[Pkg-r-builders] Hello, world

[Michael Rutter]

On 03/23/2017 10:38 AM, Don Armstrong wrote:
> On Thu, 23 Mar 2017, Dirk Eddelbuettel wrote:
>> Next step: Figure out where to host a server, maybe?
>
> For Debian autobuilders, DSA has agreed to host a machine, so we've got
> that ready as a start. Unfortunately, only Dirk and I (I believe?) have
> the ability to login to that machine.
>
>>  - Don:  U of I a possibility?
>
> Would have the same problems as Penn, and I'm unlikely to be at UofI
> long-term.
>
>>  - Michael: You mentioned Penn overhead costs, so maybe not there.
>>
>> Gabor and I are not "institutionalized" so only outside options.
>
> Perhaps contacting OSU and/or Gandhi or similar might be acceptable if
> we need machines? Maybe we could also get amazon or similar to donate
> space/time, since the packages produced would be of great utility to
> people using the cloud for analysis as well?
>

Just to follow up on the Penn State situation.  Since the grant had no 
overhead in the budget, it rules out using Penn State resources.  That 
would include housing a server, even if the funds for the server was 
external.

There is a small loophole.  If the grant was to be given as a gift, 
which roughly means there is not a contract between myself and the R 
Foundation, then this becomes part of my research program.  We could 
then work out some sort of arrangement.

An additional complication: Penn State has recently become very strict 
on accessing servers from outside of Penn State.  I had to get special 
permission to open up the ssh port on a server so CRAN can have access 
to the Ubuntu packages.  The network powers that be are not thrilled 
about that, and the access is restricted to one external IP.  If we 
wanted to access a server inside Penn State, we would likely need to use 
a VPN.

Michael