[K12OSN] Fedora LTSP or Ubuntu LTSP, that is the question

[R. Scott Belford]

Jim Kronebusch wrote:
> On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 15:01:16 -0500, David Trask wrote
> 
>>Jim....we just got back from Ubuntu Below Zero in Montreal....the current
>>EdUbuntu with LTSP included is not ready for primetime....it was a last
>>minute "shove in".  BUT....it will be ready for "Dapper" which will 
>>be released in April.  The "Breezy" version still has issues.  There 
>>are MANY exciting things coming....local devices (very cool) and 
>>even cooler....simple clustering....easy to configure....then add 
>>machines with no HD's to simply add computing power...or add a 
>>clone.  Ivan gave a presentation and it is in use at a hospital in 
>>Zagreb Croatia in grand style....I was truly impressed...and it 
>>should be easy for folks to do....very easy (GUI easy).  So...my 
>>advice?  Hold off for now...come to LinuxWorld in Boston...and we 
>>can play with the new Dapper Drake version. :-)
> 
> 
> I need to get a lab going so I think I will go ahead and load the FC4 version
> for now.  
> 
> The new EdUbuntu sounds awesome.  I may just have to take you up on your offer
> for LW Boston!  If you get a demo of the new Dapper before then let me know.
> 
> Thanks for the update.
> 

There are a number of goals for the next release

http://wiki.edubuntu.org/DapperGoals

As it stands, I will profess that edubuntu is an outstanding workstation 
install(1), but the server install makes one appreciate all the work 
behind the K12LTSP  The install notes spell out a few hiccups

http://wiki.edubuntu.org/EdubuntuInstallNotes

Known Issues
-During install while the LTSP client environment is being set up, the 
progress reporting is a bit poor (expect this step to take about 10min).
-bugzilla bug [WWW] #15244 will affect LTSP users.
-The LTSP login manager is neither pretty, nor do the menus work.
-Manual steps are required for LTSP setup (see Post Install section 
above for more details)
-The current LTSP implementation neither supports sound nor local 
devices for the Thin Clients.

The automagic configuration of NAT, Firewalling, and the LTSP in a dual 
nic environment is not yet there.  This requires some venturing into 
this document

http://wiki.edubuntu.org/LTSPServerSetup

If you think that you can install the amd64 version on an Opteron box 
and server i386 clients, you will learn that you must actually install 
and offer an i386 kernel to your clients.

I have had my hiney kicked by the server setups.  I went there because a 
venturous science teacher at one of our recent donations *really* wanted 
GRASS.  The world of Debian is so rich for such a teacher, so we did it.

It all just makes me say "Thanks Eric, Jim, and those who have done so 
much to make the K12LTSP a generally automagic experience."

--scott

(1) I do mean workstation install as this is an available boot option