Hi all,

Welcome back to a new term! Starting this term we're running a crash course of technical talks and workshops that aims to cover everything someone working with computers ought to know!

OK, so we won't have enough time to cover absolutely everything, but in future many of you will find yourselves - often not by choice! - responsible for setting up and administering computer systems. Inevitably that involves tracking down and fixing problems when things go wrong.

Firstly, we want you to be equiped with the understanding and practical troubleshooting skills that could help you become a (well-paid) computing expert.

Secondly, we'd like to provide a broad exposure to many different aspects of computing at many levels so you feel you know something about all sorts of things you might encounter.

We'll get started by looking at the world from the perspective of a systems administrator, and focus on security and then networking.

Once things get going, we're hoping that some of you will offer to share your own particular expertise with other members as part of this programme.

The first event will be this Wednesday and there'll be roughly one each week. Alongside this we intend to apply some of the skills to set up a server in Oxford for the society again.

Hope you all have a great term.

Ken.