On Tue, Mar 07, 2006 at 10:56:57PM +0100, Martin Zobel-Helas wrote:
Hi, the past, there were some issues that seem to indicate that the current Debian System Administrator team (DSA team) is overworked, as problems were not adressed in a timely fashion. The following just lists some of these issues: * Problems with one of the security.debian.org host network connection [ http://lists.debian.org/debian-security/2006/02/msg00047.html ] * Packages.debian.org down [ http://lists.debian.org/debian-project/2006/01/msg00017.html ] * Host Relocation and host sought [ http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2005/06/msg00016.html ] Have there been any actions taken? There is no way at the moment to see any progress of the issues in public. Now my question: 1.) Do you think it would be a good idea to handle debian-admin moreopenly?
That is a tough question to answer. So far they have been getting the job done, but appear to be getting overworked lately. The reason it is a tough question, is that the reason debian-admin stays out of the limelight is that they are the real power behind the throne. Without them, Debian cannot exist. In every large Free Software project I've been on, there were always power seekers with a modicum of programming skill who were drawn in like moths to the cupboard. They are more focussed on personal power than on the future good of the project. They want reputation through popularity rather than through work. Making the debian-admin team more open would make it a much larger and more tempting target for those types. Minimizing your exposure is a valid security principle. For the good of the project, we need some way to let the sysadmin team do their jobs without being distracted by politics. I don't have the answer of how to accomplish that. But I'd like you to keep it in mind next time you wonder why they aren't more open.
2.) Would you encourage debian-admin to do so? If yes, how?
Better and faster communication is always important; if they need assistants, we should encourage them to add people to the team. But then it becomes a matter of weeding out the powerseekers. Our admin team is only human; all it takes is one brown-noser to slip in, and he'll hold open the gates for all the other popularity seekers until the original hardworking, competent DSA resign in disgust. Maybe that has already happened. I don't know. It is all so secretive.
3.) Do you think more DSA are needed?
As someone who isn't on the team, and only sees peoples complaints about poor communication, it does seem like more DSA are needed. As DPL I'd ask them directly what how they feel about that. Ted --It's not true unless it makes you laugh, but you don't understand it until it makes you weep.
Eukleia: Ted Walther Address: 5690 Pioneer Ave, Burnaby, BC V5H2X6 (Canada) Contact: 604-430-4973
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