hi all sounds like it was an excellent meeting, once again my apologies for not being able to attend :-( i think there are a considerable number of interesting parallels that can be drawn in taking some notion of 'distribution' or resource being developed for UK schools including the much vaunted K12LTSP, Linux Terminal Server Project, which now has the latest version of its distro for download. http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/linux/k12ltsp.html my current thinking regards developing Linux / open source in education is i suppose reflecting my move to Red Hat, and considering how any future work in the area can be seen to be sustainable, and primarily eat in the existing M$ schools and LEAs. (ie the other 97% of schools) which ever way its cut, the issues of support, affordable training, and complete solutions are key. A CD distro is good, but most people already want it built on the hardware, although existing appliances, such those from Cobalt or Equiinet are tooo inflexible, the same as buying solutions from RM really. As a start, Red Hat are looking at a number of ways forward, including - developing cheap training courses for academia, built around our existing RHCE programme, based on either distance learning or residential. To start i would like to do a week long RH300 (fast track course for existing Linux admins) during the summer, at cost :-) - finding small/meduim consultancies or individuals to work with Red Hat on larger contracts, for LEAs or groups of schools, design, commission and service provision (hmmm...something like Alcove already do in France ;-) Red Hat is currently in the process of rolling out a broadband network solution for all secondary schools in Worcestershire, which includes remotely managed Linux servers in each schools and a central ISP function within the county, design i suppose on the Powys model. If you want more info let me know, i wouldn't wish to clog the list with a PDF. once again sorry i missed the meeting regards Malcolm --------------------------------------- Dr Malcolm Herbert Director, Academic Business Development Red Hat Europe t: +44 1483 734955 m: +44 7720 079845 -------------------------------------- "To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer" Farmers Weekly, 1977