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Linux on the Desktop

Linux on the Desktop. Korowal School. Linux on Desktops. Education depends fundamentally on the quality of the relationships between teachers, children, and parents. The children's academic, creative and social development should be integrated: Balance of Art and Academics.

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Linux on the Desktop

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  1. Linux on the Desktop Korowal School

  2. Linux on Desktops Education depends fundamentally on the quality of the relationships between teachers, children, and parents. The children's academic, creative and social development should be integrated: Balance of Art and Academics. An appreciation of value and quality should be found in every aspect of schooling: In the classroom, in the physical environment, and in the relationships between all members of the school community. Everything we do should be sustainable, also in a social/ cultural sense. The Hidden Curriculum is as relevant to learning as the overt curriculum and needs to be considered in every educational decision.

  3. Why Open source? The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0). The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour (freedom 2). The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. The Free Software Definition Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. Freedom, empowerment, participation and involvement. Democracy. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html

  4. Preparing for Change • Promoting Open Source applications on Windows: • Open Office • Firefox • Thunderbird • Gimp • Promoting the philosophy: • Publicising in newsletter about Open Office and Open Source issues. • Talking to the Executive • Talking to the Board • Talking to the staff • Showing DVD 'Revolution OS'

  5. Deciding for SUSE LED/ Novell • Clarity and user-friendlyness of desktop • Integration of applications • Integrated administration • Corporate back-up • Professional support • Unix • GroupWise collaboration tools • Great pricing, excellent value

  6. The Scope • 70 workstations, 260 users • Roaming profiles • Applications for all teaching purposes (office suite, images, web design, video editing, programming ...) • Simple integration of USB devices, like video and photo cameras • File server with MyDocs and Shares (Teachers, Students, Share) • Printing quotas • Email for everyone • Calendar for overall, as well as individuals • Internet access to intranet, Kmoodle, email (Groupwise) and files • 10-minute log-off if users forget • PC Schools office administration compatible • Desktop deployment /ghosting • Automatic updates • Remote backup • Disk quotas • Web filtering • Antivirus / spam filtering • Mac access • Desktop 'spying' for teachers • UNDERLINED= not achieved, yet

  7. Our Server • The server is a Dell Precision 650 with 2x 2.66GHz Xeon processors, an • Adaptec SATAII 2420SA hardware RAID 5 card with 4x Seagate 320G 16M • cache SATAII HDDs and 4GB RAM. • It is running a stripped down server version of CentOS 4.4 with VMware • Server Installed. • There are 2x SLES VM servers, one is single CPU with 2GB RAM (eDir, GW • and File) and the other is also single CPU with 1GB RAM (ZENworks). • We have another similar one with no RAID and 2GB RAM running a Windows • Terminal Server VM and a CentOS VM for Moodle.

  8. Outcomes: Positive OS Intuitive and easy to get used to. GroupWise makes collaboration easy Works well on new (Dell Optiplex) and old (IBM R51 laptops) hardware, and other bits and pieces. Stable, expandable and a dream to manage. Very easy to get applications – and they are all for free!

  9. Outcomes: Negative • Staff - • Bugs in Open Office • Email lists were not transferred • MS Publisher documents disappeared • Report forms had to be adjusted • Printing.. poor postscript for Sharp, US formats were defaults • No USB or CD/DVD for a term • Files and folders disappearing • GroupWise dropping out and freezing • Students - • No USB • No sound • No CD/DVD • Workstations dropping out • Firefox stopping • Printing problems Most staff found it very difficult to adjust Most students adjusted with great ease.

  10. What went wrong? Incompetent Novell Partners left an incomplete set-up and took no responsibility to make it functional. Novell was very slow to respond. .... If we just had ..... :-( • Checked references • Visited a school where this system is working • Set up a trial-system • Used only known and recommended technicians

  11. To the Rescue After a term of chaos and trying to patch up, Novell eventually recommended different partners, and we went with Somerville Group. - Hail our sponsor! The system was repaired from ground up The cost blew out, as the repair cost was higher than the original installation cost ... It all happened at a considerable human cost, especially for staff.

  12. Conclusion It was a nightmare, but we are now almost there... and hopefully will forget ... Next steps: Have a rest! Create and deploy the latest release desktop and GrouWise (July) Automate updates Learn to understand and use the many options in the Novell package More staff training CONTACT - joachim.herrmann@korowal.nsw.edu.au

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