Re: [Sheflug] Linux Newbie

[Matthew Palmer <nospam [at] ieee.uow.edu.au>]

On Mon, 11 Jun 2001, John wrote:

> I am the network manager at Wickersley Comprehensive School in
> Rotherham. We currently run the main academic network with an NT4 server
> that functions as PDC, fileserver, intranet server and Internet proxy
> server/firewall. With over 200 client machines it can get a little busy.

That's an understatement, I'd warrant.

> First task is to get the proxy/firewall off the PDC and onto a dedicated
> machine. We have SUSE installed on an AMD 450MHz PC with 20gig HDD, 64M
> memory and two D-Link DFE530TX NICs. The OS works, and the two NICs work
> on two separate networks, next weeks task is to get Linux to transfer
> data between the two networks.

No hassles there.  A quick bit of routing and you're set.  Dunno how to do
it in SuSE, but I'm sure someone can tell you the precise incantation to use
in yast.

> I would also like to run the Intranet and Fileserver on Linux. I have
> used Apache on NT4 along with Tomcat, Cocoon and MySQL to support an XML
> based Intranet system, this should run on Linux too.

<shrug>  It'll do Apache with MySQL, never heard of the others.

> I am not familiar with Samba, but I believe we can use it as the basis for
> a Linux based Fileserver.

Indeed you can, and very fine it works too.  I've never used it to support
NT domains (although I am apparently going to be supporting WIn2K domains in
the near future using the experimental Samba - expect much grief) but it can
do it, so I'm told.

> Is there any way we can get rid of M$ server
> operating systems altogether and just use Linux on the servers?

Depending on what you want to do, but in general Yes.

> This is a major undertaking for people who are new to Linux, but I would
> very much like to escape from the commercial software cycle that takes up
> a large amount of the precious little funding that schools get for IT. Are
> there any other people out there who work in schools where Linux is
> successfully employed?

The SuSE company has set up a Linux in Schools forum, which will no doubt be
an invaluable resource for you.  I'm surprised Reger Whittaker (SuSE's
British boy and a former School master himself) hasn't piped up yet, but I'm
sure he will.  Search around the SuSE website for info, unless someone has
the address off hand?

-- 
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Matthew Palmer
mjp16@ieee.uow.edu.au

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