[Cialug] Iowa Public Schools - Linux Terminal Server

Fri, 8 Apr 2005 13:54:26 -0500

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A few of you may remember the article reposted below from March 13, 2005 Des
Moines Register.  I have a couple of questions in reference to that article
and the current budget crunch many of our school districts are experiencing.

1.  What would it cost approximately, to hire a person who could setup and
administer Linux in a School District?   The person would need to know how
to integrate Linux with existing Apple and Microsoft networks, and how to
build a terminal server such as the one outlined in the article.

2.  Does anyone believe it would be more cost effective to use Linux in
place of Apple or Microsoft in the K12 environment?  Reasoning that the
school district probably already has a staff trained to use and administer
an existing infrastructure of previously licensed Apple or Microsoft
products.  Also, would cost more to hire someone versed not only in Apple or
Microsoft, or both, but now with the addition of Linux skills.  

All of my questions were generated from a discussion I overhead at a school
board meeting about a current dilemma they were experiencing with IT in
their district.  The main topic was developing a network administration
environment that allowed one person to remotely administer the entire
network from a central location, and of course saving money while attempting
to meet the IT needs of the students.

****************************************************************************
**************************************

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050313/BUSINESS03/
503130322/1032

Students learn from software in Keokuk

Not only is open source helpful, but it helps hold down costs for the lab.

By STEVE SIMPSON

REGISTER CORRESPONDENT

March 13, 2005

Eric Brown gets it. He understands the benefits of open source software. And
he's providing a leading computer lab in an Iowa high school.

Eric Brown is a high school math and Web design teacher at Keokuk High
School. Brown read a recent Tech Guy column on open source software and
wrote to explain how open source is helping Keokuk students in a new
computer lab. He is getting this achieved without spending a lot of money.

"I was given a lab with PCs that were purchased in 1996 and 1997. There were
20 233-megahertz Pentium machines with Windows 95," Brown said. "I spent
four to five hours each week cleaning spyware off the machines."

Besides running slow machines, Brown had a limited number of copies of
commercial software like Microsoft Office for his students. That meant that
even to type a document, students had to use one of just two or three
machines. Security and privacy were also lacking in the system.

"On most machines, a student can erase files or change the settings of other
users."

He had an open source epiphany. "I saw an article on slashdot.com about a
group turning old computers into usable computer labs using Linux Terminal
Server." Linux is an open source computer operating system, similar to
Microsoft Windows.

"Terminal server" refers to a way to run programs on a server and display
them (or the screen images) on simplified computers. Terminal server lets
people like Brown use cheaper, slower computers at other people's desks.

Brown's biggest expense in implementing Linux Terminal Server was his
server. The server needed to have the power to run the bulk of software in
his lab.

"I found a server with four 533 Mhz Pentium 3 processors and one gigabyte of
memory on eBay for less than $500. Then, I found a free version of Linux
Terminal Server just for school labs called K12LTSP," Brown wrote. "I loaded
the server, played with some of the settings at home, brought it into the
classroom and made the switch."

Linux and terminal server allowed Brown to set up what was effectively a new
computer lab for the price of one computer. It helps, too, that the free
K12LTSP software also included educational programs like a typing tutor, a
math tutor, function graphing and nonviolent games.

Benefits go beyond money saved. First, students have access to their own
work, and only their work. "In my lab, students can change the settings to
suit themselves, and their changes follow them no matter what computer they
work on," added Brown. The increased security means the students' work is
more private. Moreover, it helps protect data on the rest of the school's
computers.

Second, kids have access to more software. By using free open source
programs, students can use any computer in the lab for writing, graphics or
any activity. Microsoft Office has been replaced with OpenOffice; Adobe
Photoshop has been replaced by The Gimp.

Do kids notice the difference?

"I've had kids sit down and use OpenOffice word processor and presentation
software without thinking twice," Brown wrote.

Brown is teaching more than computer skills. He's teaching kids that
learning is not about brand names like Microsoft and Adobe. It's about the
basic skills of writing and art and critical thinking. The computers are
tools used to enhance skills. And, he's taught them that, in an age of the
"new next," some amazing things can be done with what's at hand.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>A few of you may remember the article reposted below =
from
March 13, 2005 Des Moines Register.&nbsp; I have a couple of questions =
in
reference to that article and the current budget crunch many of our =
school
districts are experiencing.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>1.&nbsp; What would it cost approximately, to hire a =
person
who could setup and administer Linux in a <st1:place w:st=3D"on">School =
District</st1:place>?&nbsp;
&nbsp;The person would need to know how to integrate Linux with existing =
Apple
and Microsoft networks, and how to build a terminal server such as the =
one
outlined in the article.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

2.&nbsp; Does anyone believe it would be more cost =
effective
to use Linux in place of Apple or Microsoft in the K12 environment? =
&nbsp;Reasoning
that the school district probably already has a staff trained to use and =
administer
an existing infrastructure of previously licensed Apple or Microsoft =
products.&nbsp;
Also, would cost more to hire someone versed not only in Apple or =
Microsoft, or
both, but now with the addition of Linux skills.&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>All of my questions were generated from a discussion =
I
overhead at a school board meeting about a current dilemma they were
experiencing with IT in their district.&nbsp; The main topic was =
developing a network
administration environment that allowed one person to remotely =
administer the
entire network from a central location, and of course saving money while
attempting to meet the IT needs of the =
students.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>******************************************************=
************************************************************<o:p></o:p></=
span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
=3D/20050313/BUSINESS03/503130322/1032<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Students learn from software in =
Keokuk<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Not only is open source helpful, but it helps hold =
down
costs for the lab.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>By STEVE SIMPSON<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>REGISTER CORRESPONDENT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>March 13, 2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Eric Brown gets it. He understands the benefits of =
open
source software. And he's providing a leading computer lab in an =
<st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:State> high =
school.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Eric Brown is a high school math and Web design =
teacher at <st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Keokuk</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">High
 School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Brown read a recent Tech Guy =
column on
open source software and wrote to explain how open source is helping =
Keokuk
students in a new computer lab. He is getting this achieved without =
spending a
lot of money.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&quot;I was given a lab with PCs that were purchased =
in 1996
and 1997. There were 20 233-megahertz Pentium machines with Windows =
95,&quot;
Brown said. &quot;I spent four to five hours each week cleaning spyware =
off the
machines.&quot;<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Besides running slow machines, Brown had a limited =
number of
copies of commercial software like Microsoft Office for his students. =
That
meant that even to type a document, students had to use one of just two =
or
three machines. Security and privacy were also lacking in the =
system.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>&quot;On most machines, a student can erase files or =
change
the settings of other users.&quot;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

He had an open source epiphany. &quot;I saw an =
article on
slashdot.com about a group turning old computers into usable computer =
labs
using Linux Terminal Server.&quot; Linux is an open source computer =
operating
system, similar to Microsoft Windows.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&quot;Terminal server&quot; refers to a way to run =
programs
on a server and display them (or the screen images) on simplified =
computers.
Terminal server lets people like Brown use cheaper, slower computers at =
other
people's desks.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Brown's biggest expense in implementing Linux =
Terminal
Server was his server. The server needed to have the power to run the =
bulk of
software in his lab.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

&quot;I found a server with four 533 Mhz Pentium 3
processors and one gigabyte of memory on eBay for less than $500. Then, =
I found
a free version of Linux Terminal Server just for school labs called
K12LTSP,&quot; Brown wrote. &quot;I loaded the server, played with some =
of the
settings at home, brought it into the classroom and made the =
switch.&quot;<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Linux and terminal server allowed Brown to set up =
what was
effectively a new computer lab for the price of one computer. It helps, =
too,
that the free K12LTSP software also included educational programs like a =
typing
tutor, a math tutor, function graphing and nonviolent =
games.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Benefits go beyond money saved. First, students have =
access
to their own work, and only their work. &quot;In my lab, students can =
change
the settings to suit themselves, and their changes follow them no matter =
what
computer they work on,&quot; added Brown. The increased security means =
the
students' work is more private. Moreover, it helps protect data on the =
rest of
the school's computers.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Second, kids have access to more software. By using =
free
open source programs, students can use any computer in the lab for =
writing,
graphics or any activity. Microsoft Office has been replaced with =
OpenOffice;
Adobe Photoshop has been replaced by The =
Gimp.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Do kids notice the =
difference?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>&quot;I've had kids sit down and use OpenOffice word
processor and presentation software without thinking twice,&quot; Brown =
wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

Brown is teaching more than computer skills. He's =
teaching
kids that learning is not about brand names like Microsoft and Adobe. =
It's
about the basic skills of writing and art and critical thinking. The =
computers
are tools used to enhance skills. And, he's taught them that, in an age =
of the
&quot;new next,&quot; some amazing things can be done with what's at =
hand.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

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