[LBo] More Problem with finding the right distro (Re: QnA Digest, Vol 11, Issue 2)

[Allen]

Okay I'll try to respond here at the top so you don't have to 
search for my responses.

Yes, the 8 computers are identical. 6 will be deployed and 2 will 
be ready reserve. Plus I have one for parts if needed.

Only one of the computers is going to be going to the net, the 
rest will be for homework, math/other tutorials, some educational 
games plus some just plain fund stuff for kids. (They maybe able 
to get a grant for DSL/Cable connection later as they are a 
501(c)3 nonprofit.

As to using the install version, I don't want to burden Al with 
having to learn to install and make it actually work but the idea 
to make a clone disk would seem to solve that.

Rest below.


> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Re: Problem with finding the right distro (Re: QnA Digest,
>       Vol 11, Issue 1) (Allen)
>    2. Re: Problem with finding the right distro (Re: QnA Digest,
>       Vol 11, Issue 1) (Sam Morgan)
>    3. Re: Problem with finding the right distro (Randy Kramer)
>    4. Re: Problem with finding the right distro (David M Simmons)
>    5. Re: Problem with finding the right distro (Tim)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:17:24 -0700
> From: Allen <netsecurity at sound-by-design.com>
> Subject: Re: [LBo] Problem with finding the right distro (Re: QnA

[snipped]


>> From: Sam Morgan <s.morgan at linuxbasics.org>
>> Subject: Re: [LBo] Problem with finding the right distro
> [snip]
>> you might keep an eye on Mint, it's Beta has just been released and they say:
>> "the Xfce Community edition runs faster and takes fewer resources. This is ideal 
>> for older computers."
>> http://www.linuxmint.com/cassandra-xfce-beta003.html

Mint says it won't work on anything lower than a Pentium and I 
think the K6's are more like 486s, plus they are AMD which they 
don't mention supporting.

>> another one that might be of interest is Edubuntu
>> http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04179
>> http://www.edubuntu.org/

Will try that next, but it might not be good for the older kids. 
This is a problem with such a wide range of ages in the group.

>> perhaps something like K12LTSP would work for you:
>> http://k12ltsp.org/contents.html

Terminal Server isn't possible in the context. No on site admin 
if a problem develops and since the computers have to be moved to 
  be locked up, I'm afraid of the cabling issues.


[snip]

> Message: 3 Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 07:56:03 -0400 From: Randy Kramer <rhkramer at gmail.com> Subject: Re: [LBo] Problem with finding the right distro To: qna at linuxbasics.org Message-ID: <200707030756.04141.rhkramer at gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-6" On Tuesday 03 July 2007 06:16 am, Anita Lewis wrote:
>> > On 07/02/2007 08:03 AM Allen wrote:
>>> > > I got 8 old PCs donated which were running W2K but the 
>>> > > guy who runs the program doesn't have the skill to keep them up.
>> > A LiveCD may not be the way to go.  
> 
> Just another thought: are the 8 PCs identical (or very nearly so?).  If so, you might install the distro on one of the PCs, then make a backup image on, say, a CD (or two), then use that to install to the other 7 PCs and any time you need to reinstall.  
> 
> (Atm, I can only think of (what is now) Norton's Ghost, but I know there are other equivalent utilities, including some Linux based ones.)

ddrescue works fine.







> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:52:23 -0500
> From: David M Simmons <DMSimmons2 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [LBo] Problem with finding the right distro
> To: qna at linuxbasics.org
> Message-ID: <468A7EC7.2050305 at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> If I may jump-in. I just found this article on Clonezilla for backing up partitions, check out -
>   http://www.linux.com/feature/115208
> 
> Also, I just installed AntiX (MEPHIS mini install for old PCs) on an AMD 
> K-6 300mhz laptop. This article will get you started - 
> http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS8031025874.html  I got Puppy Linux 
> working and I like the desktop, but it does take some effort to get 
> working. DSL would not work with the graphics memory available.
> 
> A little more on what you want to have available to the kids might help 
> to identify a suitable distro.

Great tip!

Mentioned what I think the kids need above. We'll find out as we 
go. This is one reason for going a Debian based distro as 
APT/Synaptic make this part easy.





------------------------------

> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 11:24:36 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Tim <corpustexn at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [LBo] Problem with finding the right distro
> To: qna at linuxbasics.org
> Message-ID: <866432.58956.qm at web50004.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
> 
> Actually this seems like a good place for puppy linux.
>  With puppy you can run from the cdrom with the help
> of an sfs file on the hard drive that saves your
> config.  It also speeds boot up.  And if one or more
> of the pcs have burners, by booting from a cd-rw, you
> can configure your internet and networking and add or
> delete whatever programs you choose, and then remaster
> the bootable cd.  You could do all that and still
> install to hard drive.  Then your backup would be as
> simple as booting from your remastered cd and
> reinstalling, all configuration ready to go. And the
> remaster is a menu item, point and click.

Alas, no burners. But a very good idea. May be able to find an 
old burner to put in one.

Thanks,

Allen