I have mentioned this document in the past, and am still tinkering away at it. It now has some real content, but I would like some opinions on the approach I am taking.
From discussions on this list, and from talking to people at user group meetings, there does not appear to be a single 'starting point' describing exactly where Linux can fit in today.
I was hoping to provide a document that does the following: 1. List the areas where Linux can be used (eg web server, email server, etc) 2. Provide some links to information about setting up these systems (howtos, applications, etc). 3. Provide some details of 'solutions' that have been found to work from the experiences of people on this list. What I don't want to do is provide detailed technical information for these 'solutions' as that already exists elsewhere - I just want to make it easier for interested people to find this information more quickly in the first place. I have fleshed out the networking side of the document, (this is the sort of thing I know the most about), and described some of the 'one-stop' solutions to IT in schools (if you believe the hype :-) that exist (openclassroom.org, etc). Before I go any further, I would now like some opinions on whether my approach to this document is suitable or not - ie is it actually of any use ? It may be that this sort of information is best in some sort of UK Schools & Linux portal site - or maybe as a Howto document or FAQ ... not sure at the moment. The document: http://www.northants.lug.org.uk/projects/schools/ Any comments - please send on to me: kevin@northants.lug.org.uk I am particularly interested in comments of the form: 1. Good idea/waste of time (and why) 2. A better concept for what is needed in such a document 3. Ideas for content for the document Of course, any actual content submissions based on your experiences are welcome too. Ta, Kevin. Northants LUG kevin@northants.lug.org.uk
----- Original Message -----
I was hoping to provide a document that does the following: 1. List the areas where Linux can be used (eg web server, email server, etc) 2. Provide some links to information about setting up these systems (howtos, applications, etc). 3. Provide some details of 'solutions' that have been found to work from the experiences of people on this list.
<snip>
What I don't want to do is provide detailed technical information for these 'solutions' as that already exists elsewhere - I just want to make it easier for interested people to find this information more quickly in the first place.
I am particularly interested in comments of the form: 1. Good idea/waste of time (and why) 2. A better concept for what is needed in such a document 3. Ideas for content for the document
Very good idea and looking good so far. We're a sixth form college and are using linux/squid/apache/ipchains for the obvious firewalling, proxy and web serving. We're basically an NT/Windows shop cos that's the market we're aiming at - basic skills and Adult basic skills. I think there are a number of basic content areas that need to be addressed rapidly. We're looking at NFS to parcel out home areas on servers, authentication via an NT user database for controlling and logging web access, programming at Gnome ( :)> sorry ), mail behind a firewall - done with an NT solution, now looking at postfix or similar with access to NT database. As should be clear, there are going to be a range of skills. A simple ipchains/squid box is almost off the shelf these days. Locking into NT is still a black art and Samba TNG is still not quite there. We're also facing the 2.4 kernel with implications for proxying, NAT and firewalls. These areas demand something more than basic skills. For example, there are few clear examples of CIDR DNS in.adr.arpa files. Even the bind documentation is not clear on this yet some schools will have to support a /30 or a /28 address range. I particularly like http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dranch/LINUX/index-linux.html#trinityos for security. David Ranch is the writer of the Linux IP masquerade how to. Keep up the good work. This e-mail is intended for the addressee shown. It contains information that is confidential and protected from disclosure. Any review, dissemination or use of this transmission or its contents by persons or unauthorized employees of the intended organisations is strictly prohibited. The contents of this email do not necessarily represent the views or policies of East Norfolk Sixth Form College, it's employees or students.
On Wed, Jan 24, 2001 at 12:36:41PM -0000, John McCabe wrote:
<snip>
Very good idea and looking good so far. We're a sixth form college and are using linux/squid/apache/ipchains for the obvious firewalling, proxy and web serving. We're basically an NT/Windows shop cos that's the market we're aiming at - basic skills and Adult basic skills.
I think there are a number of basic content areas that need to be addressed rapidly. We're looking at NFS to parcel out home areas on servers, authentication via an NT user database for controlling and logging web access, programming at Gnome ( :)> sorry ), mail behind a firewall - done with an NT solution, now looking at postfix or similar with access to NT database.
Why do you want to use a NT database? Surely if you've got squid and mail etc running on linux it makes more sense to use something like MySQL running on the same platform. I know you can hook-up qmail to MySQL - have a look at www.qmail.org For logging web access: http://yasd.dhs.org/en/apachedb.php3 looks interesting (Disclaimer: haven't used it)
As should be clear, there are going to be a range of skills. A simple ipchains/squid box is almost off the shelf these days. Locking into NT is still a black art and Samba TNG is still not quite there. We're also facing the 2.4 kernel with implications for proxying, NAT and firewalls. These areas demand something more than basic skills.
Doesn't NT work OK with standard Samba? It seems to on this box. I understand W2K with it's proprietry extensions is a problem though - one good reason not to use it. 2.4 - do you really need it at the moment? If not you might aswell stick with what you're familar with. To get back on topic with regards a Schools FAQ or similar the following might be a useful link to put in it: http://www.linuxcare.com/viewpoints/article/04-19-00.epl as it documents Windows apps/protocols and their open source counterparts/replacements. <snip> -- Frank *-------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-------* | Boroughbridge | Tel: 01423 323019 | PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 | *-------*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-----*-------* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/
participants (3)
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Frank Shute
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John McCabe
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kevin.taylor@powerconv.alstom.com