Few things did more to spread Linux in the Washington area than the InstallFest: a day when anyone could bring a bare machine and leave with Linux installed, configured and running, for free. DC LUG and LUGMAN ran them three or four times a year, usually in Bethesda, Maryland, and often in Virginia as well.
How it worked
You brought your computer (and, ideally, some nice Ethernet hubs or switches to share). Volunteers helped you partition a disk, pick a distribution, install it, and get XFree86 and networking working before you went home. Over time the installfests shifted focus from first installs toward configuring and upgrading existing Linux machines, with more demos.
Configurefests and mini-installfests
Not every event was a full install. The group ran Configurefests focused on XFree server configuration and RPM package management, and LUGMAN held mini-installfests on request at its monthly meetings in Centreville, Virginia. A recurring theme in the meeting notes was simple and practical: buy an Ethernet card, and learn where to buy a good one.
Lend a hand
These events ran entirely on volunteers. In the 1990s, anyone willing to provide organisational or technical help, or to bring hubs and switches, was asked to write to the LinuxFest organisers. If you would like to help document this history or correct the record, get in touch.