Proposal: DreamVacation

I was thinking it would be neat if DH invited customers to a day of education but as I got thinking about it more this turned into a 3-4 day conference. This would consist of at least the following sessions:

- Linux - what you can, and can't do at the DH Debian shell prompt
- Apache - making best use of .htaccess, modrewrite, and other DH resources
- MySQL basic usage and tuning within the DH constraints
- PHP - beginning use
- PHP - optimization tips, our own php.ini, available libraries
- Python, Perl, Java - using other languages on a DH server
- Managing email on DH servers
- Configuring permissions, subdomains, mirroring, and forwarding
- Jabber, cURL, and other communications tools commonly used at DH

Company related:
- Get to know the employees
- Making use of the wiki, forums, online status page, and other online resources
- Top FAQs to Support and how customers and DH can best deal with them

Then there can be break-outs for various packages like Joomla, phpBB, WordPress, Drupal, etc - mostly for discussion of DH-specific issues. I'm sure leading professionals for various packages would welcome an opportunity to join us to talk about configuration and optimization of specific apps.

It would be "out of context" to attempt to get training for specific packages at this event but that can be discussed. A couple days might be allocated for nothing but attendee-organized break-outs for various packages, with rooms reserved and schedules posted well in advance.

I believe DH is located in Brea California - very close to DisneyLand, Los Angeles, and many major attractions. So people can bring their families for a small summer DreamVacation while they get themselves a DreamEducation.

To allow everyone to get the most of the event, wiki pages can be started for each event and multi-user blogs set up at a DH subdomain. Attendees will be asked to blog their experience and new-found technical knowledge, and details will be selected and posted to the wiki so that those who can't attend can still benefit for a long time to come.

DreamHost is just one hosting company of many, and this sort of get-together can be offered by anyone. But to my knowledge it's not - maybe I'm just not hanging around in the right webmasters forums. Maybe DH can collaborate with other companies that offer LAMP and related services to organize this for a common user base. I don't think that will happen because hosting companies tend to fear losing customers to their competition. If DH doesn't want to organize this but they do have sincere interest in major participation, I'll talk to a company that does this in my business community and maybe DH can be a guest like everyone else - though of course a central focus of the event.

Phew - got that out - what do you folks think?

well thought out. i might even pay for my only employee (me) to go : )

That would be awesome, except that DreamHost is just two guys running a 486 DX2-66 over a 1200 baud modem from their basement, right?

-- si-blog --

DX2-66? They upgraded again?

Ah yes, the Dreamhost homecoming.

I propose we have this in Las Vegas or Hawaii.

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just last week, actually. we're working on getting financing for 32MB more ram for it too, which should help improve performance somewhat

You guys are awesome! See? This is what I mean. And someone there can show us how to make the best use of the 1200 baud modems, that 500MB hard drive we all share, and all of the other technological wonders you guys put in place for us!

About the suggestion to do this in Vega$ though - sure, that would be cool but if DH comes to the conclusion that this is too big a deal I don't want it to be because of the location. For the first one let everyone come here (I'm in the area too) and if it works then maybe we can go somewhere else next time.

I have just checked the TOS of my bus-pass and I do not think I am covered for travel to exotic places in foreign lands or Yorkshire.

I propose the 'Greasy Spoon' cafe in Bognor Regis.

They can only seat four at a time but I am sure we can set up a rota.

You do have to bring your own mug and knife though.

(The knife is only needed if you order something a bit tough. Like the soup.)

--
Norm

Opinions are my own views, not DreamHosts'.
I am NOT a DreamHost employee OK!

Act on my advice at your own risk!

In reply to:

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I propose the 'Greasy Spoon' cafe in Bognor Regis.

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Jesus. I haven't been to Bognor since I was a kid. I used to go on holiday with my family in a place called Middleton-on-sea and we would go into Bognor for groceries.

-- si-blog --