May 2002 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Java VM and Star Office
by Chris Puttick 16 May '02

16 May '02

Works fine without Java; which is more than can be said for XP, which doesn't work fine, with or without Java... And before anyone responds critically to this backhand criticism of a Microsoft product, I am an MS knowledgeable IT professional, and know a fair bit about my profession and its related subject matter. :-) Cheers Chris PS Anyone see Network News? That's me, that is... -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Miller To: Suse-Linux-Uk-Schools Sent: 5/16/02 7:47 AM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Java VM and Star Office I have been waiting, almost eagerly, to see what could possibly be seen as the ''M$ killer' app' of Star Office ver 6 to release. I downloaded a foreign language version of Open Office the other day. I didn't fancy shelling out the huge sum for the MS office language bolt on and thought this could be a good avenue for MFL teachers to explore. The dilemma I am now wrestling with, is what Java VM do I install. A lot of you who follow this forum are, like me, still forced into using Windows, for various reasons. I tried to install OO on an XP machine. It was at this point that I was hit by the reality of Sun's court action level grievences. I couldn't run the Java VM. I searched the M$ knowledge base and found nothing. I then went to sun.com and on the main page was a big link to what could be the solution. I went back to M$ and found that a MS (free) VM 'update patch' was available. Now the MSVM is only 5mb and is the 'official' patch whereas the Sun VM is 12mb and possibly may be having to work around lots of M$, lets say 'booby traps' for want of a term. However, the Sun VM may have all the right classes with it, to make Star Office work and not have any of the anti Star Office 'booby traps' that M$ may have fitted. Add to this, there is the issue of security. Apparently both M$ and Sun had to put their heads together (!) , at some point, to get around a major hack problem that both their VM's had. I guess that many of you will have been through similar processes by now. Does anyone have any experiences on this point, to feedback to the forum? Bruce. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help(a)suse.com

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Java VM and Star Office
by Bruce Miller 16 May '02

16 May '02

I have been waiting, almost eagerly, to see what could possibly be seen as the ''M$ killer' app' of Star Office ver 6 to release. I downloaded a foreign language version of Open Office the other day. I didn't fancy shelling out the huge sum for the MS office language bolt on and thought this could be a good avenue for MFL teachers to explore. The dilemma I am now wrestling with, is what Java VM do I install. A lot of you who follow this forum are, like me, still forced into using Windows, for various reasons. I tried to install OO on an XP machine. It was at this point that I was hit by the reality of Sun's court action level grievences. I couldn't run the Java VM. I searched the M$ knowledge base and found nothing. I then went to sun.com and on the main page was a big link to what could be the solution. I went back to M$ and found that a MS (free) VM 'update patch' was available. Now the MSVM is only 5mb and is the 'official' patch whereas the Sun VM is 12mb and possibly may be having to work around lots of M$, lets say 'booby traps' for want of a term. However, the Sun VM may have all the right classes with it, to make Star Office work and not have any of the anti Star Office 'booby traps' that M$ may have fitted. Add to this, there is the issue of security. Apparently both M$ and Sun had to put their heads together (!) , at some point, to get around a major hack problem that both their VM's had. I guess that many of you will have been through similar processes by now. Does anyone have any experiences on this point, to feedback to the forum? Bruce.

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Adabas in StarOffice vs MS Access
by mblackmore＠oxlug.org 15 May '02

15 May '02

Being someone who hasn't touched a database since writing some turnkey "systems" in dBaseIII back in the mid 80s(!) I'm not the one to make any recommendations about databases. However.... I've been banging on to a educational organisation for some time about bailing out of MS, but they are hooked on Access for a few users. The last time I looked at access (casually) would be err 1995 or so... but how does Adabas compare to Access? If I can get them onto StarOffice or OpenOffice (OO lacks a database incorporated doesn't it?) the way is clear for a linux migration at some point in the future. Does Adabase have a nice pretty windows interface? Can it read in Access databases? What qualities does it have that recommend it over Access? Apart from price :-) and the ... well can we still claim the ethical dimension? What other databases are there out there common to both Windows and Linux x-windows that are low cost/free, and highly competent? Ta muchly

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Hardware Raid query - Suse 7.2/7.3
by Chris Puttick 15 May '02

15 May '02

In particular, you're talking about IDE RAID, which is not fully supported in Linux, although the HPT370 is supposed to be pretty good. Hardware RAIDing is done by the chipset, but a driver is required to communicate correctly between the OS and the logical drive created. The quality of the driver should really only effect bits of available hardware functionality. If you add the modules disk with the driver on during setup, and then you only see one hard drive, it's working. If you still see two separate drives, it's not... Chris -----Original Message----- From: mblackmore(a)oxlug.org To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Sent: 5/14/02 3:29 PM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Hardware Raid query - Suse 7.2/7.3 Apols if I'm being dense, but after reading up stuff I'm confused about what/how hardware raid is setup. I've a HPT 370 RAID controller here (ata/100) and a pair of matched 40gb disks which I want to raid 1 (mirroring) for a server. Where is the raid'ing done? In the card hardware? By the operting system? By a combination of both? The HPT bios option (ctrl-h on bootup) gives the option to set up raid 1 and to start the raid. But it also seems I have to install the driver, and in one of the howto's someone mentioned that in some cards a lot of the functionality of the raid was handled by the driver... So what does what? If one just sets the card off it will, I assume, light up the disk lights like a xmas tree as the second disk is mirrored...? But if the driver isn't installed does this mean it won't raid, only one disk will be seen, will only work at standard ide speeds - or what? Further, does anyone know if the more recent hpt 370 raid driver works with SMP kernels? The original one for suse 6.4 and 7.1 specifically said it would only work with uniprocessor, but there is no mention either way in the more recent 7.3 release. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help(a)suse.com

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Hardware Raid query - Suse 7.2/7.3
by mblackmore＠oxlug.org 15 May '02

15 May '02

Apols if I'm being dense, but after reading up stuff I'm confused about what/how hardware raid is setup. I've a HPT 370 RAID controller here (ata/100) and a pair of matched 40gb disks which I want to raid 1 (mirroring) for a server. Where is the raid'ing done? In the card hardware? By the operting system? By a combination of both? The HPT bios option (ctrl-h on bootup) gives the option to set up raid 1 and to start the raid. But it also seems I have to install the driver, and in one of the howto's someone mentioned that in some cards a lot of the functionality of the raid was handled by the driver... So what does what? If one just sets the card off it will, I assume, light up the disk lights like a xmas tree as the second disk is mirrored...? But if the driver isn't installed does this mean it won't raid, only one disk will be seen, will only work at standard ide speeds - or what? Further, does anyone know if the more recent hpt 370 raid driver works with SMP kernels? The original one for suse 6.4 and 7.1 specifically said it would only work with uniprocessor, but there is no mention either way in the more recent 7.3 release.

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ADV: Melati
by Tim Pizey 13 May '02

13 May '02

Hi, I would like to bring http://www.melati.org/ to your attention. Melati is a wonderful system for programming websites against an SQL database in java. The reason I am advocating it is that I am the only current user, as the economic down turn has meant the other users are now in employment, however the gurus are attentive to the mailing list. Melati interoperates with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSQL server, McKoiDB and can be made to operate with any transaction capable JDBC compliant db. It relies upon a templating engine (Velocity or Webmacro). Give it a try! cheers timp

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[Fwd: [OS:N:] [school-discuss] Another angle on winning interest in open source]
by Alan Harris 13 May '02

13 May '02

Hi all, You might find the following interesting, it's a forward from OSN which may help some of us 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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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] suse 8.0
by Chris Puttick 10 May '02

10 May '02

I believe you can buy the upgrade at a very reasonable price, which is (I think) the discs and a book descibing the differences (which there are a few). Maybe SuSE UK would consider selling just the disks to education for even less? (Roger?) 8 is worth it (after making it join my wireless home network),particularly for demonstrations to newbies. Chris -----Original Message----- From: Matt Williams To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Sent: 5/10/02 10:22 AM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] suse 8.0 As much as I love using suse it appears 8.0 is not available for ftp download. And after purchasing 7.0 and 7.3 I am a bit reluctant to shell out again for some manuals I don't need. Does anyone know if it's going to be available anytime soon? cheers Matt -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help(a)suse.com

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Comment on - 'May the source be with you '
by Simon Wood 10 May '02

10 May '02

I am writing to comment on the article 'May the source be with you', Thursday May 9, 2002. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4410011,00.html I have emailed the 'editor..' as no 'online' section is listed on the contacts page, though I have also made an educated guess... ---- Dear Editor, I am a GNU/Linux user, and have been for 4 years. I have seen the 'product' improve, along my skill and knowledge. In the article 'May the source be with you' Manek Dubash describes his experience with installing Linux as a 'newbie'. He does a good job of documenting his praises and issues, but I feel that he is being unfair in one respect. He instantly dismisses the idea of purchasing a 'box set' (a package containing disk, manuals and a support contract from a distributor) simple because it costs money. Instead he decided to download the disks and install without a manual or the option of (professional) support. This means that the comparison with his favoured Windows is unfair, as no doubt he has a CD for that, possibly manuals, and almost certainly has referred to a helpline at some point. I feel that perhaps he should have, at least, suggested that the usual introduction to a newbie is to purchase a 'box set'. Your faithfully, Simon Wood Bradford, UK.

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Linux for Guardian readers
by Chris Puttick 10 May '02

10 May '02

I read the same article, with much the same response, particularly as someone who has put (paid for myself) SuSE 8 on my laptop and desktop machine, and had my girlfriend praise it highly. Has anyone managed to make contact with the author and persuade him to try a boxed product? (Roger?) Chris -----Original Message----- From: Damian Counsell To: suse-linux-uk-schools Sent: 5/9/02 7:47 PM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Linux for Guardian readers All teachers read *The Guardian* :-) so you shouldn't have much trouble getting hold of a copy of today's edition from the staff room. In the "Online" tabloid supplement there is a full-page article about living with Linux, entitled "May the source be with you". For some bizarre reason there *isn't* a Web version of the article, at the online *Online* site ( http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/0,3147,179200,00.html ). I'd be happy for someone to correct me on this. (However there is a, ahem, an online version of another piece in today's *Online* about keeping the human genome open: http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,711981,00.html ---not that I'm obsessed or anything.) After his experiment, the (UNIX-friendly) author of the Linux article gives the usual "impressive, but not ready for primetime" verdict, though he did choose to download Red Hat to his PC, burn his own ISOs and then to do the install without a manual. Crazy. Everyone knows the best way for the newbie is to buy a boxed copy of SuSE---and "Have a lot of fun"... [Do I get my free-as-in-beer copy of SuSE 8.0 now, Roger?] -- Damian COUNSELL http://www.counsell.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help(a)suse.com

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