DVD?

[Dan McGarry]

Jan Wilson wrote:
> Alfred Nutile wrote:
> 
>> Why would you need dvd. Most linux sytems (Debian, Suse, Redhat) Can
>> be installed via harddrive and NFS.  So you download the software to
>> the server and set it up as it's own repository.  So even if you are
>> install the entire system you do not need a dvd drive.
> 
> The original poster said they had no stable Internet connection.  This 
> is exactly the case where I think they should have at least one DVD 
> player and have someone mail them an Ubuntu DVD.  THEN they can set up 
> an NFS repository and install from there.

That's how we go about things in Vanuatu. Once you've got the base 
files, it's not too hard to use rsync to keep the repository up to date. 
I keep one copy on a external USB hard disk and update it regularly 
thanks to the Agence universitaire de la francophonie, who are good 
enough to rsync the Ubuntu repo daily.

SLIGHTLY OT: Vanuatu has (okay had) some of the most expensive Internet 
services in the world. It took years of lobbying, but we've finally got 
three viable (but expensive) unlimited Internet packages available. I'm 
meeting tomorrow with the managers of Sales and IT to negotiate an NGO 
package so that the benefits of reliable, affordable Internet can reach 
people working at the grassroots level.

Improving communications infrastructure a difficult task, and takes a 
good deal of patience and tact, but ultimately this is the place to 
address the issue of software availability. Those of us working on 
projects like Ubuntu have a role to play in this as well.

Anyone interested in learning more about our experience are welcome to 
email me off-list.

> The Ubuntu approach of having a single live CD to test and install is 
> handy, but it means for a real installation it assumes you have 
> broadband.  In Belize, if all you have is dial-up, it costs about US $2 
> per hour ... and at dial-up speeds, an Ubuntu installation could cost 
> more in connection fees than a DVD player.

Does Shipit not send Edubuntu disks? [/me checks...] Nope, they don't.

Question for Ubuntu folks on this list: Are there plans to make Edubuntu 
  available via Shipit?

> CDs just aren't big enough anymore.  Although a temporary workaround 
> would be to copy the .debs to several CDs.
> 
> Your ideas about the NFS repository are great, once you have the 
> packages locally.

NFS, HTTP, FTP or even plain old file system all work equally well. It's 
one of the things I especially like about Debian-based systems.

-- 
Dan McGarry	it.psl at fsp.org.vu

IT Consultant
Community Communications Project