May 2001 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] MIS, databases
by richard＠tortoise.demon.co.uk 14 May '01

14 May '01

On various dates various people said: > <mbrown(a)fensystems.co.uk> > PostgreSQL is probably a better choice ........... > <rjg(a)ateb.co.uk> > I'll second the choice of PostgreSQL and so on. Now, after all this praise, I installed PostgreSQL and started mucking around with it. I created a table, put data in it and even did a query! I can't figure out how to get an ODBC connection yet to my NT box and I can't find a download source for the mpsql (?) client to run on windows. I thought I might ask those knowledgeable folks on the mailing list. Nevertheless, I really thought I was going somewhere until I discover that PostgreSQL does not support foreign keys. I find this astonishing. Isn't this the whole point of databases? I use a tlkp to prefix lookup tables. If I create a (simplified) table of ethnic groups : CREATE TABLE tlkpEthnic ( ethnic_id int NOT NULL , ethnic_descriptionl varchar (50) NULL , CONSTRAINT pk_tlkpEthnic PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED ( ethnic_id ) ) and then go on to create a (hugely simplified) table of pupils CREATE TABLE dbo.tblPupil ( pupil_id int IDENTITY (1, 1) NOT NULL , name_first varchar (50) NULL, name_second varchar (50) NULL , ethnic_id int NOT NULL, CONSTRAINT fk_tblPupil_ethnic FOREIGN KEY ( ethnic_id) REFERENCES dbo.tlkpEthnic (ethnic_id), ) I want to require the ethnic_id for every pupil to match an entry in tlkpEthnic. To this end I use REFERENCES. Seemingly PostgreSQL only lets you enforce this through triggers. So, you would have to write triggers for virtually everything. Not to go into preventing deletion from tlkpEthnic where those records are referenced by records in tblPupil. Obviously, PostgreSQL was written by people far more knowledgeable than me, so what am I missing here? Finally, > <alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk> > After a little reading and some downloading of software > I have a running PostgreSQL server,............. > and access to the PostgreSQL databases on the > server via PostODBC and Lotus Approach > from Windows systems. Alan, what extra did you download? Is there not everything I need on the SuSE cd to get ODBC going? regards Richard richard(a)tortoise.demon.co.uk

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] MIS, databases
by Phil Driscoll 14 May '01

14 May '01

>However, I wouldn't exclude the >possibility of writing special clients if functionality required >it (and I'd write them in Tcl/Tk, for portability). I would argue strongly that special clients should not be required or provided. Once you provide them, then there is a temptation to implement functionality in them that is not available in the web clients, and I believe that in this day and age there is very little that cannot be done with cleverly designed web pages and server side software. That said, I think this implementing such a system is an excellent idea. Does anyone on the list have a handle on the value for the average cost per school x total number of UK schools for current systems? Cheers -- Phil Driscoll Dial Solutions +44 (0)113 294 5112 http://www.dialsolutions.com http://www.dtonline.org

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] squid proxy help thanks
by Azrael Angel Of Death 14 May '01

14 May '01

>From: James & Cybèle <CJC(a)stonycobbles.freeserve.co.uk> >To: "Schools List" <suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com> >Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] squid proxy help thanks >Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 16:27:46 +0100 > >Thanks for all the help with my Squid Proxying problems. Without wishing to >start a debate (!) I have to admit to finding YAST/YAST2 the sort of thing >that a place in Seattle might have come up with. Maybe its because of the >problem of different distros of Linux but I've made most progress in linux >when I've altered files directly. I know aspects of SuseConfig can be >turned >off but...... That's funny.. because this morning I was going to ask if anyone knows of a Web Administration Tool for Squid... a la SWAT for Samba. Personally I can manage editing the files myself.. but there are others in the department with little Computer knowledge let alone Linux knowledge. The head of IT is considering a switch to Microsoft Proxy.. merely because it has better management features. Thanks... _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

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squid proxy help thanks
by James & Cybèle 14 May '01

14 May '01

Thanks for all the help with my Squid Proxying problems. Without wishing to start a debate (!) I have to admit to finding YAST/YAST2 the sort of thing that a place in Seattle might have come up with. Maybe its because of the problem of different distros of Linux but I've made most progress in linux when I've altered files directly. I know aspects of SuseConfig can be turned off but...... Anyway, as to the squid problem. Assuming I'm running Suse6.4 and my win98 machines just look at 192.168.1.2 port 3128 what do I actually need to do to the server to get it to be useful when offline? Thanks once again James Carter

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Squid proxying when off line
by Mr G M Locock 11 May '01

11 May '01

Hi all On Thu, 10 May, =?iso-8859-1?Q?James_&_Cyb=E8le?= wrote: > > Check the nameservers. Usually your system would point to the local proxy > machine as nameserver. If you have it set up with an external machine as > primary nameserver, (which is normal for an ordinary dial-up non-proxied > connection) then nobody on your network can find a web page (even in the > local cache) without a connection to the www! > > > Thanks for the advice. I thought, though, that pointing at my machine as > name server would give me all sorts of other things to set up which I > usually leasve to my ISP to work out? > It probably depends on which proxy software you are running; I can only speak from experience of Navaho, but literally all I had to do was point the local clients to the address of the local proxy server. Navaho automagically does whatever else is needed. The proxy server /does/ need to know the addresses of the external nameservers it is meant to look up, in just the same way as a stand-alone dial-up PC needs this information. This is what makes it a "proxy"... it does all the look-ups /on behalf of/ the clients. The client PCs don't know anything about the /real/ internet, all they need to know is the address of the local proxy box and the port numbers it listens out on. I daresay this is over-simplified, but it's how IUI. HTH Gary -- G M Locock, Network Manager Bablake Junior School, Coundon Road, Coventry, UK, CV1 4AU Tel: (+44) 24 7663 4052; Fax: (+44) 24 7663 3290 Web: http://www.bablakejs.co.uk Email: gml(a)bablakejs.co.uk

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Help please!
by Mr G M Locock 11 May '01

11 May '01

Hi all Many thanks for helping out with this one. In fact Dan hit the right solution; there's a file called .wm-something-or-other in the root of /root (and every other user) containing just the name of the configured desktop for that user. It was only necessary to resave it as an empty file to fix the problem, because the system now defaults to kde. I replied to Dan, but tend to forget that on this list, replies are emailed, and only go to the whole list if I remember to put the suse- address in. (Not that that is a bad thing, as it is quite a busy list as it is. Sorry to make it busier still!) It is remarkable how you can muck about with the interface like this in Linux, while the system goes on working underneath, completely unperturbed. On Thu, 10 May, Malcolm Herbert wrote: > hi Gary, > > one solution would be to delete the .kde and .gnome subdirectories from the > /root directory, i guess, start from fresh > > Malcolm > > On Wednesday 09 May 2001 19:42, you wrote: > > Many thanks to Dan, Malcolm, and Phil for your advice, but I'm > > still stuck in Gnome and feeling slightly foolish! (It is > > Gnome without a file manager too, for some reason, which is > > a pain) > > > > I have followed your advice, (looking at files in /etc/K11, > > and /etc/sysconfig ) > > but I think in each case I have only altered the system defaults > > which new users would get on first logging on. This isn't quite > > the problem I've got. > > > > The box is a server, so it doesn't actually have anybody else > > who can get to a desktop on it except me, as a couple of different > > usernames. > > > > It is user root which has somehow lost its KDE desktop. The KDE > > data still exists (I can start KFM manually for example, and > > it takes me to the last saved filer window). I just can't > > get it to go back to autostarting KDE from the 'startx' command. > > My other users are still OK; it is not a system-wide problem. best Gary -- G M Locock, Network Manager Bablake Junior School, Coundon Road, Coventry, UK, CV1 4AU Tel: (+44) 24 7663 4052; Fax: (+44) 24 7663 3290 Web: http://www.bablakejs.co.uk Email: gml(a)bablakejs.co.uk

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Squid proxying when off line
by Mr G M Locock 11 May '01

11 May '01

On Wed, 09 May, =?iso-8859-1?Q?James_&_Cyb=E8le?= wrote: > Another question...... > I know squid is running....it's the only route that the win98 machine have > and it seems to be proxying when connected because of the speed but when the > ISDN line isn't on it doesn;t send anything to the browser.. > > Ideas? Check the nameservers. Usually your system would point to the local proxy machine as nameserver. If you have it set up with an external machine as primary nameserver, (which is normal for an ordinary dial-up non-proxied connection) then nobody on your network can find a web page (even in the local cache) without a connection to the www! ?? Gary -- G M Locock, Network Manager Bablake Junior School, Coundon Road, Coventry, UK, CV1 4AU Tel: (+44) 24 7663 4052; Fax: (+44) 24 7663 3290 Web: http://www.bablakejs.co.uk Email: gml(a)bablakejs.co.uk

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a couple of easy ones? (log on scripts)
by James & Cybèle 11 May '01

11 May '01

Hi All Hopefully a couple of easy ones.... 1. When I restart the server (not unless I have to) I have to manaully do two things: firstly do route add default gw etc to let the network find the router and I have to mount all the CD images I have. Where do I put this info to boot automatically? 2. The school office has a small windows file and print sharing network and use modems to dial out to the net. Is it possible/easy/advisable to give them access through my ISDN router seeing as this is a prepaid 24/7 line. thanks as always James Carter South Lee School

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Squid proxying when off line
by James & Cybèle 09 May '01

09 May '01

Another question...... I know squid is running....it's the only route that the win98 machine have and it seems to be proxying when connected because of the speed but when the ISDN line isn't on it doesn;t send anything to the browser.. Ideas? James Carter

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Help please!
by Mr G M Locock 09 May '01

09 May '01

Many thanks to Dan, Malcolm, and Phil for your advice, but I'm still stuck in Gnome and feeling slightly foolish! (It is Gnome without a file manager too, for some reason, which is a pain) I have followed your advice, (looking at files in /etc/K11, and /etc/sysconfig ) but I think in each case I have only altered the system defaults which new users would get on first logging on. This isn't quite the problem I've got. The box is a server, so it doesn't actually have anybody else who can get to a desktop on it except me, as a couple of different usernames. It is user root which has somehow lost its KDE desktop. The KDE data still exists (I can start KFM manually for example, and it takes me to the last saved filer window). I just can't get it to go back to autostarting KDE from the 'startx' command. My other users are still OK; it is not a system-wide problem. I'm sure it is dead easy to fix, if only I knew where to look! On Tue, 08 May, Dan Kolb wrote: > > On Tuesday 08 May 2001 2:01 pm, Mr G M Locock wrote: > > I'm sure this is a stoopid one... > > > > In RedHat 6.2 I change to Gnome using the desktop switcher > > tool... don't like it, but the switcher won't return me to > > KDE. > > > > ISTR there is a file I must delete, but which one please?? > > Have a look in /etc/X11, and see if there's a file or directory called > xinitrc there. You'd have to modify that. Under Slackware, with XFree86 > 4.0.3, it's in the directory /etc/X11/xinitrc/, and xinitrc is linked to > xinitrc.kde (for me). > > > (It is the root user, if that helps) > > You do know you shouldn't be running as root unless you absolutely have to, > don't you? Yes... but being a server, most of the tasks require the root user to do them. Gary -- G M Locock, Network Manager Bablake Junior School, Coundon Road, Coventry, UK, CV1 4AU Tel: (+44) 24 7663 4052; Fax: (+44) 24 7663 3290 Web: http://www.bablakejs.co.uk Email: gml(a)bablakejs.co.uk

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