I have built four nodes including my own irlp node here in Vegas, 3148. 
It is true the Linux you get doesn't talk, but the install is fairly 
simple, and I need sighted help to do the initial install, but once that 
is done and the box is seen on the network, it is easy.  I use a terminal 
program to talk to the irlp box, and also a program called winscp which 
allows one to easily move, copy, edit files on either box.  I do 
everything from my windows computer.  You can even log in remotely if you 
set it up that way, that outside the lan.
73s
Butch Bussen
wa0vjr