[debian-edu-commits] [Debian Wiki] Update of "DebianEdu/Introduction" by pulchras

Fri Mar 14 02:08:56 UTC 2014

Dear Wiki user,

You have subscribed to a wiki page or wiki category on "Debian Wiki" for change notification.

The "DebianEdu/Introduction" page has been changed by pulchras:
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/Introduction?action=diff&rev1=6&rev2=7

  <<TableOfContents(2)>>
  
- = What is it?  =
+ = What is it? =
  
- Skolelinux is made as free (as in speech) software, and is an overall computer solution based on school's resources and needs.
+ '''DebianEdu/Skolelinux''' is an operating system intended for educational use and a [[/DebianPureBlends|Debian Pure Blend]]. As skole [`skuːl`] is the norvegian word for school, Skolelinux literal translation is "school linux". It was founded in Norway 2001 with the objective to become an overall computer solution designed to fit on school's resources and needs. Nowadays it is being internationally developed by a large international and growing community.<<BR>>
+ It is an advanced network solution that allows both technical and non-technical installation process depending on the user needs and expertise. It provides many pre-configured services out-of-the-box and highly simplify middle to large system deployments and system configurations.
  
-  * Skolelinux is a network architecture tailored for use in schools.
-  * Skolelinux is developed and supported by a large and growing international community.
-  * Skolelinux is designed to be easy and cheap to maintain.
-  * Skolelinux gives the students their own usernames, home directories and services.
-  * Skolelinux includes [[http://www.openoffice.org|OpenOffice.org]]
- 
- == The benefits of free software ==
- 
- Skolelinux, Debian and all auxiliary software components we use are free software – free as in freedom. The term "free software" implies the following rights:
- 
-  * Freedom to use the software regardless of purpose and adapt it to ones needs.
-  * Freedom to study how the software works.
-  * Freedom to redistribute the software so ones neighbour can benefit from it.
-  * Freedom to modify and enhance the software and publish those modifications so everyone benefits from them.
- 
- These rights form the foundation of both Debian, Skolelinux and all the software we use. They enable us to use the various software components, put them together in our specialized network design and package and redistribute the software as "Skolelinux". With proprietary software, such as Microsoft Windows, all adaptions and modifications have to be redone everywhere. With Skolelinux, modifications and enhancements done by a school in Norway may benefit schools in Eritrea – and vice versa. Windows is the most commonly used operative system used in schools today, but as Windows is proprietary software, it is not possible to tailor Windows for school usage and call it "!SkoleWindows".
- 
- == "Skolelinux" – a Custom Debian Distribution ==
- 
- Skolelinux (aka debian-edu)  is a [[http://cdd.alioth.debian.org/|Custom Debian Distribution]]. This means that Skolelinux  is a version of the [[http://www.debian.org/|Debian GNU/Linux]] operating system that is customized for schools. Debian is a state-of-the-art, user-friendly operating system. The goal of our customization of Debian is to make it easy to install and maintain for schools.  – with all applications available in the students mother tongue.
- 
- == An advanced network solution ==
- 
- Despite how easy Skolelinux is to install, asking only a handful of (non-technical) questions, it is an advanced network solution, with many pre-configured services. With ordinary, closed, proprietary software, these services have to be configured manually for every single school – and that needs careful planning and expertise!
- 
- Amongst several pre-configured services are the following:
- 
-  * Central user catalogue: One username and one password for several machines and services.
-  * Central storage: Regardless of which machine you use in a Skolelinux network, you have access to your files and meet an interface with your settings – an interface you are familiar with.
-  * Thin client solution: The applications are run on a thin client server, which is a powerful machine. The image from those applications is drawn on a "thin client", which usually is an old and cheap machine. This enables you to use old hardware. Moreover, it eases administration, as you have one server to maintain.
-  * Printers may be shared and made available in the network.
-  * A proxy server caches files downloaded from the Internet, resulting in a faster surfing experience.
- 
- More detailed information can be found on the [[DebianEdu/Product| Product-pages]].
- 
- '''DebianEdu''' is a Debian project that aims to make the best distribution for educational purposes.
- [[/About|Read more about Debian Edu...]].<<BR>>
- '''Skolelinux''' is the name of a [[DebianPureBlends|Debian Pure Blend]] which is produced by the Debian Edu project. '''Skole''' [`skuːl`] is the Norvegian word for ''school''. Both ''skole'' and ''school'' come from the Greek word ''schole''.<<BR>><<BR>>
  
  
  = Why consider it? =
  
- == Skolelinux has several advantages: ==
+  * '''Free software''' This is ethically important for schools. School should not be an arena where piracy is accepted or encouraged, but a place that promotes the making and sharing of knowledge. Skolelinux respects this need. has user-friendly licences that give you ''rights'' – not ''responsibilities''!
+  * '''Economical savings''' Teleplan, an independent agency, has [[attachment:teleplan_03112003.pdf;|estimated]] (report available in Norwegian only) savings up to 60% by using Skolelinux with thin clients, compared to a traditional Windows solution. These savings are mainly due to ''eased maintenance'', and ''not'' because Skolelinux has zero cost
+  * '''Higly supported''' Skolelinux is part of Debian, and as such, is supported by a large and vibrant community. This means lots of momentum, development, and a guarantee that Skolelinux will be around in years to come.
+  * '''Ecological''' By enabling reuse of old equipment, Skolelinux helps save the environment. Instead of trashing old hardware, it can be used as thin clients.
+  * ''' Stability and reliability''' Skolelinux is very stable and reliable. The students will experience predictability and a system that ''works''. Additionally, Skolelinux is less vulnerable to worms and viruses.
+  * '''Solves real needs''' Skolelinux is made by schools for schools. Thus, Skolelinux is tailored to school needs.
+  * '''Provides control ''' Skolelinux makes the users independent of supplier, and can decide themselves when to upgrade both hardware and software. 
  
+ 
-  * First and foremost, Skolelinux is ''free software''. This is ethically important for schools. School should not be an arena where piracy is accepted or encouraged, but a place that promotes the making and sharing of knowledge. Skolelinux respects this need.
-  * Skolelinux gives great economical savings. Teleplan, an independent agency, has [[attachment:teleplan_03112003.pdf;|estimated]] (report available in Norwegian only) savings up to 60% by using Skolelinux with thin clients, compared to a traditional Windows solution. These savings are mainly due to ''eased maintenance'', and ''not'' because Skolelinux has zero cost
-  * Skolelinux is part of Debian, and as such, is supported by a large and vibrant community. This means lots of momentum, development, and a guarantee that Skolelinux will be around in years to come.
-  * By enabling reuse of old equipment, Skolelinux helps save the environment. Instead of trashing old hardware, it can be used as thin clients.
-  * Skolelinux is very stable and reliable. The students will experience predictability and a system that ''works''. Additionally, Skolelinux is less vulnerable to worms and viruses.
-  * Skolelinux is made by schools for schools. Thus, Skolelinux is tailored to school needs.
-  * Skolelinux makes the users independent of supplier, and can decide themselves when to upgrade both hardware and software.
-  * Skolelinux has user-friendly licences that give you ''rights'' – not ''responsibilities''!
  
  = Who is behind it? =
- 
- '''Who is behind Skolelinux?'''
  
  The institution "[[http://www.linuxiskolen.no/slxdebianlabs/|SLX Debian Labs]]" is financially responsible for the Skolelinux project. SLX Debian Labs sponsor FRISK to fund the development of Skolelinux through an joint agreement.
  
@@ -75, +35 @@

  
  With great enthusiasm and computer knowledge, they decided to stop just talking and actually do something about it. Now, three years later, Skolelinux is, in various reports, said to be "the only computer solution that takes the schools' needs and resources seriously" (Statskonsult report #18, December 2003).
  
+ The Skolelinux project was started on July 2, 2001. Twenty-five computer programmers and translators agreed to improve the use of software in education.[3] They disliked that the next generation of computer users were not able to have access to source code, arguing that children who are interested should be able to learn from expert programmers to create their own software. Other developers, especially the translators, were interested in providing computer programs in the students' native languages. These developers thought that students should be able to navigate the internet by having "road signs" they would understand.
+ The Skolelinux project was associated with the member organisation "Linux in schools", which was founded on July 16, 2001. "Linux in schools" later changed its name to "Free Software in Schools" by the annual meeting on October 16, 2004. German teachers, developers and translators joined Skolelinux throughout 2002. In 2003, Skolelinux was included step-by-step as a standard part of Debian.
+ Since 2003, many developers from around the world have joined the project, with developers in France, Greece and Germany being the most active. The Skolelinux project also cooperates with many other free educational software projects such as LTSP, gnuLinEx, Edubuntu, K12LTSP, KDE, Gnome, Firefox and OpenOffice.org. Similar organisations have also been established in Spain, Germany,[4] Latvia, France, Brasil and Denmark.
+ Skolelinux has been a major contributor to rewriting the Debian-Installer. In addition, Skolelinux has conducted extensive development and testing of thin clients and diskless workstations as a part of the new LTSP version 5.
+ A total of 196 schools using Skolelinux are currently listed on the DebianEdu Wiki. This case study[5] of implementing Skolelinux at a school in Greece is typical of user experiences.[6]
+ 
  
  = Its goals =
  
+ In short, its major goals are to:
+ Create a Linux distribution tailored for schools—based on their needs and resources.
+ Simplify maintenance of computer facilities.
+ Provide a thin client-solution, which eases maintenance, reduces costs and allows use of old hardware.
+ Cut costs by using open source software and re-using old hardware.
+ Identify and facilitate suitable programs for use in the schools.
+ Enable teachers to provide high quality IT teaching to their students.
+ Localize the IT infrastructure by translating the software pages to both official writing forms of Norwegian — Bokmål and Nynorsk, as well as Northern Sami. This goal is later extended to reach out to all languages though in schools around the world.
  
  It aims to:
   * provide a complete educational free software solution useful on real scenarios.
@@ -86, +60 @@

   * provide documentation on how teachers can make the most of all available tools.
   * reach international scale being natively translated into many languages.
  
+ The goal of our customization of Debian is to make it easy to install and maintain for schools.  – with all applications available in the students mother tongue.
  
- = Its features =
+  * It is a network architecture tailored for use in schools.
+  * It is developed and supported by a large and growing international community.
+  * It is designed to be easy and cheap to maintain.
+  * It gives the students their own usernames, home directories and services.
+  * It includes [[http://www.openoffice.org|OpenOffice.org]]
+  * its auxiliary software components are free software
  
- feature 1
  
- feature 2
+ = Great features =
  
- feature 3
+  * Central user catalogue: One username and one password for several machines and services.
+  * Central storage: Regardless of which machine you use in a Skolelinux network, you have access to your files and meet an interface with your settings – an interface you are familiar with.
+  * Thin client solution: The applications are run on a thin client server, which is a powerful machine. The image from those applications is drawn on a "thin client", which usually is an old and cheap machine. This enables you to use old hardware. Moreover, it eases administration, as you have one server to maintain.
+  * Printers may be shared and made available in the network.
+  * A proxy server caches files downloaded from the Internet, resulting in a faster surfing experience.
  
- ...
+ More detailed information can be found on the [[DebianEdu/Product| Product-pages]].
  

