---
title: Setting the Scene
date: 2016-01-25T16:44:00Z
layout: Post
hero: https://picsum.photos/id/866/1920/400
hero credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/9RqA6tnT0gA
hero credit text: Samuel Zeller
classes:
  header: header-black-gradient
tags:
  - university tech
---

This must, by now, be my fifth or sixth attempt at a blog. As per usual, I'll tell myself that I'll do better this time, and I'll write regularly, and post when I find solutions to interesting problems.

---

Whatever, hopefully I'll at least manage to keep some useful content here.

To set the scene for some of the material I'll be blogging about anyway:

I'm a university student at [Imperial College London](https://www.imperial.ac.uk) in the [Department of Computing](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/computing). As of this writing, I'm a third year, on the four-year MEng programme.

In my spare time, I indulge in a number of hobbies:

* Playing [Heroes of the Storm](https://eu.battle.net/heroes/en/), a "Hero Brawler" (or a MOBA...) by Blizzard Entertainment
* Running [Imperial Cinema](http://www.imperialcinema.co.uk), the student-run cinema of Imperial. This year, I'm the chair. Last year, I was treasurer. Ho hum.
* Acting as Media Technical Manager for Imperial College Union's Media Group.

## Heroes of the Storm

Not much to say here. If you like playing (EU West!), then poke me. Maybe I'll play a match or two with you - I'm not very good...

## Imperial Cinema

There's a lot of fun technical stuff that goes on here. We've got:

* _Digital Projector_: Barco DP2K-10Sx (without the Barco Alchemy board)
* _Media Server_: Doremi ShowVault (with the web GUI hacks)
* _Audio Kit_: Some Flare surrounds, primarily because they're small
* _Servers_:
    * `ernie`: webserver and database server. Stores ticketing info.
    * `avantgarde`: acts as a bridge between our automation and the outside world


## Media Technical Manager

This is fun. I manage:

* `onyx`: an ESXi install, with a bunch of different OSs on it.
* `cog`: CentOS. On `onyx`. Runs our directory server - we use [FreeIPA](https://www.freeipa.org).
* `gears`: Debian. On `onyx`, bound to `cog`. This is the storage VM, running home directories, media storage for Rivendell. Supports NFS, AFP (netatalk) and SMB (Samba), as well as SFTP, if you have shell access rights.
* `galen`: Debian. On `onyx`. Media group webserver. Runs some websites.
* `hubs`: OS X Server. Mostly around for Profile Manager and Apple Remote Desktop.
* `icr-firestar`: Debian. Runs the [ICRadio](http://www.icradio.com) website.
* `icr-optimus`: CentOS. Central server for the [Rivendell](http://www.rivendellaudio.org) radio broadcast system we use.
* `stoic-blackadder`: Debian. Used for [ICTV](http://www.imperialcollege.tv)'s playout system.
* `stoic-dexter`: Debian. Also used for various internal bits of ICTV.
* `stoic-hannibal`: Windows, used for live video production, running [CasparCG](http://www.casparcg.com)
* `nucleus`: OS X Server (again). This is a Mac Mini.

as well as a bunch of Mac clients of varying vintages:

* `silverbolt`
* `airraid`
* `slingshot`
* `fireflight`
* `skydive`
* `groove`
* `streetwise`
* `superion`
* `omegasupreme`
* `tachyon`
* `lightspeed`
* `cliffjumper`
* `stoic-macedit1`
* `hyperon`
* `boron`

...some Mac Minis used for live production purposes:

* `hardhead`
* `chromedome`
* `brainstorm`

...some Apple TVs:

* `felix-atv`
* `media-atv`

There's quite a bit here, and all the Mac clients are bound to `cog` for directory purposes, and to `hubs` for Profile Management (and Munki).