Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure. Best Regards, Dickson. ---- http://qhim.wordpress.com Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up? ./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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The secrecy of the IEBC system is what is being used to mask the inadequacy of the system or the people using them, The amount of money allocated comes in question if it was efficiently used. Patrick On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:53 PM, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up?

./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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Considering the amount of data being received, I doubt hardware could be the problem. A desktop could handle it. I agree with you though on the coding. Very possible. And a lack of testing. Not with 10 "agents" sending in sample data, but a full-load simulation. The system got hammered with a few thousand (?) connections and just flopped. On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:03 PM, Athar Ahmad Bhatti <atharab@gmail.com>wrote:

I think it's hardware sizing viz a vie bad coding.

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 5, 2013, at 10:49 PM, Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> wrote:

The secrecy of the IEBC system is what is being used to mask the inadequacy of the system or the people using them, The amount of money allocated comes in question if it was efficiently used.

Patrick

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:53 PM, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com>wrote:

...

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up?

./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //when i say "honey", i mean the sweet, sticky stuff that bees make... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, * On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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Guys Give the IEBC time Anyone who has worked with systems will tell you sometimes shit hits the fan ... and you fix it IEBC has 5 days .... On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 9:41 AM, Njoroge Tito <titonjoroge@gmail.com> wrote:

Put in perspectives:

The data set: about 33,000 polling stations. 6 positions being contested for. Presidential race had 8 candidates.

Just for presidential race, thats about 270,000 unique results to be populated in a database. 270,000 in 2 days and we have had significant failure.

Even if you multiply that number by 6 for other positions, assuming an average of 8 contestants per seat, that number comes to less than 2m entries in a database.

Equity bank has more than 5m customers. Safaricom has 15m subscribers on mpesa.

Even when you think about it in terms of transactions, the number of transactions goes down significantly.

This is a real shame for IEBC.

On 6 March 2013 09:09, Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com> wrote:

...

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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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Dear Skunks, Pole for the delay in results. These are the kind of things that make people suspicious and not trust local ICT professionals. The public has no idea if th system is foreign or local. All they know is that 9b of their money was spent on the systems. The transactions being managed by IEBC are so small that they can be managed by a powerful desk top on any relational database. doin't even talk of concurrent submission of results because all that is need is a good queue management algorith. A separate desktop would handle the incoming traffic from polling stations As have always said, the problem is instead of providing a solution, systems are provided instead. Regards shad ________________________________ From: Njoroge Tito <titonjoroge@gmail.com> To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:41 AM Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems Put in perspectives: The data set: about 33,000 polling stations. 6 positions being contested for.  Presidential race had 8 candidates. Just for presidential race, thats about 270,000 unique results to be populated in a database. 270,000 in 2 days and we have had significant failure. Even if you multiply that number by 6 for other positions, assuming an average of 8 contestants per seat, that number comes to less than 2m entries in a database. Equity bank has more than 5m customers. Safaricom has 15m subscribers on mpesa. Even when you think about it in terms of transactions, the number of transactions goes down significantly.  This is a real shame for IEBC. On 6 March 2013 09:09, Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com> wrote: 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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on,   *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data

...

does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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I am confident that IEBC will fix this issue, albeit late, and whatever the issue is. It would help if we knew what the technical issue is - then we can stop speculating. Tito On 6 March 2013 09:55, Shadrack Mwaniki <shadrack_mwaniki@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Skunks, Pole for the delay in results. These are the kind of things that make people suspicious and not trust local ICT professionals. The public has no idea if th system is foreign or local. All they know is that 9b of their money was spent on the systems. The transactions being managed by IEBC are so small that they can be managed by a powerful desk top on any relational database. doin't even talk of concurrent submission of results because all that is need is a good queue management algorith. A separate desktop would handle the incoming traffic from polling stations As have always said, the problem is instead of providing a solution, systems are provided instead.

Regards shad

------------------------------ *From:* Njoroge Tito <titonjoroge@gmail.com>

*To:* Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 6, 2013 9:41 AM

*Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

Put in perspectives:

The data set: about 33,000 polling stations. 6 positions being contested for. Presidential race had 8 candidates.

Just for presidential race, thats about 270,000 unique results to be populated in a database. 270,000 in 2 days and we have had significant failure.

Even if you multiply that number by 6 for other positions, assuming an average of 8 contestants per seat, that number comes to less than 2m entries in a database.

Equity bank has more than 5m customers. Safaricom has 15m subscribers on mpesa.

Even when you think about it in terms of transactions, the number of transactions goes down significantly.

This is a real shame for IEBC.

On 6 March 2013 09:09, Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com> wrote:

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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on,   *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data

...

does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:40 AM, Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:

As usual - any technical debate eventually loses issues and descends to open source vs closed source.

This concern seems to be genuine, or at leas it was to the group that was behind the code which contributed to Obama's re-election http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/22/3902746/obama-heads-back-office-battle-rag... .

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.

Martin.

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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------

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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 <javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'conradakunga@gmail.com');>> *To:* Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', '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 *__

------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke

IEBC sysadmin Where are the server logs? :-) Sent from my Blackberry® powered by Safaricom® -----Original Message----- From: Laban Mwangi <lmwangi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2013 10:11:53 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems I agree with Rad. I'd rather wait for more data before blaming anyone. It would be interesting if the IEBC could post a detailed cause of event for the rest of us. It would be a learning point for everyone involved. On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:07 AM, Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:

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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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 *__

---

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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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_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://orion.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke

For what its worth, here is one of the problems that IEBC is facing. Poor mobile network affects transmission of results <http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000078753&story_title=Kenya:%20Poor%20mobile%20network%20affects%20transmission%20of%20results> Proposed Solution: Call a committee to tender the construction of many boosters in that area, Tender awarded to yadayadayada. Next issue? My two cents, Stephen On 03/06/2013 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 <http://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 *__

------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke <http://my.co.ke/>

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As Wilson pointed out, This could also have nothing to do with technology and be a deliberate action by the commission. As they confessed they have the provisional results sitting on their servers or atleast were transmitted to the servers. Safaricom have absolved themselves saying their network is in tiptop condition and I have not known Nokia 1280s to crash due to a java app. Questions must be asked and stones thrown. We are talking about 9 billion bob spent on dell laptops, Nokia 1280s, a server, server and phone apps, safaricom sim cards + vpn and training of staff. The chairman of the IEBC says the server is intact and working. If we remember the press briefing last night he deliberately refused to adress the provisional results issue and insisted on the official figurs being delivered by the returning officers. Maybe there really was someone in Ngong forest with access to the IEBC system. All am saying is, the IEBC is an independent body funded by the taxpayer. Being answerable is part of the mandate. On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:21 AM, Bernard Owuor <b_owuor@yahoo.com> 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 *__

------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke

_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------

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-- Regards, Mark Mwangi markmwangi.me.ke

@Kioko. Exactly. On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:

I feel the discussion was going well until someone threw in typical lobbyist remarks, which seem to have distracted us.

To majority of those waiting for results, it doesn't matter whether the system is open or closed, or whether it runs on Xuo Lin Version 1. To them, why is there no transmission of results as expected?

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-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //when i say "honey", i mean the sweet, sticky stuff that bees make... -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This <http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/results/> is pretty decent from Capital, but lacks Nairobi Gubernatorial On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:35 AM, Bernard Owuor <b_owuor@yahoo.com> 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 *_______________________________________________________________ We must Keep on, *

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Still the data amount is small even for processing. What amount of data does say bank systems process on a normal working day. Its bigger than what IEBC will process.

I believe we have skills that can handle that system. Let's give IEBC benefit of patience they sort themselves out. Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Karanja <wabethi@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 22:48:50 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Its all in the </head> Best Regards, Paul Njoroge. <https://twitter.com/#%21/p_njoroge> Skype: njorogepaul @BabaKayai

On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:50 AM, Bwana Lawi <mail2lawi@gmail.com> wrote:

I have noted that one of the biggest weaknesses in our electral system (and any system, anyway) is the people.

Can we concieve a system whereby Returning Officers (ROs) are not a link in the chain? A system where my vote goes straight to IEBC (or such body) and maybe prints a slip for confirmation at the polling station?

Something like a touch screen menu, think ATM menus, where I select my candidate and the system posts to IEBC directly. It can have offline db so that in case there is no connection, the results can be stored locally and then synced with the central server.

All the polling clerks need to do is verify me at the polling station.

This way, we can get final results once the last person votes.

@Lawi, that would be working with the assumption that ALL polling stations will have un-interrupted electricity throughout the voting period. Even in Nairobi, that is not possible. What about the deepest recesses of Turkana.

Note, even solar charged, battery powered laptops failed. A manual failover is always a good backup plan, paper and pencil.

+! I keep saying that too. "Transmission" is the wrong term for them to use. It's the processing. @Mwagiru, during the first day of their "processing", I was reliably informed that their server crashed as a result of "disk full" - well, that was first hand information. I still cannot digest this personally. The database(s) could not grow to an extent that it fills a disk, unless the server was having maybe a 4GB HDD! So I kept asking myself whether that explanation was reasonable. Could they have been logging aggressively without knowing? I am saying this because if they knew about it, they could have installed a separate disk just for the logs alone. I think these guys are mostly clueless folks who have relatives in those organizations and were not necessarily recruited on the basis of their demonstrable competencies. IMHO, that is ALL the possible flaw! Sometimes it makes sense that technical employees of such public institutions like IEBC/KNEC be vetted by their peers - they should NOT be a well-guarded secret as they are a shame to the ICT fraternity. On 5 March 2013 21:53, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up?

./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.

http://www.iebc.or.ke/rpp/

...

Table 'rpp.members' doesn't exist

somebody dropped a table On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 9:35 AM, Erik Hersman <erik@zungu.com> wrote:

Read this doc (PDF), it's the specs, testing and requirements for the IEBC system. The RFP itself.

http://buyersguide.ifes.org/procurement_pdf/1356124968.pdf

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 9:24 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> wrote:

+!

I keep saying that too. "Transmission" is the wrong term for them to use. It's the processing.

@Mwagiru, during the first day of their "processing", I was reliably informed that their server crashed as a result of "disk full" - well, that was first hand information. I still cannot digest this personally. The database(s) could not grow to an extent that it fills a disk, unless the server was having maybe a 4GB HDD! So I kept asking myself whether that explanation was reasonable. Could they have been logging aggressively without knowing? I am saying this because if they knew about it, they could have installed a separate disk just for the logs alone. I think these guys are mostly clueless folks who have relatives in those organizations and were not necessarily recruited on the basis of their demonstrable competencies. IMHO, that is ALL the possible flaw!

Sometimes it makes sense that technical employees of such public institutions like IEBC/KNEC be vetted by their peers - they should NOT be a well-guarded secret as they are a shame to the ICT fraternity.

On 5 March 2013 21:53, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up?

./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------

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-- Peter Muchemi Software Developer Electra Software Ltd http://www.software.co.ke +254 722 320986

*2013/3/6 Peter Muchemi <pmuchemi@gmail.com> *

*http://www.iebc.or.ke/rpp/

...

...

Table 'rpp.members' doesn't exist

somebody dropped a table*

Look at it positively... if the drop was done after the deadline for verifying one's registration status, then it's a good thing. Remember the fiasco where folks complained that this same link was an avenue for chaps to harvest private data?

Lawi.which kenya are you living in? Did anyonw in government ask software developers do develop anything for this election? they always outsource!! you will develop ur software but u cant go past the watchman. It is unfortunate with all these developers and.software engineers in Kenya no one can bring them together to do solve system issues within government operations. On Mar 6, 2013 11:35 AM, "Bwana Lawi" <mail2lawi@gmail.com> wrote:

I am sure there are many countries that experience same problems. If we design a working solution then we can sell them to other election bodies.

Look at ushahidi

On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:26 AM, Tony Likhanga <tlikhanga@gmail.com>wrote:

...

*2013/3/6 Peter Muchemi <pmuchemi@gmail.com> *

...

*http://www.iebc.or.ke/rpp/

...

...

Table 'rpp.members' doesn't exist

somebody dropped a table*

Look at it positively... if the drop was done after the deadline for verifying one's registration status, then it's a good thing. Remember the fiasco where folks complained that this same link was an avenue for chaps to harvest private data?

_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------

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There are also the human factors. At the end of the day, no matter how perfect a system, the human component will need to have the 'will' to make it work. Personally, I am disturbed that rejected votes that were in the region of 300k are now less than 40k. For the same number of total votes cast. It'd be hard to blame technology on such. On Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 11:35 AM, John Gitau <jgitau@gmail.com> wrote:

I just cant wrap my head around it when such semingly easy things go wrong and then get blamed on IT/ICT/technology. Do you know how nice and easy it would have been to upgrade/sell migrate to automation if this had worked and really worked properly? it would have been the perfect case study for people in the technology space.

I strongly feel we should make astudy out of this. As far as I know there are only about 3 max five major components to this electronic voting and tallying system:

TX = transmission

*polling stations with some data capture devices <===TX==> Tallying

...

centers(constituency,county,national and presentation centers like Nyayo stadium <==some more TX==>Result presentation system *

that last component is I assume where the online results, media results and i think bomas should have got the results from so we all have a synchronized picture of their results. Please note I make a lot of assumptions here but it has really been bugging me what in those few components failed.

Note in each area some design considerations during planning would come to play.SO the question from me is if this thing was actually planned, documented, tested and can those be made public at some point? everything from the network, the applications the servers and Security in my opinion being the biggest one. Everything from encryption in TX , isolation to firewalls and on to secure access to DB's. I am of the view that what failed was not really a capacity issue but something else went wrong. I don't see how that dataset can affect even this server seated behind my desk at home. maybe some proprietary apps? or maybe we they had integrity affecting issues?

Either way for a country with so many experts in each and every one of the areas that might have gone wrong I do not see how as a guy that queued for almost 4 hrs to vote (I REALLY REALLY hate queuing) I won't get a proper explanation - technical on what went wrong. This should never every happen again.

Either way I think the IEBC made really great calls to ensure the integrity of the entire process is protected and for that Im happy, I just wish now we were a bit involved in how the technology was going to work. I strongly feel the technical community myself included dropped the ball on this one! I think we should have helped or offered to...I don't know...its just a sad state of affairs ...

JGitau

On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 9:24 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com>wrote:

...

+!

I keep saying that too. "Transmission" is the wrong term for them to use. It's the processing.

@Mwagiru, during the first day of their "processing", I was reliably informed that their server crashed as a result of "disk full" - well, that was first hand information. I still cannot digest this personally. The database(s) could not grow to an extent that it fills a disk, unless the server was having maybe a 4GB HDD! So I kept asking myself whether that explanation was reasonable. Could they have been logging aggressively without knowing? I am saying this because if they knew about it, they could have installed a separate disk just for the logs alone. I think these guys are mostly clueless folks who have relatives in those organizations and were not necessarily recruited on the basis of their demonstrable competencies. IMHO, that is ALL the possible flaw!

Sometimes it makes sense that technical employees of such public institutions like IEBC/KNEC be vetted by their peers - they should NOT be a well-guarded secret as they are a shame to the ICT fraternity.

On 5 March 2013 21:53, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up?

./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler.

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Some updates from Erick http://iebctechkenya.tumblr.com/post/44706681378/updates-going-manual-clarif... ./bernard On Mar 7, 2013 12:00 PM, "Bernard Mwagiru" <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:

John, It is in this light, amid sympathise for IEBC's efforts, and in the "absence" of an official root cause analysis that this thread can form some basis for brain storming. At this point, in this discussion, we have a rough idea of at the very least, the call flow of data to/from Bomas. We can use this to decipher potential weaknesses in the system. DB experts can for instance provide a scenario of what happens when the archiver process fails, etc or if a db instance in a cluster fails, etc. I'm sure there's a big opportunity to learn and avert future problems.

We cannot just sit pretty and wait for communication. If it does happen, we would be sufficiently armed.

./bernard On Mar 7, 2013 11:35 AM, "John Gitau" <jgitau@gmail.com> wrote:

...

I just cant wrap my head around it when such semingly easy things go wrong and then get blamed on IT/ICT/technology. Do you know how nice and easy it would have been to upgrade/sell migrate to automation if this had worked and really worked properly? it would have been the perfect case study for people in the technology space.

I strongly feel we should make astudy out of this. As far as I know there are only about 3 max five major components to this electronic voting and tallying system:

TX = transmission

*polling stations with some data capture devices <===TX==> Tallying

...

centers(constituency,county,national and presentation centers like Nyayo stadium <==some more TX==>Result presentation system *

that last component is I assume where the online results, media results and i think bomas should have got the results from so we all have a synchronized picture of their results. Please note I make a lot of assumptions here but it has really been bugging me what in those few components failed.

Note in each area some design considerations during planning would come to play.SO the question from me is if this thing was actually planned, documented, tested and can those be made public at some point? everything from the network, the applications the servers and Security in my opinion being the biggest one. Everything from encryption in TX , isolation to firewalls and on to secure access to DB's. I am of the view that what failed was not really a capacity issue but something else went wrong. I don't see how that dataset can affect even this server seated behind my desk at home. maybe some proprietary apps? or maybe we they had integrity affecting issues?

Either way for a country with so many experts in each and every one of the areas that might have gone wrong I do not see how as a guy that queued for almost 4 hrs to vote (I REALLY REALLY hate queuing) I won't get a proper explanation - technical on what went wrong. This should never every happen again.

Either way I think the IEBC made really great calls to ensure the integrity of the entire process is protected and for that Im happy, I just wish now we were a bit involved in how the technology was going to work. I strongly feel the technical community myself included dropped the ball on this one! I think we should have helped or offered to...I don't know...its just a sad state of affairs ...

JGitau

On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 9:24 AM, Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com>wrote:

...

+!

I keep saying that too. "Transmission" is the wrong term for them to use. It's the processing.

@Mwagiru, during the first day of their "processing", I was reliably informed that their server crashed as a result of "disk full" - well, that was first hand information. I still cannot digest this personally. The database(s) could not grow to an extent that it fills a disk, unless the server was having maybe a 4GB HDD! So I kept asking myself whether that explanation was reasonable. Could they have been logging aggressively without knowing? I am saying this because if they knew about it, they could have installed a separate disk just for the logs alone. I think these guys are mostly clueless folks who have relatives in those organizations and were not necessarily recruited on the basis of their demonstrable competencies. IMHO, that is ALL the possible flaw!

Sometimes it makes sense that technical employees of such public institutions like IEBC/KNEC be vetted by their peers - they should NOT be a well-guarded secret as they are a shame to the ICT fraternity.

On 5 March 2013 21:53, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Its a general agreement that transmission of data is not the issue here. Processing is. So, that said, and since the IEBC developers are a well guarded secret, can we deliberate on the possible design and what the possible flaws could crop up?

./bernard On Mar 5, 2013 9:47 PM, "Wilson Bandi" <bandson67@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Stupidly.. they dint think of transmitting via sms...

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

...

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------

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-- Kind Regards,

Wilson B.

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I think the idea of a fully automated voting system can work very well. Each stream would have a touch screen for each category. Presidential, governor e.t.c After verification, one goes to the respective screen and select the candidate and confirms. The system gives a gap of at least 30 secs before the next voter. All votes cast are store in a central machine and a printout generated after the close of polls at the same time transmitted to the tallying centre. About power....all that is need is fully charged battey of  an eight hrs min capacity. Allocate 2 for each station. Then have technicians on stand by in each cntituency with mobile generators/spare batteries in case of any problem. In any case, the IEBC can have like 15 helicopters on standby to address any issues arising in any polling station. Managing of logistics is the reason we have the elections body. With 9b, this can be achieved if the procurement is made such that manufacturers are engaged directly to provide the equipments. My two cents thought Regards ________________________________ From: MotoBaridi <motobaridi@gmail.com> To: dhikims@gmail.com; Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 11:05 AM Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems Something about "lowest bidder" or somesuch... Either that, or it was contracted to a friend of a friend of a cousin of the brother-in-law of the brother of ...yadayadayada. <flame suit on> On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote: Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches.

They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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Skunks, Been following the IEBC discussions from the sidelines; just wondering if you are able to get the raw data in Excel, CSV, XML or any other usable format? If possible sambaza links please. On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:25 AM, Bwana Lawi <mail2lawi@gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you @Shadrack.

And for power, we can go the tablet way. They are cheap and can run for 7+ hours on battery.

The printed slips can be deposited directly in the equivalent of the ballot boxes and only be opened for verification and audit.

On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 11:20 AM, Shadrack Mwaniki < shadrack_mwaniki@yahoo.com> wrote:

...

I think the idea of a fully automated voting system can work very well. Each stream would have a touch screen for each category. Presidential, governor e.t.c

After verification, one goes to the respective screen and select the candidate and confirms. The system gives a gap of at least 30 secs before the next voter.

All votes cast are store in a central machine and a printout generated after the close of polls at the same time transmitted to the tallying centre.

About power....all that is need is fully charged battey of an eight hrs min capacity. Allocate 2 for each station. Then have technicians on stand by in each cntituency with mobile generators/spare batteries in case of any problem. In any case, the IEBC can have like 15 helicopters on standby to address any issues arising in any polling station. Managing of logistics is the reason we have the elections body.

With 9b, this can be achieved if the procurement is made such that manufacturers are engaged directly to provide the equipments.

My two cents thought

Regards

------------------------------ *From:* MotoBaridi <motobaridi@gmail.com> *To:* dhikims@gmail.com; Skunkworks Mailing List < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 6, 2013 11:05 AM

*Subject:* Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

Something about "lowest bidder" or somesuch... Either that, or it was contracted to a friend of a friend of a cousin of the brother-in-law of the brother of ...yadayadayada. <flame suit on>

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 9:44 PM, Dickson <dhikims@gmail.com> wrote:

Whatever infrastructure they have , I don't understand why sending such small data that can fit on SMS would have hitches. They are failing tech world in this country. Let them give us technical enough reason why the failure.

Best Regards,

Dickson.

---- http://qhim.wordpress.com

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message----- From: Kennedy Kairu Kariuki <kkairu@gmail.com> Sender: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 20:22:18 To: Skunkworks Mailing List<skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Reply-To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] IEBC Systems

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