Yeah, I spent months and months teaching myself linux systems
administration. It wasn't easy, that's for sure. But I was getting
"backwatered" in my old job. That's my term for the process of
marginallizing a blind systems administrator by not giving them the juicy
assignments. When a new technology comes out, the boss never lets the blind
guy play with it. Someone else gets that assignment. Eventually, no matter
how good you are, you are left dealing with all the old stuff. And that's
not good for job security.
I saw the handwriting on the wall and taught myself linux systems
administration. I just went to a used computer store and bought a real cheap
PC with no operating system on it. Then I sent away for Red Hat installation
CDs. This was before the days of high speed home internet. Then I got to
work.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Zameer Mahomed"
To: "Blind sysadmins list"
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] orca with custom live cd's?
Hi John,
Thank you so much for your info about live cd's. and advice on reasons to
learning about linux, it was really well elaborated and very motivating.
My reasons for shying away from linux so-to-speak is:
There's so much of information, I really don't know where to start.
Then you hear of different distros, which one does one choose?
and then the commandline stuff.
Its not that I've totally never used a command line based application, I do
know a fair amount, and I sometimes still write batch files but, in linux
almost everything is commandline based, which can be quite dawnting.
But like I said, you really gave some good advice and when I do find
somewhere to start, I'll give it ago definitely,
I've not pushed it away as being totally not for me.
Regards,
----- Original Message -----
From: "John G. Heim"
To: "Blind sysadmins list"
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] orca with custom live cd's?
The makers of live CDs try to make them include as many drivers as possible
so that their CD will work for as many people as possible. With all the work
that goes into making a live CD, they want to appeal to as large a group of
users as possible.
Yes, you could remaster a CD to include drivers for your hardware. But it
probably won't be necessary unless you are running on absolutely brand new
hardware. And it would not be easy for a beginner to remaster a CD. You
would have to gain some familiarity with linux before trying that.
But as I have said many times on this list, in my opinion, learning linux is
a really good thing to do for your career. Its hardly a drawback at all
being blind for a linux systems admin. Everything is done remotely and
mostly at the command line. Almost all the configuration files are plain
text. And there are a lot of jobs for linux systems admins at colleges and
universities which, if you're disabled, are good places to work.
Of course, I'm not entirely sure that your time wouldn't be better spent
learning more about Windows systems administration. It could be that no
matter how much you know about Windows, spending your time learning still
more is better for your career than taking the time to learn linux. But I am
employed today because I took the time to learn linux and I've never
regretted doing that.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Zameer Mahomed"
To: "Blind sysadmins list"
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] orca with custom live cd's?
Hi John and Darragh,
Thanks for the information. I realise if I do want to get in to this, I'd
really need to know alot about linux. I'm considering trying it out.
But all the command stuff scares me, gosh, i'm too spoilt by windows
perhaps.
However I'd just like to ask a few questions please?
@darragh:
How does one know whether a live cd will be accessible or not?
Is there anything that one should look for?
@John,
When you speak of remastering,
Does this mean that I could add drivers perhaps for my sound card? add orca
to the live cd? and any other dependents needed for orca to work?
Also, when you say that live cd's are getting better, would this also mean
that companies who make their own live cd's by removing information that is
unnecessary to reduce space so that only their program works
I.e. they remove drivers for audio as well as any unwanted program support
since it may not be useful in what they want to achieve.
are now starting to add accessibility?
Regards,
----- Original Message -----
From: "John G. Heim"
To: "Blind sysadmins list"
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 3:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] orca with custom live cd's?
Right, I suspect that was the intent of the original question. Many of the
live linux CDs are already accessible. GRML, ubuntu, and vinux are examples.
I would tend to favor vinux since it is intended especially for blind users.
Their web site is at vinuxproject.org.
Also, almost every distro supplies information on how to remaster their
bootable CDs. GRML has a package specifically for that. I used to remaster
the GRML boot CD to make it come up talking with my choice of hardware
speech synth. That way, in an emergency, I didn't have to fuss with hotkeys.
Plus I'd get speech earlier in the boot process. I haven't done it for a
while because the existing bootable CDs are getting better and better.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Darragh OHeiligh"
To: "Blind sysadmins list"
Cc:
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 8:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] orca with custom live cd's?
I have never heard of a way of doing this. It would be fantastic if it
was possible though.
If it's just partitioning you need for an example you may be able to use
gpartit on the Ubuntu live CD. In other words, depending on the problem
your trying to tackle you may find that a distribution has an accessible
too tha twill do the job from the live CD.
Regards
Darragh Ó Héiligh
Fujitsu
Offices of the Houses of the Oireachtas,
Fredrick Building,
South Fredrick Street,
Dublin2
Telephone: +353 (1) 618 3559
Email: darragh.oheiligh@oireachtas.ie
Internet: http://www.oireachtas.ie
From: "Zameer Mahomed"
To: "Blind sysadmins list"
Date: 13/04/2011 14:34
Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] orca with custom live cd's?
Sent by: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org
Hi guys,
for those of you who use linux, I have a question regarding integration of
audio as well as speech in to existing live cds.
Assuming you know or heard of a program called parted magic,
or perhaps any program that uses linux for getting a job done, be it an
anti-virus or utility program,
Is it possible to have audio support so as to integrate orca?
If perhaps these things can't be done, forgive my ignorance, I've really
not used linux ever!
Regards
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