Re: Online Cobalt Resources (WAS RE: [cobalt-users] Telnet - Access Denied Message)

[baltimoremd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Fri, 19 Jan 2001, Colin J. Raven wrote:

> >more I'm tempted to put up an online database that we could all use to
> >record the "features and benefits" of the cobalt implimentation.
> >
> >It could look/act something like
> >http://www.baltimoremd.com/cgi-bin/dbman/db.cgi

> No "snide remarks" from this neck 'o the woods Thom!!

Thanks...I've gotten used to a large percentage of snide comments
here.(g)

> What IS good about Cobalt is that the world of server "appliances" has
> been exposed to a whole new group of people (and vice versa!)

Yes, and my complaints aside, I've seen many examples of help.

> Cobalt's knowlege base is truly pathetic....

I believe part of the problem is that with the Design Goal of making the
Cobalts "appliances", the design almosts dictates that the knowledge base
and the functions carefully isolate the operator(owner) from the chores,
frights and pitfalls of doing anything by hand.

> Thom, if you have the burning desire to do something like this, go for
> it!!!!!!!!!! 

I don't really have a burning desire, but I do value my time, and everyone
elses, to not want to wade through a archive to find what may or may not
be a solution.

The database would only work if:
folks used it,

folks pointed to a definative answer/document/url
      Examples:
      an answer to my question about editing majordomo
      list owners in aliases.majordomo would be great if it
      stated that a manual edit works and is not over written
      by the GUI
      Or, a definative answer that the GUI would overwrite
      the manual edit
      OR, the definative work around
      NOT answers like:
          have you RTFM (if it doesn't contain the answer)
          check greatcircle(If their FAQ doesn't acknowledge/cover
                            any particular Cobalt "feature)
     
      For example, I feel pretty confident that the docs I
      wrote about autoresponders and procmail on a RAQ3
      are correct, so I'd enter that in the database and
      show procraq@xxxxxxxxxxxx as the source(it's the
      autoresponder that sends out the doc file. 


> Everyone (including you) will benefit from such an effort
> and the results will be a resource....a place in which accumulated
> knowlege resides. 

That's exactly what happened with the online database for the radio
folks...and by the way, the amount of posts on the list for them dropped,
since they know where to find the information.  It's self policing...
every now and again the bulb lights, and a list member, usually the one
with the question, goes to the online database and adds the information
(g).

But, those folks are lazy...they would rather operate their antique
equipment, or restore it than wade through the list looking for
ways to operate or restote it (g)

Thom

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