[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I still have concerns about the system requirements
though, the cookbook states 2Gb RAM and an SCSI hard
drive for the server and 32Mb RAM for each client. Is
that really enough to run 20 Open Office programs
simultaneously? From what I've been reading about Open
Office, it's not the leanest suite on earth. Also, no
mention is made of the processor, but if it's in line
with having 32Mb of RAM, you'd be looking at a Pentium
I (if that) yes?
I retired a year ago from a school that was using LTSP (not the Ubuntu
variety, but very similar) for a high school/junior college lab with 36
workstations.
We had three servers made from consumer-grade computers. One of them
had SCSI drives, and it was used for the Home server ... all the users'
home directories were there. We learned the hard way that IDE just
doesn't cut it for that many users working simultaneously.
The other two servers had IDE drives, and they supplied the
applications, including OpenOffice.org. These were the servers that
actually did the processing work for each student's computing power.
Each server had 1.5 GB of RAM, and a processor somewhere in the 2 GHz range.
The workstations were diskless, each having 128 MB of RAM and a 566 MHz
Pentium-class processor. This was overkill. Since the workstations are
really a kind of smart terminal, 32 MB and a 266 MHz Pentium-class
processor are fine, though it might be better to have a little better
just in case.
Based on my experience and what I've heard from others, a single server
with a fast (at least 2 GHz) CPU and 2 GB of RAM can probably support UP
TO 20 workstations. If possible, get more RAM ... unfortunately, it is
still hard to get more than 2 GB of RAM unless you go to a server-grade
computer, and that means a lot more money. The school where I was the
sysadmin just got Dell servers, some with 6 GB of RAM, but they were
REALLY expensive for developing countries like Belize.
What makes it a bit easier is that if all the students are using the
same application, like OpenOffice.org, then a lot of the RAM is actually
being shared. Each user does not load a whole copy of OOo. What will
make it tighter is if you are running OOo AND Firefox AND a few other
things. So an LTSP lab will be more efficient if everyone is working at
the same thing.
Overall I am very pleased with LTSP and I am promoting Edubuntu in
Belize. I am using Edubuntu on our home server and my wife uses an
Edubuntu LTSP workstation as we speak.
I also understand about not having enough expertise in the school
system. There are only a handful of us in Belize who are really
experienced enough to set up and run a lab properly. That's why I'm
excited about Edubuntu. For many schools the only way they'll get going
is if things can be mostly turnkey. But the other side of it is that
countries in that condition (including Belize) should be making a much
greater effort to train their computer teachers and lab administrators.
If we can attack the problem from both sides ... making lab
administration easier AND training personnel better ... we can make some
real strides.
Welcome to the list!
--
Jan Wilson, Corozal Town, Belize
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