Hi Jez, I'm the ICT coordinator for a primary school in Welwyn Garden City.

My school is looking for a new server to replace our aged RM Connect system.

I'm guessing 2.4

Much as I'd love to see desktop Linux, it's a bridge too far for our staff.

Yes - I know that feeling. Although, a Linux desktop does restrict access to most of the educational software available. I've just installed a thin client linux (debian) mini-suite in our library. As they're in the library and are mainly for browsing, I've called them "Research Workstations", and they're so much better than our "Research Machines" :) (yes we have Connect 2.4 too).

I see absolutely no reason why the back end servers that are never seen by the users should not be Linux based, since I'm confident the TCO, longevity and reliability will be superior. Therefore I'm looking for a company that can provide a Linux server system and Windoze clients.

I'm pushing our ICT coordinator for a requirement spec not least so that the three quotes for Windoze systems she has already received can be evaluated on a like for like basis. The range of software that is available will, at the end of the day, be the deciding factor.

I take it you mean software available to the user? Windows applications - educational stuff? Or software available to the network admin? The *only* plus point I can think of for an RM connect server is the ability to push out software to workstations using Application Wizard. I've investigated about something to replace this feature, but never really found an *easy* solution. With 50 workstations, this makes my life so much easier. Does it make these clients reliable? Nope. Restarting workstations is frequent user task.

We have a heavy investment in various packages from RM, which I'm told can't be used on the other systems that have been looked at. If this is a fallacy and there are systems out there that can handle this, so much the better.

I don't understand. I can't think of anything I can run on our Connect 2.4 Win98 clients that I can't run on Windows 98 clients that have linux servers. I've setup two linux server networks for others schools (SuSE). I don't have any experience of applications that run *on* the server, rather that they live on the server and run on the clients. Can you give any examples?

I'd be interested in hearing from any companies that have experience of such systems, in a primary (KS2 7-11 yrs) environment. The reason I'm asking for companies is that we need effective & professional support (unlike the support from RM) and simply do not have the time or skills to DIY.

I've never used any companies. Is Michael Brown still lurking on this list? Fen Systems I believe? All the best. -- Matt ___________________________________________________________ ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com