So, the idea is to use Vagrant to spin up and destroy KVM virtual machines, and use Ansible to provision and configure said VMs once they are made available. I'll work on getting vagrant to use LVM for provisioning VM storage and I'll review the exhaustive granularity on the base configuration options available and report back. If time permits I'll do a write up / how-to on my blog.

So, with a little intermittent hacking on my test hypervisor at work I was able to get this working. The documentation is a bit fragmented for the vagrant-libvirt project, but I was able to use it in combination with some examples they have to get a working VM up and going. For one reason or another it was not happy using my LVM storage pool, and I had to switch to the "default" storage pool.

The gist of the basic setup is this:

1. Install Vagrant per normal instructions (I used the debian package as my KVM-QEMU hypervisor was built on Ubuntu 16.04): https://www.vagrantup.com/docs/installation/

2. Install the vagrant-libvirt add-on to make libvirt an accessible provider: https://github.com/vagrant-libvirt/vagrant-libvirt#installation

3. Reference the box builds for the specific OS you are wanting to use as your base configuration, and initialize it. As libvirt is not currently a supported provider, you'll notice there are no Hashicorp or "official" box images available. https://atlas.hashicorp.com/boxes/search?provider=libvirt

4. Once you've initialized the box image as instructed (https://github.com/vagrant-libvirt/vagrant-libvirt#add-box) you'll want to go in and edit your vagrant configuration file. I suggest creating a sub-directory to initialize the box in, and subsequently store your Vagrantfile. Customizing the Vagrantfile is where I started running into problems. There is a second portion of the configuration relevant to defining specific options relative to the libvirt provider that they seem to have left out of the documentation. I found that information here, in the following example: https://github.com/vagrant-libvirt/vagrant-libvirt/blob/master/example_box/Vagrantfile
   Condensed, that section should look something like this:

 #Options for libvirt provider
  config.vm.provider :libvirt do |libvirt|
    libvirt.driver = "kvm"
    libvirt.connect_via_ssh = false
    libvirt.username = "root"
    libvirt.storage_pool_name = "default"
  end

I entered the above at the bottom of my Vagrantfile just above, and indented to the right of, the last end statement.

My test VM Vagrantfile for an Ubuntu Xenial 64-bit KVM virtual machine looks like this:

Vagrant.configure("2") do |config|

  # Configure new Ubuntu Xenial64 VM
  config.vm.define :test_vm do |test_vm|
    test_vm.vm.box = "yk0/ubuntu-xenial"
    test_vm.vm.provider :libvirt do |domain|
      domain.memory = 2048
      domain.cpus = 2
    end
  end
  #Configuration options for libvirt provider
  config.vm.provider :libvirt do |libvirt|
    libvirt.driver = "kvm"
    libvirt.connect_via_ssh = false
    libvirt.username = "root"
    libvirt.storage_pool_name = "default"
  end

end

@scottalanmiller said in Vagrant and KVM:

No, but I would LOVE to see a How To on this. I've never gotten time to play with Vagrant and hear so many good things about it, I would like to see it in action.

It looks like this is the current project in works for implementing libvirt as a Vagrant provider: https://github.com/vagrant-libvirt/vagrant-libvirt

The old Vagrant-KVM project, which was the other means of implementing KVM as a provider, seems to be no longer in development.

Anyone have experience setting up Vagrant to work with KVM Hypervisor? I'm wanting to setup Vagrant to work with KVM on my home lab to start working on automating build outs using Ansible and Vagrant. I'm not seeing a lot of obvious documentation for setting up Vagrant on providers that aren't Virtualbox, Hyper-V, or VMWare. (or AWS, etc...)

Any time saving links or information is much appreciated. If I don't get any responses I'll try to document what I find here.

Okay, revised copy #1 for your further perusal...

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9uxfC380LxKbEl4YU5jenVpWEk

@DustinB3403 said in Who here plays Pokemon Go?:

@Kelly said in Who here plays Pokemon Go?:

It would be neat to build a bluetooth display that is similar to google glass, just so that people can go about their normal business, but still enjoy the game.

Eh... how would you throw the pokeball?

If it didn't make you stop and do the Team Rocket dance sequence to initiate a Pokeball toss I wouldn't want them to develop the technology.

@thwr said in Resume Feedback:

@scottalanmiller said in Resume Feedback:

@RamblingBiped said in Resume Feedback:

@thwr said in Resume Feedback:

@RamblingBiped said in Resume Feedback:

I'm currently working on a degree in Software Development, should I put the unfinished degree on my resume as well?

Keep in mind that (serious) development requires years of experience and analytical skills. Mention that, but don't put it above everything else.

It's like writing a book: Most people can write, but writing a good book is a whole different story.

Yes, and my goal for pursuing this degree specifically is to eventually transition into a Development Operations role of some sort.

I'll just throw out there that to get into development you can do that much faster without going down the degree path. One year of self study should be able to get your farther than a four year degree.

Good point.

@RamblingBiped : If you really want to get into development, do something useful. Either start your own project, not something you will never use but something that is useful and fun to do. Get a Raspberry, Orange Pi, Banana Pi for example and do whatever you want. Maybe a cloud-enabled toaster or a home alarm system?

Another way could be to contribute to a small open source project. Maybe a mod for Minecraft (one of my students is doing exactly this with great success and learned a lot from this)?

Either way, you will learn much more.

I do regularly work on things that are outside of the scope of my work, as well as outside of the scope of my studies. One of the reasons I am considering using Bootstrap to create an online version of my resume is to familiarize myself with it for future use.

I'm also going to be working in C soon to write some software that functions as a notification system for our fire alarm at work. Our entire alarm and door entry system was designed by a couple of our software engineers. I'm going to be tying the fire alarm system into it all and then making it work with our PBX to automate notifications of a tripped alarm via phone/text/email. If I'm lucky it will also qualify as the project for finishing up my degree.

I've had that suggestion of creating a Minecraft mod from others as well, I just don't have enough time to devote to Minecraft at this point to work on a mod... lol

Can you think of any specific open source projects that I could benefit from contributing to/monitoring? I'm keen on anything to do with Python or Java at the moment.

@scottalanmiller said in Resume Feedback:

@RamblingBiped I saw this being someone doing the same thing. I'm just very acute in knowing that it's a degree for the degree's sake and it is at the cost of my career, not to its benefit.

Yeah, if I had not found this specific degree program I was looking at enrolling for a degree in Business Management. If I had gone that route I feel like I would already be done... lol

@scottalanmiller said in Resume Feedback:

If the degree is the goal, then nothing will replace that. If career advancement or change is the goal, there are normally far more effective options. Software development is actually the one field that I know of that is more dramatically in favour of skipping the formal education path than IT is.

The degree in and of itself is definitely a goal. I'm at a point where I am financially stable and debt free and I'm able to pay for it out of pocket without any major impact on my finances. However, I'm really invested in learning the material as well, and have enjoyed OOP so far and I'm looking forward to advancing toward the OCP certification. At first I wasn't all that excited to become an expert in Java, but the concepts all translate to other OOP languages quite easily. And this specific program has a heavy focus on requiring a good foundation in IT/IS before pursuing the programming focus; it is really quite ideal for DevOps. Personally I think they could completely drop their A+ cert requirement and replace it with Linux+ and/or some of the newer AWS certification, but overall I think there is a lot of value.

@scottalanmiller said in Resume Feedback:

@IRJ said in Resume Feedback:

@RamblingBiped said in Resume Feedback:

I'm currently working on a degree in Software Development, should I put the unfinished degree on my resume as well?

Are you months or years away from it? If you are in year 1 of 4 then it really doesn't say much, but if you are 6 months away from graduating that says a different story.

I pretty much always put it if I am working on it. If there is like a set date or proposed one, you know.

Realistically, with my current workload at work, I'm right about a year out from finishing. The major courses I have left to tackle will take a bit of serious time investment, but nothing too horrible. (Java 8 SE OCA and OCP certifications as well as Technical Writing)

@thwr said in Resume Feedback:

@RamblingBiped said in Resume Feedback:

I'm currently working on a degree in Software Development, should I put the unfinished degree on my resume as well?

Keep in mind that (serious) development requires years of experience and analytical skills. Mention that, but don't put it above everything else.

It's like writing a book: Most people can write, but writing a good book is a whole different story.

Yes, and my goal for pursuing this degree specifically is to eventually transition into a Development Operations role of some sort.

I'm currently working on a degree in Software Development, should I put the unfinished degree on my resume as well?

@scottalanmiller said in Resume Feedback:

See if you can get down to a single page. It's a big effort, but often well worth it. It forces you to squeeze out any extra stuff. Extra words, lines, whatever. Distil, distil, distil.

I'm thinking simplification of the table by removing the tiers of familiarity and dropping bullet points will help with that. I'll cut down the heading, drop the recruiting position, and chop the education section as suggested. Hopefully those changes paired with a different font/combination of fonts will accomplish that.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm going to look at making revisions when I get home later this evening. At that point I'll try to get an updated PDF posted for further critique.

@scottalanmiller said in Resume Feedback:

PDF often works best.

Whenever I submit a resume to a potential employer I do always put it in PDF format unless otherwise specified. I've also been thinking of designing a web-based resume using Bootstrap. Do you think that would be worthwhile?

I'll author subsequent versions in Microsoft Office. I threw this one together using Libre Writer and the formatting is WAY out of whack after uploading it to Google Drive. Extra bullets and odd spacing galore...

I'm in the process of re-working my resume as I haven't touched it nearly 3 years, and I'd appreciate some criticism. I know the actual format is a bit rough, I do plan on cleaning it up with better font choice, addressing the formatting issues with the table, and overall giving it a better balance and appeal. However, I'd like your thoughts on the current structure and presentation of information aside from those obvious faults (clunky table, font choice).

Are there technologies/experience that I have or probably have that I'm leaving out? Some things that I shouldn't have on here? Glaring omissions?

Thanks!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9uxfC380LxKLXBIeTAzRTZXRUk/view?usp=sharing

If you're looking for something small, portable, and secure, TiddlyWiki is a decent option. I use it for most of my documentation as it is standalone and doesn't require a separate server/service to be running to use it. If you're needing to supply multiple users with access and/or have multiple people editing documents, it probably isn't the best choice.

http://tiddlywiki.com/

@dafyre said in How are you SIP-ing?:

@RamblingBiped said in How are you SIP-ing?:

We have SIP over internet and right around 40 users. We've not experienced any issues since making the switch a couple of years ago.

How much has your internet usage gone up because of it? Is it noticeable or negligible?

Negligible, though to be fair phones are our tertiary means of communication. Email and Google Messenger probably see the majority of traffic for communications.

We have SIP over internet and right around 40 users. We've not experienced any issues since making the switch a couple of years ago.