[Project] (Ed)Ubuntu in schools

[GameManK]

Post here if you or someone you know is working at a local school that is working on or considering deploying Ubuntu. Tell us how we can help, post your success stories, or any other relevant questions and information.

Some links:
Our projects page
Edubuntu homepage
Ubuntu Testimonials forum

[DPic]

Well i attend Newton North High School and i got the Computer Department Head to give me a brand new school computer to install Ubuntu on. I'm not sure how i could get (Ed)ubuntu on an entire lab at the school, any tips? It would probably help a lot to get a volunteer group of techies to help out since i don't think any of the school staff is very familiar with linux.

[khermans]

I would recommend Diskless Remote Boot Linux (DRBL) over LTSP any day, having deployed and used both environments in > 20 machine setups.

http://drbl.sourceforge.net/

I can go into the details of why LTSP may be an improper solution for you if you like. The main reason is that students won't be able to use their USB sticks on the client machine if you use LTSP, whereas they can with DRBL.

[mselva]

I teach at a parochial school in Watertown, and I am in charge of a computer lab with 10 student workstations (Dell Optiplex GX 270) running ******* xp, along with my own GX270, a wireless router, 16-port hub, and networked HP laser printer. I have successfully test-driven Edubuntu on several free-standing machines, and now I am ready for the BIG LEAP. I would like to complete the followiing by the end of August:

1. Set up an Edubuntu server.
2. Set up a SAMBA server as a domain controller so that someone using ******* xp will be able to log in using account name & password on the network, with files stored on the SAMBA server.
3. Install Edubuntu in "dual boot" mode on each of the 10 student workstations.

Although it seems pretty straightforward according to the documentation, I could definitely use some help as I run into inevitable bumps along the road.

One immediate question: Do I need two separate machines to run an Edubuntu server and a SAMBA server, or can they both run on the same box? If one machine can do both, what is the minimum requirement for RAM, disk space, clock speed, and so on?

Michael Selva
Technology Specialist
Saint Stephen's Armenian Elementary School
Watertown, MA
(617) 605-7429

[maccam94]

I attend Cohasset High School, and in the next couple of days I will be showing Ubuntu to the school's IT Director. I'll probably have him boot a livecd on a school system, and show him an installed system on a laptop I have.

[jmnormand]

My step father is in the math department at beverly high school. Not sure what there IT is like as of late as i have not been there in 10 years but sounds something to look into.

[thenone]

I would recommend Diskless Remote Boot Linux (DRBL) over LTSP any day, having deployed and used both environments in > 20 machine setups.

http://drbl.sourceforge.net/

I can go into the details of why LTSP may be an improper solution for you if you like. The main reason is that students won't be able to use their USB sticks on the client machine if you use LTSP, whereas they can with DRBL.

DRBL is great.. I tested ir already as a diskless gaming client.. check out my post here Diskless Linux Gaming Terminal Using DRBL