Fedora InstallFest at QUT

By InstallFest Team
Abstract

This document outlines the Fedora InstallFest project's first initiative in Brisbane, Australia, and intends to explore operational and promotional details for the success of the event.

In addition, this exploration outlines the event technical requirements and results metrics.

Revision 1.2 - December 2004

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION	2

EVENT PROPOSAL	2

GOALS	3

OPERATION	3

PROMOTION	4

OTHER RELATIONSHIPS	5

METRICS	6

INTRODUCTION

Fedora (http://fedora.redhat.com) is a Linux-based computer operating system, produced by the Fedora Project, a worldwide volunteer community project. The Fedora project was initially started by Red Hat Inc. to replace the former Red Hat Linux community-based operating system.

Fedora is licensed under the GPL, or General Public License, which means that it falls into the Open Source Software (OSS) category, also known as “Free” Software. This way, end users are free to modify and redistribute the software as they see fit, enabling an international community of developers who give up their intellectual property rights to daily and endlessly improve and innovate the operating system.

Red Hat continues providing sponsorship to the Fedora Project, hosting mailing lists, and bundling the community developers' and translators' efforts into an integrated, cutting-edge, Linux-based operating system. It is immune to Windows security exploits and viruses, and also efficiently utilizes older hardware, usually unusable with other modern operating systems.
Fedora is also distributed free of charge, which makes it an attractive value proposition for students, small companies, and Linux enthusiasts. It comes with a complete office suite (Open Office.org), which is compatible with Microsoft Office document formats, web browser and email applications.

EVENT PROPOSAL
Red Hat intends to sponsor an “InstallFest”, during which students can have the Fedora operating system installed in their computers (laptops or desktop CPUs), free of charge, along with other Open Source software packages.

Students will also get installation CDs, a brief tutorial covering the usage of the Fedora operating system, a CD with extensive documentation, a copy of the GPL license, and still keep their current operating system, if any.

Taking advantage on Red Hat's existing relationship with QUT, Red Hat nominated QUT as the first university in Australia to host the Fedora InstallFest.

The ideal date should be end of week 1, semester 01/2005: Wednesday (March 02), Thursday (March 03), and Friday (March 04), with possible extension to Monday/Tuesday (March 08/09) the week after, according to demand.
GOALS:

Provide students with a NO-COST operating system alternative for their personal computing needs in the beginning of semester 01/2005;

Provide students with exposure to Linux bleeding edge technologies, that are getting increasing attention in the IT industry, hence giving them the opportunity to develop skill sets increasingly in demand;

Raise the awareness of the ethical benefits of Open Source Software (community ownership, cottage industry, sharing spirit);

Raise awareness of the economic benefits of Open Source (less concentration of wealth, more equitable distribution, distribution of economic leverage);

Raise awareness of the technical benefits of the Fedora Operating System (cutting-edge technology, security, stability, speed, efficiency);

Strengthen the relationships between Red Hat, QUT, and its students;

Create Fedora brand awareness;

Increase Red Hat brand awareness as an open source sponsor.

OPERATION:

RH provides all necessary hardware:

1 File server

16 port Ethernet switch

Ethernet cables

3 monitors

Keyboards

Mice

RH provides all necessary software:

Fedora installation CDs

Documentation CDs

FAQ on Fedora and other OSS applications useful for students

RH provides all necessary personnel:

2 or 3 installers/troubleshooters at all times

QUT provides a locked room with the following specifications:

in the IT building; with good exposure

air conditioning or fans for “computer cooling”

Internet access via Ethernet

at least 3 power points

3 large tables

at least 10 chairs

PROMOTION:

David Barzilay (barzilay@redhat.com) is responsible for the Fedora InstallFest promotion and QUT liaison;

Red Hat will produce flyers to be handed to the QUT students during the Orientation week;

Red Hat will produce a Press Release, and contact its PR agency to promote the event in other media;

QUT can promote the Fedora InstallFest to IT students/teachers and other related faculties via e-mail, QUT message boards, and websites (ideally the best period would be during the Orientation week, as the information can be sent to recently enrolled students);

Other promotions suggestions

Article in QUT's O week magazine;

InstallFest dates printed in student diary;

Email students in IT-related classes.

OTHER RELATIONSHIPS:

Red Hat will verify the possibility of creating a partnership with a suitable hardware vendor to offer Fedora-ready machines with no operating system or software pre-installed (possible relationships such as the computer store inside QUT campus or maybe another hardware vendor that will reduce the price of the hardware as the PC won't have Windows OS installed);

RH will create and manage a mailing list for the Red Hat users group in Brisbane during the InstallFest, so QUT students will be able to interact with other Fedora users, obtaining additional knowledge, and networking with developers in Brisbane.

METRICS:

As this is the first time Red Hat sponsors an event as such, we can bring feedback such as:

-> number of students participating in the event

-> number of machines installed

-> testimonials from students

Copyright © 2004 Red Hat, Inc. Red Hat, Red Hat Linux, the Red Hat Shadowman logo, and the products listed are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. in the US and other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. WHPXXXXUS December 15, 2004

Fedora InstallFest

2004-12-10T15:53:39