[ug-bosug] Presentation on OpenSolaris

[Sriram Narayanan]

On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 1:50 PM, Avinash Joshi <avinashtjoshi at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi.
>
>    I am planning to conduct a session on Operating Systems basics and
> OpenSolaris for the new students in our college. I am putting down the
> outline of my presentation below:
>
> * What is an OS ?
>      - Features and functionality
>       - Classification ?
>      - 16 bit , 32 bit 64 bit - what does it mean ?
>      - How do you find out the architecture of your laptop or desktop
> (command)
>       - Examples - DOS, Windows, Linux, Unix
>

- Do you need to talk about 16/32 bit computers ? Is the level of the
audience such that they would be new to such concepts ?
  Do you need to introduce such concepts at all ?

Assuming that the audience is indeed a mostly newbie audience:
  Would it suffice to show an OpenSolaris desktop that plays videos,
music, has OpenOffice and some popular game running, as well as a Web
Browser having some flash displays ? This kind of a three minute demo
of a computer should be enough to give people an indication of what to
expect from computers. Since you will have the advantage of being able
to show a computer, use that to the fullest. You could now talk along
lines of "Hey there, just to ensure that we all know what computers
can do at the very minimum... We can read and create documents, play
games, watch movies, listen to music while sending email. We can also
create all of these software applications/tools within this very same
environment/eco-system. By the way, the OS that we're using is
OpenSolaris, which has some really good innovations that we can all
benefit from as everyday users, software developers and as
researchers".

> * Opensolaris - features as an OS
>
> * Comparison chart
>           Opensolaris - Vista - Linux (Ubuntu)
>

If you are going to talk about Vista, Ubuntu, OpenSolaris, then I
think the audience would know about (or not care about) 32/64 bit
processors. They'd then appreciate it if you told them something new
rather than repeat already known things.

> * Live CD/DVD
> * Booting from USB
> * Boot from RAM
>

Ensure that you test each of these. Next, also ensure that you point
out to people that each of these technologies was added as a feature
by everyday people. And that the general OpenSolaris enironment
(people, technologies, documentation) is such that with some reading
and experimentation, they (the audience) too can contribute in their
own way. (With the permission of the LiveCD, USB Boot, and RAM Boot
authors, you just might be able to put their pictures to the
presentation slides too!).

> * Distributions
>      - OpenSolaris Distros
>           - Belenix
>           - MarTux
>           - SXDE ....
>

And also OpenSolaris 2008.5 After all, as a Sun Campus Ambassador,
you'll be distributing OpenSolaris 2008.5 CDs too, right ?

Each of the above distributions has it's own merits, or course, but
since this will be a new topic to the audience, simply mention that
each distro was created with a specific focus in mind, and that they
are welcome to participate by asking questions.

> * Start an amrita Open Solaris user group
>

Mention the goals of this group.
Tangible goals could include:
- learning new and very advanced technologies directly from the
developers and savvy users,
- having sun engineers come over once in a while and give
presentations on advanced technologies (check with your program
manager if this is indeed possible)
- splitting the task of learning various tools and features and
getting to showcase one's investigations to one's peer group.
- setting up a modern development lab (you just need opensolaris with
the Sun Studio, actually) for the college.
- become part of a growing world-wide group of people - give a list of
the various successful opensolaris projects.

> * OPEN SOLARIS:
>     - How to install
>         - IN VirtualBox : About VitualBox
>         - Directly

Have a few screen shots ready. the data transfer may take some time
depending upon your computer's speeds. Even if it is fast, still have
some screenshots ready for emergencies.

>     - Customisation
>     - Explore the source

Do not depend upon internet connections here. Install and configure
OpenGrok along with an index of the opensolaris code base.

Also mention that the various topics that will be covered in the
college syllabus would also be available for viewing here. Pick up
some samples such as memory allocation, or disk IO, for e.g., and make
sure that you are able to go dig out that code via opengrok. This will
require some practice, but the demo value is very high for such a
thing.


>     - build the source
>     - change the code

Why would anyone want to build the source ? Give reasons here. People
need to know that there actually are reasons to do such stuff. Post
your reasons here to the group before showing these reasons to the
audience.

>     - Projects
>     - Student Projects: getting started
>

Bite sized bugs used to be an important thing.

There are also the Belenix project goals.

Thirdly, listing projects here should not become a promise of Sun
supported projects :D

Finally,


> I would like to get your comments on the outline(addition/deletion of
> ideas/topics etc).
>
> And the most important of all: I would like to get any  related documents
> and presentation for the same that you may have. It would be great if you
> could email it to me or let me know the links where I can get it.
>
> I am taking this session as a part of Campus Ambassador programme. I will be
> dividing this into 3 or 4 sessions so that is can effectively take them.
> These are just few of my ideas.. I would like more suggestions for the same.
>

Looks like an hour long session at least. Get the audience's attention
in the first session itself.


Some lessons learned from giving similar presentations in the past:
- Have a laptop/desktop with OpenSolaris pre-installed with some great
desktop themes, audio and video suport, and also some popular game.
      Demonstrating that important entertainment tools run prepares
one for greater acceptance of OpenSolaris.
- Do not criticize Linux/Windows.
      Focus on the merits of the OpenSolaris platform.
- Some

> ---
> Thanks & Regards,
> Avinash Joshi
> Sun Campus Ambassador
> Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
> Amritapuri Campus
>
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