Re: Advocating Linux use in local schools

[rnd@sampo.karelia.ru]

On Thu, 31 Dec 1998, Doug Loss wrote:

Well, its interesting story. However, I think schools will need
turn-key solutions. Probably, the FTPing of  the  Linux  distro
from the Net looks like magic, but I'd never take such a  risk.
When I installed Linux for a school, I take the computer to our
office and did it with thorough plan.

So, it took me just 2 hours to get the 'puter running with  all
the needed software and hardware (network card being exception:
I was not able to setup it :-( and  just  changed  for  another
one.)

Linux in school must be  thoroughly  planned.  Probably,  there
could be even a special CD (CDs) burn for that purpose. And, of
course,  there  must  be   no   surprises.   (It   means,   the
configuration must be tried longer than a  week  under  diverse
use conditions).

When I was installing  Linux,  it  turned  out  that  fetchmail
(which comes with RH 5.1) was broken. So I just  d/l-ed  update
and there were no problem.

In summary:
- schools  need  turn-key  solutions,  carefully  prepared  and
tested by Linux specialists, and also customized to better meet
particular school needs.

- then there is a need to gradually teach the personnel to  USE
Linux (for example, I have  not  given  the  root  password  to
school staff: they aren't ready to manage Linux box yet.)

- I am very pleased that I am able to fully control Linux boxes
at schools from remote places. This is  the  feature  which  is
most appealing to school-district directors, because  there  is
no need to visit sites physically to update software or  change
other settings: I remember I installed Apache  web-server  just
in 5 minute (including  compilation),  sitting  comfortably  at
home. So, if in harry, setup basic internet and do other things
remotly.

Happy New Year 1999!

(Its already 1999 here. You will meet it too very soon.)


Sincerely yours,
Roman A. Suzi

 -- Petrozavodsk -- Karelia -- Russia --
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