LERT: Linux Emergency Response Team

LERT service has ended

The Linux Users' Group of Davis' Linux Emergency Response Team was a volunteer-based service where a club member would travel to your home or workplace and install or fix your Linux installation. It was made available for people with emergency problems who could not wait until our next Installfest.

Due to dis-use, lack of a coordinator, and liability and tax-related concerns, we decided to end the service in February 2011 (see officer's meeting minutes).

If you need Linux- or computer-related help, we still provide the following free services, where you can get help from volunteers:

• 'vox-tech' mailing list
  Subscribe to this list and you can post your technical questions to the rest of the subscribers. With luck, someone can provide suggestions or pointers via the list.
• #lugod IRC (chat) channel
  Hop onto our IRC channel and ask questions to the others who are currently logged on.
• Linux Installfest Workshops
  Our semi-regular free workshop where you can bring your PC and volunteers (from LUGOD and often from the Computer Science Club at UC Davis) can help you install, configure, or debug issues with your Linux-based computer.
• Job Posting Page and 'vox-jobs' mailing list
  Where you can post local, Linux-related jobs.

History

Early in LUGOD's history, Peter Jay Salzman (one of the club's co-founders) started a subgroup within LUGOD named LERT -- The Linux Emergency Response Team. Originally, it was a play on "CERT", the so-called computer security experts from Carnegie Mellon University. It was goofy enough to keep. :-) In October 2001, Henry House took over as the new coordinator (dispatch) for LERT.