[wellylug] K12 Project

[Lindsay Hunter]

Several in the group have shown interest in the K12 project.  See
http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/linux/

I have included a press summary below to save describing it in detail
myself. If we can set up a server locally on the Inet, to allow thin clients
access, while it may be slow over .5 meg cable, it is a way of introducing
ourselves to a school based solution.  Could you express any interest you
may have, and we can then decide amongst that group how to implement it, and
perhaps make any necessary mods for the NZ educational environment.

While the Microsoft education deal is stiff competition, I don't think there
is a thin client option being offered which reduces the hardware investment
substantially.

Lindsay Hunter

" K12LTSP 2.0 (K12 Linux Terminal Server Project) released on February 10.

Portland, Oregon - February 10, 2002 - K12LTSP is free software with the
potential to save schools, public agencies and businesses millions of
dollars. It provides powerful desktop applications published under the Open
Source License that encourages modification and improvement of the program
code. Open Source software is free in terms of price but also free in terms
of development.

K12LTSP is based on Red Hat(tm) Linux ( www.redhat.com ) and the Linux
Terminal Server Project ( www.ltsp.org ) packages. Version 2.0 is an update
from the first release in July of 2001. Since that time over 5000 schools,
public agencies and businesses have installed the software.

K12TLSP installs terminal software on a server that powers diskless
workstations (thin-clients). Applications run on the server with only the
display, keyboard and mouse running on the workstations. This allows the
continued use of older computers while avoiding costly upgrades.  New
K12LTSP terminals cost less than $200 each. Even greater savings are
realized as diskless workstations have no hard drives or software to
maintain. While the cost of operation is lower, users enjoy a faster and
more reliable software environment.

A typical installation of a Windows(tm) OS based computer lab of 20
workstations may cost more than $20,000 while the same lab running K12LTSP
would cost less than than $6,000.  Reusing legacy hardware can reduce that
cost to less than $2,000.

K12LTSP provides a wide selection of applications most often needed by
users. Web browsers, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and graphics
applications are included and are free. Updates in the 2.0 release include
automatic sound configuration on many computers. This enables the use of
multimedia applications like Real Audio(tm).

Linux has experienced rapid growth as a file and Internet server operating
system. It's expansion to end user desktops is not surprising says
co-developer Paul Nelson. "No one operating system is the right solution for
all tasks but LInux thin-clients are now a superior choice for providing
basic desktop applications reliably at very low cost."

Managing K12LTSP 2.0 will be easier with the generous support of Red Hat
Linux(tm) and the creation of a special K12LTSP channel of Red Hat Network
to deliver software updates specifically designed for these systems. Red Hat
Network ( rhn.redhat.com ) is an Internet service by which Red Hat delivers
software updates and bug fixes. It's designed so administrators can manage
all of their individual computers from anywhere.

Included in the new version of K12LTSP is Rdesktop ( www.rdesktop.org ), a
Microsoft Windows(tm) Terminal Services access client. Rdesktop lets users
run Windows(tm) sessions and applications right on their Linux desktop. This
should make deployment of Linux desktops much easier in schools and
organizations that are still reliant on Windows(tm) applications.

Other additions include:

    * Gnome Desktop with Nautilus file manager (www.gnome.org )
    * KDE 2.2.2 ( www.kde.org )
    * ext3 journaled file system
    * LTSP 3.0 core package (www.ltsp.org )
    * Improved video with XFree86 version 4
    * Auto detection of PCI nic, video, & sound cards
    * DCHP 3.0 supporting both BOOTP and PXE booting by default
    * Evolution e-mail package (www.ximian.org/products/ximian_evolution )
    * OpenOffice - Office suite (www.openoffice.org )
    * Rdesktop ( www.rdesktop.org )
    * Netatalk & Samba - Windows/AppleShare file servers ( Samba |
www.umich.edu/~rsug/netatalk )
    * SquidGuard - Free web content filtering (www.squidguard.org )


K12LTSP was created as a volunteer project by two educators, Eric Harrison
from the Multnomah County Education Service District and Paul Nelson from
the Riverdale School District.  It is completely free to download and use.
Redistribution is encouraged.

K12LTSP is part of the Linux in Schools Project ( www.k12linux.org ) and a
member of SchoolForge.net (www.schoolforge.net ). We advocate the use of
open source and free software, open texts and lessons, and open curricula
for the advancement of education and the betterment of humankind.

Web Links:

www.k12ltsp.org << Main K12LTSP site with links to download software
www.k12linux.org << Linux in Schools Project web site


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