[rtpnet-tact] other funding avenues

[Jerry Winegarden]

On Mon, 9 Jun 2003, Ben Foti wrote:

> This may be a shot in the dark, but does anyone on the ever-helpful list
> know of any grant avenues for a poor city to purchase a new (or used, but
> reliable) server, along with the other equipment that comes along with it
> (which is usually what costs the most).  I don't think they would be willing
> to be connected to a host, but even some good contacts to point us in the
> right direction would help.  Thanks so much.
> 
> Benjamin Foti, AmeriCorps*VISTA
> (252) 436-2166
> (252) 436-2055 fax
> bfoti at kerrtarcog.org

Ben,
	I can't answer the question about where to find grant money,
but I have a suggestion for how you can get a server up and running
for perhaps *** NO MONEY ***, which might preclude the need for a grant to 
purchase one.  I specialize in taking slightly older machines and turning
them into such servers.  In fact, I'm replying from such a machine right
now in a community center in Durham.   I have set up file service, web
service, mail service (imap, pop, and webmail), and email list service.
The nice thing about such solutions (besides being free) is that 
the whole rest of the world can help you support it (via email lists),
so you're not totally dependant on the person that dumped it on you! ;-)
(Even though I am a RedHat Certified Engineer).

I have installation/configuration cookbooks and scripts available from
my web site,  www-jerry.oit.duke.edu
I now have several sites with such a solution.  This RedHat Linux server
is actually "industrial-strength" believe it or not.

What does it take for a machine?  Heh, start with whatever you can
scrounge, get things working, then worry about improving the resources
of the server if you find out that you need to.  Last year, I was putting
233 MHz machines out as servers because that's what I was getting to
donate.  This year, I've been getting 300-400 MHz machines to donate,
so I've replaced some of the 200's, but the point is that functionality
You may have a machine around already that you can use initially,
but there are many, many companies that are replacing 300-400 MHz 
computers right now (3 yr replacement cyles).
Send me email and/or call me if you want to discuss this further.
My contact information is on my web site.
-- 
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  .~.   Jerry Winegarden
 / v \  OIT/Technical Support, Duke University      
/( _ )\ jbw at duke.edu, http://www-jerry.oit.duke.edu 
  ^ ^    			        
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