March 2004 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Timetables and all that stuff
by Chris Puttick 17 Mar '04

17 Mar '04

SchoolTool are looking for test sites to get real world feedback - any volunteers, let me know... What sort of timetabling functionality were you looking for? -----Original Message----- From: adrian.wells [mailto:adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk] Sent: Wed 3/17/2004 3:30 PM To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Cc: Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Timetables and all that stuff Thanks, I'll take a look (walks acroos campus...) Are there any web based ones available since we're all windowy here. Just had the sims/.net sales people sniffing about! Hows the schools project going, is anyone using it? Adrian > --- "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells(a)sidcot.org.uk> wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > Does anyone use / can recommend an Open Source Timetabler? > > > > Same goes for report writing system > > > > Kind regards > > > > Adrian > > I can recommend the use of 'plan', oddly enough available on SuSE's CD/DVD > set. > > -- Thomas Adam > > ===== > "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net > "TAG Editor" -- http://linuxgazette.net > > "<shrug> We'll just save up your sins, Thomas, and punish > you for all of them at once when you get better. The > experience will probably kill you. :)" > > -- Benjamin A. Okopnik (Linux Gazette Technical Editor) > > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" > your friends today! Download Messenger Now > http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html > > -- > 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 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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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Upgrade Question
by G.Harris 15 Mar '04

15 Mar '04

OpenOffice.org was installed on our system last August in response to a need for software at home for students doing the Applied ICT exam (Edexcel) and for other students doing GCSE who in this very poor sem- / inskilled rural area are only just able to buy a box and not the software (very common). Tesco.net supply the Internet connection We give the students a CD with OOorg on it to install as the download would be impossible for many of them - second-hand machines - 533 processors or less - old modems, etc. So to follow your list below: a) Maidenhill School, Kings Road, Stonehouse, Glos. GL10 2HA b) Difficult to say but at leat 3 staff are trying it and around 40 students are known to have used it this school year. (Based on known installs at home and use at lunchtime or after-school. c) Partial - still use MS Office because most teachers have neither the time or the inclination at present to migrate and all their work sheets are tied into MS Office. d) Yes e) We had difficulty installing OOorg on the network and recieved help from a company in Cambridge. The network is centred on a Unix server which deals with Internet and e- mail and firewalls the system (Apache, Squid, MySQL, PHP, etc.) There are 4 application servers (Win2000) running Citrix XP and a range of Windows software including OOorg, 1 Win2000 fileserver (RAID 5), one Win2000 printserver, one library system server (IIS) running specialist library software which makes the library database accessible over the Intranet as a set of web pages for searching, one Unix backup server, one Unix sound / music / video fileserver / store (Performing Arts school status). The clients: 80 Linux / RISCOS Thin clients running the Citrix ICA Client, 30+ full PCs many with Win XP as the underlying OS to allow local software (dongles, serial ports, Flash, etc.) which have to see drive C: to operate, 5 old PCs running a cut down version of Unix with the ICA client to behave like Thin Clients, 21 staff laptops of varying ages and makes, 3 of which run OOorg as well, 1 E-Mac (MacOSX) used for video- editing but running a very poorly written version of the ICA client to allow the Windows desktop to run (sorry, Apple...nice machine but software...), 1 dual boot windows / SuSE Linux machine for evaluation using OOorg. - prints through the Windows printserver or directly over IP after considerable heartache and time - not yet friendly enough SuSE... The network has a Gigabit backbone and the rest steps down as required - some 10Mb machines still running happily. Some wireless in the difficult areas - staff room and offices, school hall / dining room area - planned extensions. Intranet runs from the Unix server; modified version accessible over the Intranet along with the filing system and the school web-mail. School web site hosted with a local company ik.org for political reasons but with links back to our Unix server. PhpBB Forum just being set up, along with online calendar system. Any further info. e-mail me - no phone calls please. Screenshots, photos available to bona-fide folk. George Harris > > Open Office has also been installed on ours Windows network for > > comparison. > > Please let the OpenOffice.org project know of your findings. If anyone > is using OpenOffice.org in schools, we want to know > > a) The Name of the School > b) How many people use OpenOffice.org > c) Whether there is partial or complete migration to OpenOffice.org > d) If the school is happy to be cited as an example withthe information > listed on the web site. > e) Any other information you want to suppy with regard to OpenOffice.org > in your school environment. > > Please E-mail by replying to this or to ianlynch(a)openoffice.org > > Also join the Educ project by subscribing to the OpenOffice.org Educ > list. Its low traffic. Send E-mail to > educ-subscribe(a)marketing.openoffice.org > > Regards, -- If this e-mail contains anything that the recipient takes exception to, please contact: The Headteacher, Maidenhill School GL10 2HA UK (+44) (0) 1453 822469

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Upgrade Question
by G.Harris 11 Mar '04

11 Mar '04

We are trialling a single machine here at Maidenhill School to see what the issues are. I am not a Linux expert and do not often delve into the underlying setup. I push all the time to ensure a GUI to the most important features. We have SuSE V.8.2 dual booting with XP with no problems on a recent Fujitsu machine. It was up and running very quickly and connected to the Internet within minutes but it took some time to get it to see our Windows print server and it sometimes loses contact. Connecting printers still had some way to go for friendliness on this version. Users files are stored on the Windows fileserver and never on the local machine. All communications are IP. The network also runs Citrix XP which provides a locked down desktop on the XP machine, again with no problems. Open Office has also been installed on ours Windows network for comparison. George Harris > Just been playing with V9 over the w/e - very nice > Set up two dual booting 98/V9 machines, as easy as a piece of easiness! > :-) > It wouldn't play with XP though. Didn't try 2000. > > Has anyone upgraded from 7.2 to 9? are their any issues? -- If this e-mail contains anything that the recipient takes exception to, please contact: The Headteacher, Maidenhill School GL10 2HA UK (+44) (0) 1453 822469

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] RE: [Maybe Spam] [suse-linux-uk-schools] Office of Fair Trading
by j_low 10 Mar '04

10 Mar '04

At 11:43 25/02/04 +0000, you wrote: >On Wed, 2004-02-25 at 11:07, Steve Palmer wrote: >> We got one too. If we don't answer it we can be teh >> summoned! @_@ >> >> Looks like they're deadly serious about it anyway. > >If they were not serious, they wouldn't be doing a full investigation. >It costs them a lot to do an investigation so they don't start it unless >they are pretty sure there is a case to answer. The problem for MS is >that its not just this country. Schools agreement works in more or less >the same way in other countries so if it gets changed here it will also >likely have to get changed elsewhere. It surprises me a bit that they >don't simply change the agreement to say all computers running any >Microsoft products. That would sort it out and make very little >practical difference to their current revenue. There are only three >reasons why they don't > >1.) They believe that the OFT will find in their favour >2.) They are arrogant and think that even if the OFT find against them >they will be able to tough it out with delays and other tactics until >the problem goes away >3.) They really are paranoid about letting Linux in and would rather >fight the OFT than lower the barriers even a small amount. > >Maybe its a combination of all 3. I guess the only reason the OFT would >back off is if in sending out letters to schools, they all say they have >no interest in Linux at all and so MSSA is not a consideration in its >use. OTOH if even a significant minority say we might have tried Linux >but its not worth it because we are on MSSA. > >The worry is that many schools don't know the implications of MSSA in >that they have to pay a license fee annually for any pentium based PC >even if its not running MS software. So they may be unaware that they >can't use Linux without counting the Linux boxes in the annual total. >Like I said, in some ways the monopoly is so entrenched it makes >gathering evidence against it more difficult! eg a school might say >yikes, if MSSA is declared void isn't this going to put my software >costs up? I'd better say nowt. I spoke to the IT manager of one major school today who moreorless said just that! Their view seemed be be that they had thousands of pounds worth of MS software very cheaply and wouldn't want to rock the boat. John Fact is we don't know what will happen if >MSSA is declared void but in the overall scheme of things competition >usually forces prices down, it just might not immediately in a >particular sector. I hope the OFT realise how complex and far-reaching >this monopoly is. > >If anyone would like to make these or any other comments the E-mail >address of the investigating officer is edward.anderson(a)oft.gsi.gov.uk. >Other contact details are > >Mr E Anderson >Principal Case Officer >Media, Sports & Information Industries >Office of Fair Trading >Fleetbank House >2-6 Salisbury Square >London >EC4Y 8JX >Tel: 020 7211 8343 >Fax: 020 7211 8354 > >Regards, >-- >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 e-mail is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not represent those of St Mary's Hall.

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Linux Seminar - March 23rd 2004
by Richard Ibbotson 05 Mar '04

05 Mar '04

Hi Looks like our annual Linux seminar will go ahead. The planned date just now is for Tuesday 23rd of March. This year's seminar may prove to be better than previous attempts. You may wish to pencil this into your diary so that you don't miss it. The venue will be Sheffield Wednesday's football stadium. For more information about the seminar have a look at.... http://www.sheflug.co.uk/seminar.html You will need to book for the seminar. This will cost you nothing at all. A free lunch is included. To register you can also call 0870 240 3934. The Club UKonline site has a booking form for online booking at... http://www.clubukonline.co.uk/local-events/eventdetail.asp?id=60 On the evening of the 24th of March Dr Ruediger Berlich will be with us from Germany to give a lecture at www.shu.ac.uk about grid computing. The room number has not been fixed so far but we'll know the exact venue by next week. More about Ruediger..... After obtaining a masters degree in physics, Ruediger Berlich started working in particle physics research at the Werner Heisenberg Institute in Munich. In 1998 he joined German Linux distributor SuSE Linux AG, where he built the support department of SuSE's US office, before becoming managing director of SuSE's UK branch, SuSE Linux Ltd. In August 2001 Ruediger joined Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum in Sheffields German twin town to complete a Ph.D. in the field of distributed computing and particle physics. He graduated from university in January 2004 and is preparing to go back into industry. We shall reveal details of how to book yourself into this event shortly. This will cost you nothing. We hope to have light refreshments available on the evening of the lecture. The lecture starts at about 19.00 after refreshments at 18.30 and finishes at about 21.00. -- Richard www.sheflug.co.uk

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Library GPL software
by Chris Puttick 05 Mar '04

05 Mar '04

Not one I've come across before... Cheers Chris ----------------------- See www.indexdata.com from the web4lib list: "I am trying to get the word out about Index Data's Keystone Digital Library Suite, which has built-in federated searching capabilities. Index Data is the only commercial vendor in the library market that offers production-grade digital library software under a GNU General Public License. Index Data customizes, installs and supports Keystone DLS as a turnkey system. But the software is open source, so you can examine the code, modify it, and even give it away under the terms of the GNU GPL. No money is exchanged for the license. We charge for customization, installation and maintenance. The software is yours for free to keep forever. If you've got some crack programmers working at your library, you can even freely download our generic version of Keystone from the Index Data website (www.indexdata.com) Keystone DLS supports, in one integrated package, digital content management, web-based information portals, and federated searching/metasearching. Because Index Data developed the C and C++ toolkits that power most of the world's Z39.50 servers, as well as many other Z39.50 services and toolkits, our developers know more about this technology than any other company in the world. Keystone supports non-Z39.50 searching as well, and it is built from the ground up with XML technology. It has a built-in metadata harvester, and we plan to include an OpenURL link resolver as part of the Keystone Suite before the year is out. Keystone is going to revolutionize how libraries provide digital library services-through the power of open standards coupled with open source software. That revolution has already started. Keystone is installed and in production at the Texas State Library and Archives' Library of Texas site, http://www.libraryoftexas.org/. Take it for a spin. When Index Data won the Texas State bid last year, it was competing against Auto-Graphics, Blue Angel Technologies, Dynix (in conjunction with MuseGlobal), Ex Libris, Fretwell-Downing, Innovative Interfaces, OCLC, and Sirsi. Find out for yourselves why Texas selected Keystone over other offerings. It wasn't just the fact that it was open source software. It was also the fact that Keystone represents the best combination of service, functionality, software quality, and advanced technology available today. Index Data will be demonstrating Keystone at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in Orlando. If you will be there, our booth number is 2987. Index Data is headquartered in Copenhagen, with offices in London and Middletown, CT, where yours truly is located. The company plans to form a US subsidiary later this year. 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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OpenOffice.org schools mascot.
by ian 04 Mar '04

04 Mar '04

Please help in voting for the OpenOffice.org education project mascot. Entries by pupils from around the world at http://www.math.umd.edu/~dcarrera/openoffice/mascot/vote.cgi The project will adopt the work of the pupil that gets most votes. Get your students to vote and get them participating in a live FLOSS project. Ok, sorry its not really a suse issue but all in the same spirit! -- ian <ian.lynch2(a)ntlworld.com>

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Re: Multihoming
by Alan Harris 04 Mar '04

04 Mar '04

Thanks Guys, System Multihomed and printing well... Alan

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RE: MS Services for Unix
by Joe Garfoot 04 Mar '04

04 Mar '04

>You're kidding, right? Just use Linux, since that has native support for >NIS/YP and NFS. Plus, if you use Samba then it is a piece of cake to make >that Linux machine act as a PDC. Hello, Sorry I should clarify my question. I know that Linux supports NIS/NFS natively and I also know that SAMBA works very well as a PDC. As I said in my previous email we are tied to a Win2k PDC. I would happily upgrade it to Linux in a second but it's not going to happen in the foreseeable future, at the moment there are bigger fish to fry. I would like the Linux boxes to authenticate against the Win2k server. I read that MS' Services for unix will allow the Win2K server to act as a NIS server. As you say the Linux boxes support this natively making it much simpler to link them up. Has anyone used this package? Hope that makes a bit more sense Thanks Joe

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Multihoming in SuSE 7.3
by Alan Harris 03 Mar '04

03 Mar '04

Hi all, I have an old Suse 7.3 pro box acting as a print server but now I need to multi-home this box, it has a single card which will need to utilise two IP addresses - any hints. I've done this before with RedHat but have lost the details! Ta much Alan

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