Australia to get full Linux security conference?

The security mini-conference, which will be held at the Australian National University on April 18 and 19, will focus on Linux-based information security and forensics technology.

LCA Conference organiser Steven Hanley told ZDNet Australia  that the main conference only runs for four days, which doesn't give attendees enough time to dig deep into a specific area, so the mini conferences help people focus on a specific area before the main conference begins.

"The security mini conference is for people that only want to know about the security issues related to Linux. People that rock up earlier in the week can have something a bit more specific -- they can have presentations and talks that are more focussed to their area," said Hanley.

Hanley said that the mini conference is in an incubation stage and he is expecting it to evolve into a separate conference over the next few years.

"We run the security mini conference as an incubator so maybe next year or two years down the line there could be a separate Linux security conference - like the separate open source and government conference," said Hanley.

The LCA, which is one of three major international conferences that focuses on the open source operating system, is set to kick off in April. Following its launch six years ago, the conference has attracted high profile speakers such as Rasmus Lerdorf, Dave Miller and Rusty Russell. Linux creator Linus Torvalds has also attended -- once in a penguin suit and another time in Speedos.