May 2000 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SQL Server
by Matt Johnson 18 May '00

18 May '00

Hmm, given education's reaction to Linux, this could be a bad move for SIMS. (I really don't think it's that good anyway but I'd never say that on a mailing list). They may reconsider. -- Matt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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Revalidation on 'share' security
by Matt Johnson 18 May '00

18 May '00

First of all...'love the show'! This list is proving to be a great help sorting problems, and for new ideas for education. We're using 'share' level security on Samba. We went over to 'user', but at primary school level, the hassle outweighs the benefits - we want instant access instead of loging on - loging off - login on. The thing is, that once a connection to a share has been made, that share is available to the next user. Yes, I know...we could log off, but then we may as well implement 'user' level. Is there a way of forcing a more frequent revalidation. Is there a way of doing it by specifying a time frame? Or even by inactivity? Any ideas would be great (including any ideas about switching to 'user' level, and automating log off on Win95) Thanks in advance. -- Matt Johnson ICT Coordinator St. Andrew's CE Primary Hertford __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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RM Connect and Linux
by Matt Johnson 18 May '00

18 May '00

Thanks Paul. We had a couple of RM Window Boxes under 3.1 here (soon formatted those), but I think RM have bunged their Window Box stuff over Windows 95 (maybe even 98) now. I think the CONNECT server is relied upon for the, erm how should I put it, 'unique' log on system that RM uses. I'd like to wipe the lot, and stick Win98 on (or NTworkstation), then use Linux at the back end, but they've shelled out a *lot* of money for this software (lots of tame educational ware), and they'd not appreciate me wiping the stuff off (fair point). So I guess it's going to be 'go try it'. Unless anyone has any ideas? Thanks -- Matt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] RM Connect and Linux
by Edgehill E-Mail Service 18 May '00

18 May '00

Hi, RM Window Box is (usually) Win3.0/Win3.1 with security features supplied from DOS. We have a few on PC386/MCA Architecture. Unreliable - yes, Secure - moderately, integrateable - who knows? If they have the power, then why not use them as X-terminals? (a favorite topic here :) As far as replacing CONNECT is concerned, I don't know. Most of my own experience with WindowsBox/RM revolves around incompatibility with anything else. Maybe lose the RM security shell, and use straight Windoze (accepting that reinstallation is relatively easy when you can clone a diskdrive - full Win'95 clone takes me 20-30 mins). I can only say "Good Luck!!" Regards, Paul Ellison <SysAdm(a)edgecoll.clara.net> ---------- > From: Matt Johnson <johnsonmlw(a)yahoo.com> > To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com > Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] RM Connect and Linux > Date: 18 May 2000 10:06 > > Firstly, I should say hi as I've not posted before. > I'm the Network bod at St. Andrew's CE Primary. I've > installed a 20 workstation network in the classrooms > and across cummunal areas, such as corridors. I'm > using SuSE 6.3 on the server, and it's pretty much > doing everything (DHCP, WINS, PDC, file server, print > server blah blah blah). I'm amazed at how quickly a > zero experienced linux user can get this stuff up and > running. And run it does! > > I'm thinking of moving jobs. The school I'm looking at > has 24 workstations BUT they're all RM Window Box and > there's a copy of CONNECT on the server. How much > scope am I going to have to integrate Linux? Can I > completely replace the CONNECT server with a Linux > box? Would that offer any advantage? How does the > CONNECT server handle authentication? The Head says > that at present it's all very unreliable. Am I > actually going to be able to effect any change given > this situation? > > Anyone got any experience integrating Linux into an RM > network? > > Cheers > > -- > Matt Johnson > ICT Coordinator > St. Andrew's CE Primary > Hertford > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. > http://im.yahoo.com/ >

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RM Connect and Linux
by Matt Johnson 18 May '00

18 May '00

Firstly, I should say hi as I've not posted before. I'm the Network bod at St. Andrew's CE Primary. I've installed a 20 workstation network in the classrooms and across cummunal areas, such as corridors. I'm using SuSE 6.3 on the server, and it's pretty much doing everything (DHCP, WINS, PDC, file server, print server blah blah blah). I'm amazed at how quickly a zero experienced linux user can get this stuff up and running. And run it does! I'm thinking of moving jobs. The school I'm looking at has 24 workstations BUT they're all RM Window Box and there's a copy of CONNECT on the server. How much scope am I going to have to integrate Linux? Can I completely replace the CONNECT server with a Linux box? Would that offer any advantage? How does the CONNECT server handle authentication? The Head says that at present it's all very unreliable. Am I actually going to be able to effect any change given this situation? Anyone got any experience integrating Linux into an RM network? Cheers -- Matt Johnson ICT Coordinator St. Andrew's CE Primary Hertford __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Marks out of 10!
by Edgehill E-Mail Service 18 May '00

18 May '00

Hi, Here at Edgehill, we are beginning the long and laborious process of adding Linux to our ops suite. At the moment, we are serving public datafiles from a Linux box (K6-II-500, 64MB, 13GB HDD) - that was easy(-ish), taking longer to install from CD's than to set up (SAMBA). We are in the early stages of extending this server to support our agèd 486 machines. My assistant-Guru (Say "Hello", Mark), one of our pupils, is setting this up for me. Early indications are that running X locally, displaying server-run programs will give us a reasonable service, reasonably easily. Mark will be documenting his activities once the service is running. I hope to go over to Linux on the main network server summer 2001. Unfortunately, it looks as though we are stuck with WinWorkstations until the reference software is available for Linux systems ... check through the catalogues, all of the useful encyclopedias, multimedia learning soft etc. is only (yet) available for WinPC/MAC/Acorn. We will be trialling some of these with WINE, and I hope that we will be able to share the results. The bottom line, at the moment, seems to be: 9.5/10 for content, 7/10 for ease (much more complex than Win32, but then, more comprehensive software.) 10/10 for standard documentation (could do with more Idiot-Guides, though <sigh>.) 11/10 for support - even if most of the users seem to speak an alien tongue <grin>. Regards, Paul Ellison <SysAdm(a)edgecoll.clara.net> ICT Manager Edgehill College, IT Department ---------- > From: Graham Spratt <graham.spratt(a)tinyonline.co.uk> > To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com > Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Marks out of 10! > Date: 17 May 2000 22:51 > > My name is Graham Spratt, and I'm the Computer Technician at Beccles Middle > School. We are considering changing operating systems from Win NT on our > server and 95 on work stations. One of the systems we are looking at is > SuSE 6.4, I would appreciate any E-Mails of peoples experience with Linux > especially security issues and ease of set up and use. > > > > Regards Graham Spratt > <graham.spratt(a)tinyonline.co.uk> > >

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Re: SIMS and Linux
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 18 May '00

18 May '00

> Yes, no problem in using Linux and > samba as a server for SIMS. Sorry, I do not work in education (I run a users group), but have an interest in seeing Linux picked up for educational use ... So please excuse me if this is a silly question, but can you tell me what SIMS is (a URL to read up on it would be fine - you don't need to post a full description to the list :-) Ta, Kevin Taylor (Northants Linux Users Group)

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Re: Old PCS as workstations ... [long]
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 17 May '00

17 May '00

Someone has asked me for some more details about using older machines, so here are a few ramblings that I thought may be of interest to a few more people on this list ... > In a recent suse email you stated that you used > discless pcs as work stations. Well, not exactly work stations - I have them booting up (we were investigation using them in a beowulf cluster). Someone did say that it is possible to use older machines, as long as you have a nice and beafy server to actually run the apps (I think he said he used 512 Mb RAM or something ...) I am not sure how much you know about Linux and networking, so please excuse me if I am explaining things you already know about ... Anyway, in order to get the machines booting, you have to do the following (high level discussion first, then perhaps some pointers to detail :-) 1. Boot from floppy or the network (floppy was easiest for me). 2. Kernel that boots from the floppy must be configured for an 'NFS root file system'. This means that once the kernel has booted, it will mount all its disk space remotely from the server. 3. Server allocated IP addresses to the clients (this happened using the 'RARP' protocol) - so again, kernel support for RARP was required. Also the server had to be running a 'RARP' server. 4. Server had an area on its disk that was basically a complete disk image for each client. In reality, this is actually a disk image using symbolic links to permit the clients and the server to share certain common directories and files. Pointers to documentation on this (maybe in order of relevance ?) : - Thinclient howto (not read this but sounds just the thing :-) - Diskless howto documents (a little out of date but covers the basics) - Diskless-Root NFS howto (the main one for you) - NFS root mini howto (may be obsolete by the above) - NFS root client mini howto (again may be old now) - Beowulf howto (additional reading perhaps) - Boot disk howto (may have some useful bits too) - Remote boot mini howto - Remote X apps mini howto See http://www.linuxdoc.org for the howto documents. Once the machines are up and running, you have various levels of networking that you can achieve : 1. Server is a file server only - In this case, the server provides the file system and applications, but the applications actually run on the client PCs. This is no good to you as your machines are not up to the task of running star office ! 2. Server is a multi-user machine - In this case, the 486 PCs are basically just remote terminals to the server. The 486s are configured to run an 'X terminal' session (via xdm or somesuch) to actually logon and run applications on the server. Basically, in this scenario, all applications are actually running on the server, but the graphics display (output) and keyboard/mouse (input) are redirected over the network to your 486 terminal. As the 486 only has to run the display management and handle keyboard/mouse and ethernet events it should be ok. One last point - it could be worth getting in touch with your local user group, to see if there is anyone local to you who may have done this. Remember though, that Linux is their hobby, they are no substitute for proper 'paid for technical support'. They may well be as knowlegeable or forthcoming, but they may not (or may not be today, or may just be busy, etc :-) Anyway, see http://www.lug.org.uk for a list. Hope This helps, Kevin (Northants Linux Users Group)

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Marks out of 10!
by Graham Spratt 17 May '00

17 May '00

My name is Graham Spratt, and I'm the Computer Technician at Beccles Middle School. We are considering changing operating systems from Win NT on our server and 95 on work stations. One of the systems we are looking at is SuSE 6.4, I would appreciate any E-Mails of peoples experience with Linux especially security issues and ease of set up and use. Regards Graham Spratt <graham.spratt(a)tinyonline.co.uk>

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SIMS and Linux
by Bill Antonia 17 May '00

17 May '00

Bill Antonia Beacon Community College Home e-mail bill(a)beaconhillcott.freeserve.co.uk Work e-mail at(a)beacon.e-sussex.sch.uk Yes, no problem in using Linux and samba as a server for SIMS. Finally got round to it today, creating a copy of SIMS to use for training purposes. Connects ok and launcher runs all the modules. The only problem I have is in the samba access rights. For some silly reason I have to list all users within samba in the "admin users" option, giving them all root access to the shares being exported, then it works. The temporary files which are created when a user logs into SIMS cannot seem to be created. I've tried chmod 777 <directory of share> but it did not give the users enough access. Probably doing something wrong. Even added the following options to the share definition in smb.conf read only = no writeable = yes or even force user = <name of admin user> Still no joy! Any ideas? Oh well, keep on experimenting, tomorrows another day.

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Configuration of this mailing list ....
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 16 May '00

16 May '00

Is it possible to get replies to this list to go back to the list ? I send my reply, then wait around for it to appear, and then just realised that all emails have 'reply to' set to the sender ... This means that we are probably missing quite a bit of discussion as the responses are not sent back to the list ... Just wondering, Kevin (Northants Linux Users Group)

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Today's welcome message
by Roger Whittaker 15 May '00

15 May '00

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. -- 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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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] System runs like a dog - newbie help please
by kevin.taylor＠powerconv.alstom.com 15 May '00

15 May '00

> Starting applications require LOTS of disc activity > and a LONG time. > eg Netscape takes about 2 minutes to load. I am afraid that running large applications (netscape, star office, etc) in a Linux GUI environment (I am assuming you are running KDE here) does require a lot of memory. In your case, 32 Mb may be a bit tight. If you can upgrade to 64 Mb, you will notice quite a difference running these large applications. Other things to do, include : Installing and running a 'lighter' window manager - I use 'black box with KDE extensions' instead of the standard KDE window manager (this is on the Mandrake disks, not sure about SuSE ?), and find it a *lot* lighter on memory requirements. For example, on a P60/32 Mb RAM, starting 'normal' KDE sets the machine off swapping to disk like mad (it would appear that on my system, KDE runs (with everything else of course) with about 39 Mb in use). Using blackbox keeps this down to 29 Mb. You could also free up some other memory in the system, for example, if you do not require many virtual consoles, reduce this down to (say) 2. Typical installations install 6 (see the file /etc/inittab). You could also see how many instances of the web server (apache) are running - if your machine is a desktop, ie not serving web pages, you could either uninstall this, or cut down the number of servers initialised, etc. There are various ways of freeing up some memory, but an investment to 64 Mb will not go amiss ... I tend to think of Linux + X + KDE + larger apps as requiring the same sort of memory/maching requirements as Windows NT. I run X on a machine with 32 Mb fine - but I don't use the large apps (netscape/star office/etc). Just my thoughts ... Kevin. Northants Linux Users Group.

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Further thoughts on Netscape issue
by James Ogley 15 May '00

15 May '00

An additional thought... Do you have enough swap space on your hard disk? If you only have a small amount, this could account for the slowness of starting apps, and for the disk thrashing... -- James Ogley, SuSE Linux UK Ltd - +44 (0) 20 8 387 4088 @ Work: ogley(a)suse.co.uk www.suse.co.uk @ Home: james(a)rubberturnip.org.uk www.rubberturnip.org.uk ICQ: 57374251 Slashdot: riggwelter (84180)

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] System runs like a dog - newbie help please
by James Ogley 15 May '00

15 May '00

I suspect it's the spec of your hardware. You'll notice that you have the minimum amount of RAM recomended for using the GUI. The thing is that certain applications, like Netscape and StarOffice require a fair amount of system resources, especially if other apps are running at the same time... Your video card could also contribute to this effect, a 2 Meg card inevitably doesn't display as well as an equivilant card with more RAM. > Spec > P100, 32MB > Triton M/board > 2GB IDE > Std CD > 3 Com 509B > ATI Rage (2Meg) > 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. -- James Ogley, SuSE Linux UK Ltd - +44 (0) 20 8 387 4088 @ Work: ogley(a)suse.co.uk www.suse.co.uk @ Home: james(a)rubberturnip.org.uk www.rubberturnip.org.uk ICQ: 57374251 Slashdot: riggwelter (84180)

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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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