[TriLUG] Group together for trip to USENIX ?

[Scott G. Hall]

Who all would like to pool together for a trip to USENIX this year?
This conference is an excellent conference for more technical
information traditionally related to the UNIX-at-large world.  Of
course the UNIX (or UNIX-like) that stands out nowadays is Linux.

USENIX is not just a vendor showcase gathering, like some other
conferences, but is rather a technical and training tutorial
conference.  This year's even includes a "FREENIX" track of tutorials:

  "FREENIX continues the tradition of presenting papers on wide-
   ranging and useful topics covering security and privacy,
   experiences in developing and deploying open-source software,
   networking technologies, and a host of work reporting the latest
   advances in Linux, *BSD, and X11."

In years past, I have learned much in system administration,
language standards, programming methodologies, X programming,
tips & techniques, and so on.  This year's conference includes
tutorials on LDAP Directories, PERL for System Administration,
System Network & Performance Tuning, Inside the Linux Kernel,
Managing Samba, Automation Tools & Techniques Beyond Shell Scripts,
SNMP Programming, Sendmail Configuration, just to name a few.
Check out their website at:  http://www.usenix.org/usenix03/

I realize that parts of this are expensive (and most employers
do not reimburse conferences any more unless they are a part of
it or it happens to fall at a strategic time).  I missed a couple
of good conferences this year, and though I am out of work, this
is the one conference that I try to make it to at once every 3
years.  And besides, this year the conference is having parties
at Six Flags Over Texas.

I am trying to get a group together to help thin out costs; I have
access to some room discounts, and thought we could share vehicles.
The conference is at:

    2003 USENIX Technical Conference
    San Antonio, Texas, Marriott Rivercenter
    June 8 - June 14 (Sun - Sat)
    3 days of Tutorials
    3 days (4 tracks) of Technical Sessions
    2 days of vendor exhibits
    9 Guru-is-In sessions (ask your questions here)
    Birds-of-a-Feather sessions
    Complimentary 802.11b WiFi; Internet X-Terminal rooms
    http://www.usenix.org/usenix03/

Note: Expo is free, technical program fees include membership in
USENIX (Advanced Computing Systems Assoc., formerly ACS).  Tutorials
are priced per day.  Membership in SAGE (System Administrators Guild
- the folks who sponsor the LISA later in the year) is available.

I recommend staying at rooms just outside of town, renting cars, and
doing some eating via brown-bags from grocery shopping -- total cost
is cheaper (at lot!).  I have been there before (1993) so just ask
me any questions.  The Alamo is a short walk around the corner, and
river rides are nice.  And yes, IT WILL BE WARM!  Drink plenty of
water and seek air conditioning wherever possible.  The main vendor
room doesn't cool well (the doors out are usually propped open), and
I remember that the tutorial rooms have heat problems as well.

Email me if your are interested in going as a group -- I would like
to not only share costs, but maybe get some shirts we can all wear
at the same time.

--
Scott G. Hall,
Raleigh, NC, USA
ScottGHall at BellSouth.Net