Fedora, Public School budgets, Volunteerism??

[David Vernon]

On Sat, 2004-06-19 at 10:20, Ken Jones wrote:
> Our Public School district needs VPN, but feels it can not afford it.
> 
What do they need the VPN to do? Are they going to connect network to
network with the VPN using public networks? Are they going to connect a
bunch of managed clients to a VPN concentrator? 

> 
> I have the idea that I could volunteer my LINUX skills to the District 
> (a strict MicroSoft house) by building and maintaining for them a 
> software freebie VPN system.
> 
A strict M$ shop...I will echo someone else's recommendation to look
into OpenVPN. Easy to set up and very forgiving of layer 1-3 problems on
the network it is going over. 

> It would seem that with the present budget crunches our public school 
> districts, LINUX, plus volunteerism make a natural combo.

No doubt. However, "strict" M$ shops can display an irrational fear of
the new and different. They seem to become strict M$ shops because they
have a fear of anything but the "safe" and default choice.

> Do any of you know others doing anything similar?  If so, please put me 
> in touch.
> 
> Ken Jones
>