October 2003 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

suse 9.0 upgrade
by Andrew Nix 23 Oct '03

23 Oct '03

We have just got our suse 9.0 upgarde and pro discs. Is there any difference between them? Ive been trying to upgrade my machine, but it wont boot from the CD. It has a Windows NTFS partion and a linux partion. Ive told it to only boot from the CD in bios even disabling booting from HDD. But it just wont do it! I tried using and old suse 8.2 disc, but I get the same result. I tried searching on the internet but as I didnt really know what I was searching for I came up with nothing. If anyone could point me in the direction of some how-to's or tell me where I might be going wrong. It would be very much appreciated. Cheers -- Andrew Nix St Pauls Catholic High School Firbank Road Newall Green Wythenshawe Manchester M23 2YS tel: 0161 4922040 fax: 0161 4982030

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Upgrades
by Paul Taylor 23 Oct '03

23 Oct '03

I have upgraded 8.2 to 9.0 and had a few problems which I am not too sure about. On the bash screen I get the message "LG_ALL not set to local" which seems to be causing problems with root validations. There was a message on install to run a command to add root to lppasswd and add it to the sys group which worked but my printer now does not work. Also on the install, midgard and the new kernel failed to install (although it loads the modules on boot up for it). I don't know if these files are bad on the DVD? Has anyone else seen similar issues? I am not infront of the machine at the moment so will check anything suggested when I get home. Paul

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Upgrades
by B Higginbottom 23 Oct '03

23 Oct '03

>So SuSE are going the same way as Mandrake in that their default stock >kernel won't support pre-intel architectures? Tut tut. I know, the fiends.I have several AVR Mega128 uP's that I was planning running Suse on...slowly. >Yes, hence also embedded architectures. Embedix, uClinux and the rest arnt relevant to server's; they have a viciously high level of optimisation for their task, a similar level of optimisation for a server kernel would be irresponsable as you would make the job of re-tasking a server from one job to another a nightmare. >Yes, but anyone who has the knowledge of compiling their own kernel >ought not to worry about SuSE's support system. But the people on this list for the most part are beginners and casual users for whom the support is a _Good Thing_.The respnse of 'compile your own kernel' is a better response on Elitists. Where as a matter of fact the discussion is currently about kernels, linux vs Open VMS. >TMTOWTDI. There is, but kernel compilation is not a subject for beginners, hence the howto's are not geared towards them. >:) Oh, I think he will... Yeah sure, after doing six months of lug talks :) Regards, Ben

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SuSE for schools, but for 'newbies'?
by B Higginbottom 23 Oct '03

23 Oct '03

Hello, >I've been trying to follow the discussion about kernels and the >advantages or otherwise of compiling your own. I am still a relative >newcomer to Linux (I have SuSE 8.2 at home and am 'keeping an eye on >developments' for work). I used to be a teacher and if I were still I'd >run straight back to the safety of Microsoft. The notion that straight >after installing your brand new OS you should tear the guts out of it >and start again is pretty horrifying for the average user! And from the work we have done with you, we know you to be good people, despite your use of HTML in emails :) But in reference to compiling your own kernel, Thomas's response was totally inappropriate for this forum, kernel compilation is for advanced users only, not for beginners. However as you learn more and more it may be something you might wish to play with. >The discussion does sort of explain one thing though, why the OS and >software behaves differently on my AMD machine compared to my brother's >PIII! Now all I have to figure is how to get the desirable features >from each, on both! Really? I have a P3 on my laptop and a AMD on my desktop and have never noticed any differences between behaviour. Can you give me any more information? Regards, Ben Regards, Phil Thane - Support Manager TechSoft UK Ltd. The Grange Eryrys Mold Denbighshire CH7 4DB UK Phone (+44) (0) 1824 780318 Fax (+44) (0) 1824 780564 Email phil(a)techsoftuk.co.uk

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] suse 9.0 upgrade
by B Higginbottom 23 Oct '03

23 Oct '03

Dont you bloody dare think of upgrading yet. I've only just figured out your nvidia problem without having the grief of nymph on 9. Stick it on your home box rather than exploring the new paradigms of music distribution in the digital age :) -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Nix To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Sent: 10/22/03 10:22 AM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] suse 9.0 upgrade We have just got our suse 9.0 upgarde and pro discs. Is there any difference between them? Ive been trying to upgrade my machine, but it wont boot from the CD. It has a Windows NTFS partion and a linux partion. Ive told it to only boot from the CD in bios even disabling booting from HDD. But it just wont do it! I tried using and old suse 8.2 disc, but I get the same result. I tried searching on the internet but as I didnt really know what I was searching for I came up with nothing. If anyone could point me in the direction of some how-to's or tell me where I might be going wrong. It would be very much appreciated. Cheers -- Andrew Nix St Pauls Catholic High School Firbank Road Newall Green Wythenshawe Manchester M23 2YS tel: 0161 4922040 fax: 0161 4982030 -- 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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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] suse 9.0 upgrade
by Chris Puttick 22 Oct '03

22 Oct '03

No problems here, although note if using the DVD it is double-sided and I think only one side will boot. Also, if you don't catch the installation boot screen at the right time, it will just boot to the hard drive (even if the BIOS has that disabled as it calls it directly). Chris one more day to go... -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Nix To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Sent: 10/22/03 10:22 AM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] suse 9.0 upgrade We have just got our suse 9.0 upgarde and pro discs. Is there any difference between them? Ive been trying to upgrade my machine, but it wont boot from the CD. It has a Windows NTFS partion and a linux partion. Ive told it to only boot from the CD in bios even disabling booting from HDD. But it just wont do it! I tried using and old suse 8.2 disc, but I get the same result. I tried searching on the internet but as I didnt really know what I was searching for I came up with nothing. If anyone could point me in the direction of some how-to's or tell me where I might be going wrong. It would be very much appreciated. Cheers -- Andrew Nix St Pauls Catholic High School Firbank Road Newall Green Wythenshawe Manchester M23 2YS tel: 0161 4922040 fax: 0161 4982030 -- 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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SuSE for schools, but for 'newbies'?
by Phil Thane 22 Oct '03

22 Oct '03

Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing Systems Hello, I've been trying to follow the discussion about kernels and the advantages or otherwise of compiling your own. I am still a relative newcomer to Linux (I have SuSE 8.2 at home and am 'keeping an eye on developments' for work). I used to be a teacher and if I were still I'd run straight back to the safety of Microsoft. The notion that straight after installing your brand new OS you should tear the guts out of it and start again is pretty horrifying for the average user! The discussion does sort of explain one thing though, why the OS and software behaves differently on my AMD machine compared to my brother's PIII! Now all I have to figure is how to get the desirable features from each, on both! Regards, Phil Thane - Support Manager TechSoft UK Ltd. The Grange Eryrys Mold Denbighshire CH7 4DB UK Phone (+44) (0) 1824 780318 Fax (+44) (0) 1824 780564 Email phil(a)techsoftuk.co.uk

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Upgrades
by B Higginbottom 22 Oct '03

22 Oct '03

>Yes, you're right there. However, the point about stock kernels is that >they are compiled with *everything* in them, so that they support all >hardware types, etc, so that installation is not a problem on the older >architectures. Not any longer, yes just about everything is in there, but Suse does have different kernels for pentiums, athlons, celerons and so on. Non X86 based architectures usually have totally different requirements and so Suse have the iso's available for download; they lag far behind the X86 releases (Alpha, PPC and Sparc are at 7.3 I think). Anything below 586 then it wont install at all. >By compiling your own kernel, you customise it completely to your own >computer's hardware, thus removing all the unnecessary components from >the kernel, thus increasing the speed as well (less things to load, if >they've been statically compiled in). Yes, I pointed that out in my previous message, although with current processors and memory savings will be minimal other than at boot. For more performance savings you should also compile all your programs from source, editing the makefile (sensitive beasts at the best of times) for high optimisation and processor type. These things are fine for home systems, however to do these things in a production enviroment surrounded by critical services and the most important thing is for it to work, no matter how sub-optimal their function. >No, not true. You compile your own kernel *after* installation. Well I'm guessing your not familiar with the distros that do require you to configure and compile your own kernel during install. However as the problem was with a Suse system failing to update, we have to deal with the restrictions on installation support, which states, to paraphrase, that if you start messing with your own kernels, and especially with test kernels, your on your own. >I think you're missing the point. Assuming that one is using LILO (or >GRUB), then this is not a problem because you can have multiple stanzas >in say, /etc/lilo.conf, thus meaning that you DON'T need to mess around >with the system.map file. Try it, I assure it is quite simple. How do you >think developers test multiple kernels? Yes, I'm well aware that you can and my GRUB config is filled with them, however if the original poster in a moment of insanity actually went ahead and rolled his own, he would have turned to one of the many 'helpful' articles and howto's on the subject. All of those that I've read advocate the complete replacement of both the kernel and the map without prior testing; leaving him up the proverbial creek without the equally proverbial paddle. >Done -- a discussion is now in progress. He'll never forgive me :) Regards, Ben

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Upgrades
by B Higginbottom 22 Oct '03

22 Oct '03

>OK, so go back to re-compiling 2.4.22 :) In any case, the point I was >making is that one should always compile their own kernel. But why? I compile my own kernels for playing with and so that I know exactly what my system is capable of. The only time I've had to compile a kernel for a production system was to go from a late 2.2 to a 2.4 inable to get the tape drive drivers to work. The only other reason to compile a kernel rather than used the tweaked ones a commercial distro comes with is to optimise the system, however Suse provide optimised (to processor) kernels through yast and on the install disks. By rolling your own you immediately loose any install support and more than likely would have caused more problems than it solved for the question that was asked. >See the Changelog file, there's a lot more. I'm sure but the -mm kernel became available and was playing with that. >One can have multiple kernel's on their system, so you won't need to >worry about installing Linux again. But you have to change your system map file and you can quite easily screw up all the modules, hence the reason its only recommended for advanced users. Then you have to edit your bootloader config (hardly difficult I grant you) reboot and hope that the new kernel mounts the right file system on the right partition and so on. You dont need to use a nuke to swat a fly. >OK, I shall do. Thank you for being that to my attention. I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear that running dev kernels on production systems is a good thing :) Regards, Ben

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SIMS free
by Chris Puttick 21 Oct '03

21 Oct '03

Ok... State of play: Hobarte - project had a great deal of success in the initial stages, specifically the e-reg solution, which is the best I've seen. Because of failures to hit deadlines, the project has been curtailed, with development refocussed on... ILP (or Owl)- Individual Learning Plans: a Pathfinders funded project using Twisted and Python to deliver online ILPs; starting with year 8 and 9, with a small pilot with year 12. This will eventually replace Records of Achievement as the output of the Progress Files. See http://ilp-dev.centralmanclc.com to see how it's getting on. CPDM-Primary (or Tigger) - Curriculum Performance Data Management for primary schools; a way for teachers and managers to easily see progression and areas to focus on for schools, classes and individual children. See http://tigger.centralmanclc.com - no test account yet but soon. (yet to be named (or Rabbit) - a pupil behaviour tracking system adapted from HelpMeICT (PHP/PostgreSQL), our web based helpdesk. Still in progress, but to get an idea of how it would work, have a go with the helpdesk: http://helpdesk.centralmanclc.com (about to go to version 0.85 - login as client2/client2). All the above are GPLed, with the education focussed solutions part of the Piglet And Friends project: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pigletnfriends/ and HelpMeICT with its own project page. It's hoped/intended that eventually all the modules described above will be interoperable with SchoolTool, a funded open source project working on a generic school management solution, based on Twisted/Python. See http://schooltool.org/ (rolling pretty quick at the moment with a team of fulltime developers plus community volunteers). Any questions, let me know. Regards Chris -----Original Message----- From: s-clarob(a)st-aidans.cumbria.sch.uk To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Sent: 10/21/03 1:11 PM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] SIMS free Ok, I know this has been covered b4 but I can't find the list archives, So... What projects are out there to replace SIMS as the MIS? using linux Cheers Rob -- 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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