Linux use in Norwegian schools [LWN.net]

From:		Morten Sickel <Morten.Sickel-AT-nrpa.no>
To:		"'lwn-AT-lwn.net'" <lwn-AT-lwn.net>
Subject:		Linux use in Norwegian schools.
Date:		Tue, 18 Nov 2003 12:34:47 +0100

For Scandinavian language readers:
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_ostlandssendingen/3271502.html

<Translation and summary>
In Oslo, the capital of Norway, approximately 550000 inhabitants, the
authorities are going to start an official pilot project using Linux, in
colleges (pupils age 16 - 19 years).  Some schools are already using Skolelinux, 
but now, Bjørn Martinsen, the IT responsible for the Oslo schools wants to
run a pilot project, with the idea of replacing current proprietary
solutions. "We want to see if we can make it (Linux) work through all the
Schools in Oslo, and also have it integrated with the municipalities
administrative systems ... If it is possible to introduce Linux (in other
systems in the local authorities) we do have a choice." 
</Translation and summary>

My personal thought is that this really should scare a certain provider of
proprietary solutions. If all the college pupils in Oslo in a few years does
have a knowledge of Linux as an alternative, we are a big step further
toward, if not world domination, at least domination in Oslo.... It will be
interesting to see what kind of irrefusable offers they come up with to
counter this and how that will influence their public image.


best regards

Morten Sickel

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Linux use in Norwegian schools

Posted Nov 20, 2003 18:35 UTC (Thu) by haraldt (guest, #961) [Link]

Also have a look at the press page.
Most all is for scandinavian language readers, but at least these five links could bring some light to english language readers.

Work centers on system integration (fitting debian installer and packages into a package easy to install and deploy), translation and documentation.
With all the hardware (network, etc.) set up, you can do the whole installation for a school in two hours. And put the "computer responsible person" at school to the task.
Log in anywhere and get your user account(LDAP/NFS/etc), use old computers as thin clients (LTSP), KDE, Webmin user administration and much more.
The standard setup is one server doing storage and network services for a 23-bit IP range (about 500 workstations, LTSP servers and network printers). Each LTSP server has a backend network for its clients, at ~2 Mbit per client this gives max ~50 clients per server (with switched 100Mbit ethernet). About the same as a low/mid-range i386 based server can support today.
This setup supports some hundred concurrent users, but more can be had by splitting the services of the main server by DNS name.

Skolelinux really turns into an international effort now, with work being done in places as Germany, Belgium and France, and language support for more. Adding more languages is a matter of interest and someone doing the job.
See for example DebianEdu and CustomDebian

(And last, for a nitpick: "high school". We're targetting primary schools so far, but tweaking is just a matter of choosing the right Debian packages.)