May 2000 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Today's welcome message
by Ben Rodgers 15 May '00

15 May '00

There is a freeware program called NetUser, available from my website. I don't remember where I downloaded it from originally. Anyway, it can be used to export user information from NT in CSV format. I use it to set up our intranet pages. http://jump.to/benjiman Hope this is of use, Ben >From: Giles Nunn <giles(a)satproj.org.uk> >To: Roger Whittaker <roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk> >CC: Dave Williams <david(a)williams333.freeserve.co.uk>, >suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com >Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Today's welcome message >Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 09:35:01 +0100 (BST) > >There are two packages which spring to mind here in SuSE. KDE includes >the kuser user manager for graphical admin - but only one at a time. For >bulk usernames there is the newusers command line tool - we mailmerge data >into a file in the right format. >I am supposed to be looking at exporting usernames from RM connect to >create mailboxes under Linux. If anyone has done this, it would save me >some time. >_____________________________________ >Giles Nunn - Network Manager >Carms Schools ICT Development Centre >Tel: +44 01239 710662 Fax: 710985 >____________________________________ > >On Mon, 15 May 2000, Roger Whittaker wrote: > > > You can certainly do this by creating a suitable script. > > > > There is a feeling that others have mentioned that some kind of >graphical > > tool to help schools with this would be useful: what do others think? > > > > This list is not exclusive - users of other distributions are welcome > > ... :) > > > > On Sat, 13 May 2000, Dave Williams wrote: > > > > > On 03 May, Roger Whittaker <roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk> wrote: > > > > Time for a few more people to introduce themselves ... > > > > > > > If you're new to the list or haven't posted before, just let us know >who > > > > you are and what you're doing or hope to do with Linux ... > > > > > > > Don't be shy ... > > > > > > > The more people use the list, the more useful it will be. > > > > > > > > > I feel like a bit of an intruder (I am atm a RedHat user) but I am >willing > > > to change to SUSE if this group proves to be useful. > > > > > > I am the ICT coordinator of a large, mixed platform, secondary school. >We > > > have roughly 150 Acorn/PCs which can connect to a RedHat server >running > > > Samba. My concerns centre around the account management tools >available > > > ie. the methods that can be used to add 200+ users at a time. > > > > > > Does anyone have any techniques which can help with this? > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Today's welcome message
by Edgehill E-Mail Service 15 May '00

15 May '00

Hi, A script/program taking a comma delimited file (one record per account) would be suitable - [for comparison: currently (under NT4), I have a program which takes my user list and compiles the logon scripts, new-user letter (account details) and an account generation program ( DOS-mode batch-file)etc. Generating the creation script for 340 users took 20 mins, creation of the accounts 40 mins. it takes 10 mins to generate a single account manually, using the 'New User Accounts' wizzock.] Unfortunately my C skills and knowledge if Linux are not (yet) up to the task, but SURELY, someone has already invented this wheel? Or maybe, in order to compete with the Win environment in the commercial sphere, a set of Account Migration tools might be in order? (Wishlist)- "Difficulty in migrating" is a common cry in the industry. OK, I've just taken 3k to say "YES, that would help, but with reservations," so I'll shut-up now. Regards, Paul Paul P. Ellison, ICT Manager, Edgehill College, Bideford. <SysAdm(a)edgecoll.clara.net> ---------- > From: Roger Whittaker <roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk> > To: Dave Williams <david(a)williams333.freeserve.co.uk> > Cc: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com > Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Today's welcome message > Date: 15 May 2000 09:47 > > You can certainly do this by creating a suitable script. > > There is a feeling that others have mentioned that some kind of graphical > tool to help schools with this would be useful: what do others think? > > This list is not exclusive - users of other distributions are welcome > ... :) > > On Sat, 13 May 2000, Dave Williams wrote: > > > On 03 May, Roger Whittaker <roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk> wrote: > > > Time for a few more people to introduce themselves ... > > > > > If you're new to the list or haven't posted before, just let us know who > > > you are and what you're doing or hope to do with Linux ... > > > > > Don't be shy ... > > > > > The more people use the list, the more useful it will be. > > > > > > I feel like a bit of an intruder (I am atm a RedHat user) but I am willing > > to change to SUSE if this group proves to be useful. > > > > I am the ICT coordinator of a large, mixed platform, secondary school. We > > have roughly 150 Acorn/PCs which can connect to a RedHat server running > > Samba. My concerns centre around the account management tools available > > ie. the methods that can be used to add 200+ users at a time. > > > > Does anyone have any techniques which can help with this? > > > > Dave Williams > > > > > > -- > Roger Whittaker > SuSE Linux Ltd > The Kinetic Centre > Theobald Street > Borehamwood > Herts > WD6 4PJ > ---------------------- > 020 8387 1482 > ---------------------- > roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk > ---------------------- > >

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System runs like a dog - newbie help please
by acraig 15 May '00

15 May '00

Hi folks, Linux newbie here. Spec P100, 32MB Triton M/board 2GB IDE Std CD 3 Com 509B ATI Rage (2Meg) Have installed up GUI. Got network working BUT... Starting applications require LOTS of disc activity and a LONG time. eg Netscape takes about 2 minutes to load. Once loaded it works fine - acceptable response times. Read somewhere about this type of problem but got no response from person who posted msg. http://mlarchive.ima.com/linux-kernel/1998/Dec/1059.html Can anybody please help. Many thanks in advance Alan Craig Dept. of CDT Aberdeen Grammar School

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Invitation to the European Linux Conference
by Roger Whittaker 12 May '00

12 May '00

All members of this list are cordially invited to this event which is being sponsored by SuSE Linux Ltd in conjuction with the Linux Expo. Details are at http://www.suse.de/uk/conference/index.html and http://www.suse.de/uk/LinuxExpo2000/index.html A programme for the conference and a `fax-back' reply form are attached. -- Roger Whittaker SuSE Linux Ltd The Kinetic Centre Theobald Street Borehamwood Herts WD6 4PJ ---------------------- 020 8387 1482 ---------------------- roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk ----------------------

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Linux Expo 2000
by Chris Davies 09 May '00

09 May '00

I've just received info on this. Is it a suitable event for those of us in education to attend? Does anyone know? What about you Roger (Whittaker)? Many thanks to all the contributions on diskless workstations. Methods to recycle the increasing number of 486 machines, which seem to arrive on my doorstep as machines are upgraded, into useful wordprocessor, email and browsing machines would be much appreciated if anyone has the know how and the time to pass on this knowledge. Will any companies producing these diskless workstations be at the Expo? Thanks Chris Chris Davies Head of IT Epsom College College Road Epsom Surrey KT17 4JQ tel.: 01372 821178 fax.: 01372 821005

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Introduction
by JOHN LOW 08 May '00

08 May '00

I am a new member of the list so a few words. I am Network Manager for a girls school in Brighton, UK. Currently we run an NT based system but I played a bit with Linux in the past and am hoping to replace some of the NT system (especially the ones that cost!) with Linux. We have invested in Windows-based mail, web and proxy software so I shall probably keep those, but will be looking at authentication, file and print services and routing as possible uses. As in so many schools, we have plenty of ancient gear around, so I will probably try set up some desktop machines as well. Also interested in X terminal. Plenty to do in my spare time! John Low St Marys Hall School _______________________________________________ This is a common mailbox with many users. Please include the recipients name in the subject line to ease delivery. Messages addressed to: "Firstname Familyname" <stmaryshall(a)btinternet.com> will be routed automatically. Views expressed in this email are those of the author only. _________________________________________________

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Useful list of resources
by Roger Whittaker 05 May '00

05 May '00

There's a nice page of links at http://www.linux.ie/LWR/index.html (Irish Linux users' group) -- Roger Whittaker SuSE Linux Ltd The Kinetic Centre Theobald Street Borehamwood Herts WD6 4PJ ---------------------- 020 8387 1482 ---------------------- roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk ----------------------

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Old PCS as workstations ... (was: Buying diskless workstations)
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 05 May '00

05 May '00

> Actually I've just had a thought - if there are any schools > out there who have large amounts of 386/486 PCs ... Actual many companies basically 'throw out' any PC that is more than (say) 5 or 6 years old. As long as they can completely disown the PCs (ie will not be liable if the thing blows up and kills someone) then they may just give them away to a good cause ... My company did this, and I was able to obtain a few PCs for basically nothing. We used them as the basis for playing around with Linux clustering within the users group. The problem is obtaining monitors (which I obviously don't need for clustering). > they could quite easily be configured in the same > way to produce cheap graphical terminals running > from a central server. I have fiddled with this sort of thing in the past, and the problem is that while it can be done, X is still quite slow. I would be interested to know how X runs when the actual applications are on another machine though ... I would say don't bother with 386, but concentrate on the 486s, and try to use accelerated cards where possible. It would probably be worth trying to salvage lots of machines, and try to get a few decent machines from the lot, with (say) 16 Mb RAM each ? (You need network cards too of course) In theory it should be possible to set up a complete internet lab using this sort of idea, as long as you have a server that has sufficient power to run several copies of netscape on behalf of the clients :-) I would be particularly interested in anyone that has managed to set up a 'lab' using this sort of idea ... Just my thoughts. Kevin. (Northants Linux Users Group)

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Buying diskless workstations
by Edgehill E-Mail Service 05 May '00

05 May '00

I think that most people would be _very_ interested in the How-Did-I for this. We have a stack of low-end systems which could do with using up :) We would probably end up modifying to use the existing HDD's instead of Flash, but the principle is the same(-ish!!). Regards, Paul Ellison <SysAdm(a)edgecoll.clara.net> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Edgehill IT Department Email Service. Please check sender's address from body of Message for return address. Find us at: www.edgecoll.clara.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > From: Jon Stockill <jon(a)ops-wing.demon.co.uk> > To: Chris Davies <cjd(a)epsomcollege.org.uk> > Cc: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com > Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Buying diskless workstations > Date: 05 May 2000 00:06 > > On Thu, 4 May 2000, Chris Davies wrote: > > > Are there any UK firms which manufacture or sell these beasts and > > the required servers? > > I don't know about this, but..... > > > Does anyone have any suggestions? > > I've just successfully reverse engineered a Boundless Viewpoint terminal, > which started life as a Windows Terminal Server client. > > Basically it's built from standard PC components (Its a pentium class > processor, 8MB RAM, Cirrus Logic Graphics, NE2000 network on board, > nothing too outlandish), and has a 4MB flash memory disk which it boots > from. I mamaged to get a linux kernel on there, and persuaded it to > network boot from another Linux machine. > > It's now happily running as an X terminal served by another machine on my > network. With the addition of a bit more RAM it could actually be used as > a full blown workstation. > > If anyone's interested in how I achieved this I'd be happy to document > it. Also if anyone has any similar hardware that they'd like to try this > with I'd be happy to work with you to produce a solution. > > It's such a shame when companies produce nice hardware like this and then > spoil it byseverely restricting its potential :-) > > Actually I've just had a thought - if there are any schools out there who > have large amounts of 386/486 PCs which are destined for the skip they > could quite easily be configured in the same way to produce cheap > graphical terminalsrunning from a central server. > > -- > ___ _ In a world without fences - who needs Gates? > | (_' M1CHW > ._|on ._)tockill <jon(a)ops-wing.demon.co.uk> > >

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Buying diskless workstations
by Chris Davies 05 May '00

05 May '00

Had a peek at the new howto. I liked the part "It's cheaper to buy". Are there any UK firms which manufacture or sell these beasts and the required servers? Does anyone have any suggestions? Chris Chris Davies Head of IT Epsom College College Road Epsom Surrey KT17 4JQ tel.: 01372 821178 fax.: 01372 821005

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