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