September 2003 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] address ranges
by Chris Puttick 15 Sep '03

15 Sep '03

See, there you go, adding in the modern good practice details... Maybe I should have mentioned that our subnets are used to divide classrooms, types of classrooms, types of device and security levels of device. If Cisco had come through with the VMPS module for our core switch, we'd have been using subnets and vlans for even more security - would have made our VOIP setup easier to handle too... BTW Andrew, are you still in contact with your colleague who returned to teaching? I thought we could get him interested in Schoolforge-UK. (Even more) BTW, have you heard the rumours about the new R1200 engine - 20kgs lighter... -----Original Message----- From: Andrew RAY To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Cc: DGG(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk; chris(a)centralmanclc.com Sent: 9/15/03 3:09 PM Subject: RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] address ranges I agree with Chris, but I'm surprised that, as yet, no one has looked at the reason for sub-netting. Just 'because it exists' is a bad reason. A good reason is where discernible groups need access to peculiar resources. These could be: a) A particular server/servers (could be special mail/file-print/proxy servers for the group of machines on the sub-net). b) Specific network printers. c) Other special shared network resources (web-cam; PLC control technologies(!!); robots; turtles etc etc). By sub-netting and locating the identified resources on the appropriate sub-net, then access is made very easy for those who share that sub-net, but not necessarily denied to less frequent users who may live on another one. In this way, each sub-net can concern itself with the resources which are *predominantly* for its users, and in a way which is commensurate with this, the network traffic is *generally* limited to those switches / routers (depending upon the methodology used on your physical network) that deal with the identified sub-net. By planning network resources around places of need, essential sub-net divisions should really present themselves. It is these that then become 'categorically' good things. Hope this helps further. Andrew > The use of subnets is categorically a good thing; this prevents > broadcast traffic from slowing the network down and is a useful way of > providing QoS - the downside is lag between subnets if you use a router > rather than layer 3 switching. You also need to provide services to > resolve netbios names e.g. WINS, and have a method of providing DHCP > support. > > We use layer 3 to support 20+ class C and below subnets without any > issues (W95/8,NT, 2000, XP, Linux, Unix). What concerns do you have on > his behalf? > > Chris > > -----Original Message----- > From: Grainge, Derek > To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com > Sent: 9/15/03 9:47 AM > Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] address ranges > > A colleague (a real colleague not me pretending!) has a network which > has grown like topsy. It consists of 8 class C addresses covering > 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.7.255 He's operating a mixture of platforms > including the odd linux server but a number of W2000 ones. > > I think he should take the time and trouble to use a single class B > range instead. Can any network guru tell me - is it a) necessary or b) > desirable? > > Thanks in advance, Derek > > > > -- > ************************************************************************ > ******** > All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of > unacceptable material. > Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. > Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. > Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk > ************************************************************************ > ******** > > > -- > 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 > > -- > 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 -- Email: aray(a)computerpark.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------- This private and confidential e-mail has been sent to you by Computer Park Ltd. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail and have received it in error, please notify us via the email address or telephone number below, and then delete it from your mailbox. Email: mailbox(a)computerpark.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1536 417155 Fax: +44 (0) 1536 417566 Head Office: Computer Park Ltd, Broughton Grange, Headlands, Kettering Northamptonshire NN15 6XA Registered in England: 3022961. Registered Office: 6 North Street, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4AL ========================================================= -- 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] KDE has no fonts............ or so i think?
by Thomas Adam 15 Sep '03

15 Sep '03

--- MJ Ray <markj(a)cloaked.freeserve.co.uk> wrote: > On 2003-09-15 14:32:48 +0100 Thomas Adam <thomas_adam16(a)yahoo.com> > wrote: > > mkdir -p /etc/init.d/nomore && mv /etc/init.d/xfs /etc/init.d/nomore > > Careful if you do this. Most distributions have tools to manage init > scripts. In debian, it is update-rc.d that can do this ("update-rc.d > -f remove xfs" would stop it being run at startup, IIRC). Yes, in debian it is "update-rc.d -f remove xfs", and indeed, point taken about this. > For > Mandrake, the mandrake control centre can manage them. Moving the > underlying script with mv may leave dangling symlinks (pointers to the > script's old location) in the startup process and may cause non-fatal > errors. The only symlinks that will be left dangling are those for SXX and KXX (for the default init-level defined in /etc/inittab. Of course, RC.S is intelligent enough to realise that if a symlink is dead, to carry on and not bomb out. I take your point though, with severity, and it should not be used too often. That is to say that it is not safe, one could for example, one could edit /etc/init.d/xfs and do: --------------------------- #!/bin/bash #### disable logger "/etc/init.d/xfs has been disabled" && exit 0; ---------------------------- right at the top of the script. Using "logger" is a nice touch here for syslogd, too :) > If you can find the tool details in your manuals, it's > probably better to use it. Agreed, but in this instance, it is ok :) And, for the record, TMTOWTDI. -- Thomas Adam ===== Thomas Adam "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- www.linuxgazette.com ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://mail.messenger.yahoo.co.uk

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[suse-linux-uk-schools] squid blocking sites for no good reason
by Thomas Adam 15 Sep '03

15 Sep '03

>Hi folks, i seem to have ran into abit of trouble with >squid. If you check the offical squid faq at visolve >it reads: >"Problem >While trying to retrieve the URL: >http://host.esite.com:81/? >the following error was encountered: >Access Denied. >>Access control configuration prevents your request >from being allowed at this time. Please contact your >service provider if you feel this is incorrect. >I don't have any ACL blocking the "?" so I don't know >what's causing this. In fact, I have commented this >out of the default squid.conf as shown below: >#acl QUERY urlpath_regex cgi-bin \? >#no_cache deny QUERY Ouch -- you do realise that it means that anyone trying to access any CGI stuff can't? assuming this WAS commented. >Solution >Add port 81 to your safe_port ACL in squid.conf >" >Now thing is, this is occuring on regular port 80 >websites. From what my collegue can tell pages like >php seem to be an instigator of this. Hmm, I think you need to be a little more specific. For starters, the relationship between squid and page (in terms of viewing it) is that squid will cache certain pages by connecting to the webserver (if php then guess apache). It is the job of the server to run the php and deliver the output -- then the page is cached..... how can this be causing your problem? A little more detail as to your conclusions would be nice. > I am currently >running 2.4STABLE2, but i have tried the latest >offical stable release to come out and the problem is >still there. :( If it is for a certain site then it may well be that port 80{1} is already being used for something else (you should check that). >Has anyone else experienced this problem? >Unfortunately it appears to be affecting some websites >that the students need to access as part of their >subject! kinda troublesome as a result ;) I have heard of it, about two years ago when I was in sixth form, and fixed a glitch then. -- Thomas Adam ===== Thomas Adam "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- www.linuxgazette.com ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://mail.messenger.yahoo.co.uk

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] KDE has no fonts............ or so i think?
by Thomas Adam 15 Sep '03

15 Sep '03

>Message-ID: <12031.195.8.166.80.1062579784.squirrel(a)mail.st-> >paulshigh.manchester.sch.uk> >Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 10:03:04 +0100 (BST) >From: "Andrew Nix" <andrew.nix(a)st-paulshigh.manchester.sch.uk> >Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] KDE has no fonts............ or so i >think? >I came into work this morning to find I couldnt log onto my computer. It >is a fat client running suse 8.2. It uses nis to pick users up off the >network. It loads through all the KDE splash screen stuff and then just >hangs. This only happens with my user profile. Any one got any ideas as >to >why is is happening? You're not having much luck, lately, eh, Andrew? :) > Anyway so I go and try and log onto the server using >my profile. It loads up fine. Except for the fact that all font that are >controlled by KDE (I think) wont be displyed. You are in error. KDE does not control the fonts -- that is the job of X. What KDE *may* well do is to decide (on an application) basis, which fonts it decides to use. Of course, if X is unaware of these fonts then the application in question will either complain, or hopefully, it will be a little more polite and default to using one of the more hidious "misc" fonts. > Instead of text all I get >is >little squares. So I tried to change the font. But it appears all the >fonts are like that. Not just the default, Nimbus Sans. All text is fine >on the desktop, in programs like mozilla and before I log on. Its just >everything else I cant read. Does anyone know what I should be looking >out >for. As always I'm completely lost! Cheers A little more confidence on your part wouldn't go a miss, Andrew :) My first thought is that you are running an X font server (xfs or xfs-ttf). Killing this (i.e. /etc/init.d/xfs stop) should work (you do something like: `` mkdir -p /etc/init.d/nomore && mv /etc/init.d/xfs /etc/init.d/nomore '' If you don't have a font server running, then you have somehow mangled your fonts listed in /etc/X11/XF86Config. Open this up and you should see a list of fonts in there, something like: FontPath "unix/:7100 /usr/X11/fonts/misc " etc. etc.... The order that you see these directories listed *is* the order that X will search for them (and hence that is how the application is made aware of these fonts). Just check that these listed are ok, and that they do exist. (the first entry after unix/:7100 (which is for your font server) is the one you'd probably be interested in). There is also a perl script called "chkfontpath" you might want to look at (google for it, possibly. I'm not sure if SuSE ship it -- I stopped using SuSE 2 years ago, but shhh :)) Going back to your original problem, try this before you log in: `` mv ~/.kde ~/.oldkde '' just to see that somehow your personal KDE settings haven't been munged. Hope That Helps, -- Thomas Adam ===== Thomas Adam "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- www.linuxgazette.com ________________________________________________________________________ Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo! Messenger http://mail.messenger.yahoo.co.uk

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address ranges
by Grainge, Derek 15 Sep '03

15 Sep '03

A colleague (a real colleague not me pretending!) has a network which has grown like topsy. It consists of 8 class C addresses covering 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.7.255 He's operating a mixture of platforms including the odd linux server but a number of W2000 ones. I think he should take the time and trouble to use a single class B range instead. Can any network guru tell me - is it a) necessary or b) desirable? Thanks in advance, Derek -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ********************************************************************************

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Squid, LDAP, eDirectory.
by s-clarob＠st-aidans.cumbria.sch.uk 13 Sep '03

13 Sep '03

If I have Squid Ldap Auth configured, and a logged in windows user access the Internet, will their credential be passed to squid for verification or will an authentication dialog pop up? I intend to do the LDAP auth to a Novell eDirectory on the linux box. It needs to be seamless other wise they will all end up entering the same username instead of their own. We have been using identd on W98 workstations in the past but the ident server for windows XP pro seems to be a little problematic with Volatile Local User accounts. Any Ideas? Thanks Rob.

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] curriculum management
by Chris Puttick 12 Sep '03

12 Sep '03

Best way to use Moodle is not by having classes created by the admin, but by having the pupils register for each course as they need to - then all you have to setup is the teachers/course creators - and even those can be created by the user registering, then the admin just has to give them the right permissions. Of course Moodle can be set to authenticate to LDAP (the non-eunuch version of Active Directory), so persuading it to talk to AD shouldn't be too difficult, even if a little self-defeatist. Oh, and to an external database. Part of the core functionality... -----Original Message----- From: Grainge, Derek To: SuSE for Schools Sent: 9/12/03 9:50 AM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] curriculum management What do people think of moodle for online curriculum management? I'm toying with it - but I want to avoid having to manage the user and class databases which like all such systems require. If anyone has got it authenticating against Active Directory for users, using Active directory groupings for subject/class structures or against an external database (preferably live via ODBC) I'd be very happy to hear from you. Are there other / better solutions? Derek Grainge Wellington College -- ************************************************************************ ******** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ************************************************************************ ******** -- 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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curriculum management
by Grainge, Derek 12 Sep '03

12 Sep '03

What do people think of moodle for online curriculum management? I'm toying with it - but I want to avoid having to manage the user and class databases which like all such systems require. If anyone has got it authenticating against Active Directory for users, using Active directory groupings for subject/class structures or against an external database (preferably live via ODBC) I'd be very happy to hear from you. Are there other / better solutions? Derek Grainge Wellington College -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ********************************************************************************

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MimerDesk 2.0 improves collaborative learning process
by Teemu 11 Sep '03

11 Sep '03

Espoo, Finland -- September 11, 2003 -- The new stable release of MimerDesk introduces Type sets for the freedom of choice in pedagogical methodologies, a better structured and more intuitive user interface and new tools to further enhance effective collaboration. MimerDesk takes one step closer towards pedagogical independence in the sense that it is not limited to specific learning process methodologies, but instead provides the possibility for the user to create Type sets for different types of learning processes like Problem Based Learning. The Project Manager in MimerDesk 2.0 is specifically designed to provide more efficient manner of carrying out projects asynchronously. This tool is ideal for group assignments and projects because of its illustrative nature. The Project Manager includes a dynamic tree structure with unlimited levels of tasks, participant specific task lists, task dependencies, milestones and enhanced GANTT charts. MimerDesk 2.0 also delivers an enhancement to the Calendar in the form of a new tool, the Meeting Planner. The main objective of this tool is to ease the process of arranging meetings with three or more people, be it for a school project or a board meeting. The Meeting Planner is integrated with the Calendar so that all meetings that are agreed upon are directly sent to the participants' Calendars. MimerDesk 2.0 introduces a more intuitive and easy-to-use structure in the form of top-level tabs that separate Personal, Groups and Administration tools to form their own wholes. An individual user and group administrators can dynamically select the desired set of tools to work with and this freedom makes the environment more flexible and suitable for different types of communities, groups and individuals. As is to be expected, the MimerDesk 2.0 release fixes numerous bugs and inconsistencies found in previous versions. You can download MimerDesk 2.0 from the project website: http://www.mimerdesk.org -- Sincerely, Teemu Arina Ionstream Ltd Komeetankuja 4 A 02210 Espoo FINLAND Tel: +358-(0)50 - 555 7636 http://www.ionstream.fi http://www.mimerdesk.org http://www.palaveriaika.com

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Grubby business
by Paul Taylor 06 Sep '03

06 Sep '03

Hi all: Up until 8.1 I was failrly au fait using Lilo and Yast and could even get things moving via the files but the latest incarnation of grub and yast has left me in the dark a bit. I have 3 drives in my machine. My main one (hda) runs SuSE and boots with grub or lilo. I have Red Hat on another (hdc) as I use that at school for my moodle site and need to practice at home. On a third partition (hdc) I test other distros and configurations. Yesterday I loaded Debian to try it out. It all seems in order if I look at it but every boot configuration starts and then says: "Error 1: Filename must be either an absolute pathname or blocklist" I have the same settings as I do for Red hat and that boots fine. The only thing I can see is that the Debian partition has vmlinuz in / and /boot but no initrd in the /boot? Any ideas? Paul

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