<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2769" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Hi All</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I am converting the lab of my children's primary school with 35 motley old</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>donated machines from </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Windows </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>to Edubuntu. They are mostly PII 266 MHz</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>and Celeron 333 MHz with 64MB RAM. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>We will buy a new machine </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>for a single </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>server, and </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>get </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>switches with two </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Gigabit ports for the server </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>and </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>100 Mbps for</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>the </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>thin terminals.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I teach electronic engineering (digital signal processing) at UJ, and <SPAN class=829231205-30112005>although</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>computers </SPAN></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>are not my speciality, </SPAN>I am comfortable </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>building up and </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>installing PCs</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I have </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>supported networks of ten </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>or so machines in a </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Windows environment.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>However, I am a complete Linux newbie.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I have followed Linux since 1994, and always thought it a Good Idea to try it out.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>The compelling </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>reason to actually do so now, was that the school contacted me</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>last </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>month to join others and sponsor </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>the replacement </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>of one machine in the lab.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>The </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>current </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>PCs will not run Windows XP or Office XP, and they </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>feel left </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>behind.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Having gone through the upgrade cycle more than once, knowing the schlepp of</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>supporting many machines (software especially), and considering any current</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>entry </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>level PC to be way overspec for use as a learner workstation, I started</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>searching the web. When I found Edubuntu, it clicked </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>immediately.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>Reading on the <A href="http://wiki.edubuntu.org/EdubuntuWiki">website</A>: "As an educator you'll be able to set up a computer lab, </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>or establish an online learning environment, in an hour or less -- then administer </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><FONT face=Arial size=2>that environment without having to become a fully-fledged Linux geek," I thought</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>this was going to be a piece of cake. It wasn't.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I spent many hours reading web documents, including the <A href="http://www.ubuntulinux.org/">Ubuntu</A> </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>and <A href="http://www.edubuntu.org/">Edubuntu</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>websites, the <A href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EdubuntuDocumentation?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=tuxlabcookbook.pdf">TuxLab </A></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><A href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/EdubuntuDocumentation?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=tuxlabcookbook.pdf">Cookbook</A>, <A href="http://www.skolelinux.org/portal/documentation/">SkoleLinux documentation</A>, <A href="http://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/edubuntu-devel/">edubuntu-devel </A></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><A href="http://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/edubuntu-devel/">mailing </A></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><A href="http://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/edubuntu-devel/">list archives</A>, <A href="http://ltsp.org/">LTSP.org</A>, and </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Wikipedia </A>explanations of </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>terms new to me.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I have even lurked in the <A href="http://wiki.edubuntu.org/EdubuntuCommunity">IRC room</A>, which I have to do from home, because</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>my employer blocks IRC access on the campus.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><A href="http://wiki.edubuntu.org/DownloadEdubuntu">Downloading </A>and installing </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Edubuntu LTSP server on a test machine proved</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>to be the </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>easy part. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Getting all the thin clients to work </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>is still a headache.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Thank you for everyone involved with Edubuntu. I believe it is an </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>excellent</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>project, and considering its age, remarkably mature. However, it might be</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>better to manage down some expectations. Many of my problems probably</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>originate </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>upstream from the Edubuntu itself, but that doesn't help me.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>So here are some of my current issues, first hardware related:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Terminal booting:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> My Dell laptop with <A href="http://www.ltsp.org/documentation/pxe.howto.html">PXE</A> network card boots flawlessly after invoking</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> the Boot Menu with F12 and choosing onboard NIC as boot device.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> The old (c.1998) motherboards' BIOS would not recognize a PXE NIC</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> even if installed. So I found <A href="http://thinstation.sourceforge.net/docs/HowTo-NetBoot.txt">Paolo Salvan's</A> Multi-driver remote boot</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> program and now boot from floppy (hopefully an interim measure).</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> This program finds and works with a variety of network cards.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> *** A network card with Asix chip AX88140 only gets halfway through</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> the boot </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>process, then f</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>reezes after giving the following message:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> "[4294684.802000] eth0: Setting full-duplex based on MII#1 link</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> partner capability of 45e1."</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> I have 22 of these cards, so a solution would be appreciated.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Video card:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> *** A generic S3 Trio 64+ card seems not to be recognized.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> The text terminals are fine, but X goes into black and white mode.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> Can I specify the video card in a configuration file?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Mouse:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> The serial mouse, and on some motherboards the PS/2 mouse</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> was not recognised. I found the solution in the <A href="http://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/edubuntu-devel/">mailing list archive</A>:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> Add a line with the word psmouse in the kernel modules file.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> I used the text editor nano in a terminal: </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> $ sudo nano /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/modules</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Newer hardware seems to be well supported, but the whole point </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>of </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>recycling old PCs as thin terminals is missed if they will not work.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Hardware for the server is not entirely trivial either. As the school was</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>looking to replace 35 machines, I can consider a high end server</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>LTSP.org has a useful page on <A href="http://wiki.ltsp.org/twiki/bin/view/Ltsp/ServerSizing#32_bit_CPUS_vs_64_bit">server sizing</A>. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>The following </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>spec </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>should not exceed the price of 5-10 new entry level machines:</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> Dual 64 bit Xeon/Athlon M/B, cheapest processors, 4 GB ECC RAM</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> dual Gigabit LAN,</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005> RAID-5 SCSI disks, DVD writer for backup, UPS.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Supporting more than 10 or 20 terminals with a single machine seems</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>to put some strain on ordinary workstation hardware posing as a server.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>A software question: How do you load hundreds of learner accounts</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>on </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Edubuntu? What about password generation? I could </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>get a machine</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>readable file with their particulars from the current </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>school administration</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>system. What about user groups for every </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>class in order to deal with</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>age differences? Is there a tool for this? I can't find any in Edubuntu.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Another software issue: For political reasons I may have to use</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005><A href="http://www.winehq.com/">Wine </A>to allow for the use of legacy Windows software :-(</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>or have all the machines dual boot into Windows 98.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Has anyone used Wine with MS Word and Powerpoint? Version?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I know OpenOffice is AsEasyAs, but the decision is not mine.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Hopefully this will be transient.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Lastly, does Edubuntu have posters to liven up a computer lab? </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Ours</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>currently </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>reminds me of a jail cell, with the iron bars, small </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>windows</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>high </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>up </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>on the </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>wall, </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>and </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>all that computer beige sitting on </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>the workbench.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>How about bright stickers for the cases?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>I am determined to have our lab up and running when the new school</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>year </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>starts in January, even if I have to buy video and network cards</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>and program the </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>bootROMs.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Thanks for any feedback & input.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hendrik Boshoff</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=829231205-30112005>University of Johannesburg</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>