The Governments and Schools moving to Linux Thread

[aysiu]

I thought I'd start a thread for any time I or someone else reads a news article about a government or school moving to Linux desktops (servers is old news) or workstations.

Might as well start with this one:
District to save money by switching computers to Linux (http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=home&story=sites/thisweeknews/022207/Bexley/News/022207-News-310108.html)

Bexley City Schools in Ohio, moving from Windows ME to Linux (unspecified distro) because the cost to switch to XP is too much.

If you have other stories about other schools or governments moving (throw in some corporations or small businesses, too--why not?), please post them in this thread and give a link to the news story.

Thanks!

[aysiu]

Here's another one from Mark Shuttleworth's home country:
Ten more Cape schools get Linux labs (http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1358)


The two corporates have joined with the province's Dinaledi team in an effort to improve maths and science results in the ten schools by deploying the Shuttleworth Foundation's tuXlab service. I'd never heard of tuXlab (http://www.tuxlabs.org.za/) before. Sounds interesting.

[SunnyRabbiera]

well this was to be expected, most school PC's are out of date and macs being the vway they are, Linux has a good chance of being the OS of choice of schools.

[izanbardprince]

Looks like the state of Indiana is starting to roll out Linux systems with Ubuntu in public schools.

This is probably the first time I've seen my state government do something sensible to save money, now maybe they can quit taxing me to license a hojillion copies of Windows.

[Polygon]

my school actually uses mac os X rather then windows... of course its safer and all the kids who believe they are "hackers" have fun trying to run "virus.exe" on these computers. its really quite funny.

The only problem i have with these is:

because the home folder's for our accounts are on a network server, even basic stuff can be a tad slow since it has to transfer / download stuff from the server before it can use it. This gives a lot of students the impression that "macs suck and are slow"... when its just because the home folders are on a network. Id imagine that similiar attitudes will appear in schools rolling out linux until they all get used to the idea and realized that it does not "suck".

but my school could defenitly save a lot of money by switching to linux. Just by ditching microsoft office with word and powerpoint, and not paying for mac os x licences and upgrades would be a ton. The only problem is that the graphic design students might "require" photoshop or illustrator...

[aysiu]

The only problem is that the graphic design students might "require" photoshop or illustrator... I don't know why you put that in quotation marks. My wife is a graphic design student, and I can assure you she does require Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Adobe Flash (the maker, not the player).

GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus, and F4L would not cut it for her. Sorry.

Those apps may be great for home users like me, but you can't graphic design for a living using those apps.

[openix]

Think I read somewhere that Adobe are possibly going to start porting their apps to Linux later this year - wont be free but at least Linux becomes an option to designers if that happens.

[adam.tropics]

Our local council changed a few years ago (http://www.cxolinux.com/India/Case_Studies/Cairns_City_Council_Becomes_First_Australian_Organ ization_To/551-2474-1274.html). Not sure about schools in the area though. Fair enough, it's Red Hat, but it's still a good move. Regardless of the politics, paid Linux will help businesses get used to the idea of Linux, as rightly or wrongly, the invoice instills confidence that they have a worthwhile product! This will change over time though I imagine.

[mips]

Here's another one from Mark Shuttleworth's home country:
Ten more Cape schools get Linux labs (http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1358)

I'd never heard of tuXlab (http://www.tuxlabs.org.za/) before. Sounds interesting.

There are quiet a few people/organisations rolling out linux to schools in South Africa. I cannot remember them all, even some of the guys in the loco team are involved in this.

There has also been rumours/press about the Government adopting OSS but it is still early days. There a link to an article about this in the loco team forum.

[aysiu]

Russian Schools to Switch to Linux After Microsoft Piracy Case (http://www.mosnews.com/news/2007/02/07/linuxschool.shtml)
The good news is that they're using Linux. Here's the bad news:
Teachers are not that happy about it. Apparently not many of them know much about Linux and there are no specialists around to teach them.

Microsoft Windows ousted at California school district (http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1245710,00.html)
There's only good news on this front, apparently:
Ultimately, moving to Linux has enabled the Windsor School District to build out technology capabilities that wouldn't have been possible with Windows.

"[The students] are able to do more because Linux cost less," Carver said. "Our new computer lab [at Brooks] was set to cost $35,000 and ended up costing us $16,000 with Linux [on thin clients]."

And the kids love it too. "The kids think Linux is cool because it's new, but what they're really doing is stepping into the 21st century," Carver said.

[adam.tropics]

Linux in schools is clearly a good thing, but it does seem that it's an uphill struggle, that would be much easier from the other direction. A more aggressive attempt at encouraging businesses to use Open Source would, in the long run work better, since it is the employers that are really the clients of the school systems, and if they start to make say, Linux skills, or Open Office.org desirable skills, then the schools will be nudged into supporting that.


(O.T. ps aysiu: Your avatar's been playing away from home (http://forums.macrumors.com/member.php?u=77941) I fear!)

[aysiu]

This thread was intended to be about governments and schools, but if you have any cool moved-to-Linux business stories, please feel free to post them.

[aysiu]

Only one of these "may switch to Linux" articles, but still exciting. I can't believe a lot of schools are still using Windows ME or 98. I guess it makes sense, though.
Japanese Schools May Switch to Linux: Conference held in Tokyo considers the open-source option for education (http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?no=348867&rel_no=1)

[newbie2]

a belgian initiative :

http://www.multiseatcomputer.be/catalog/index.php?language=en

[25an]

I only have the link in swedish so I wont put it here put the swedish army is replacing there NT computers to Red hat enterprise they are also changing there windows servers to Red hat since they dont meet the security requirement. Even though Sweden is a small country in the northen part of Europe with only 9 miljon people it is still a decision in the right direction.

[anaconda]

Warms my mind to think that (some) schools are finally switching to linux.. :D

I think microsoft is doing a major mistake here.. they should give windows to schools almost free of charge, because then all the students would be locked to windows.. and they would demand windows from their employers too..

Good for linux. The students using linux at school will propably install linux to their own machines and finally switch completely to linux.. and then later want to use linux in their workplaces too..

[DoctorMO]

I think microsoft is doing a major mistake here.. they should give windows to schools almost free of charge, because then all the students would be locked to windows.. and they would demand windows from their employers too..

Are you trying to give them good ideas! you fool we don't want that! ;-)

[rjfioravanti]

I am student at the university of Waterloo and they are doing just that. We get any Microsoft software we want completely free of charge

However our school is also built on unix labs, + 1 or 2 mac labs and windows labs

[DaryleB]

I wish the US Navy would move to Linux, but I know it will never happen. I go from a good OS at home to a slow, sluggish windows 2000 setup with layers upon layers of security software at work. I can't help but think that if the effort to make windows 'secure' were spent on linux, a sutable solution could have been developed for the DOD that would make everyone happy, and probably at a lower cost. I know it would make me happy.

Cheers

[anaconda]

our army has 2 networks.. the more secure machines aren't connected to the www at all.. only to each others.. How is that for security..

[bonzodog]

That Japanese 'May' has become a 'will do';

http://gyaku.jp/en/index.php?cmd=contentview&pid=000112

[prizrak]

Russian Schools to Switch to Linux After Microsoft Piracy Case (http://www.mosnews.com/news/2007/02/07/linuxschool.shtml)
The good news is that they're using Linux. Here's the bad news:

Microsoft Windows ousted at California school district (http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1245710,00.html)
There's only good news on this front, apparently:

Well when it comes to Russia teachers don't know much about computers in general so no one cares what they think ;)

[Arisna]

Well when it comes to Russia teachers don't know much about computers in general so no one cares what they think ;)

It isn't much different in the United States, to be honest. :(

[dorcssa]

Only one of these "may switch to Linux" articles, but still exciting. I can't believe a lot of schools are still using Windows ME or 98. I guess it makes sense, though.


Well, in my university, the phisical-chemistry lab still uses win 95. :D (And I know some other machines that use that too, around the uni)

[Dale61]

Here's one from Australia:

Melbourne uni drops Unix for Linux

http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php?id=1810776935&eid=-219

[riven0]

Haven't seen this posted anywhere, so it's time to give everyone the heads-up. The French Parliament has decided Ubuntu is the way to go. They may start switching as soon as June this year.


The French Parliament looks to be the next big Ubuntu switcher according to reports. Recently the Parliament produced an official government report that recommended the use of free software over proprietary software. The switch to free software is expected to provide a substantial savings to the tax-payers according to the government study.

Following this recommendation two companies, Linagora and Unilog, have been selected to provide the members of the Parliament as well as their assistants new computers containing free software. This will amount to 1,154 new computers running Ubuntu prior to the start of the next session which occurs in June 2007.

More here... (http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/814)

:popcorn:

[billdotson]

not going to read that article because I don't feel like reading right now but cool.

[DoctorMO]

I'm too busy right now to read the article but frosty!

[K.Mandla]

I'm not too busy and I read it and it's cool! :D

[Jenda]

Weeehee!

Good news indeed.

[xyz]

Fan-tas-ti-que!!

[siimo]

Vive La France ! :-({|=

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/2470/w020060706327005556830gg0.th.jpg

[Obor]

Way to go France. =D>

[DoctorMO]

If it was going to be anyone is europe it'd be france...

[xyz]

I posted the news on a French Windows forum:
THESITEOUEB (http://www.thesiteoueb.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2996&forum=5&post_id=14901#forumpost14901)
PS: I have nothing at all against that site; it has taught me a lot of things.

[bailout]

Bit of a blow for Mandriva.

[tribaal]

Génial :)

- trib'

[mips]

How do you easily manage thousands of linux computers ?

I know with windows you could push any software to the desktops with one click of a button, thus thousands of machines are managed from a central location. You could also define user profiles and effectively lock the entire desktop down so the users don't do anything to th os/desktop environment. Network access & printing is also controlled from a central location.

I'm just wondering how you do this easily in a linux environment ???

[DoctorMO]

I know with windows you could push any software to the desktops with one click of a button, thus thousands of machines are managed from a central location. You could also define user profiles and effectively lock the entire desktop down so the users don't do anything to th os/desktop environment. Network access & printing is also controlled from a central location.

Er, I don't think you understand what the technologies and tools are that are used to control the linux network environment. just like the desktop it's _NOT_ windows.

If I were manning a network of fat clients (thin clients is easy) A simple repository system with cron'd updates where each desktop points to an inhouse repository would keep software pushes for updates going smooth and allow for testing; for custom programs you can use a tool set with ssh which can connect to all your machines and install various things and run various commands etc, security and users is handled the same way it always has.

The real problem is that admin think like windows admins and don't use the right tools in linux for the job. as well as the quite moronic pastime of treating a fat network like a thin client network; if that is what you want then why not go for a medium client at least where users, programs and files are stored on servers and executed locally. the only reason for this kind of **** backward administration is because windows is incapable of being set up as a thin or medium client network.

[xyz]

Bit of a blow for Mandriva.
What the heck is that thing in your avatar? lol!

[Kobalt]

Pas mal ;)
I hope the next government will not cancel or delay that decision though, since we have elections in about a month...

[Kateikyoushi]

The question is, who's next ? ;)

[xyz]

The question is, who's next ? ;)

Redmond I think, isn't it? :wink: lol!

[Kobalt]

beurk ! [-X
:)

[bapoumba]

The question is, who's next ? ;)
The question could also be who did it first.

Not for a full Linux migration, but to move to open source applications. The French Gendamerie (you know, the guys in blue with their fast bikes that get you if you drive over the speed limit, they are part of the army) migrated in jan 2005 to openoffice, firefox ...
http://europa.eu.int/idabc/en/document/3796/194
http://www.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?list=announce&msgNo=273

So did other "Ministères" ("Transports" and "Agriculture" for example) after that.

As far as French Parliament, migration will be handled by Linagora (http://www.linagora.com/) (a company selling services on free softwares) and Unilog (http://www.unilog.com/) (IT business consultants).

[newbie2]

http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/814
http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=38168
:popcorn:

[mips]

Er, I don't think you understand what the technologies and tools are that are used to control the linux network environment. just like the desktop it's _NOT_ windows.
.

That is why I asked in the first place. This is not a ******* contest.

Now, if you still want could you please list the tools one would use to administer 1000's of linux desktop pcs.

[spinflick]

I posted the news on a French Windows forum:
THESITEOUEB (http://www.thesiteoueb.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2996&forum=5&post_id=14901#forumpost14901)
PS: I have nothing at all against that site; it has taught me a lot of things.

Now that's the sort of thing I would have done. :lolflag:

[Quillz]

Haven't seen this posted anywhere, so it's time to give everyone the heads-up. The French Parliament has decided Ubuntu is the way to go. They may start switching as soon as June this year.



More here... (http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/814)

:popcorn:
This is good news for Ubuntu.

[oskie]

Bravo France!!=D> This really gives us something to point to when our respective governments consider upgrading to Vista. Slowly, bit by bit, the case for FOSS is becoming too irresistible for most governments to ignore.

[gosh]

How can we get our local government to do the same?

[aysiu]

How can we get our local government to do the same?
I'm not sure.

Write them letters? Send copies of articles like this about other governments' migrations to Ubuntu or Linux?

[gosh]

I'm not sure.

Write them letters? Send copies of articles like this about other governments' migrations to Ubuntu or Linux?

Yes, that is of course a good suggestion.
I'll send my government and our political parties an email on this and ask others to do the same.

[DigitalDuality]

Korea Plans to Build Linux City, University
By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter

The Korean government plans to select a city and a university late next month where open-source software like Linux will become the mainstream operating programs.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) Wednesday revealed the scheme of building up the city and university, which will operate as test beds for the open-source programs.

``We will start to receive applications next week. After screening candidate cities and universities, the test beds are likely to be decided by late March,’’ MIC director Lee Do-kyu said.

Lee said that the project will be kick-started just after the decision of the city and university, toward which end the ministry earmarked 4.1 billion won for this year alone.
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200602/kt2006021517494311780.htm


Munich Begins to Switch Windows Out for Linux
SEP 21, 2006 07:30:17 AM | Add Comment (0) | Permalink

Munich has begun its migration to Linux on the desktop, a year later than planned and nearly three years since the city announced its move to open source software.

"There have been some delays along the way but we’re now moving steadily ahead," Florian Schiessl, manager of the Limux project for the city of Munich, said Thursday by telephone.

Since Tuesday, the first 100 of the city’s 14,000 PCs have been switched from Microsoft’s Windows operating system and Office applications to Linux and OpenOffice.
http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=25009



Brazil falls in love with Linux
<snip>
The government's top technology official wants to create what he calls a "continent of open source."

Even Sao Paulo's mayor, a former TV sex therapist, champions a project to teach the basics of Linux to children in the favelas - the slums of the world's biggest city.<snip>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3445805.stm




Novell Australia leads global Linux migration, dumps MS Office
Novell's local operation is taking a leading role in an ambitious year-long plan to move all the company's 6000 worldwide staff onto Linux desktops.

The migration, which will see staff across the globe using SuSE Linux systems running OpenOffice, is partly motivated by broader commercial concerns. Novell completed its $US210 million acquisition of SuSE in January this year, and the company wants to use itself as a showcase for both SuSE and Ximian, which it also purchased last year.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;526044789;fp;16;fpid;0



12,500 Indian high schools move to Linux
The southern Indian state of Kerela is in the process of changing over all computers in its 12,500 high schools from Windows to GNU/Linux systems, according to an Aug. 31 report by the Associated Press.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS6309151740.html



For China, Linux Has Lots to Like
The largely free operating system gives Chinese companies another reason to keep their money and gives Beijing a Microsoft alternative


After years of making slow but steady inroads in the U.S., the operating-system software called Linux suddenly is showing signs of catching on in China. On Mar. 23, Hewlett-Packard (HPQ ) announced plans to sell Linux desktop PCs in Asia, in partnership with Tokyo-based Turbolinux. A few days earlier, Open Source Development Labs, a U.S.-based Linux booster, revealed that it had accepted a second Chinese software group as a member. The same day, stories in Taiwanese newspapers reported that several of the nation's second-tier notebook makers plan to sell Linux machines in the world's largest country.

China is a tiny market for Linux at the moment. But Beijing plans to change that. It may soon issue a requirement that a certain percentage of all software sold in China be developed locally. If that rule goes through, it almost certainly will encourage domestic developers to turn to Linux. In addition, several other long-term trends bode well for the adoption of Linux in the Middle Kingdom.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2004/tc20040330_6891_tc167.htm


Ubuntu Linux Founder Aims to Take On Microsoft in Africa
Ubuntu -- an African word that means "caring for your community and humanity for others" -- is meant to be simpler to use than other Linux systems. It is based on the open source principle that software is free and can be modified at no cost by anyone to suit local and specific needs.

South African magnate Mark Shuttleworth has already conquered space. Now he's set his sights on cyberspace, where he hopes to challenge Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) .

Shuttleworth made his fortune by selling an Internet company (Verisign) he started in his Cape Town garage. He then spent US$20 million on becoming the world's second space tourist in 2002 and the first African in orbit.

Now, he is taking on U.S. technology behemoth Microsoft by pioneering free computer software that he hopes will revolutionize the way computers are used and make the Internet accessible to millions in Africa and other emerging markets.
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/52943.html



Taiwan to start national plan to push Free Software


Taiwan will start a national plan to jump-start the development and use of Free (libre) Software, according to this report by the Central News Agency, the government news agency of Taiwan, Rep. of China. Due to high Microsoft license fees (as previously covered here in Kuro5hin) and also to improve the levels of software technology in Taiwan, this plan includes the creation of a totally Chinese free software environment for Taiwan users, free software application development, and training of 120,000 people for free software skills, as well as efforts at schools to provide diverse information technology environments to ensure the freedom of information. The source article is in Chinese so an English summary is provided below.
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/6/3/55433/41738

Taiwan mandates Linux-ready PCs
By Aaron Tan, ZDNet Asia
Monday , June 26 2006 03:34 PM

Taiwan has mandated that all PCs purchased for government use must now be compatible with the Linux operating system. According to media reports, the new requirement came into effect last month, marking the start of efforts to boost adoption of open-source software in Taiwan. About 120,000 new desktop PCs acquired by the Taiwan government will have to comply with the new mandate, the reports stated.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,39370618,00.htm



Brazil nears million Linux laptop order
The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) project reported Aug. 27 that Brazil is finalizing plans for "all aspects" of its $100 laptop roll-out. Along with Argentina, Nigeria, and Thailand, Brazil had previously indicated interest in purchasing 1 million of the machines for needy children.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5745842945.html

...

[gosh]

Whoah, nice overview!

[cowlip]

That is why I asked in the first place. This is not a ******* contest.

Now, if you still want could you please list the tools one would use to administer 1000's of linux desktop pcs.

openLDAP and webmin modules. Or there`s Red Hat Directory Server, or I`m sure tens of other options..

[mips]

Thx! Just curious.

[koenn]

openLDAP and webmin modules. Or there`s Red Hat Directory Server, or I`m sure tens of other options..
Aren't these just directory services, meant to manage user accounts and authentication and the likes ? What about computer configuration, policies, software roll-out, ... Any tools for those, or is it all a matter of cron jobs and handcrafted shell scripts with ssh sessions ?

[Cave Dweller]

Aye. Nice work France! Congratulations Ubuntu! I think this is wonderful news. *does a happy little dance*

[DigitalDuality]

d

[mips]

I've worked 2-3 enterprise level jobs, and i too, would find it interesting how a company of these sizes would be managed if they were all linux.


Same. I did not do desktop admin though but know that it was very easy to administer the 40 000 odd desktops and a few thousand servers.

More info on this would be interesting.

[DigitalDuality]

d

[tbrminsanity]

Can anyone confirm or deny this. I heard it from a friend and I want to see some hard evidence first.

[Guus]

http://fridge.ubuntu.com/

[Kobalt]

Confirmed.

Cocorico ! :)

[bapoumba]

@ tbrminsanity: merged your thread.

[esaym]

I don't know why you put that in quotation marks. My wife is a graphic design student, and I can assure you she does require Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Adobe Flash (the maker, not the player).

GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus, and F4L would not cut it for her. Sorry.

Those apps may be great for home users like me, but you can't graphic design for a living using those apps.


Since you seem to have some knowledge on this subject do you care to elaborate more? Like how does your wife handle it? Are these people just screwed and forced to use windows?:confused:

[DigitalDuality]

d

[cowlip]

http://blog.blanco.net.ve/2007/03/ubuntu-takes-advantage.html


Ubuntu takes advantage

Well, I'm very proud to announce that another Venezuelan institution of the government, take our recommendation and then we deploy more of 700 HP PCs with Ubuntu and 150 IBM Laptops with Kubuntu.

This institution have 16 Ubuntu servers and will add more of 30 new virtual servers in Ubuntu with XEN over a Blade with more of 3 TB of Hard disk.

Publicado por Rolando F. Blanco C



http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/2730


French Parliament Chooses Kubuntu; oem-installer; docs hero


Some people have asked me which of the various Ubuntu distributions the French Assemblee Nationale has chosen to run for all its members. While there seems to be no official press release from the company involved yet, I can point you towards the one site which got it correct as Le Monde who put a K before the name.

[aysiu]

This isn't exactly a school moving to Linux, but it's encouraging its students to use Linux at home and giving them five-year-old computers to do it with:
Students may get recycled computers (http://www.wcmessenger.com/news/news/EEZlAlVkEpEFmkSpXI.php)

[mips]

http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2073631,00.html


SA turns back on Microsoft
22/02/2007 14:50 - (SA)

Cape Town - South Africa plans to switch all government departments over to open source computer software instead of using Microsoft systems, a cabinet spokesperson said on Thursday.
Themba Maseko told reporters the cabinet would use the open source Linux operating system in a bid to lower administration costs and enhance local IT skills.
Unlike rival Microsoft's proprietary software, the open source operating system works on the principle that software is free and can be modified at no cost by anyone to suit local and specific needs.
The cost implications are considerable in a country struggling to bridge the digital divide, and where a vast majority of the people are computer illiterate.
"This is going to be a long process... What this (open source) initiative is basically trying to streamline (is) our use and development of software in the country," Maseko said.
Maseko said it was too early to provide timeframes for implementing Linux, but by April this year an office would be established by the department of science and technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to oversee it.
South Africa joins governments in other emerging markets like Brazil, China, Spain, India and Malaysia in adopting open source software, with proponents of Linux arguing that the free software could help slash the cost of getting computers into schools, homes and community centres.

[goumples]

My school already uses a form of Unix on their servers.. the pcs in the classrooms still run win xp though. :(

[dorcssa]

The real issue is to use linux on the desktops in the classroom, I think. ;)

[PartisanEntity]

New York Stock Exchange switches to AIX and Linux:
http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid80_gci1254860,00.html


The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is migrating off a 1,600 millions of instructions per second (MIPS) mainframe to IBM System p servers running AIX and x86 Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) servers running Linux, with the first part of the move going live today.

[PartisanEntity]

While browsing through the Linux/Unix section of one of the newspapers I read I came across an interesting study carried out in 2005 (http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/pdf/oss-studie-englisch-kurzfassung.pdf) (English) by the IT department of the City of Vienna recommending the increased use of open source applications and infrastructure in order to save money and be more independent. I also found out that our city has it's own Debian distribution called WIENUX (http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/wienux.html) (German) (Wien is Vienna in German).

According to the site, this year there should be around 1000 workstations in the city administration using WIENUX. Quite interesting :)

[Simran]

Hi,

I was introduced to linux, specifically ubuntu by my school. After using windows when I first joined, it was common knowledge that the system was crap and not greatly functional. So we had a swich over to ubuntu. Use thin clients, and have a network of about 120 - 150 computers all running ubuntu.

For stuff like coursework we use zope, exe, knoda, openoffice etc etc..

I don't know much about the specifics but i did find this:
http://www.schoolforge.org.uk/index.php/Skegness_Grammar

It looks about 1 year out of date but it gives the general idea.

I prefer using it to the old windows system and its a better use of taxpayers money to pay an ubuntu geek technitian to keep our network going instead of handing large amounts of money to mr gates.

Generally the ubuntu system is appreciated, but the windows fanboys give the IT teachers stick about it

[aysiu]

Here's another one:
San Diego Students Learn on Linux Desktops from Novell (http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=36875)

[aysiu]

Anyone checked out the Ubuntu case studies page (http://www.ubuntu.com/products/casestudies)? So far, they've bagged an airline, a research institute, a radio station, and a school.

[BuffaloX]

Anyone checked out the Ubuntu case studies page (http://www.ubuntu.com/products/casestudies)? So far, they've bagged an airline, a research institute, a radio station, and a school.

Cool.
Could be a good start for a "Get the facts" campaign for Linux. :p

[aysiu]

German Universities Tap Novell for Infrastructure Needs (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/AQTU04128082007-1.htm): "Forty percent of German university students now have access to Linux and management solutions from Novell"

That seems pretty major!

[aysiu]

Russian OS to be installed in every school (http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2007/09/14/266177)

Sounds great.

[LookTJ]

I wish the US Navy would move to Linux, but I know it will never happen. I go from a good OS at home to a slow, sluggish windows 2000 setup with layers upon layers of security software at work. I can't help but think that if the effort to make windows 'secure' were spent on linux, a sutable solution could have been developed for the DOD that would make everyone happy, and probably at a lower cost. I know it would make me happy.

Cheers
I know what you mean by the US Navy using processes running in the background on Win 2k NT

My dad is currently deployed on the USS Nimitz since April 2 and will be home on the 30th.

[Dale61]

WA councils go virtual with Linux, Xen (http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php?id=1971464960&eid=-219)


Three local government shires in Western Australia have adopted the open source Xen virtualization technology to virtualize Windows servers on Linux hosts and reduce its need for physical machines.

[Hendrixski]

http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573B100020F62.html?ref=tech nology
The new york stock exchange is migrating to Linux.

That's right, the economy of the United States, now runs on Linux.

[hanzomon4]

http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573B100020F62.html?ref=tech nology
The new york stock exchange is migrating to Linux.

That's right, the economy of the United States, now runs on Linux.

Ha! That makes a good marketing line, too bad linux(collectively) doesn't promote itself... very well.

[jken146]

Not desktop Linux necessarily, but still.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gK-eb7SFzG8QLvOOlfdt_cPMnFmwD8TGNLJ80

[zmjjmz]

Some Ohio school switched to Linux:
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/NEWS01/803050312/1002/NEWS01

And
http://argentinadiscovery.page.tl/South-America-warms-to-Open-Source.htm

:D

Oh, and somewhere along the line of news, the French police were switching to Ubuntu.

[Midwest-Linux]

Here is my ongoing list of moving to Linux I have been recently compiling.

Philippines 23,000 computers
http://education.zdnet.com/?p=1498


All of Russia by 2010
http://www.russiatoday.ru/scitech/news/22094%20


South America
http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13505_1-9886156-16.html

French Police
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/01/30/2341206&from=rss

U.S. Army
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/05/us_army_linux_integration/

Munich is Linux, Netherlands will too
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Can-Linux-Stage-a-Coup-DEtat-61858.html?welcome=1204843185

Australia
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23234204-24169,00.html

San Fransisco Bay Area Schools
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9065899&intsrc=news_ts_head

South Africa to save over $352 million going to Linux
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/07/08/HNafrolinux_1.html

Close the windows and "Open" the "Source"...and that they did :-)

[HermanAB]

There are lots of Linux systems in the defence forces around the world, but nobody can talk about it. As soon as one has to process secret data, it is just a lot easier to do it with Linux than with Windows.

The US defence force is involved in SE Linux and Bastille Linux for example and they won't do that just because some guy likes to fool around...

[zmjjmz]

Because FOSS can be modified and adapted to whatever is needed without anyone else being told, it makes a lot of sense for the US Navy to use it. Imagine if MSFT knew and was in control of the source code of our military. We'd be submitting to their interests. This is why Peru going to FOSS is a great idea; they free themselves from MSFT's limitations.

[bonzodog]

An interesting article about putting FOSS solutions into UK schools, it seems BECTA are no longer willing to pander to MS:

Microsoft ‘tax’ on Linux in schools must end says Becta (http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=616)

This is indeed an interesting read.

[Chame_Wizard]

the Netherlands government are so slow :guitar:

PERU:"Open Source as a citizen right".wonderful people

[AmpersUK]

Citroen are moving 250 servers and 20,000 Workstations over to Linux, The French Gendarmerie are moving over 70,000 PCs and, although I can't seem to verify the following, the Spanish Education Authorities are moving over 500,000 PCs in schools to Linux. I liked what was done by the French police. First they introduced Firefox in Windows, then a year later Thunderbird, then a year later OpenOffice, now they are moving over to the Linux Operating System. Ampers

[Midwest-Linux]

Computer changeover on schedule for school district
Chilliwack Times
Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

http://www.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news/story.html?id=0243d402-e23b-4b2e-9805-b121acc41ab2

The plan to change the 1,000-plus computers inside School District No. 33 elementary schools is proceeding as planned, with two schools complete and more computers on the way.


They began a pilot project at two schools, replacing the computers with new ones that can run a system called LINUX. Most of the current computers are Macs but very few are capable of running OS X, the current operating system Macs use. They were using an older operating system that is becoming obsolete.

---------------------------------------------------------------

TECHNOLOGY-CUBA: University Opens Doors to Free Software
By Patricia Grogg

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42409


HAVANA, May 17 (IPS) - After years of deliberation, the University of Havana has finally decided to switch over to free software on its network of computers, virtually all of which are running the Windows operating system, produced by United States software giant Microsoft.

The plan, approved by the University Council, envisages intensive training of professors and computer personnel this year, followed in 2009 by the broad installation of the GNU/Linux operating system, which uses the Linux kernel created by Linus Torvalds of Finland in 1991.

[bryncoles]

with thanks to newbie2 who posted it here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=846045

india is moving to open source!

http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS6504473525.html

*edit*

http://it.tmcnet.com/topics/it/articles/32861-whitfield-school-picks-linux-thinkpad-laptops-computing-program.htm


Whitfield decided to use Linux in order to control licensing and support costs that would have been high in case the school had chosen Microsoft Windows or Macintosh OS X. Linux has helped the school improve performance in a cost-effective fashion and allows students and faculty to run programs in both Windows and Linux environments using the Citrix Access Suite.

[bryncoles]

"Private St. Louis school goes Linux"

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5933193315.html


He commented, "We're seeing a groundswell movement toward Linux and open source in education. Schools want to supply a twenty-first century computing environment."

open source is the future, apparently!

[newbie2]

http://lxer.com/module/db/viewby.php?uid=108&option=&value=&sort=108&offset=0&dbn=12

[bryncoles]

http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Linux-Runs-for-Office-63677.html

just an overview of how and why linux might be getting so popular the world over, and how governments are appreciating more and more open source.


"It (moving to open source) is the responsible thing for governments to do," Spencer concluded

[bryncoles]

school in new zealand moving to linux as well, and planning on using its microsoft budget to employ a linux technician!

http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/A000A8F459252EDECC25747F00172D28


Two years ago, Parker installed Linux on a couple of computers that were no longer supported by Microsoft. As Parker, who doesn’t have a technical background, found the operating system easy to install and use, the school gradually moved over to the open source platform. A parent of one the pupils has helped with the Linux project and has been “a mentor for myself”, says Parker. Other than that, the school does not have a technician on staff. For maintenance, the school uses an IT consultant on a contract basis.

and in particular


In past, there has been the perception that Linux is something that only computer experts use, but that is not true, says Parker. For Warrington School, the switch to Linux has been an easy process. “It all just runs,” he says.

[bryncoles]

bunch of hospitals in the states switch to using n ubuntu based webmail service, saving $300,000!


When Grimes checked into replacing it all with new Exchange infrastructure about a year ago, the estimated $250,000 to $300,000 cost quickly put an end to the search. That's when the IT staff brought in a server using the free, open-source Postfix e-mail application running on Ubuntu Linux to operate along side the Exchange server so that more users could be added at little cost.

though reading on they didnt stay with ubuntu, due to interlopability issues. they did stay with linux though....

*edit*

forgot the URL

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9109998&source=rss_topic122

[Vince4Amy]

Our admin has allowed my friend and I to use Ubuntu on a seperate partition on one machine in our sixth form area. We installed it to a seperate backup partition which was using NTFS.

We're doing this to prove that all of the software we use either has Linux Alternatives or can be used through WINE. Though I think it will be a while before this is considered. Still nice of him to give us authorisation.

[pikabuntu]

Looks like the state of Indiana is starting to roll out Linux systems with Ubuntu in public schools.

This is probably the first time I've seen my state government do something sensible to save money, now maybe they can quit taxing me to license a hojillion copies of Windows.

My school (in indiana lol ) has three classrooms that have linux (suse w/kde) computers, but they run windows in vm, so all the students get from the experience is that those computers with "linux or whatever its called" are too weird and confusing.. :(

This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to me, because they are still paying for windows if they are using it in vm, are they not? And the students come away from it thinking that linux is horrid, without having a real experience with it. (They even replaced the firefox icon with the internet explorer one, because they apparently think that the students are not smart enough to learn that there are other browsers.)

[bryncoles]

http://www.openmalaysiablog.com/2008/08/23000-linux-pcs.html

the phillipines apparently tried to deploy a number of windows machines in educational contexts, and found that no-one used them because no-one knew how. so they decided to switch to linux machines - which turned out to be much, much cheaper for them and no less difficult to use.


"Because we saved so much we gave the government 3000 additional units, so now another 300 schools have Linux networks," Gonzalez said.

after buying the linux machines, they had enough cash left over to buy 3000 more computers (the original order was apparently for 10,000 computers). and this was after microsoft slashed their OS/office suite prices to next-to-nothing.

nice!

*edit*

http://www.un-gaid.org/en/node/1358


plans are underway to roll out another 10,000 based on Ubuntu.

[aysiu]

This is cool.

I just had a conversation with someone I work with in a professional capacity (but who works at another school), and I confirmed reports I'd read that they use Ubuntu there.

They have a few "mobile Macs," but their main computer lab has Ubuntu computers that have been donated by a couple of local non-profits who specialize in computer recycling, and they lab computers are maintained by a volunteer from one of those organizations.

I asked if the students (they're middle school students) have any problems with the computers, and she said they have no problems at all, and they take to them quite well, since they don't have experience with anything else. The woman I talked to, however, said she has difficulty and has to ask the students for help, since she has a Windows background (she refers to Ubuntu as "what's-it-called").

So a whole bunch of lower-income middle school kids are becoming Ubuntu whizzes. That's awesome!

[LaRoza]

So a whole bunch of lower-income middle school kids are becoming Ubuntu whizzes. That's awesome!

Good. I am not usually a Marxist, but I think the revolution is coming!

[Phreaker]

Be Marxist and embrace the future
Freedom for every person on the planet by the means of Ubuntu!

[LaRoza]

Be Marxist and embrace the future
Freedom for every person on the planet by the means of Ubuntu!

I was joking. Freedom would require voluntary changes not forceful.

[Phreaker]

It's worth the cause :)

[aysiu]

Good. I am not usually a Marxist, but I think the revolution is coming!
Well, if this is, in fact, a kind of revolution, it's interesting how it's come about as far as class is concerned.

A lot of the richer schools here won't even consider Linux for computer labs and workstations. It's Windows or Mac all the way.

So who gets a hold of Linux computers? The schools that can't afford computers. We have a non-profit in our area that recycles all electronics, and the computers that are still usable get Ubuntu or SuSE installed on them and then donated to schools or individuals who can't otherwise afford a computer.

It's a great program because the people who can't afford computers get free computers, there's less electronic land waste, and more people are getting exposed to Linux.

[LaRoza]

Well, if this is, in fact, a kind of revolution, it's interesting how it's come about as far as class is concerned.

A lot of the richer schools here won't even consider Linux for computer labs and workstations. It's Windows or Mac all the way.

So who gets a hold of Linux computers? The schools that can't afford computers. We have a non-profit in our area that recycles all electronics, and the computers that are still usable get Ubuntu or SuSE installed on them and then donated to schools or individuals who can't otherwise afford a computer.

It's a great program because the people who can't afford computers get free computers, there's less electronic land waste, and more people are getting exposed to Linux.
Also, the new Acer's are being given to students in some places (in Finland) and they are extremely popular with students I hear.

[bryncoles]

open source software is now officially being deployed in and supplied to UK schools!

http://www.itpro.co.uk/606501/schools-finally-get-access-to-open-source
http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=1323&blogid=17
http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn/news/2226932/sirius-secures-place-becta-list-4245029

thats not to say open source WILL be used in uk schools, just that there are now official suppliers of open source software, and that schools will be encouraged to explore alternatives to microsoft softwares - though microsoft is in turn revamping its school licensing issues in order to stay competative:

http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=17383

all good news in my book!

[bryncoles]

with thanks to ibizatunes, who posted it here

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=934896

venezuela is moving to linux too now!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7642985.stm


As an operating system, the machines will run a version of Linux developed in Venezuela.

[Dale61]

NSW considers Linux laptops (http://tools.ntnews.com.au/rss_article.php?news_id=7642025)


NSW secondary school students could be issued with A$56 million worth of Linux-based laptops as part of (Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd's digital education revolution.

The state wants government secondary school students to tote around computers built specifically for the education market.

Jim McAlpine, NSW Secondary Principals' Council president, said sellers could look at offering non-proprietary software for the laptops, such as Edubuntu, the education version of popular Linux distribution Ubuntu.

"The laptops can run on an open source operating system with a suite of open source applications like those packaged under Edubuntu.

"This would include Open Office for productivity software, Gimp for picture editing and the Firefox internet browser.

"Students would also have access to thousands of other open source educational programs," Mr McAlpine said in briefing papers sent to NSW Labor Party politicians and school principals two weeks ago.

A Microsoft Australia spokesperson said the company had not seen the document and could not comment.

Open source software seller Red Hat is deeply entrenched in the NSW government system but refuses to say which agencies it services. The company has been lobbying government officials at both state and federal levels on the benefits of open-source software.

In his first trip to Australia, Red Hat global chief executive Jim Whitehurst said he would be meeting federal government officials in Canberra, and other key customers.

"We're seeing a lot more engagement across the commercial and government sectors," he said.

"IT budgets will be constrained due to the financial crisis but that is the very reason to look at a more affordable way of doing things and ditch the proprietary way."

[Forrest Gumpp]

NSW considers Linux laptops (http://tools.ntnews.com.au/rss_article.php?news_id=7642025)

There's more here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=943975 on this one.

Whilst the administration of secondary school education is a State responsibility in Australia, this NSW proposal is but part of a much larger Australian Federal government program to provide laptop computers for every student in years 9 to 12 of secondary schooling.

$A 1.1 billion has been budgeted for the laptop procurement. ($A 1 = $US 0.80 approximately.)

116,820 laptops are to be procured in the first round of acquisitions. The program is to be implemented over a four year period. Just how many laptops are projected as being required to fully implement the program is unclear, but I have inferred that the Round One acquisitions may represent from 25% to 40% of the eventual total requirement.

The notional unit price is likewise unclear, but it appears to me, on the basis of the Round One acquisitions being from 25% to 40% of the total requirement that each laptop will cost between $A 2,350 and $A 3,370. This seems extortionately high for a government bulk purchase.

I think what we may be seeing here is some serious jockeying for positions of advantage by major corporations: conventional Microsoft dominance pushing Vista; attempts by hardware manufacturers to push high-end laptops; an attempt to redirect the program to cloud computing; an attempt by Red Hat Linux to expand its market share.

Canonical I have not seen mentioned anywhere as having expressed an interest in the program. I would have thought the prospects of this program to have been right up Canonical's alley.

There is an apparent disjunct between the $A 56 million mentioned in Dale61's quote in the preceeding post, and what would appear to be the NSW share (around one third, or $A 92M to $A 146M) of the Federal program expenditure in Round One of $A 275 million to $A 440 million derived from all the above assumptions.

Australian mainstream journalism has, as usual, been absolutely dismal in reporting or enquiring into the really relevant details of either proposal. The links given in the opening post of the above thread may give some insight into implications of these proposals.

[bryncoles]

and the poor economy does seem to be helping linux adoption too...

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/02/05/stories/2009020552010400.htm


Bangalore, Feb. 4 The economic slowdown is prompting companies to migrate even their mission critical systems to open source platforms such as Linux, a move that would help them cut costs, consolidate and run their IT infrastructure more efficiently.

Novell Inc, an enterprise infrastructure software and services vendor, expects more customers to migrate their mission critical applications onto Linux.

and

http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=1826&blogid=13


Userful, ThinNetworks, and Positivo today announced that they have been selected to supply 324,000 virtualized desktops to schools in all of Brazil's 5,560 municipalities.

This initiative will provide computer access to millions of children throughout Brazil. It is a historical achievement being: the world’s largest ever virtual desktop deployment; the world’s largest ever desktop Linux deployment; and a new record low-cost for PCs with the PC sharing hardware and software costing less than $50 per seat.

go brazil!

[brainac0cult]

I rrly want my skool 2 use linux

[JordyD]

My school currently uses Windows, unfortunately. But I don't see it switching anytime soon. Many of my teacher's jobs revolve around teaching Windows. It would be very sad to see if they lost their job because the school moved to Linux. And many of the classes depend on Windows-only software.

[Fizz.LeChat]

The Canadian government has something here but are slow to implement...
Then there are the provinces and lower governments... But it's nice to see businesses converting too. Sorry, some links are french only.

http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/fap-paf/oss-ll/foss-llo/foss-llo01-eng.asp

http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/fap-paf/oss-ll/oss-ll-eng.asp

http://opendotdotdot.blogspot.com/2009/02/canadian-government-considers-open.html

http://www.directioninformatique.com/DI/client/fr/DirectionInformatique/Nouvelles.asp?id=40681

http://msg.gouv.qc.ca/fr/administration/libre/gouvernement.asp

http://www.msg.gouv.qc.ca/gel/logiciels_libres.html

[bryncoles]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7910110.stm


The UK government has said it will accelerate the use of open source software in public services.


Steve Shine, European vice president of Ingres, an open source support vendor, said the government's action plan had "more teeth" than policies being adopted in other countries because the plan was tied into policies regarding how IT managers procure new software.

He said the move had partly been driven by a series of high-profile IT failures in recent years that had relied on proprietary software.

He said: "Open source can help avoid many of the hidden costs of proprietary software such as making organisations re-pay for licenses if they want to shift use of a particular piece of software from one place to another.


Mr Phipps added: "Measured over the short term traditional vendors will cut prices back, end load contacts and do everything to appear cheaper.

"But the real value with open source comes from giving users a new flexibility."

sounds good to me, anyway!

[Dale61]

Linux clusters give Monash Uni a budget supercomputer (http://www.itnews.com.au/News/151490,linux-clusters-give-monash-uni-a-budget-supercomputer.aspx)

Considers leasing out supercomputer power.


Low cost, reliable clustering has enabled Monash University to deliver supercomputing power to its researchers.

High Performance Computing Clusters (HPCC), which are virtualised groups of Intel-based blade servers running Linux, have enabled the Melbourne-based University to maintain a supercomputer with non-specialist staff, according to Adrian Ling, Monash's manager of infrastructure and major IT projects.

In 2007, Ling said the university had to send research projects that required large scale number crunching to external facilities.

Just two years on, Ling claims the HPCC project has been so successful, the university is close to renting out its spare computing power to third parties.

Click link for more..............