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A Page that doesn't change much

Writing

A lot of the technical stuff I’ve written is floating around on the web, rather than being on this site:

I’ve written quite a few pages for the CLUG Wiki, here are some:

My Computers

No geek’s homepage would we complete without a list of his computers :-)

Vivaldi

Vivaldi case Vivaldi monitors

Function:Vivaldi is my main desktop workhorse. Packing lots of HDD space, dual monitors, and a DL DVD writer.
Model:Home built AMD64 workstation: MSI K8N Neo4 mobo
Processor:AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
RAM:1.5GiB
HDD:120GiB main drive + 2TiB RAID-5 array over 3 x 1TiB disks.
Network:Dual Gigabit
OS:Debian/testing amd64 (with i386 chroot)

Beethoven

Beethoven

Function:My current, baby laptop.
Model:Apple MacBook 2007
Processor:Intel Core 2 Duo T7400
RAM:2.5GiB
HDD:160GB
Network:Gigabit & Atheros 802.11n Wifi
OS:Ubuntu amd64

Liszt

Liszt

Function:My big, and slightly aging laptop.
Model:Acer Ferrari 4005WMLi
Processor:AMD Turion(tm) 64 Mobile Technology ML-37
RAM:1GiB
HDD:100GB
Network:Gigabit & Wifi
OS:Ubuntu amd64

Mahler

Mahler

Function:Home LTSP server, mainly used by my mother and sister.
Model:Home built workstation: MSI K7T266 Pro2 mobo
Processor:AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1700+
RAM:762MiB
HDD:111GiB (RAID-1 over 2 120GB disks)
Network:100Mbit
OS:Ubuntu

Ixia

Ixia

Function:Home server: Mail, File, Printer, Web Proxy, APT proxy, SVN reopository, Database, and more…
Model:Mecer Premium-x
Processor:Pentium III (Katmai) 460MHz (underclocked for PII mobo)
RAM:192MiB
HDD:110GiB (RAID-1 over 2 120GB disks)
Network:100Mbit
OS:Debian/stable

Schubert & Berlioz

Schubert

Function:DSL router, WiFi AP (hidden in the bowels of the attic in a hole of a central wall, above a sewage pipe :-) — the one place that gives most of the house coverage, berlioz does the rest)
Model:Linksys WRT54g V2.4
Processor:Broadcom BCM3302 V0.7
RAM:14MiB
HDD:3MiB Flash
Network:5-port managed 100Mbit switch, WiFi
OS:OpenWRT White Russion

Telemann

Telemann

Function:Nothing
Model:Compaq Contura 410C
Processor:486
RAM:12MiB
HDD:6GB
Network:None (PCMCIA reqd.)
OS:DeLi 0.7-pre

Salieri

Salieri

Function:LTSP Terminal
Model:Compaq Deskpro
Processor:Celeron (Mendocino) 333MHz
RAM:64MiB
Network:100Mbit
OS:Ubuntu LTSP Client

N800

n800

Function:Internet Tablet
Model:Nokia N800
Processor:ARMv6 388MHz
RAM:128MiB
Flash:256MiB + 2GiB SD
Network:WiFi
OS:Maemo OS2008

iRiver

iRiver

Function:Ogg / MP3 player. As it runs OSS firmware, it has to be listed :-)
Model:iRiver iHP-140
Processor:Motorola SCF5249 140MHz coldfire
RAM:32MiB
HDD:40GB
OS:Rockbox CVS

The graveyard

graveyard

The graveyard is where I dig around when a machine dies / is needed. It contains a couple of decent PIIIs, and a Pentium 200 that has stood the test of time - at the prime of its life it was host to a 1TiB disk array :-)

Contact Me

Should you want to do such a thing, here are some ways to do it. Email is the most reliable way to get me, although I might read it in a few days time. I regularly have a Pidgin open for Jabber.

Email: tumbleweed "at" tumbleweed "dot" org "dot" za or e-mail form
IRC: tumbleweed on Atrum, Freenode, and WUG ZA
Jabber (Google Talk is jabber): stefano "at" rivera "dot" za "dot" net
MSN (via jabber): stefano "at" rivera "dot" za "dot" net
Skype: stefanorivera (but you'll have to arrange for me to be online)
Telephone: +27 72 419 8559 or +27 21 461 1230
Physical: 5 Culvert Gardens, 202 Upper Buitenkant St, Oranjezicht
Facebook: 530720481
Linkedin: tumbleweed
Mugshot: 4vK57Jy0RFqWRM
OpenPGP Key: 0x51106DF5CD92D072 (Stats). Previous key: 0x7B95A97ECBFB18F7 (Stats) (transition).

CV

Profile:

A self-taught Programmer and System Administrator, with BSc (Hons). Motivated, with first-class analytical, design and problem solving skills. Active in the FOSS community, and self-employed from the last two years of my schooling until present.

Details:

Date of Birth:17 August 1984
Marital Status:Single
Driving Licence:Full (South African Code B)
Citizenship:South African & Italian
eMail:Contact me
Address:11 Riesling Rd
Constantia
Cape Town
7806
South Africa

Education:

1991—2000: Michael Oak Waldorf Primary & High School.

2001—2003: Constantia Waldorf High School. Matriculated with Distinction: A in English HG, Mathematics HG, Physical Science HG, History HG, and Computer Studies HG.

2005—2007: BSc (Cape Town) Information Technology —- Computer Engineering —- Computer Science & Electrical Engineering. Awarded Dean’s Merit List (2006)

2008: BSc (Hons) (Cape Town) Information Technology. Class Medal.

Certifications:

LPIC-2 Linux Professional Institute Certified Level Two (January 2004 Level 1, March 2005 Level 2)

Professional Experience:

2002—Present: Hybrid Computer Solutions — Partner

I founded Hybrid Computer Solutions with two friends (one of whom has since dropped out). We take on small jobs, from Custom Computer Retail and Support through System Administration to Contract Programming. My expertise is with Linux System administration, and integration.

2004—Present: GetReel Digital Services (& Mustard London) — Network Administrator

I set up and maintain GetReel’s network and wrote web software for them. Most of he work was on contract for Mustard London. Work included the usual pile of servers as well as a Web-based showreel system, and lots of work with digital video.

2004—Present: Various Volunteer Activities

  • I mantain the Linux Enthusiast Group’s FTP mirror and infrastructure at UCT.
  • I helped the Shuttleworth Foundation out with installing donated computer networks in disadvantaged schools. (TuxLabs)

2004: Chimney Corners Summer Camp — Photography Instructor

For the (northern-hemisphere) summer, I worked at Chimney Corners camp teaching 8—14 year olds Black and White photography.

2004: Arup — IT Intern

I worked for several months in Arup on a variety of projects from desk side support to server maintainance to system configuration to documentation. I supervised the reconditioning of all machines that came past my desk.

Interests & Research:

Computer Related:

FOSS: I am a strong believer in Free / Open Source Software, and I maintain all my projects as FOSS, under GPL-Compatible licences.

I am the chairman of and system administrator for the Western Cape GNU/Linux User Group (CLUG), meeting weekly, and I have presented technical talks to the members. I co-maintain the CLUG servers and Freedom Toaster. The server is the South African mirror for many FOSS projcts including Debian and NetBSD.

South Africa offers many opportunities to use and spread FOSS —- I do my best to spread it.

Geek Community:

I’m involved in (and help organise) local “ Geek Community” events, such as GeekDinner, BarCamp, and *Camp.

Scalability:

My BSc(Hons) thesis involved creating a massively scalable monitoring system.

Other:

Outdoors: I am an ex-Scout, and enjoy hiking, mountain climbing, rock climbing and camping.

Photography:

Black & White 35mm, mainly.

Reading

References:

Available on request

Experience

Personal Preferences:

Distribution:Debian on the whole, Ubuntu on the laptop
Editor:VIM
Window Manager:I’m not too fussed, as long as I can get to terminals
MUA:several Mutts hanging out in a screen
MTA:Postfix
Language:Python (when I can’t get away with bash)
Browser:Firefox
Geekcode:GAT/CS d- s++:- a— C+++>++ UL++++$>LB++++$ P— L+++>+++++ E—- W+++ N o? K? w—- !O M+ !V PS+>++ PE Y++(+) PGP++>+++ t- 5- X R? tv—(-) b+(++++) DI++ D+ G— e++>+++ h—>++ r>++ y+

Qualifications:

  • BSc IT (Computer Engineering: Computer Science + Electrical Engineering) Cape Town 2007
  • BSc Hons in IT (1st class, class medal) Cape Town 2008
  • Linux Professional Institute Level 2

Languages I’m experienced with:

  • Bash: above average
  • CSS: average
  • C: average - used at university
  • C++: average - used at university
  • Java: used for several small projects, been taught it too many times
  • Javascript: below average
  • LaTeX: average - my preferred writing tool
  • PHP: used for several small & medium projects
  • Python: preferred, and used for several small & medium projects
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