Kevin's musings

For many years Fedora infrastructure has been running a talk.fedoraproject.org asterisk server. This allows contributors to talk to each other, or send voice mails, etc.

However, it gets very very little usage and also has no one really maintaining it or fixing issues with it. In the last 130days there have been a total of 95 calls using the server. There are a number of outstanding infrastructure tickets on the service that no one has dealt with. The server running it is running an outdated OS version and asterisk version.

So, we are going to retire the service on 2011-05-05.

Now, some of you might say: “But I want to use it! what can I do to save it?”

First, as it is now, it’s a waste of a server instance to run something 24×7 that only processes 1 call every few days. Any plan to continue the service would HAVE to include some way to increase usage of the service to make it worth doing. There would also need to be a group of folks who would help fix issues, enhance the service, help with updates and so on. A single interested person would be a single point of failure. If such a group forms and has a plan, please bring it to the infrastructure list/meetings.

<begin PSA>

If you’ve filed a ticket in the Fedora infrastructure trac at some point in the past (you can quickly check this by, logging in here and then going here. ), can you please take a minute to:

• See if the ticket is waiting for information from you => Please provide it.
• Has had no activity at all => Perhaps you could elaborate on your request, or add details
• Is no longer needed/wanted => Please close it
• Could perhaps be better filed somewhere else. In particular, bodhi, fas, websites and pkgdb all have their own trac instances. You’re likely to get more attention from their developers there than in the infrastructure trac => Refile and close the infrastructure ticket.

Thanks for your consideration.

<end PSA>

We have had a recent unfortunate string of pet health issues here. ;(

1. Winter the kitty: Losing weight. Bloodwork was fine. x-rays fine. We insist on a ultrasound and they find that she has lymphoma. Luckily it’s the “best” kind and means it should hopefully be treatable by a steroid and some low level oral chemo drug. She might well live out her natural span.
2. Legolas (legs) the greyhound. Limping and having trouble getting around. x-rays fine. Bloodwork fine. On to the MRI. This shows that his old racing injury on his spine is pressing on his spinal colum causing problems. Spinal surgery (including 6 days in the hospital recovering). Happily he’s doing well and prognosis is good. Just need to keep him from falling for a few more weeks and then he can do stairs again and go on (short) walks.
3. Merlin the greyhound. Not eating. Vomiting. Really bad D. Bloodwork ok except he was dehydrated. Started on IV fluids and antibiotics. Still not getting any better, refusing all food. More x-rays. Nothing. Finally a ultrasound finds that he has a thymoma thats pressing on his esophogus, causing him to be unable to eat. Currently he’s in the hospital where they are trying to get enough food in him so he gets enough strength back to do a surgery and remove the thymoma. Prognosis is unknown. If he can get enough energy, and the thymoma is well defined they can remove it all and he will be good, but not sure either of those will happen.

So, hug your cats and dogs and be happy when they are healthy.

Yesterday was my last day with Tummy.com, and next week I start in on my new job with Red Hat. (In case folks missed it, I will be taking over as Fedora Infrastructure Lead). Some big shoes (and/or sideburns! to fill, but it should be a great adventure.

The adventure begins with a trip down to Raleigh for monday and tuesday, then up to Boston wed, thursday, friday then back home.

So, if you are looking for me on IRC or mailing lists, I may be scarce next week. If you are in Raleigh or Boston and want to meet up drop me an email and I can see what I can do schedule wise (Although no promises, as I might be pretty busy).