Linux Powered Christmas Tree

_xeno_ writes "Ever wondered what happens if you cross a Christmas tree with a Linux server? You get ChristmasTree.WPI.EDU. It's a Red Hat 7.2 server running on an artificial Christmas tree as a decoration. You can make the tree play different songs (no, not your browser, the tree's soundcard) by clicking on the pictures. Apparently, the ability to control the tree lights is coming soon." Just when you think you've seen it all, someone changes what "It" is.

Comments

Brings new meaning

[Fillup]

Brings new meaning to the term "fire hazard."

urk

[faeryman]

Please tell me the didn't choose Red Hat because Santa Claus wears one.

here is a clue on how not to get a christmas date

[linzeal]

do not tell some girl that you have a linux powered christmas tree, and never ever give her the url for it with you standing next to it.

Hmm...

[appleprophet]

First tree in history to be slashdotted?

Better check out the page quick....

[moniker_21]

Yes, that computer you see in the christmas tree is the actual one serving this web page and music! It is a Pentium 100 with 64MB RAM, running Red Hat Linux 7.2.

Lets count the seconds until the /. effect kicks in....

4... 3... 2... 1...

Obligatory Beowulf cluster comment

[flegged]

Can you imagine a Beowulf cluster of these?

Or would that be a Beowulf forest?

Re:Obligatory Beowulf cluster comment

[flegged]

What if you were to log in as root?

It comes back every year...

[Kirkoff]

So let's sing it again and spread some Christmas cheer!

better !pout !cry
better watchout
lpr why
santa claus town

cat /etc/passwd > list
ncheck list
ncheck list
cat list | grep naughty > nogiftlist
cat list | grep nice > giftlist
santa claus town

who | grep sleeping
who | grep awake
who | grep bad || good
for (goodness sake) {
be good
}

Think this code is on the tree?

--Josh

/. descends to a new low...

[Usquebaugh]

Don't get me wrong I usually love hacked stuff, portable 2600, tetris on a building, laser mame etc. But this is shite. Take a pentium out of a case and throw it into a tree, big deal. Anyone want to see my linux bookcase?

I cannot believe the russian chappies freedom doesn't make the front page but this does, arrgh.

Correction

[pherret]

It's not a "linux-powered christmas tree". It's a tree with a computer placed on it. Just a computer without a case. A "linux-powered christmas tree" would mean that the tree is powered by linux. This is not the case as you can cleary see. Linux is not powering the tree in anyway, the tree is just sitting there.

Nothing fancy here....move along.

Also, a "Christmas" tree has ornaments, lights, tinsel...christmasy things....this tree has styrofoam and other computer junk to decorate it.

It's just a tree with a computer in it.

Re:Correction

[_xeno_]

You're missing some of the backstory by not being from WPI...

The tree is located in the CCC shop (CCC = College Computer Center), which is the place A) where WPI computers that break are repaired (I think student computers can be brought there if they were bought via a WPI sponsored vendor, but I'm not sure...) and B) where Network Operations is located (making this slightly funnier IMHO).

For the past couple of years, there has been a tree in the CCC shop which is decorated with computer parts. This year, Paul Reitchel and Chuck Anderson decided to make those parts actually work. So they powered up the board with a power supply at the bottom of the tree and set it up to play Christmas songs via a web interface (although the speakers were, while not off, turned down to inaudiable when I swung by the shop - it was already popular enough around campus to drive everyone nuts, which doesn't surprise me).

Also, a "Christmas" tree has ornaments, lights, tinsel...christmasy things...

It does have lights, and, again, it's in the CCC shop, so it's decorated with hardware mostly as a joke. (Plus, if Chuck gets around to X10-ing the tree lights, it'll really be "Linux powered" - I think the fact that it plays music via the board is makes it "powered" enough... How would you use Linux to power a tree? Make it rotate or something?)

And if you want to see something really funny, take a look at the I2 link upstream/downstream graphs. You can see when the story was posted on the daily graph at about 20:00 EST.

(Plus the idea of NetOps taking up more than the maximum allowed bandwidth per system is a rather amusing idea to a WPI student...)

Errr...

[Psarchasm]

Chuck buddy... you are in dire need of a woman.

C'mon everyone, have a heart!

[Saint Aardvark]

Honestly, just imagine 80,000 attempts at starting "Silver Bells" that get no further than the first three notes. His office mates are gonna kill him.

Alma Mater

[Cheeko]

Well after 4 years and $125,000 I can honestly feel proud about something my school did. Even if not directly sponsored by the school. Probably the first time WPI has been /.ed too.

um

[nomadic]

Ever wondered what happens if you cross a Christmas tree with a Linux server?

No.