December 2003 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Our network
by garry saddington 19 Dec '03

19 Dec '03

I have put up some photos of our LTSP network in action at: www.scholarpack.org go to 'my setup' regards garry

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VLAN's and NIS
by Andrew Nix 19 Dec '03

19 Dec '03

Hi list. I have been having a problem with VLAN's and NIS. I had a search on google and also had a look at linuxquestions.org but couldn't find anything of any help as I dont really know what Im looking. I was hoping that if I explain my problem, someone on the lisy might be able help or at least point me in the direction of help. My problem is that we have run out of IP address on our 213.18.165 network and have a very nice HP Procurve 5308Xl layer 3 switch. I have setup up several VLAN's and all the routing works fine. Everything talks and internet works, but Im having a problem with NIS. Home directories are mounted but it wont pick up users. Does anyone have any idea wot might be going wrong or how I may be able to fix it TIA -- 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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RE: BECTa's spec on laptops for teachers
by Alan Harris 18 Dec '03

18 Dec '03

Yet again the idiots (yes - I really do mean to use the word IDIOT here!) at Becta have decided to give both stupid and expensive advice. As a MAC OS/X user I feel that I should really point out that MAC OS/X is BSD with pretty bits and therefore effectively contains 'free' software, not only that but the default browser on a MAC is now Safari and that is also 'free' software. (Ian, if I can get to the FLOSSIE conference I will quite happily bring my iBook and demonstrate OpenOffice.Org on the thing if you'd like that) Strangely enough, here at Bryngwyn School I'm running a Mac on my desktop - it has MS Office X and OpenOffice.org / X11 on it. The other office PC's also have OpenOffice on them. We also have several systems running XP Pro and Office XP. Strangely enough, I can complete work in OpenOffice (on the MAC) which can then be picked up and edited using OpenOffice on the PC and vice versa - does'nt work at well with office! I'm sick and tired of such stupid, ignorant attitudes from our so called 'advisors' - it's long past the time when most of them were put out to grass! Such things really make me angry - But wait a minute, what happens if a teacher wishes to purchase a computer with an operating system that operates entirely through the medium of Welsh? Windows won't do this so why can't i use Linux which will? Answer me that one BECTA! Or could it be that you're going to discriminate against native Welsh Speakers then? Sorry for the rant but this makes me really angry... Alan

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Flossie again
by ian 18 Dec '03

18 Dec '03

Sorry to bring this up again, but recruitment is not going particularly well. I don't want to have to cancel and it might just be that people intending to come are just waiting to book nearer the time. If you are in this category, please E-mail me and let me know so I have some idea of the possible attendance. If you are not going to attend for a specific reason eg delegate fee, date or whatever, that would be useful information too. Also if you can spread the word around through as many of your contacts, mailing lists etc as possible. If we can't get enough interest to run an annual conference its not going to make much impression on the powers that be that there is a growing interest in FLOSS in schools! Regards, -- ian <ian.lynch2(a)ntlworld.com>

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Becta and Welsh
by Alan Harris 17 Dec '03

17 Dec '03

Take a look at this site reference http://itwales.com/cgi/showsite/showpage.cgi?999036 Is Becta trying to put these guys out of business then ? Alan

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] BECTa's spec on laptops for teachers
by Chris Puttick 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

Personally I believe that exclusion to be unacceptable e.g. against UK and EU government regulation. It's pretty funny that the webserver is running PHP to then say freeware is unacceptable! Have you contacted Becta? -----Original Message----- From: ian [mailto:ian.lynch2@ntlworld.com] Sent: 16 December 2003 15:45 To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] BECTa's spec on laptops for teachers BECTA's spec on laptops for teachers is at http://www.lft.ngfl.gov.uk/index.php?i=307 Isn't this unfair discrimination against FLOSS? They specify that MacOS X 10.2 or later is acceptable so how come GNU/Linux isn't? Why could a teacher not choose to have Suse Linux on a laptop instead of Windows (Ok, it might be difficult to obtain a laptop without Windows but its the principle that matters) Also they say an office suite with WP, SS and presentation and that shareware, freeware is unacceptable. Same for E-mail. Does this include OpenSource? ie is OpenOffice.org not allowed? Seems particularly daft if StarOffice is since its effectively the same software over the required applications. Then there is mandatory anti-virus software. Doesn't all this show that despite them not actually naming names they are skewing the specification to block out FLOSS. This is against the recent E-envoy's policy to provide equal consideration to FLOSS solutions and it could be against fair trading law if it could be shown that BECTA was effectively colluding with Microsoft to block competition by reinforcing their monopoly. As the Lead for education for the OpenOffice.org project I will not be happy if BECTA's only grounds for discriminating against us is that we produce Free software which would be the logical conclusion if they allow StarOffice. -- ian <ian.lynch2(a)ntlworld.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 This message may contain information and/or data that is confidential and legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that any use, publication, reproduction or dissemination is strictly prohibited and may violate certain laws. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return e-mail and destroy this and all copies of this message and/or data. The content of this message has been scanned by MailPatrol for unacceptable language and inappropriate content. European Electronique limited thanks you in anticipation of your co-operation. MailPatrol is a fully managed service that offers your organisation the ability to monitor and enforce your Acceptable Usage Policy. For further information regarding the MailPatrol services contact the European Electronique Sales Enquiry line on 0845 345 8340 (local rate) or email sales(a)euroele.com

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BECTa's spec on laptops for teachers
by ian 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

BECTA's spec on laptops for teachers is at http://www.lft.ngfl.gov.uk/index.php?i=307 Isn't this unfair discrimination against FLOSS? They specify that MacOS X 10.2 or later is acceptable so how come GNU/Linux isn't? Why could a teacher not choose to have Suse Linux on a laptop instead of Windows (Ok, it might be difficult to obtain a laptop without Windows but its the principle that matters) Also they say an office suite with WP, SS and presentation and that shareware, freeware is unacceptable. Same for E-mail. Does this include OpenSource? ie is OpenOffice.org not allowed? Seems particularly daft if StarOffice is since its effectively the same software over the required applications. Then there is mandatory anti-virus software. Doesn't all this show that despite them not actually naming names they are skewing the specification to block out FLOSS. This is against the recent E-envoy's policy to provide equal consideration to FLOSS solutions and it could be against fair trading law if it could be shown that BECTA was effectively colluding with Microsoft to block competition by reinforcing their monopoly. As the Lead for education for the OpenOffice.org project I will not be happy if BECTA's only grounds for discriminating against us is that we produce Free software which would be the logical conclusion if they allow StarOffice. -- ian <ian.lynch2(a)ntlworld.com>

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Interesting: Open Source Observatory
by Waldo Bastian 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/ida/jsps/index.jsp?fuseAction=showChapter&chapter… "This section of the IDA website is dedicated to Open Source Software and is intended to encourage the spread and use of Best Practices in Europe. The chapters are being developed in an ongoing manner. They will introduce new users to the concept of Open Source and present interesting facts and references for experts." Btw, I am looking for KDE Success Stories that you would like to share with the world. If your school, company or institute has successfully switched to KDE, regardless of OS, we would love to hear your story on http://enterprise.kde.org/bizcase/addcase.php Cheers, Waldo - -- bastian(a)kde.org -=|[ KDE: K Desktop for the Enterprise ]|=- bastian(a)suse.com -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE/31BxN4pvrENfboIRAuw8AKCf69+msX2GeA1XtEqX4P4vvNZAxwCfUmDT hqORMPIG95oOUUuGPc5Xko0= =lD1H -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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FLOSSIE Conference numbers
by John Ingleby 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

Thanks to everyone who responded to recent correspondence. The numbers are going up - with 7 firm bookings now, the FLOSSIE conference on 18th Feb needs 43 more to break even, 93 to hit our target. I'll post these numbers weekly so we keep track how it's going. If you haven't yet registered, please find a moment to visit the Conference page at www.schoolforge.org.uk/flossie/conference200402.html and download the booking form, or else email yvonne(a)thelearningmachine.co.uk to register your interest. Best regards, John Ingleby ************ Webmaster - www.schoolforge.org.uk

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Flossie again
by Josef Davies-Coates 16 Dec '03

16 Dec '03

Ian, I'm not sure how set in stone the plans for FLOSSIE are but... 1) Mid-week is not good. Better to hold it on a Saturday than a Wednesday. That way far more people would be able to attend. 2) School halls are normally empty on Saturdays and could probably be used for free (or cheap) instead of hiring out an expensive London hall. Surely that ties in nicely too - maybe we can convince the host school to change over to OS, or perhaps one that already has done could host the confernece? (don't know if there are any in London? with enough space?) 3) I don't drink coffee, and doubt the food will be organic, so would bring a packed lunch. 4) Why offer freebies (lunch, coffee) at all? (The no-frills EasyJet model works). 5) I would get someone like http://www.organic-express.com/home.htm to do the food, and if your going to supply tea and coffee, make sure that it is fair trade and organic (I can get it cheap if interested - got an account with a wholesaler) I think £10 would then easily cover entrance (and maybe tea/coffee, but not lunch). Give people choice and think beyond Open Source. Linking up the event with other ethical consumption choices (i.e. having organic food and drink) would also add a air of respectability and show that your not just a bunch of geeks, but people with high morals, both willing and able to act on them. Thoughts, comments? Peace, Josef. ian wrote: > On Wed, 2003-12-10 at 23:17, Josef Davies-Coates wrote: > >>Hello Ian et al, >> >>I would come if it was a lot cheaper (personally I can't strech much further thatn £10). I would >>also be able to convince lots of other people to come along too if it was a lot cheaper. My mum is >>a teacher and I have quite a lot of education links. > > > I'll look into ways of reducing the cost. The difficulty is that the > lunch and coffees come to £10 a head and there is the cost of hiring the > hall. We could look at sponsorship though. > > > >>Best, >> >>Josef. >> >>ian wrote: >> >>>Sorry to bring this up again, but recruitment is not going particularly >>>well. I don't want to have to cancel and it might just be that people >>>intending to come are just waiting to book nearer the time. If you are >>>in this category, please E-mail me and let me know so I have some idea >>>of the possible attendance. If you are not going to attend for a >>>specific reason eg delegate fee, date or whatever, that would be useful >>>information too. Also if you can spread the word around through as many >>>of your contacts, mailing lists etc as possible. If we can't get enough >>>interest to run an annual conference its not going to make much >>>impression on the powers that be that there is a growing interest in >>>FLOSS in schools! >>> >>>Regards, -- Josef Davies-Coates Founder, uniteddiversity LLP Tel: 0845 456 9774 Mob: 07764 75 99 70 mailto:josef@uniteddiversity.com http://josef.uniteddiversity.com

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