From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Received: from adsum.doit.wisc.edu ([144.92.197.210]) by speech.braille.uwo.ca with esmtp (Exim 3.36 #1 (Debian)) id 1IG3Q5-0002D2-00 for ; Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:54:37 -0400 Received: from avs-daemon.smtpauth1.wiscmail.wisc.edu by smtpauth1.wiscmail.wisc.edu (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.2-8.04 (built Feb 28 2007)) id <0JM200301NYZL500@smtpauth1.wiscmail.wisc.edu> for speakup@braille.uwo.ca; Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:54:35 -0500 (CDT) Received: from mcgee (mdsnwi13-vlan437-17.dsl.tds.net [66.222.31.17]) by smtpauth1.wiscmail.wisc.edu (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.2-8.04 (built Feb 28 2007)) with ESMTPSA id <0JM200002NYBH420@smtpauth1.wiscmail.wisc.edu> for speakup@braille.uwo.ca; Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:54:35 -0500 (CDT) Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:54:11 -0500 From: John Heim Subject: Re: speakup, 2.6.22, and the way forward To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." Message-id: <008301c7d3de$e912eac0$5501a8c0@mcgee> Organization: University of Wisconsin-Madison MIME-version: 1.0 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138 Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-priority: Normal X-Spam-Report: AuthenticatedSender=yes, SenderIP=66.222.31.17 X-Spam-PmxInfo: Server=avs-8, Version=5.3.1.294258, Antispam-Engine: 2.5.1.298604, Antispam-Data: 2007.7.31.183834, SenderIP=66.222.31.17 References: <46A80FB9.4070504@gentoo.org> <018f01c7d3b6$eeb3d520$4ba65c90@vv507j> <20070731223653.GA27762@localhost.localdomain> X-BeenThere: speakup@braille.uwo.ca X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.9 Precedence: list Reply-To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." List-Id: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:54:37 -0000 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gregory Nowak" To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 5:36 PM Subject: Re: speakup, 2.6.22, and the way forward > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > On Tue, Jul 31, 2007 at 04:08:24PM -0500, John Heim wrote: >> On the other hand, if linux doesn't talk at boot time, it will actually >> make >> my job less secure. I need to be able to listen to boot messages. That's >> what I do for a living. > > That's what dmesg is for. The only time really when it is necessary to > hear boot messages as they occur, is if you're booting a fresh kernel > you've just built, that may not be configured correctly, (I.E. not > have the necessary ide/sata/scsi/whatever controller included, not have > the root file system included, ETC.), and you need to hear the boot > messages in case of a kernel panic, so that you can review the screen, > and see where things blew-up. Another one is where you messed up menu.lst. These things come up all the time for me. We install Windows via a live CD. I modified the kernel on the live CD to include speakup so that I can tell what's going on during an install. Same for installing linux. Of course, I use Shane's modified debian install CD but I also use another open source project called FAI or "Fully Automated Install" to do mass installs. Again, it has a live CD to which I added a speakup modified kernel. And most of our servers have custom kernels. Being able to deal with these things on a pretty much level playing field with my sighted colleagues has added a great deal to my prestige here at the department. If I had to constantly call someone over to get help I wouldn't have the reputation as the go-to guy that I do. I don't think I'm paranoid. I just think it looks really bad when the linux expert has to get help with a machine that won't boot. I'm supposed to be the guy they call when a linux machine won't boot. I'm not supposed to be the one calling for help.