[13:08] i heard from mhall119, that edubuntu needs a google map of the current school deployments. Maybe i can help. I have some experience with google map API [13:10] Ronnie: somebody has made http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=215531664534903206889.00048f483fea952f1eaf0&t=h&z=3 [13:10] dinda made that [13:10] but I think your API might work better, as it can be dynamically generated [13:11] highvoltage: ^^^ [13:12] indeed, this is a manually list, which could be hard to handle if it grows [13:39] And here's one with some greek schools: http://goo.gl/maps/nOoQ - any hints for improvement would be appreciated :) [13:41] having something that uses the google api and works as a drupal module would certainly be useful for edubuntu.org [13:42] stgraber: im totally not into drupal.... [13:43] hey [13:43] the information the maps at least need is: a latitude and longitude of the markers [13:43] preferable in json format [13:43] adding extra information is possible [13:45] stgraber: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-django-foundations/map#locations [13:46] highvoltage: hey too [13:47] Ronnie: most of the API is in Javascript right? [13:47] mhall119: yes [13:47] so it shouldn't be too hard to add something to drupal to feed it [13:48] if drupal can create a form with a latidude and longitude field and optionally a country/city/adress fields the plugin handles the map, marker [13:48] I do believe that's possible [13:49] * mhall119 tried to remember what it was like working with Drupal [13:49] also the server needs to supply a list (in JSON) of markers to show on the map [13:49] that may be the harder part [13:49] but it's all PHP [13:49] so, technically anything is possible [13:50] yes, a PHP array of lattitudes an longitudes can easily be parsed to JSON [13:51] and there sould also be a HTML response to clicking on a marker (also this can be predefined too, if i know which kind of text there should be in the baloons [13:51] where can i find the current drupal site? [13:53] I'm currently implemeting JSON support in vmmanager (Edubuntu weblive), it's really quite easy to write a drupal module containing a few forms and exporting data over JSON [13:54] the current drupal website (www.edubuntu.org) is running a regular drupal + some popular modules and one extra module (vmmanager) for edubuntu weblive, so nothing really fancy there [13:58] yep, nothing really weird about the edubuntu site === alkisg1 is now known as alkisg [15:36] I am not sure if this is the best channel or #ltsp. I have just gotten a request from a small school in Botswana on what computers they should buy. I am interested in setting it up as something that can be easily managed by someone without advanced IT skill (and installed by someone with only a marginal level of experience with desktop ubuntu) Does anyone have some general suggestions [15:43] How difficult is it to manage a LTSP set up, and if the computers are newer does it make sense for them to be fat clients? [16:05] I keep timing out (on a very spotty connection in rural Botswana) not sure if I have missed a response [16:17] masai47: for just a few computers, it's really quite easy. [16:17] masai47: if you install Edubuntu 10.10, LTSP is part of the installer, so it's just an option to tick [16:18] installed on each computer? [16:18] nope, just get two network cards on the server, a switch and connect your clients to that switch. The other card being connected to "internet" [16:18] or for the computer acting as the server (and how powerful a machine does this need to be) [16:18] then install LTSP on the server [16:19] and run the rest as thin clients [16:19] you can then switch some apps as local apps [16:19] like firefox and some other memory/cpu hungry software [16:19] fat client is also a possibility for fast thin clients, though it's not as easy to manage [16:19] ok [16:19] as you'll need to add new software in the chroot, update it and reboot all the computers everytime [16:20] ahh [16:20] with regular LTSP, you just need to have the software installed through the software center on the server as you'd on a regular machine [16:20] and it'll appear instantly for everyone [16:20] ok [16:20] so how powerful does the server have to be/ [16:20] how many clients do you have ? [16:21] ? [16:21] how many computers are you planning on having in the lab ? [16:21] 8-10? [16:21] ok [16:22] so in this case, you should try to get something like a quadcore i5 with something between 4GB and 8GB of RAM for the server. The rest of the computers could be Atom based desktops. [16:23] I don't know what's available in your area, but in north america, that kind of server should cost something like 900$ (with everything) and desktops could cost as low as 300$ (everything included) [16:23] I think the cheap computers that the school is looking at are celeron 430 [16:24] I have no idea on the server [16:24] ok, based on what I see on the internet, the celeron 430 should be comparable to a first generation Atom CPU, so that should be fine for the clients [16:24] just try to get at least 1GB of RAM in them so you can run firefox locally [16:25] this is kind of an awkward game of telephone where I am far from the person buying computers [16:25] yeah they will each have 1gb [16:26] ok, so the only thing you'll really need to worry about is the server. Making sure it's got a fast cpu (quadcore being clearly preferred), a lot of RAM and two network cards [16:27] so will the thin clients use the local hard drives? [16:28] also, is it possible to have the clients be dual boot [16:32] how much control would a teacher have from the server? (and can the server be used while it is acting as a server?) [16:37] sorry, on the phone with a customer, be right back [16:38] no worries [16:38] thanks for taking the time [16:47] alright, I'm back [16:48] thin clients won't need a local hard drive, all they need is a network card and a BIOS that's capable of doing PXE boot [16:48] the server can be used while acting as a server [16:48] whoever needs to add new software to the server will need the admin account [16:49] ok [16:49] if you want to let the teacher watch what the kids are doing, you may want to install iTalc (there's info about it on the wiki) [16:49] how can i check that the bios is capable of doing PXE boot [16:49] ok [16:50] well, usually you don't really know until you actually have access to the hardware. Once you do, in the boot sequence you should be able to select PXE or Network as a boot device [16:50] if the BIOS doesn't support it, you'll need to burn boot CDs with gpxe [16:51] but there is no way I can look up the hardware specs? [16:51] maybe they mention it but it's usually quite rare for that to be written in the specs [16:52] should the store selling the machines be able to answer? [16:52] they might, or at least they should be able to just quickly try it [16:53] so, dual booting? [16:54] they'd just need to reboot the machine, enter the BIOS, go in the boot sequence section [16:54] and check if they have something called PXE or Network in there [16:54] if they do, then you'll be able to have them boot without a CD [16:55] there is a chance that school might still want windows on some of the machines (which would require a local disk I guess) [16:56] sure, so then having them boot using gpxe might be better for you [16:56] if the CD is in the cdrom driver they'll boot using LTSP [16:56] if it's not, they'll boot from the harddisk on Windows [16:58] ok [17:05] thanks for all the advice, I am always so impressed with ubuntu and IRC help [17:07] you're welcome [17:15] what kind of hard drive(s) should the server have? [18:20] masai47: for harddrives it's not really important, you may want two big ones with RAID to avoid data loss in case one of them dies [18:22] if some of the clients have hard drives can they be used for that (revealing ignorance here) [18:22] nope, they can't [18:22] ok [18:27] 2x 500gb? (its not a big school) [18:27] how hard is it to set them up with RAID? [18:31] installing from the DVD, I honestly don't really know, though I guess you'll find the information you need by looking up RAID 1 on the wiki [18:31] 2x 500GB will be plenty enough [20:16] Is ther a alternative to Cabri3D-plug-in