Jim Rippon
Email: <jim@rippon.me.uk>
Hi, I am Jim Rippon, I live near Kings Lynn in West Norfolk, and work in the town for Freebridge Community Housing as ICT Infrastructure Manager.
I have had a wholly Linux Powered home network for the past two years, but have been using linux both at home and work since the mid-late 90s.
My current projects and up to date skills include (amongst many others):
- Gentoo Linux (all my home systems run Gentoo)
- Networking and VPN (I use an ipsec VPN between work and my Gentoo Firewall/Router which provides me a VoIP phone when I am working at home)
Since I have lost two machines following a series of power cuts recently, I am saving up to replace my web server and lay my hands on a new wireless laptop for home at the moment.
Professionally, I am introducing Linux where possible at work, but this is difficult because the legacy systems we have inherited do not lend themselves to migration. Currently I have implemented a linux-hosted GIS system sitting on PostGIS - if only the Ordnance Survey would open their data up, its tremendously expensive! I have dabbled in the dark side, and have administered both Windows and Linux for the past 7 years to pay the bills, picking up the odd M$ qualification along the way.
Outside cyberspace I am a father of two, Josh and Ellie, and partner to Vanessa. I am a bit of a mini (classic mini that is, not BMW) enthusiast at the moment, just wish I had time to fix the problems with my current project. Unfortunately until I can improve the reliability I can't travel far so its unlikely I will be at any meets outside Lynn for a while.