[K12OSN] LTSP in libraries - HELP!

Fri Nov 23 19:29:30 UTC 2007

I appreciate all the merits of Open Source. However,  if there's no
comparable open source option that will offer the same, if not better, end
result then it's counter-productive to suggest an open source solution
simply because it's not MS.

For instance, suggesting a solution that is going to require replacing the
current library system back-end just to satisfy the client-side
requirements, IMHO would be over-kill, if not costly.

It seems to me that Jim is perfectly happy with the XP solution that is
presently in place.  He just doesn't want to upgrade to Vista.  So again,  I
ask why not stick just with XP?

On Nov 23, 2007 2:00 PM, "Terrell Prudé Jr." <microman at cmosnetworks.com>
wrote:

>  Hmm...several reasons:
>
> 1.)  A system that actually *works* without major care and feeding.  In
> short, a much, *MUCH* cheaper maintenance bill.
> 2.)  A system with less up-front cost, in most cases, zero.  Sure, this is
> small compared to maintenance, but it's still there.
> 3.)  A system that actually supports truly open standards.
> 4.)  A system that is virus free.
> 5.)  A system that *you*, the user/sysadmin, can modify as you need.  Yes,
> a lot of people actually do this!
> 6.)  A system that actually gets updates right away, unlike MS ("oh, that
> WMF report is a feature, not a bug!")
> 7.)  Freedom from license audit threats.  Just ask Paul Nelson and other
> schools/libraries about that.
> 8.)  A guarantee of "no piracy."  It's impossible to "pirate" something
> that's Free, as in Freedom.
> 9.)  The ability to, without any limitations, share that same software
> with whomever asks ("oh, your computer crashed?  No prob, here's a
> Knoppix/Ubuntu/Fedora LiveCD so you can keep doing that book report").
>
> Windows XP is a steaming pile of dung, and Vista is yet worse.  And both
> are a legal trap, a big one.  Thus, my two questions to you would be,
>
> 1.)  Why would you want to go backwards to MS Windows, instead of forward
> to something actually good like GNU/Linux?
> 2.)  Are you *asking* for a license compliance audit, like what happened
> to Portland Public Schools and many others?  I trust you've read that
> Microsoft EULA....
>
> --TP
> _______________________________
> Do you GNU <http://www.gnu.org>?
> Microsoft Free since 2003 <http://www.cmosnetworks.com>--the ultimate
> antivirus protection!
>
>
> Conrad Lawes wrote:
>
> Dump question:  Is there any reason why you can't continue using XP?
> Many OEMs offer customers the choice of staying with XP.  Vista is not
> mandatory at least not yet.
> It is apparent (from this thread) that any other solution is going to
> require significant research time and investment.
>
>
> On Nov 21, 2007 10:42 AM, Jim Anderson <gotthin at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I am in charge of the computers at my local library.  We have 18
> > public computers running Windows XP and Envisionware software for
> > session control and printing.  The library is beginning an expansion
> > that will increase the number of public computers by 50% plus add a
> > classroom with more computers.  As I have a large part in the
> > decision-making in this area I would like to find a Free alternative
> > to having a slew of Vista computers installed.  The library has had
> > good results with XP because of the "DeepFreeze" security software
> > that is installed.  However an upgrade to Vista will be very costly
> > and I am totally unconvinced that it would be a smooth transition and
> > maintenance will be incessant.
> >
> > I have experience with K12LTSP since helping with a computer lab this
> > past year.  I would like to bring the stability, reliability and lower
> > cost of ownership that I have experienced with LTSP to the library.
> > Instead of buying 25+ new Vista computers the library could buy
> > dedicated thin clients and new monitors.  The library will see an
> > ongoing cost saving in electricity costs, as well.  I had been looking
> > at a Windows-based terminal server solution, but I can't get away from
> > the fear that one user could do something that would require the
> > reboot of the whole system, or worse.  In my mind LTSP is the only way
> > to go.
> >
> > As well as using a lighweight locked-down desktop I need to have some
> > way to control session lengths, create reservations (preferably a
> > self-service kiosk) and store print jobs in a queue for release by by
> > the user.  The system would have to be able to interface with a
> > payment system, such as Jamex, for payment of print jobs, and it would
> > have to be able to read library card barcodes for making reservations
> > and for print release.
> >
> > So my question is: "Does anyone know of any Linux systems that would
> > work with LTSP and meet these requirements?"
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Jim Anderson
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > K12OSN at redhat.com
> > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Conrad Lawes
> PXE Guru
>
> ------------------------------
>
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-- 
Regards,
Conrad Lawes
PXE Guru
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