Kurudi tena

So the past 19 days since the only post this month have been very busy so I’ve been neglecting the blog. I hope to come back significantly this coming week. I have a new series on how different kinds of storage media devices fail in East Africa and a few prices on power coming up. The virus series is on my plate too.

Two weeks ago we installed the latest Solaris “image” at our college and installed several software updates after it. I’ve recorded my instructions and have shared it with the project so that the next version of the Solaris image can include only the freshest software like Adobe Acrobat reader, Firefox, and Open Office. In computer administration, an “image” is a very complete collection of all the configuration that is done to a computer. It is then arranged into a DVD or file so that it can be shared easily with other people (or colleges). When you install it, everything is already set up for you, just as the team at Morogoro left it. Later, I hope to cover imaging for Windows computers with Clonezilla to make your life easier.

Last week Peace Corps TZ officially added Windows virus and power protection to the skills that new volunteers are required to study and learn during their three month training, after Swahili. I think this underlines the situation here. I feel that viruses are getting more frustrating, even fewer of them are being detected by antivirus and there are many more of them. It also focuses us on power protection: please listen to my message in my umeme uchafu articles: spending a small amount now on prevention will save your departments a lot of money later.

I also held a small seminar here with a special guest from Mzumbe Mbeya to explain the benefits of Ubuntu Linux–it is always virus free (from flash drives) and has nearly all of the programs & features of Windows that Solaris is missing. Keep in mind that leaving Windows is an easier option than it sounds like when you get frustrated cleaning peoples’ USB flashes and slow computers. Just download, burn and install the CD. It installs much faster and easier than Windows. You can even order a free one to be sent to Tanzania! (linkage)