea of Puppet/Ansible or anything that is so much
> discussed around.
>
> I had a very brief discussion with Kevin some time ago and I had this
> idea that perhaps we could have a few servers where in we can "learn" a few
> of the technologies that are bring used by Fedora and then feel more
> comfortable to contribute.
>
> At that time, I brought out the topic of maybe we can rent a few servers
> from Digital Ocean/GoDaddy etc. Turns out they are quite heavy on my
> budget. :)
>
> Is it possible for Fedora to let a few servers dedicated for training ?
> Moreover, is there some one like me who would like to join me learn so that
> the contributions to FA/FI-Apprentice group could be more satisfactory ?
>
> Please guide and sincere apologies to any and all who think this mail
> fall in "junk". It is never my intention to disturb you.
>
> Best regards,
> Amitakhya Phukan
>
> infrastructure mailing [e-mail]://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure
>
> You can run puppet and ansible on a local machine without problems! there
> is no need for a server!
>
> Just install it, run it, set it up, start configuring and developing for
> your CMS.

Puppet is one example of the many things that I want to learn. But yes,
that is the first thing I would like to learn. If I need to install, run,
configure Puppet/Ansible on my local machine, where do I test it?
> Further, I see security issues in allowing anyone to do whatever on FI
> machines. There are development units for actual testing, but still. The
> less access the merrier.

Agreed. That is why I wanted to know if "dedicated" training servers is a
possibility. Or maybe, I can try to get involved in building one for
starters ? Is that possible ?
> Regards,
> Tristan
>
> --
>
> Tristan Santore BSc MBCS
> TS4523-RIPE
> Network and Infrastructure Operations
> InterNexusConnect
> Mobile [e-mail]
>
> Former Thawte Notary
> (Please note: Thawte has closed its WoT programme down,
> and I am therefore no longer able to accredit trust)
>
> For Fedora related issues, please email me at:[e-mail]
>
> infrastructure mailing list
> [e-mail]
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure

[Jon Mosco]

On 04/27/2014, Amitakhya Phukan wrote:
> Hi Tristan,
>
> On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 2:55 AM, Tristan Santore <
> [e-mail]> wrote:
> > On 26/04/14 21:57, Amitakhya Phukan wrote:
> >
> > Hi group,
> >
> > Over a period of time, I have been thinking of how to get more involved
> > in FI-Apprentice and with FI. It seems that my skills fall short even on
> > the easy tickets. :) Maybe I am the only person who doesn't know these
> > technologies. I have no idea of Puppet/Ansible or anything that is so much
> > discussed around.
> >
> > I had a very brief discussion with Kevin some time ago and I had this
> > idea that perhaps we could have a few servers where in we can "learn" a few
> > of the technologies that are bring used by Fedora and then feel more
> > comfortable to contribute.
> >
> > At that time, I brought out the topic of maybe we can rent a few servers
> > from Digital Ocean/GoDaddy etc. Turns out they are quite heavy on my
> > budget. :)
> >
> > Is it possible for Fedora to let a few servers dedicated for training ?
> > Moreover, is there some one like me who would like to join me learn so that
> > the contributions to FA/FI-Apprentice group could be more satisfactory ?
> >
> > Please guide and sincere apologies to any and all who think this mail
> > fall in "junk". It is never my intention to disturb you.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Amitakhya Phukan
> >
> > infrastructure mailing [e-mail]://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure
> >
> > You can run puppet and ansible on a local machine without problems! there
> > is no need for a server!
> >
> > Just install it, run it, set it up, start configuring and developing for
> > your CMS.
>
> Puppet is one example of the many things that I want to learn. But yes,
> that is the first thing I would like to learn. If I need to install, run,
> configure Puppet/Ansible on my local machine, where do I test it?

Puppet actually provides an excellent 'learning' VM for that very task.
Also, you could try out Vagrant as well.  Both are excellent resources
for learing Puppet, and Vagrant has provisioners for Ansible as well.

http://vagrantup.com
http://puppetlabs.com/download-learning-vm
> > Further, I see security issues in allowing anyone to do whatever on FI
> > machines. There are development units for actual testing, but still. The
> > less access the merrier.
>
> Agreed. That is why I wanted to know if "dedicated" training servers is a
> possibility. Or maybe, I can try to get involved in building one for
> starters ? Is that possible ?
> > Regards,
> > Tristan
> >
> > --
> >
> > Tristan Santore BSc MBCS
> > TS4523-RIPE
> > Network and Infrastructure Operations
> > InterNexusConnect
> > Mobile [e-mail]
> >
> > Former Thawte Notary
> > (Please note: Thawte has closed its WoT programme down,
> > and I am therefore no longer able to accredit trust)
> >
> > For Fedora related issues, please email me at:[e-mail]
> >
> > infrastructure mailing list
> > [e-mail]
> > https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure
>
> -- 
> Best regards,
> Amitakhya Phukan
> infrastructure mailing list
> [e-mail]
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure

[Kevin Fenzi]

Yeah, so one nice advantage of our infastructure being 100% open source
is that you can (and should) be able to install and test and play with
it anywhere. :)

For puppet/ansible type things, if you have even a single
fedora/rhel/centos machine you should be able to have ansible or puppet
manage it locally. You don't need more than 1 machine to start out
with.

The biggest issue we have with on-ramping new folks (IMHO) is that most
of us 'full timers' don't have time to do a lot of one on one
mentoring, so instead we try and have new people ask questions of
everyone and try and do as much as possible themselves to get going.
This means people who need more help or people who aren't very self
starter tend to have a harder time getting involved.

I've been thinking of ways to improve things. I'm not sure test
instances would really be that much help, as it should be easy to use
any machine to play around with things.

Two ideas:

1. At our weekly meeting each week, we block off 15min and do a
quick/short session where we talk about a particular application or
tool and explain how it works, where docs are and what we want to
do/need help with on it.

or, if thats too quick/not enough use:

2. Setup bi-weekly/monthly classroom sessions. Longer sessions, but the
same idea of going over a tool/app/thing we want to get help on/bring
people up to speed on. Or even a workshop/"office hours" where we go
over specific easyfix tickets or the like.

Thoughts?

kevin

[Aditya Patawari]

On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 8:39 PM, Kevin Fenzi  wrote:
> Yeah, so one nice advantage of our infastructure being 100% open source
> is that you can (and should) be able to install and test and play with
> it anywhere. :)
>
> For puppet/ansible type things, if you have even a single
> fedora/rhel/centos machine you should be able to have ansible or puppet
> manage it locally. You don't need more than 1 machine to start out
> with.
>
> The biggest issue we have with on-ramping new folks (IMHO) is that most
> of us 'full timers' don't have time to do a lot of one on one
> mentoring, so instead we try and have new people ask questions of
> everyone and try and do as much as possible themselves to get going.
> This means people who need more help or people who aren't very self
> starter tend to have a harder time getting involved.
>
> I've been thinking of ways to improve things. I'm not sure test
> instances would really be that much help, as it should be easy to use
> any machine to play around with things.
>
> Two ideas:
> At our weekly meeting each week, we block off 15min and do a
>
> quick/short session where we talk about a particular application or
> tool and explain how it works, where docs are and what we want to
> do/need help with on it.
>
> or, if thats too quick/not enough use:

I am not sure how much would I be able to grasp in 15 minutes. It
seems like a very short span of time to me.
> Setup bi-weekly/monthly classroom sessions. Longer sessions, but the
>
> same idea of going over a tool/app/thing we want to get help on/bring
> people up to speed on. Or even a workshop/"office hours" where we go
> over specific easyfix tickets or the like.

What if the puppet session happened yesterday and I happened to get
into FI today.
> Thoughts?

How about videos recorded in the office by people who have awesome
experience on certain tools/apps?. Personally I would love that.
We can still have workshops but they could be more hands-on and
focused to get things done (FAD?)

[Kevin Fenzi]

On Mon, 28 Apr 2014 21:00:09 +0530
Aditya Patawari  wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 8:39 PM, Kevin Fenzi  wrote:

...snip...
> > Two ideas:
> > At our weekly meeting each week, we block off 15min and do a
> >
> > quick/short session where we talk about a particular application or
> > tool and explain how it works, where docs are and what we want to
> > do/need help with on it.
> >
> > or, if thats too quick/not enough use:
>
> I am not sure how much would I be able to grasp in 15 minutes. It
> seems like a very short span of time to me.

Yeah, it would be fast... but it could be enough to spark interest in
working on something and we could provide pointers to how to get more
info, etc.
> > Setup bi-weekly/monthly classroom sessions. Longer sessions, but
> >
> > the same idea of going over a tool/app/thing we want to get help
> > on/bring people up to speed on. Or even a workshop/"office hours"
> > where we go over specific easyfix tickets or the like.
>
> What if the puppet session happened yesterday and I happened to get
> into FI today.

They would be logged... so you could read back and revist them.
> > Thoughts?
>
> How about videos recorded in the office by people who have awesome
> experience on certain tools/apps?. Personally I would love that.
> We can still have workshops but they could be more hands-on and
> focused to get things done (FAD?

Well, I'm not a big fan of video personally, but it's a thought...

kevin

[Lali Devamanthri]

Hi all,

On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 9:00 PM, Aditya Patawari  wrote:
> > Thoughts?
>
> How about videos recorded in the office by people who have awesome
> experience on certain tools/apps?. Personally I would love that.
> We can still have workshops but they could be more hands-on and
> focused to get things done (FAD?)

+1 for suggestion.  Real life examples is much better learning resources.
> infrastructure mailing list
> [e-mail]
> https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/infrastructure

[Achilleas Pipinellis]

On 04/28/2014 06:09 PM, Kevin Fenzi wrote:
> Two ideas:
> At our weekly meeting each week, we block off 15min and do a
>
> quick/short session where we talk about a particular application or
> tool and explain how it works, where docs are and what we want to
> do/need help with on it.
>
> or, if thats too quick/not enough use:
> Setup bi-weekly/monthly classroom sessions. Longer sessions, but the
>
> same idea of going over a tool/app/thing we want to get help on/bring
> people up to speed on. Or even a workshop/"office hours" where we go
> over specific easyfix tickets or the like.
>
> Thoughts?

Both are nice thoughts that would boost our interest/involvement :)

+1 for the videos that were mentioned earlier. The previous 2 that Ralph
recorded [0] were good to get you started, but having some more
technical ones would be a plus.

[0] http://fedoramagazine.org/?p=642