November 2001 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Meeting yesterday and welcome to new members of the list
by Philip Hands 07 Jul '03

07 Jul '03

Roger Whittaker <roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk> writes: > I've just subscribed various people to the list - please post a > message to say hello and introduce yourselves. Hi, If you were at the meeting, I was wearing a Debian t-shirt (with a red swirl logo on it) --- there's a photo at the top of this article, where I'm wearing similar stuff (except for the penguin ;-) http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/articles/issue6/lu6-Editorial-A_patently_bad_ide… I'm a Debian GNU/Linux developer, and run the UK Debian mirror, and am responsible for producing the Debian official CD images: http://www.uk.debian.org/ http://cdimage.debian.org/ I have only a peripheral interest in educational matters, in that I've been frustrated in the past in my efforts to provide free computers (which were otherwise destined for a skip), but I can certainly contribute on a technical side, and having been involved in Debian (which is completely voluntary, like OSIE is expected to be) since 1996 I may be able to make some suggestions about how to ``organise'' such a thing. For those of you who've not come across Debian before, we're a world-wide voluntary organisation (read, chaotic jumble of mailing lists) that puts together a Linux distribution (and soon a HURD distribution) and gives it away. Debian doesn't pay people to do this, and doesn't sell what it produces, and in most legal senses doesn't really exist (i.e. the machines in the mirror network mostly belong to people like me, rather than to Debian, and the bandwidth is donated rather than paid for). This probably gives a pretty good feel for what Debian is all about: http://www.uk.debian.org/social_contract which you will notice leads into the The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG), which is where the Open Source Definition came from. My internet machine, that hosts the Debian UK mirror, may be of use to OSIE, since it has about 30GB of spare disk, and a 20Mbit/s connection at a well connected ISP. This machine could act as either a primary host or mirror site for the web site, and could do DNS secondarying etc. as well. Something I'd be interested in working on (although perhaps a SuSE list is not the right place to spend too much time discussing this ;-) would be producing Debian CD images, tuned to the needs of educational users. Debian has accumulated some funds in the UK, and have been looking for a worthwhile cause to spend them on (we never really need to pay for anything that actually makes Debian work, so don't have much use for money), so we could probably afford to have a few thousand CDs pressed, and send them out to schools that are interested. Cheers, Phil. -- Say no to software patents! http://petition.eurolinux.org/ Philip Hands. +44 (0)20 7744 6244 philip.hands(a)uk.alcove.com Alcove UK --- Liberating Software --- http://www.alcove.com/ http://www.hands.com/ phil(a)hands.com http://www.uk.debian.org/

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NHS Meeting, Blair and Gates
by Malcolm Herbert 01 Dec '01

01 Dec '01

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/23096.html A £70m deal gets you a personal apperance from the anti-christ. Antitrust now available on video in the UK A £10 deal gets you me :-) Malc -- ------------------------------------------- Malcolm Herbert Red Hat Europe t: +44 1483 734955 m: +44 7720 079 845 -------------------------------------------

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Fwd: REQUEST FOR HELP!
by Kevin Taylor 29 Nov '01

29 Nov '01

Just got this in the post today. Thought I would pass it on (made me smile ... and who knows ... you may have some budding technical kids who may be interested ...) Kevin. Northants LUG ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: REQUEST FOR HELP! Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 16:24:56 +0000 From: Alex Dundas <alex(a)princess.uk.com> Dear All I am writing in the hope that you might be able to help me! I am currently producing a new day-time television show for the BBC hosted by Ruby Wax and I am looking for technically gifted children under the age of ten/eleven who might be interested in taking part. If you could spare a couple of minutes to read this email I would be extremely grateful! "Life With Ruby" is a new day-time television show hosted by Ruby Wax looking at life in the 21st century and how to survive it. At times light-hearted, at times extremely serious, "Life With Ruby" looks at the subjects that reflect the viewers¹ interests life and love, health and fitness, family and friendship, money and careers. In one of the key features of the programme, Ruby focusses on gifted children with a technical streak. Why is it these days that anyone over the age of 40 is made to feel stupid when a five year-old explains to them how to set their video to record East Enders¹ four times a week, or shows them how to surf the net in 30 seconds flat to order their shopping? "Whizz Kids" features clever children who know how to programme videos, surf the internet, build web-sites, programme mobile phones, write computer programmes etc. Each piece will feature a clued up kid explaining a new-fangled technical concept to an older relative or friend! In keeping with the overall nature of the show, this feature will be fun and light-hearted. We are looking for a wide range of children PREFERABLY UNDER THE AGE OF TEN/ELEVEN (and accompanying adults!) who might enjoy taking part in this show. I wondered whether you would be able to help me in finding children that might be interested in this through your organisation. Our dead-line on this is fairly tight as we record our first programme on Friday 14th December and finish in mid-January! If you do know of anyone please do not hesitate to contact me on the address below: alex(a)princess.uk.com -- This email, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, and any attachments thereto, you are hereby notified that any disemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited. Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Princess Productions Limited unless specifically stated. Alex Dundas Assistant Producer Princess Productions email: alex(a)princess.uk.com -------------------------------------------------------

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Forced to use MS in schools?
by Grainge, Derek 28 Nov '01

28 Nov '01

In the old days when Microsoft at least pretended to use Java, it required a digital certificate before a Java app could access your local files. You had to agree to a BT certificate (of whoever was your EDI provider). This is the way things still are under Java, providing controllable access to local files We have all rehearsed the reasons why ActivX is bad technology, as iare many of the scripting services. Unfortunately it's got nothing to do with the law. You might rephrase your question: If webexchange requires activX to be given access to the local drive, what step are WebExchange taking to ensure that the door remains remains closed when they're not accessing files? The answer will of course be a proverbial lemon. And that's where you may be able to have them. However, their response will simply be that if you don't like the product, try another. This comes under the heading of 'identifying the needs of the user'. Not unfortunately 'identifying with'. *ALL* browsers support Java 2 with the correct Sun support installed. But that requires more R&D than ActivX, given Microsoft's current and still hardening attitude to Java. > > > as stated in the Requirements, WebXchange requires Internet Explorer 4 or > > > greater. The reason is explained on the Support page: > > > Q: Why can't I use the Netscape web browser? > > > A: WebXchange uses Microsoft's Active-X technology to allow the transparent > > > transfer of files from and to your computer hard drive, which Netscape > > > browsers do not natively support. > > Any thoughts? > > How about: > > "Dear Mr Moran, > > Personally, I prefer to avoid using web technologies that can > transparently transfer files from and to my computer's hard drive. Some > computers that I use hold information that is confidential, such as > medical details, and I would be violating various laws[1] if I were not to > take reasonable precautions to protect this information. -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of inappropriate attachments and certain obscenities. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. ********************************************************************************

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Forced to use MS in schools?
by Alan Harris 28 Nov '01

28 Nov '01

Hi all, thought you guys/gals might be interested in this little conversation of mine regarding the transfer of exam entry data via edi with dialnet :- -----Original Message----- From: Alan Harris [mailto:alanh@bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk] Sent: 27 November 2001 12:43 To: sales(a)dialnet.com Subject: Dialnet EDT Service Hi there, I've just tried to access your information site with netscape 4.7 which failed to download your page properly, I can access the page with Mozilla and StarOffice. The School does not run Internet Explorer. Before I commit to your edt service and download any files can you confirm that your edt service will work properly without Internet Explorer being installed.... Many Thanks Alan -----reply from dialnet----- > Subject: RE: Dialnet EDT Service > Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 14:06:40 -0000 > From: "Moran, Gary" <Gary.Moran(a)dialnet.co.uk> > To: "'alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk'" <alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk> > > Alan > > as stated in the Requirements, WebXchange requires Internet Explorer 4 or > greater. The reason is explained on the Support page: > > Q: Why can't I use the Netscape web browser? > A: WebXchange uses Microsoft's Active-X technology to allow the transparent > transfer of files from and to your computer hard drive, which Netscape > browsers do not natively support. > > And to expand on this, although we could achieve this using alternative > technology that would be "Netscape friendly", there is no commercial > incentive for us to pursue this. Since the service has been available (March > 2000 in beta), yours is only the third inquiry concerning Netscape > compatibility. > > The WebXchange web site's external pages lists the general requirements, and > the specific requirements of the active x component (under Downloads). In > general your browser must be running on an IBM compatible PC under a 32bit > Windows OS (95, 98, 2000, XP, NT4). Your browser must support DHTML for the > WebXchange menu, and must support Active X components. > > Regards, Gary > > Gary Moran > Technical Services > DIALnet plc > > +44 (0)121 624 5059 ---------------- Any thoughts? Any one know of a suitable alternative - BT Connect no longer offer this service and I'd rather avoid an encounter with RM if possible.... Alan ----------------------------------------------------- Alan Harris Network Manager Bryngwyn School Tel : 01554 750661 Fax : 01554 758255 E-mail: alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk ----------------------------------------------------- Notes: 1. The contents of this email may be snooped on by interested government parties for unknown purposes! Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, 2000. 2. The opinions expressed in this email are personal and may not be shared by Bryngwyn School. -----------------------------------------------------

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Can Apache serve directories as a single archive file
by Jim Bews 28 Nov '01

28 Nov '01

We use a SUSE system here to archive spectra collected from NMR spectrometers. We therefore need to serve out the data for some of our users via the web (local users can use file sharing). BUT Each spectrum is saved as a directory contained a fair number of files. Is there a method of archiving directories on the fly, and serving the result as a single archive file (which could be decompressed by the client's web browser). The ideal would be to compress into a "sit" archive because most clients would be Macintoshes. OR Is there some other way to download a complete directory with basically a single click? Thanks for your feedback. Jim Bews - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jim Bews, Computing Officer, School of Chemistry, Purdie Building, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST Tel: 01334-463830 Email: j.r.bews(a)st-andrews.ac.uk Fax: 01334-463808 WWW: http://ch-www.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/jrb/

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Fwd: [Wylug-discuss] Re: LINUX FOR SCHOOLS?
by Gary Stainburn 28 Nov '01

28 Nov '01

Hi all, appologies for those of you on both lists (I know there are a few of you), but this was posted to the WYLUG (http://www.wylug.org.uk) list by Jim Jackson. I thought there may be a few on this list that may be able to help. Gary On Tue, 27 Nov 2001, Andrea Mountain wrote: > Dear Sir/Madam > > I am an undergraduate student at the University of Central Lancashire > studying Business Information Systems and Mathematics. As part of my > Honours degree, I must undertake a research project. The project concerns > the use of IT and implementation of Linux (if any) in UK schools. > > > Is anyone teaching using Linux or open source based software? > > Are there any schools, which use open source based software for > administration purposes? > > > I am also finding difficulty in locating any information within the > electronic catalogues. Can anyone help me with any pointers concerning > this project? > > Yours faithfully, > > amountain(a)uclan.ac.uk > > > Andrea Mountain > BSc BIS and Mathematics > Department of Business Information Management > University of Central Lancashire > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp -- Gary Stainburn This email does not contain private or confidential material as it may be snooped on by interested government parties for unknown and undisclosed purposes - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, 2000

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resolv.conf file under suse 7.3 (a fix)
by Paul Sutton 28 Nov '01

28 Nov '01

Hi I have just installed Suse 7.3 and found that while internet dial up worked great, I got a host not found error in the web browser, anyway I managed to fix it and decided to post the fix to the group so others may benefit. The message given when clicking on internet dialer which told me I needed a /etc/resolv.conf file with the appropriate permissions. I was told to ask my system admin to do this, (this is great if the user is in a establishment where there is one, but for home users and beginners it can cause a slight problem). I created this (as root), and tried again and the problem was still there, looking at the permissions I had -rw-r--r-- with the owner as root. so I decided to change this to -rw-rw-rw or if right clicking on the file and looking at the table it now gives. Class read write exec user x x group x x others x x (this should be chmod 666 resolv.conf) this now seems to work, just by adding write permission to group and others. I am using the konquror browser, and can now look at web pages. I hope this is of help to anyone in the group who may be experiencing problems. Paul

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I fixed my graphical login...THANKS
by Matt Johnson 28 Nov '01

28 Nov '01

Um...it's like this... It's fixed, but I don't see the connection between solution and problem. I get my hostname from DHCP. I put in the name that my computer is always assigned by DHCP from NTL broadband into /etc/hosts. Luckily I am always assigned the same IP (so that's fixed information too)! Surely there's another way? Isn't there some doohicky that adds this data each boot? What if my IP changed each boot? AND what on earth does this have to do with GDM not working, and why did KDM work all the way through? Someone please muster an explanation. I'm glad it works, but I'm trying to learn about how this all slots together. Obviously a big thanks for all those who offered advice. The localhost 127.0.0.1 contribution set me a thinking! -- Matt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/info1

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I broke my graphical login...
by Matt Johnson 27 Nov '01

27 Nov '01

No, X -query 127.0.0.1 gives a grey screen with a big cross cursor. Then an error messagee: localhost rejected client, or similar. /etc/hosts does have the necessary loopback device listed. -- Matt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! GeoCities - quick and easy web site hosting, just $8.95/month. http://geocities.yahoo.com/ps/info1

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