I am an ICT coordinator in a school
We use MS server 2000 and W2000, MS Office and also Open Office. We do not
use RM and after discovering the cost in my first year in this job, of
upgrading Viglen's Classlink software, I have tried to avoid relying on software
which would tie us to a particular supplier. At the moment we use Sentinel's
Rangersuite software to provide profiles, security etc. I can see that it is
just a front end for active directory but it is straightforward and user
friendly (and so are they) but it only supports MS operating systems.
Last term we got a CD server that uses LINUX but our network manager (who left
last November) was rather afraid of it, and decided it didn't work. It is still
sitting there looking cute and doing nothing.
We are looking for a new network manager and I would love to find someone
who would be able to keep our existing system running but would be able to help
us move away from our current reliance on MS the next time we upgrade. I think
we have to teach the kids to use MS because of its prevalence but unless we
teach other options in schools no one will ever be free of MS's stanglehold.
It is not easy though to implement alternatives. It has been difficult to
find technicians to look after our current system, the last one was just marking
time until he could get back into industry. Where would I look for someone with
open source expertise? Someone who could see beyond MS?
I would very much like to move towards using more open source software, but
I need help. Where do I find it?
Margaret Derrington
PS We also have a wireless Bromcom network for registrations. <shame>
It was put in very fast with money that was available only for that purpose (!?)
and I knew nothing about it or what it cost (!!!!!) until afterwards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 11/02/2005 19:16:48 GMT Standard Time,
address@hidden writes:
I'm
sending this from the Linux Desktop Summit in San Diego. Its raining outside
just to reduce the envy factor ;-). This is a really up beat environment and I
have had great interest in the INGOT project from educators here. If this
conference is anything to go by, things are moving on at a great pace and the
concept of RM being the safe option looks shakier by the minute. Tie in to
expensive non-open systems is a big risk and more and more people are
beginning to realise it.
--
Ian
--- linuxgirlie
<address@hidden> wrote:
From: linuxgirlie
<address@hidden>
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:52:27 +0000
To:
Robin Green <address@hidden>
Cc: address@hidden
Subject: Re:
[Fsfe-uk] Introduction
On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:37:51 +0000, Robin Green
<address@hidden> wrote:
> Looks like a godsend -
everything pretty much preconfigured, right?
> Good stuff!
Thats
correct and the whole point :) it means anyone can come along
and install
and run it, not for your linux guru type though, but just
right for schools
:)
> Good to see that other schools are taking it up also. When
you talk to
> people (from other schools or from Ofsted or whoever) who
have concerns
> about switching from the "nice safe RM option", what are
the main
> worries for them do you think?
I personally think its
support, but other reasons like everyone else
is doing RM if I move will I
look like a fool? We had several schools
at the moment that won't be named
on the site because of this reason,
so they are waiting a few months before
they "arrive".
> I know that support contracts can be an issue,
so I looked on the
> karoshi.org.uk - you have a lot of free and for-fee
support options,
> which is great, but I wonder if people might fear
that it is a bit
> "amateurish" compared to RM? For example, there is
one guy specifically
> offering to go on call-outs - but only in West
Yorkshire!
Yeah, it does come across as "amateurish", I agree with
that!! I have
tried to and still am putting together a large amount of
help
documents, hopefully this will sway the brave but the rest would
have
to wait till we are ready to provide full support, but that means
I
give up my job ;)
> The thing is, of course, any reasonably
experienced and competent Linux
> professional could probably get their
head round Karoshi pretty quickly
> in order to provide technical
support for it, I would think. But just
> saying that, isn't necessarily
good enough. It might be worth providing
> a directory - or to a link to
a directory somewhere else - of people who
> could help with general
Linux emergencies, and people who could provide
> support contracts for
peace-of-mind. I dunno, just an idea.
I was think of this, I will have
to get a list of names and email them
to see if they will support us,
though it is basic schools are very
very demanding when it comes to
support, and I suspect that this
scares most support people off
them!!
> Another possibility might be, maybe once more schools
have started using it,
> to start up a company and provide all-in-one
installation and support contracts,
> for any school in the UK that
wants it, for a fraction of the price of the RM
> alternative. I haven't
really thought about the financial viability of that
> - I guess you'd
have to get quite a few schools to sign on to that.
Thats my final
plan!! Though the project is FLOSS I would like to
start my own support
company for it which is an all-in-one but alot
cheaper than RM. The problem
is its a catch 22 situation. Basically I
am on £22,000 a year and though we
can survive on my partners wage
only (he earns more than me) its still a
risk, and to keep up with
what we have for example, we would have to make
at least the above
mark....the good thing I suppose is that if it did go
wrong I could
quite easily get a job in education again :)
I think
timing is right, but I also think I need more market research
before I
start something like that as I need to know that these people
will sign up
if I go ahead with support...lol
> That's great - it's good that
we've got people like you "on the inside"
> in education, spreading
these ideas! :)
I''m doing my best, its hard
work...lol
Jo
--
Spread FireFox:
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=user/register&r=32751
Get FireFox:
http://www.getfirefox.com
OpenOffice:
http://www.openoffice.org
Mandrake:
http://www.mandrakelinux.com
Karoshi:
http://www.karoshi.org.uk
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