[Live-demo] [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGeo-Live 6.5 on VM Depot

Sun Jun 2 09:22:15 PDT 2013

Considering we build in a virtual environment to begin with, I actually 
don't anticipate many issues. I don't think we're ever going to create a 
pure server version either though as I agree with James that such a 
system should be custom installed by someone who understands server 
security and resource management. Our scripts can be used as a guide to 
installing something once you've decided on your platform for deployment.

What we can do in the VM we release:
Install easy to use firewall (like gufw) to block outside connections by 
default. In our quickstart for cloud services, explain how to change the 
default password, setup ssh, ssh keys, configure the firewall, and 
remote into the VM (either ssh and/or remote desktop/vnc).

This would allow users to experiment without needing to run a local 
virtual machine.

Thanks,
Alex

On 06/01/2013 04:01 PM, Ramirez, Paul M (398J) wrote:
> James & Cameron,
>
> My intention was to start with the VM and make it available on VM Depot and as an AMI so that it could be easily run on the respective cloud platforms (Azure and Amazon). From there creating an OSGeo-Server version on the cloud would seem to need more forethought and work put into it.
>
> --Paul
>
> From: Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com<mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>>
> Date: Saturday, June 1, 2013 3:47 PM
> To: James Klassen <jklassen at sharedgeo.org<mailto:jklassen at sharedgeo.org>>
> Cc: "live-demo at lists.osgeo.org<mailto:live-demo at lists.osgeo.org>" <live-demo at lists.osgeo.org<mailto:live-demo at lists.osgeo.org>>, JPL <paul.m.ramirez at jpl.nasa.gov<mailto:paul.m.ramirez at jpl.nasa.gov>>
> Subject: Re: [Live-demo] [OSGeo-Discuss] OSGeo-Live 6.5 on VM Depot
>
> James,
> Good question.
>
> I'd suggest the first priority is to just work out if we can get OSGeo-Live working on a cloud platform, being run as a "throw away" install for testing software.
>
> However, a next step could be to build a server version of OSGeo-Live, maybe "OSGeo-Server" which has a different set of priorities. In particular, the server version need not be constrained by the size of a DVD, should be optimised for server performance, and should have an emphasis on security. (There is quite a bit of work involved in thinking through all these issues).
>
> On 02/06/13 08:40, James Klassen wrote:
>
> What are the thoughts on securing a cloud version if OSGeo-Live?  (My presumption is that a cloud hosted installation would likely be directly on the internet.)
>
> My observation is the packages (and particularly the server and database components) are installed such that it is easy to explore and experiment.  This is different than how things would be properly configured and secured as internet facing services.
>
> When I introduce people to OSGeo-Live, I tell them it is a great way to get started, try things, and see what can be done with the software.  However, they should really do their own install if they plan to use it for production use.
>
> On Jun 1, 2013 5:18 PM, "Cameron Shorter" <cameron.shorter at gmail.com<mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>> wrote:
> Paul, sorry for the delayed response ...
>
> On 31/05/13 12:11, Ramirez, Paul M (398J) wrote:
> Cameron,
>
> I'm up to giving this a go. There seems to be much more involved than I
> may have thought of initially but I'll take it one step at a time. It will
> take me a little bit to come up to speed on this but from what I can tell
> the goal is to have 7.0 by October 3rd?
> Not quite:
>
> Key Milestones
>
>      17 Jun 2013 All new applications installed, most old applications updated
>      15 Jul 2013 Feature Freeze (all apps updated)
>      05 Aug 2013 User Acceptance Test (all apps installed and working)
>      26 Aug 2013 Final ISO sent to printers
>
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Live_GIS_Disc_Press_Release_40
>
>    I won't be able to make the IRC
> meeting tomorrow (12:30pm PT) but will start attending the following week.
> I think you had the wrong day anyway. I've just updated our meeting details here:
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Live_GIS_Disc#Contact_Us
>
> Looking at the Wiki page referenced there are some simple steps I can
> start taking to come on board. Anything in particular you think would be
> good first steps?
>
> I think the key thing we need to work out is a process for building OSGeo-Live in the cloud.
> First, see if it is possible.
> Then we need to work out how building in the cloud can be automated so we can do this regularly as part of our build cycle.
> Next: How can we help a few 100 developers get access to the cloud install so they can debug their application if it doesn't work.
>
> It will be ok to take a few releases before we get everything right. Our first USB release was considered beta and had known issues and it took a few releases before we started recommending it.
>
> As you suggest, a few steps at a time is a good plan.
>
>
> @Alex, sounds good on the direct updates to svn definitely comfortable
> with that route.
>
> --Paul Ramirez
>
>
> On 5/30/13 1:58 PM, "Cameron Shorter" <cameron.shorter at gmail.com<mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> (continuing on osgeolive email list)
>
> Paul, excellent to hear about your proposal. Cloud hosting of OSGeoLive
> is a huge value add for the community, and something that opens the door
> for many other opportunities.
>
> I'd like to propose that you embed yourself in the core OSGeo-Live team
> as we move into the OSGeo-Live 7.0 release, and make cloud hosting a
> central focus of our 7.0 release.
> Advantages to yourself is that you'd be able to tap into the greater
> community to help debug issues on the cloud platform.
> Advantages to the community is that we'd get a new distribution platform.
>
> I expect this would require quite a bit of work, and someone such as
> yourself to anchor the activity. But if you are doing it already, then
> it is a win for everyone.
>
> Our 7.0 schedule is linked from here:
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Live_GIS_Disc#Schedule
>
> And I describe the value OSGeo-Live brings to participants here:
> http://cameronshorter.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/memoirs-of-cat-herder-coordi
> nating.html
> (This is sometimes useful to show managers to justify spending time on
> OSGeo-Live)
>
> On 31/05/2013 5:52 AM, Alex Mandel wrote:
> Paul,
>
> If you write a quickstart we can grant you access to commit it to the
> svn repository directly (see
> http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Live_GIS_Disc#Subversion). Or you can send
> the file to the OSGeo Live mailing list (
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/live-demo) or attach it to a
> ticket ( http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo/ )
>
> Copying this to the OSGeo Live list where we should continue the
> discussion.
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
> On 05/30/2013 10:00 AM, Ramirez, Paul M (398J) wrote:
> Hi Alex,
>
> Will definitely let the community know when this is done. Fairly
> certain
> we'll have a quick start on how to do get the VM going and if you guys
> want to add this documentation upstream in the site that would be
> great,
> are you the person to send that type of information to? This is
> something
> that will get done in the next few weeks on the VM Depot side.
>
> If we run into any snafus with the VM format that can't be overcome
> fairly
> easily I'll take you up on the offer. If we end up changing the VM
> format
> we'll push that upstream too.
>
> Thanks,
> Paul Ramirez
>
> On 5/30/13 8:39 AM, "Alex Mandel" <tech_dev at wildintellect.com<mailto:tech_dev at wildintellect.com>> wrote:
>
> On 05/30/2013 07:10 AM, Ramirez, Paul M (398J) wrote:
> All,
>
> Not sure who to ask but figured this list could provide some insight.
> I'd like to take the OSGeo-Live [1] and make it available on VM Depot
> [2] run by Microsoft Open Tech. VM Depot is really just a community
> catalog of VMs that could  be easily spun up on Microsoft Azure. I
> would
> eventually like to do the same on Amazon but for now this work aligns
> with other efforts in my day job. It don't think there will be that
> much
> effort involved in doing this but I wanted to make sure that this
> wasn't
> already done by someone and that it was okay to essentially
> redistribute
> this work.
>
> The intended purpose of this is to help make it easier for some NASA
> Earth Science people I work with to have a platform to explore these
> technologies. We would eventually extend on this VM with ways to
> interact with NASA services/examples but figured this was an easy
> way to
> get bootstrapped. The other motivation we have is to infuse FOSS4G
> technologies into our data systems so this seemed like an avenue to
> do
> such a thing.
>
> A little background on me. I was lucky enough to be able to
> participate
> on the planning committee for this years FOSS4G NA but unfortunately
> sequestered and unable to attend. Currently, I'm helping lead some
> working groups within NASA that focus on Geospatial efforts so my
> motivation there is to help tie that community to this one. I've
> worked
> for NASA for quite some time but over the last 2 years have become
> passionate about the open source efforts in the geospatial community.
>
> Essentially, I really want to make sure that I credit OSGeo and all
> the
> people that did the work but at the same time not infringe on their
> efforts in any way. Any pointers, thoughts, concerns, etc. would be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> Paul Ramirez
>
> [1] http://live.osgeo.org/en/index.html
> [2] http://vmdepot.msopentech.com/List/Index
>
>
> It is absolutely ok to distribute. I don't think anyone has done it
> yet,
> so you should and post back with the info for the community. We can
> even
> add a link in the documentation about how to create a VM on Azure
> based
> on the upload. We have talked about an EC2 instance also but no one
> has
> done that yet either.
>
> Let us know if you need anything, ie the VM drive in another format...
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
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>
> --
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Solutions Manager
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050<tel:%2B61%20%280%292%208570%205050>
> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254<tel:%2B61%20%280%29419%20142%20254>
>
> Think Globally, Fix Locally
> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
> http://www.lisasoft.com
>
>
>
> --
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Solutions Manager
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050<tel:%2B61%20%280%292%208570%205050>
> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254<tel:%2B61%20%280%29419%20142%20254>
>
> Think Globally, Fix Locally
> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
> http://www.lisasoft.com
>
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> http://live.osgeo.org
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>
>
>
> --
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Solutions Manager
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>
> Think Globally, Fix Locally
> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
> http://www.lisasoft.com
>