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Today's Topics:
1. Re: IEBC Systems (Bwana Lawi)
2. Re: IEBC Systems (Bernard Owuor)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2013 11:53:19 +0300
From: Bwana Lawi <mail2lawi@gmail.com>
To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
Message-ID:
<CAF_-2vr7B=_jiS1PXpx=Zi7vLWNxav8tKZ2vR05aGNbZ-84NgA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The IEBC system for 2013 election system is done. Let's focus on system for
2018. Shadrack, we should team up.
If we dont get the tender in Kenya (thanks to Davis' reality check) we can
sell in Rwanda, Tz, etc. From their perspective, we will be "outsourced"
On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:25 AM, Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com> wrote:
> This is true, wise words from Rad:
>
> Nobody knows what the issue is ... That is the point, we do not
> have sufficient information to make any calls. It could be a database
> issue. It could be a code issue. It could be a network issue. It could be
> that SIM cards don't have airtime. It could be a process issue. It could be
> a load issue. We don't know.
>
>
> Right now our main focus should be trying to fully understand how the
> system was supposed to work, followed by getting a real answer from the
> IEBC on what actually went wrong. The bigger issue is clear communication
> on the problem itself, which no one is talking about.
>
> Erik Hersman
>
> www.ushahidi.com | www.iHub.co.ke <http://www.ihub.co.ke/>
> www.afrigadget.com | www.whiteafrican.com <http://www.afrigadget.com/> |
> @whiteafrican <http://twitter.com/whiteafrican>
>
> On Mar 6, 2013, at 11:21 AM, Bernard Owuor wrote:
>
> You seem to agree that the issue is "we do not know."
> And I've proposed a fix for this going forward.
> I am probably biased, so feel free to propose anything as it comes to
> mind.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com>
> *To:* Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 6, 2013 11:07 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
>
> Nobody knows what the issue is ... That is the point, we do not
> have sufficient information to make any calls. It could be a database
> issue. It could be a code issue. It could be a network issue. It could be
> that SIM cards don't have airtime. It could be a process issue. It could be
> a load issue. We don't know.
>
> Ergo it is premature to start throwing stones.
>
> On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Bernard Owuor wrote:
>
> Rad,
> So what is the heart of the issue? And how would you fix it?
> Don't waste time with the technical problem - which none of us
> noise-makers have any opportunity to fix - and would be speculation at best.
>
> Try to focus on fixing the bigger picture. We've had similar large
> failures on publicly procured systems, yet most privately built systems eg
> mobile banking, agency banking etc cost 1/1000 times the price and carry a
> million times the load and value.
>
> Don't get side-tracked by the windows 2008 server bashing either.... I'm
> using a windows machine to type this email :)
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com>
> *To:* Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 6, 2013 10:40 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
>
> As usual - any technical debate eventually loses issues and descends to
> open source vs closed source.
>
> It is not in order to allege the issue is the openness of the code or the
> operating system in use without knowing the facts.
>
> On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Bernard Owuor wrote:
>
> Erik, thanks for the link.
> (And great job with the http://results.uchaguzi.co.ke/index.php/senator.)
>
> This can never be a disk space issue... the error gives it away:
> "Database Error: Unable to connect to the database:Could not connect to
> MySQL"
>
> It's a case of using Windows 2008 server - without tweaking - when a LAMP
> server would work out of the box :)
> Which points to the bigger problem of using closed source systems for
> public interest software.
> After paying KES 9B (or some happy figure) for it, and with the very
> detailed RFP in the public domain, IEBC should be able to own the software.
> They should open-source it - since it's paid for with public money. (I
> understand it is still proprietary to IFES)
>
> For such a system, the cost of implementing the solution far outweighs the
> price of the software, so IEBC will still pay a lot of money for it.
> However, we get better quality, future-proofing and some savings (in future
> elections). Biggest payoff is the trust engendered by openness.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com>
> *To:* Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:09 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
>
> http://iebctechkenya.tumblr.com/
>
> Erik Hersman
>
> www.ushahidi.com | www.iHub.co.ke <http://www.ihub.co.ke/>
> www.whiteafrican.com <http://www.afrigadget.com/> | @whiteafrican<http://twitter.com/whiteafrican>
>
> On Mar 6, 2013, at 8:59 AM, Patrick Kariuki <patrick.kariuki@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Who said scaling MYSQL is necessary when the cheque and traffic comes
> once every 4 years?
>
>
> On 3/6/13, joe mwirigi <joemwirigi@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Lets just say its a KES 9B lesson to the government that hires 'foreign
> companies' because they are 'big'
>
> I hear, the 'weed' tells me one had to login to the same server(database)
> to send the results. Am not sure they did run tests
> with 30,000 concurrent users so the db kept giving way, halafu mnajua zile
> logs za mysql on error. They filled the
> disk like crazy! -- just speculating -- I in no way know these guys! Then I
> can imagine the conversation
>
> Boss: vhat is happening Signh (shaking his head)
> Signh: donno databes only 10 MEg. Just chekin.
> Boss: Vy data not coming in u nno.
> Signh: dh -f
>
> $ unknown command
> $ df -h
>
> Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
>
> /dev/sdb1 2000G 1999.2G 0.6G 99% /
> varrun 393M 144k 393M 1% /var/run
> varlock 393M 0 393M 0% /var/lock
> procbususb 393M 123k 393M 1% /proc/bus/usb
> udev 393M 123k 393M 1% /dev
>
> Signh: They send too much, too much data, see
> Boss: Yeah, too much sending 2Tb full already, patel, vhere is that 4
> Tb disk! just plug it and ve ar in business!
> Signh: >$sudo /etc/init.d/mysql restart
>
> $password: **
> $ wrong password try again:***
> $ ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server
>
> through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)
>
> $
>
>
> On a lighter note though
> *__
>
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>
>
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2013 00:59:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Bernard Owuor <b_owuor@yahoo.com>
To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
Message-ID:
<1362560366.58305.YahooMailNeo@web126205.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Didn't the IEBC say it was a "disk space provisioning issue" which has since then been fixed?
The best systems will fail - one time or another - so we should not be too hard on the IEBC.
Nevertheless, we really should learn lessons from these failures.
________________________________
From: Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com>
To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
This is true, wise words from Rad:
Nobody knows what the issue is ... That is the point, we do not have?sufficient information to make any calls. It could be a database issue. It could be a code issue. It could be a network issue. It could be that SIM cards don't have airtime. It could be a process issue. It could be a load issue.?We don't know.
Right now our main focus should be trying to fully understand how the system was supposed to work, followed by getting a real answer from the IEBC on what actually went wrong. ?The bigger issue is clear communication on the problem itself, which no one is talking about. ?
Erik Hersman
www.ushahidi.com?|?www.iHub.co.ke
www.afrigadget.com?|?www.whiteafrican.com?|?@whiteafrican
On Mar 6, 2013, at 11:21 AM, Bernard Owuor wrote:
You seem to agree that the issue is "we do not know."
>And I've proposed a fix for this going forward.
>I am probably biased, so feel free to propose anything as it comes to mind.
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com>
>To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
>Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 11:07 AM
>Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
>
>
>Nobody knows what the issue is ... That is the point, we do not have?sufficient information to make any calls. It could be a database issue. It could be a code issue. It could be a network issue. It could be that SIM cards don't have airtime. It could be a process issue. It could be a load issue.?We don't know.
>
>
>Ergo it is premature to start throwing stones.
>
>On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Bernard Owuor wrote:
>
>Rad,
>>So what is the heart of the issue? And how would you fix it?
>>Don't waste time with the technical problem - which none of us noise-makers have any opportunity to fix - and would be speculation at best.
>>
>>Try to focus on fixing the bigger picture. We've had similar large failures on publicly procured systems, yet most privately built systems eg mobile banking, agency banking etc cost 1/1000 times the price and carry a million times the load and value.
>>
>>Don't get side-tracked by the windows 2008 server bashing either.... I'm using a windows machine to type this email :)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>________________________________
>> From: Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com>
>>To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
>>Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 10:40 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
>>
>>
>>As usual - any technical?debate eventually loses issues and?descends to open source vs closed source.
>>
>>
>>It is not in order to allege the issue is the openness of the code or the operating system in use without knowing the facts.
>>
>>On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, Bernard Owuor wrote:
>>
>>Erik, thanks for the link.
>>>(And great job with the http://results.uchaguzi.co.ke/index.php/senator.)
>>>
>>>This can never be a disk space issue... the error gives it away:
>>>"Database Error: Unable to connect to the database:Could not connect to MySQL"
>>>
>>>?It's a case of using Windows 2008 server - without tweaking - when a LAMP server would work out of the box :)
>>>Which points to the bigger problem of using closed source systems for public interest software.
>>>After paying KES 9B (or some happy figure) for it, and with the very detailed RFP in the public domain, IEBC should be able to own the software. They should open-source it - since it's paid for with public money. (I understand it is still proprietary to IFES)
>>>
>>>For such a system, the cost of implementing the solution far outweighs the price of the software,
so IEBC will still pay a lot of money for it. However, we get better quality, future-proofing and some savings (in future elections). Biggest payoff is the trust engendered by openness.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>________________________________
>>> From: Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com>
>>>To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>
>>>Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:09 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems
>>>
>>>
>>>http://iebctechkenya.tumblr.com/
>>>
>>>
>>>Erik Hersman
>>>
>>>
>>>www.ushahidi.com?|?www.iHub.co.ke
>>>www.whiteafrican.com?|?@whiteafrican
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>On Mar 6, 2013, at 8:59 AM, Patrick Kariuki <patrick.kariuki@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>Who said scaling MYSQL is necessary when the cheque and traffic comes
>>>>once every 4 years?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On 3/6/13, joe mwirigi <joemwirigi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Lets just say its a KES 9B lesson to the government that hires 'foreign
>>>>>companies' because they are 'big'
>>>>>
>>>>>I hear, the 'weed' tells me one had to login to the same server(database)
>>>>>to send the results. Am not sure they did run tests
>>>>>with 30,000 concurrent users so the db kept giving way, halafu mnajua zile
>>>>>logs za mysql on error. They filled the
>>>>>disk like crazy! -- just speculating -- I in no way know these guys! Then I
>>>>>can imagine the conversation
>>>>>
>>>>>Boss: vhat is happening Signh (shaking his head)
>>>>>Signh: donno databes only 10 MEg. Just chekin.
>>>>>Boss: Vy data not coming in u nno.
>>>>>Signh: dh -f
>>>>>
>>>>>$ unknown command
>>>>>>$ df -h
>>>>>>
???Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
>>>>>
>>>>>/dev/sdb1
??????????????2000G ??1999.2G ??0.6G 99% /
>>>>>varrun ????????????????393M ??144k ??393M ??1% /var/run
>>>>>varlock ???????????????393M ?????0 ??393M ??0% /var/lock
>>>>>procbususb ????????????393M ??123k ??393M ??1% /proc/bus/usb
>>>>>udev ??????????????????393M ??123k ??393M ??1% /dev
>>>>>
>>>>>????Signh: They send too much, too much data, see
>>>>>????Boss: Yeah, too much sending 2Tb full already,
patel, vhere is that 4
>>>>>Tb disk! just plug it and ve ar in business!
>>>>>????Signh: >$sudo /etc/init.d/mysql restart
>>>>>
>>>>>$password: **
>>>>>>$ wrong password try again:***
>>>>>>$ ERROR 2002 (HY000): Can't connect to local MySQL server
>>>>>>through socket '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock' (2)
>>>>>
>>>>>$
>>>>>>
>>>>>On a lighter note though
>>>>>*__------------
>>Other services @ http://my.co.ke
>>
>>
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