Linux the ideal school server solution

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Linux- the ideal school server solution
Douglas Harré Technical Manager - EdCom Network
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Introduction

• Personal Background
• Hagley Community College, Christchurch
• HOD Geography/Outdoor Education
• Teacher with Library responsibility
• setup Citrix/NT/Apple/Acorn network
• Since mid-99 South Island Manager EdCom Network
• 1200 schools nationwide
• ICT arm of Multiserve Education Trust
• NZs only nationwide, independent ICT advice to
  schools

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Outline

• What is Linux?
• Distributions?
• Hardware requirements
• Linux server v desktop
• Use in schools

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What is Linux?

• a set of programs developed by Linus Torvalds in
  1991
• a Unix clone
• core of the program is the kernel that controls
  the OS
• main difference to commercial programs - kernel
  is open source..free

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Linux provides the following functionality (and
more.)
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Projected Server Growth
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So how do I get it?

• a)download it from the internet650megs (a bad
  idea.)
• b) have a friend give you a copy(its free)
• c) buy a commercial distribution (100-200)
• (try the Dr Floppy store in Queen Street,
  Auckland or any decent computer store, Harvey
  Normans,)

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What is a distribution?

• A combination of
• the kernel (the core of the OS)
• other programs (eg. email/web/database)
• other value-adds
• installation program
• telephone support
• manuals

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Common Distributions
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Hardware costs

• Runs on Intel/AMD hardware most commonly
• Other architectures
• Alpha, Sun SPARC and Apple PowerPC
• Ported to other hardware large small
• IBM wrist watch, 3Com Palm Pilot, Compaq iPaq
• Celeron 733/128megs/2x30gig drives is a common
  specification
• How much do you want to spend? ( need to add
  for UPS/backup if required)

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Choosing the right hardware

• The servers intended purpose
• Sometimes recycled hardware will do for basic
  needs (eg. A Linux firewall will run on a 486
  with a floppy disk only..)
• Getting more for less
• Linux doesnt always need high-end hardware (as
  it is not having to run a GUI)
• Software costs / licensing
• No need to purchase licenses for individual
  machines)
• Split the load
• Smaller servers can be easier to replace

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Server or desktop?

• Server use is main growth area globally
• Desktop is improving, not ready for primetime yet
  due to lack of specialist educational apps. (eg.
  Kid Pix)
• There are apps for much of what we do in
  schools..
• The following 4 screenshots are of various Linux
  desktops (look familiar?)

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Samba

• Samba allows a Linux server to pretend it is an
  NT/Win2000 Server
• File print services like Netware NT
• Supports domain logons scripting
• Can be used to serve CD-ROMs across your network
• www.samba.org
• Free

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Apache

• Most widely used web server on the Internet
• Will work for your school!!
• www.apache.org
• Free

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Squid

• Internet object cache (Proxy server)
• Creates a shared cache pool for all participating
  clients, similar to a browsers cache
• Speeds access to frequently accessed pages
• Used to prohibit access to some web-based e-mail
  chat sites

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Other services

• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
• Firewall
• Routing (ADSL/Ultra/ISDN/modem)
• Domain Name Services (DNS)

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System Administration - Daily

• Approximately 5 minutes per server
• Check backup completion
• Change the backup tape
• Read roots e-mail
• Read log summaries
• Server status check
• free disk space, load average, uptime

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System Administration - Weekly

• Approximately 10 minutes per server
• Clean the tape drive
• Verify a randomly chosen backup tape
• Peruse previous weeks logfiles

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Availability

• Rebooting is a rare occurrence
• To install / replace hardware
• After upgrading / compiling a kernel
• Installing / removing software does NOT require a
  reboot
• Crashing a service generally does not crash the
  server
• Restart the service life goes on

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Downsides?

• Can require a bit more work to setup a Linux
  server initially, but less work in the long run
• Errr.? Cant think of any others.

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Non-commercial support

• Program documentation
• Web sites
• Listservs Newsgroups
• Books, books more books
• The Linux community in general
• Local user groups
• Other users administrators you know

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Thank you!!douglas_at_edcom.co.nz(0800 833 266 )