I need LINUX propositions for my school board ;-)

Thu May 13 14:54:03 UTC 2004

On Thursday 13 May 2004 09:29 am, steven meyer wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am aware of some of the computing requirements for public schools in
> York region.  To get any school board to switch away from the entrenched
> systems (Win or Mac) will be nigh on impossible.  The best will be a
> dual-system approach.

1. Look at alternatives. 

At contract time, it never pays to be dedicated to a monopolist. Win/Mac must 
grow, and  will grow only by milking their present customer base. 

2. Every alternaitve requires work. Win/Mac is not without pain, and it's 
going to get worse. Plan your effort.

Everyone gets forced to migrate.  With Win/Mac, often you 'upgrade' all at 
once. New hardware and new software. Big budgets, huge projects; retraining, 
confusion. Just to continue. New license restrictions, and the everpresent 
risk of being accused of 'piracy'.

3. Work out how to consider an alternative approach. 

   a. Take baby steps to start with. 

Linux plays nicely with others. Keep Windows and Mac machines, if they work. 
Consider Linux and try it.

Linux will network and coexist very well, and is thus an excellent vehicle for 
migration. Just migrate a few machines at a time, getting them to play in 
your network as you go. Live CDs like Knoppix are a way to do this without 
leaving footprints.

   b. Stretch your budget dollars by exploring the business model of open 
systems. 

See what your older machines can do in a Linux  environment.
See what a new machine with only Linux on it  can do.
Older computers, or computers without proprietary operating systems
are much cheaper alternatives to all-in-one packages.

  c. Understand the new business model and how it can help. 

In practice, Win or Mac new releases are brutally expensive, requiring 
complete replacement of hardware and software. So such upgrades are delayed 
for budgetary reasons.  Linux releases are more frequent, and rarely tied to 
new hardware requirements. New release tend to *accommodate* new hardware, 
not requiring it.

 d.  Note Win/Mac software releases and Linux releases are not equivalent. 
Linux distributions include a huge amount of software software that is 
separately priced and marketed in the Win/Mac world. 

4. Linux migration can be done one step at a  time.   Try it.

>
> I would suggest a variation on the self-installing Knoppix, customized
> for the particular school(s).  Here are my top-ten benefits;
>
> 1. a core set of software to be deployed easily via CD
> 2. preloaded applications useful to students (there are lots)
> 3. students can only save their data to the system file servers (with
> authentication)
> 4. control over student activities
> 5. no viruses at all
> 6. easy upgrading (simply issue a new CD)
> 7. client (thin or otherwise) access to back-end servers
> 8. when the CD is removed the PC reverts to its "old" ways
> 9. Students can take the CD home and work on their home PCs and still
> access their school networks over the Internet.
> 10.no license fees
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Steven
>
> On Thu, 2004-05-13 at 03:11, Jeremy Wakeman wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > There are a few general thin client guides/howtos around that will
> > describe some of the basic ideas if you have people wanting a starting
> > point (http://trieste.linux.it/documenti/ThinClient.html is a good one).
> >
> > However, because you're not going to want a lot of setup, my suggestion
> > would be to look into an established F/OSS solution such as PXES
> > (thin client software to connect with citrix, MS virtual server, etc -
> > available at sourceforge) for the thin clients, rather than creating
> > your own by following a howto.
> >
> > If you are willing to move away from Citrix, look into using the Linux
> > Terminal Server Project (at www.ltsp.org) with PXE/Etherboot.  This would
> > allow all administration to be done on the server (obviously a big plus,
> > especially if there are a lot of machines involved), and it looks to be
> > a solid, well maintained project.  I'm sure someone on the list has
> > experience with it (I've never actually used it).
> >
> > I'm not too experienced with thin client stuff, but unless there's
> > someone who actually knows what they're doing who wants to step in, I
> > can try to answer any questions:  just drop me an email off list.
> >
> > HTH,
> >
> > -Jeremy
> >
> > On Thu, May 13, 2004 at 01:05:52AM -0400, Marc Lijour wrote:
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > My school board is investigating a Citrix + thin-client solution.
> > > Administrative desktop are currently XP and students win98. They are
> > > considering Linux for Desktop. Our move....
> > >
> > > Please refer any documentation that you would know and contact me for
> > > this and more. People that would consider to give time and advice to a
> > > school board ready to make the move, let me know who you are!
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > --
> >
> > Jeremy John Wakeman
> > cael-JTkAzvGkdyMrpQx6IzTi3laTQe2KTcn/@public.gmane.org
> > www.polarhome.com/~cael
> > linux registered user #125171
> > --
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