X-Git-Url: http://pere.pagekite.me/gitweb/homepage.git/blobdiff_plain/05e132e3484cc37279ebe166fe5775446461508e..008e8a93d16efb112922aa70c1d17d6912e75b18:/blog/index.rss diff --git a/blog/index.rss b/blog/index.rss index f2a932ffc6..3728590138 100644 --- a/blog/index.rss +++ b/blog/index.rss @@ -7,552 +7,946 @@ - Frikart - Free Garmin maps for European countries based on OpenStreetmap - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Frikart___Free_Garmin_maps_for_European_countries_based_on_OpenStreetmap.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Frikart___Free_Garmin_maps_for_European_countries_based_on_OpenStreetmap.html - Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:30:00 +0100 - <p>If you, like me, want an updated a map for your Garmin GPS, there is -now a great source of free maps available from -<a href="http://www.frikart.no/garmin/index.html">Frikart</a>. To -download a map, just click on the country you are interested in, and -download the map type you want. There are 8 different maps available, -using different colours and data selection. Pick one of Roadmap, Topo -Summer, Topo Winter, Roadmap II, Topo Summer II, Topo Winter II, -"Trails - overlay map" and "Cross country - overlay map" (see the web -page for descriptions).</p> - -<p>The maps are updated weekly, so if you find something wrong in the -map you can just edit the -<a href="http://www.openstreetmap.org/">OpenStreetmap</a> map source -(anyone can contribute) and fetch a fixed map a week later. :)</p> + Fourth alpha release of Debian Edu/Skolelinux based on Debian Wheezy + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Fourth_alpha_release_of_Debian_Edu_Skolelinux_based_on_Debian_Wheezy.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Fourth_alpha_release_of_Debian_Edu_Skolelinux_based_on_Debian_Wheezy.html + Wed, 3 Jul 2013 14:00:00 +0200 + <p>The fourth wheezy based alpha release of Debian Edu was wrapped up +today. This is the release announcement:</p> + +<p><strong>New features for Debian Edu 7.1+edu0~alpha3 released +2013-07-03</strong></p> + +<p>These are the release notes for for Debian Edu / Skolelinux +7.1+edu0~alpha3, based on Debian with codename "Wheezy".</p> + +<p><strong>About Debian Edu and Skolelinux</strong></p> + +<p><a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu, also known as +Skolelinux</a>, is a Linux distribution based on Debian providing an +out-of-the box environment of a completely configured school +network. Immediately after installation a school server running all +services needed for a school network is set up just waiting for users +and machines being added via GOsa², a comfortable Web-UI. A netbooting +environment is prepared using PXE, so after initial installation of +the main server from CD, DVD or USB stick all other machines can be +installed via the network. The provided school server provides LDAP +database and Kerberos authentication service, centralized home +directories, DHCP server, web proxy and many other services. The +desktop contains +<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Educational_applications_included_in_Debian_Edu___Skolelinux__the_screenshot_collection____.html">more +than 60 educational software packages</a> and more are available from +the Debian archive, and schools can choose between KDE, Gnome, LXDE +and Xfce desktop environment.</p> + +<p>This is the fourth test release based on Debian Wheezy. Basically +this is an updated and slightly improved version compared to the +Squeeze release.</p> + +<p><strong>Software updates</strong></p> +<ul> + <li>Dropped ispell dictionaries from our default installation.</li> + <li>Dropped menu-xdg from the KDE desktop option, to drop the Debian + submenu. It was not included with Gnome, LXDE or Xfce, so this + brings KDE in line with the others.</li> + <li>Dropped xdrawchem, xjig and xsok from our default installation as + they don't have a desktop menu entry and thus won't show up in the + menu now that menu-xdg was removed.</li> + <li>Removed the killer system to kill left behind processes on + multi-user machines, as it was no longer able to understand when a + X display was in use and killed the processes of the active users + too.</li> + <li>Dropped the golearn (from goplay) package as the debtags in wheezy + are too few to make the package useful.</li> +</ul> +<p><strong>Other changes</strong></p> +<ul> + <li>Updated artwork matching http://wiki.debian.org/DebianArt/Themes/Joy + <li>Multi-arch i386/amd64 USB stick ISO available.</li> + <li>Got rid of ispell/wordlist related debconf questions that showed + up for some language options.</li> + <li>Switched to using http.debian.net as APT source by default.</li> + <li>Fixed proxy configuration on Main Server installations.</li> + <li>Changed LTSP setup to ask dpkg to use force-unsafe-io the same way + d-i is doing it.</li> + <li>Made sure root and user passwords were not left behind in the + debconf database after installation on Main Server installations.</li> + <li>Made Roaming Workstation dynamic setup more robust and added draft + script setup-ad-client to hook a Roaming Workstation up to a + Active Directory server instead of a Debian Edu Main Server.</li> + <li>Update system to install needed firmware packages during + installation, to work properly in Wheezy.</li> + <li>Update system to handle hardware quirks (debian-edu-hwsetup).</li> + <li>Corrected PXE installation setup to properly pass selected desktop + and keymap settings to PXE installation clients.</li> + <li>LTSP diskless workstations use sshfs by default, allowing them to + work without adding them to DNS and NIS netgroups for NFS access.</li> +</ul> +<p><strong>Known issues</strong></p> +<ul> + <li>No mass import of user account data in GOsa (ldif or csv) + available yet (698840).</li> + <li>Artwork not enabled for all desktops.</li> +</ul> +<p><strong>Where to get it</strong></p> + +<p>To download the multiarch netinstall CD release you can use</p> +<ul> + <li><a href="ftp://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-CD.iso">ftp://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-CD.iso</a></li> + <li><a href="http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-CD.iso">http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-CD.iso</a></li> + <li>rsync -avzP ftp.skolelinux.org::skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-CD.iso .</li> +</ul> + +<p>The MD5SUM of this image is: 2b161a99d2a848c376d8d04e3854e30c +<br>The SHA1SUM of this image is: 498922e9c508c0a7ee9dbe1dfe5bf830d779c3c8</p> + +<p>To download the multiarch USB stick ISO release you can use</p> +<ul> + <li><a href="ftp://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-USB.iso">ftp://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-USB.iso</a></li> + <li><a href="http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-USB.iso">http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-USB.iso</a></li> + <li>rsync -avzP ftp.skolelinux.org::skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.1+edu0~a3-USB.iso .</li> +</ul> + +<p>The MD5SUM of this image is: 25e808e403a4c15dbef1d13c37d572ac +<br>The SHA1SUM of this image is: 15ecfc93eb6b4f453b7eb0bc04b6a279262d9721</p> + +<p><strong>How to report bugs</strong></p> + +<p><a href="http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs">http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs</a></p> - "Electronic" paper invoices - using vCard in a QR code - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/_Electronic__paper_invoices___using_vCard_in_a_QR_code.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/_Electronic__paper_invoices___using_vCard_in_a_QR_code.html - Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:30:00 +0100 - <p>Here in Norway, electronic invoices are spreading, and the -<a href="http://www.anskaffelser.no/e-handel/faktura">solution promoted -by the Norwegian government</a> require that invoices are sent through -one of the approved facilitators, and it is not possible to send -electronic invoices without an agreement with one of these -facilitators. This seem like a needless limitation to be able to -transfer invoice information between buyers and sellers. My preferred -solution would be to just transfer the invoice information directly -between seller and buyer, for example using SMTP, or some HTTP based -protocol like REST or SOAP. But this might also be overkill, as the -"electronic" information can be transferred using paper invoices too, -using a simple bar code. My bar code encoding of choice would be QR -codes, as this encoding can be read by any smart phone out there. The -content of the code could be anything, but I would go with -<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCard">the vCard format</a>, as -it too is supported by a lot of computer equipment these days.</p> - -<p>The vCard format support extentions, and the invoice specific -information can be included using such extentions. For example an -invoice from SLX Debian Labs (picked because we -<a href="http://www.linuxiskolen.no/slxdebianlabs/donations.html">ask -for donations to the Debian Edu project</a> and thus have bank account -information publicly available) for NOK 1000.00 could have these extra -fields:</p> + Automatically locate and install required firmware packages on Debian (Isenkram 0.4) + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Automatically_locate_and_install_required_firmware_packages_on_Debian__Isenkram_0_4_.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Automatically_locate_and_install_required_firmware_packages_on_Debian__Isenkram_0_4_.html + Tue, 25 Jun 2013 11:50:00 +0200 + <p>It annoys me when the computer fail to do automatically what it is +perfectly capable of, and I have to do it manually to get things +working. One such task is to find out what firmware packages are +needed to get the hardware on my computer working. Most often this +affect the wifi card, but some times it even affect the RAID +controller or the ethernet card. Today I pushed version 0.4 of the +<a href="http://packages.qa.debian.org/isenkram">Isenkram package</a> +including a new script isenkram-autoinstall-firmware handling the +process of asking all the loaded kernel modules what firmware files +they want, find debian packages providing these files and install the +debian packages. Here is a test run on my laptop:</p> <p><pre> -X-INVOICE-NUMBER:1 -X-INVOICE-AMOUNT:NOK1000.00 -X-INVOICE-KID:123412341234 -X-INVOICE-MSG:Donation to Debian Edu -X-BANK-ACCOUNT-NUMBER:16040884339 -X-BANK-IBAN-NUMBER:NO8516040884339 -X-BANK-SWIFT-NUMBER:DNBANOKKXXX +# isenkram-autoinstall-firmware +info: kernel drivers requested extra firmware: ipw2200-bss.fw ipw2200-ibss.fw ipw2200-sniffer.fw +info: fetching http://http.debian.net/debian/dists/squeeze/Contents-i386.gz +info: locating packages with the requested firmware files +info: Updating APT sources after adding non-free APT source +info: trying to install firmware-ipw2x00 +firmware-ipw2x00 +firmware-ipw2x00 +Preconfiguring packages ... +Selecting previously deselected package firmware-ipw2x00. +(Reading database ... 259727 files and directories currently installed.) +Unpacking firmware-ipw2x00 (from .../firmware-ipw2x00_0.28+squeeze1_all.deb) ... +Setting up firmware-ipw2x00 (0.28+squeeze1) ... +# </pre></p> -<p>The X-BANK-ACCOUNT-NUMBER field was proposed in a stackoverflow -answer regarding -<a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10045664/storing-bank-account-in-vcard-file">how -to put bank account information into a vCard</a>. For payments in -Norway, either X-INVOICE-KID (payment ID) or X-INVOICE-MSG could be -used to pass on information to the seller when paying the invoice.</p> - -<p>The complete vCard could look like this:</p> +<p>When all the requested firmware is present, a simple message is +printed instead:</p> <p><pre> -BEGIN:VCARD -VERSION:2.1 -ORG:SLX Debian Labs Foundation -ADR;WORK:;;Gunnar Schjelderups vei 29D;OSLO;;0485;Norway -URL;WORK:http://www.linuxiskolen.no/slxdebianlabs/ -EMAIL;PREF;INTERNET:sdl-styret@rt.nuug.no -REV:20130212T095000Z -X-INVOICE-NUMBER:1 -X-INVOICE-AMOUNT:NOK1000.00 -X-INVOICE-MSG:Donation to Debian Edu -X-BANK-ACCOUNT-NUMBER:16040884339 -X-BANK-IBAN-NUMBER:NO8516040884339 -X-BANK-SWIFT-NUMBER:DNBANOKKXXX -END:VCARD +# isenkram-autoinstall-firmware +info: did not find any firmware files requested by loaded kernel modules. exiting +# </pre></p> -<p>The resulting QR code created using -<a href="http://fukuchi.org/works/qrencode/">qrencode</a> would look -like this, and should be readable (and thus checkable) by any smart -phone, or for example the <a href="http://zbar.sourceforge.net/">zbar -bar code reader</a> and feed right into the approval and accounting -system.</p> - -<p><img src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-02-12-qr-invoice.png"></p> - -<p>The extension fields will most likely not show up in any normal -vCard reader, so those parts would have to go directly into a system -handling invoices. I am a bit unsure how vCards without name parts -are handled, but a simple test indicate that this work just fine.</p> - -<p><strong>Update 2013-02-12 11:30</strong>: Added KID to the proposal -based on feedback from Sturle Sunde.</p> - - - - - Litt statistikk over offentlige anbud annonsert via Doffin siden 2008 - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Litt_statistikk_over_offentlige_anbud_annonsert_via_Doffin_siden_2008.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Litt_statistikk_over_offentlige_anbud_annonsert_via_Doffin_siden_2008.html - Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:40:00 +0100 - <p>For et halvt år siden -<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/SQL_database_med_anbud_publisert_p__Doffin.html">satte -jeg opp et system for å lage en database</a> med informasjon om -offentlige anbud fra <a href="http://www.doffin.no/">Doffin</a> ved -<a href="https://scraperwiki.com/scrapers/norwegian-doffin/">hjelp av -Scraperwiki</a>. Nå er databasen så vidt jeg kan se komplett, med -data helt tilbake til 2008. Her er litt statistikk over -<a href="https://api.scraperwiki.com/api/1.0/datastore/sqlite?format=htmltable&name=norwegian-doffin&query=select%20strftime(%22%25Y-%25m%22%2C%20publishdate)%20as%20publishmonth%2C%20count(*)%20from%20%60swdata%60%20group%20by%20publishmonth%20order%20by%20publishmonth%20desc">antall -anbud publisert hver måned</a>:</p> - -<p><table border="1"> -<tr> <th>Publiseringsmåned</th> <th>Antall</th> </tr> -<tr> <td>2013-01</td> <td>1015</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-12</td> <td>756</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-11</td> <td>979</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-10</td> <td>1093</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-09</td> <td>1023</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-08</td> <td>951</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-07</td> <td>1103</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-06</td> <td>1334</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-05</td> <td>1435</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-04</td> <td>1169</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-03</td> <td>1573</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-02</td> <td>1335</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012-01</td> <td>1147</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-12</td> <td>1045</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-11</td> <td>1114</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-10</td> <td>1230</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-09</td> <td>1165</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-08</td> <td>966</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-07</td> <td>1148</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-06</td> <td>1410</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-05</td> <td>1536</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-04</td> <td>1350</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-03</td> <td>1574</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-02</td> <td>1370</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011-01</td> <td>1049</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-12</td> <td>992</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-11</td> <td>1089</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-10</td> <td>1110</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-09</td> <td>1132</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-08</td> <td>883</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-07</td> <td>1126</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-06</td> <td>1440</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-05</td> <td>1236</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-04</td> <td>1249</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-03</td> <td>1556</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-02</td> <td>1256</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010-01</td> <td>1140</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-12</td> <td>1013</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-11</td> <td>1220</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-10</td> <td>1320</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-09</td> <td>1294</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-08</td> <td>953</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-07</td> <td>1162</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-06</td> <td>1605</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-05</td> <td>1568</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-04</td> <td>1522</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-03</td> <td>1599</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-02</td> <td>1376</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009-01</td> <td>1080</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-12</td> <td>1028</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-11</td> <td>949</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-10</td> <td>1047</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-09</td> <td>965</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-08</td> <td>725</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-07</td> <td>1015</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-06</td> <td>1304</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008-05</td> <td>323</td> </tr> -</table></p> - -<p>Her er tilsvarende -<a href="https://api.scraperwiki.com/api/1.0/datastore/sqlite?format=htmltable&name=norwegian-doffin&query=select%20strftime(%22%25Y%22%2C%20publishdate)%20as%20publishyear%2C%20count(*)%20from%20%60swdata%60%20group%20by%20publishyear%20order%20by%20publishyear%20desc">tall -per år</a>, som viser en liten nedgang i antall anbud:</p> - -<table border="1"> -<tr> <th>Publiseringsår</th> <th>Antall</th> </tr> -<tr> <td>2012</td> <td>13898</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2011</td> <td>14957</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2010</td> <td>14209</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2009</td> <td>15712</td> </tr> -<tr> <td>2008</td> <td>7356</td> </tr> -</table></p> - -<p>Jeg droppet den ufullstendige måneden og året fra tabellen. Se -lenken for oppdaterte tall.</p> +<p>It could use some polish, but it is already working well and saving +me some time when setting up new machines. :)</p> + +<p>So, how does it work? It look at the set of currently loaded +kernel modules, and look up each one of them using modinfo, to find +the firmware files listed in the module meta-information. Next, it +download the Contents file from a nearby APT mirror, and search for +the firmware files in this file to locate the package with the +requested firmware file. If the package is in the non-free section, a +non-free APT source is added and the package is installed using +<tt>apt-get install</tt>. The end result is a slightly better working +machine.</p> + +<p>I hope someone find time to implement a more polished version of +this script as part of the hw-detect debian-installer module, to +finally fix <a href="http://bugs.debian.org/655507">BTS report +#655507</a>. There really is no need to insert USB sticks with +firmware during a PXE install when the packages already are available +from the nearby Debian mirror.</p> - Sleep until morning - home automation for the kids - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Sleep_until_morning___home_automation_for_the_kids.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Sleep_until_morning___home_automation_for_the_kids.html - Sun, 10 Feb 2013 12:50:00 +0100 - <p><img align="left" style="margin-right:25px;" src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-02-10-morning-light.jpeg"></p> - -<p>With kids in the house, one challenge is getting them to sleep -during the night and wake up when it is morning. I mean, when I -believe it is morning, and not two hours earlier. In our household we -have decided that 07:00 is the turning point, but getting the kids to -sleep until 07:00 is a small challenge every day. They have adapted -quite well, and rarely wake up at 05:00 any more, but some times wake -up at times like 05:50, 06:15, 06:30 or 06:45, and it is hard to put -the awake one to bed again without disturbing and waking the rest. -And I understand perfectly well that they fail to sleep until 07:00 -some times, as there is no way for them to know if it is before or -after the magic moment without coming and asking us parents.</p> - -<p>But yesterday I came up with a method to solve this problem. It -involve home automation. A few years ago I bought a -<a href="http://www.telldus.se/products/tellstick">Tellstick</a> and RF -switches at the local <a href="http://www.clasohlson.com/">Clas -Ohlson</a> shop, allowing me to control lights and other electrical -gadgets using my Linux server. When I moved from the old flat to a -small house, I put away all this equipment as most of the lighting in -the house was not using wall sockets and thus not easy to connect to -the gadgets I had. But recently I bought a -<a href="http://www.telldus.se/products/tellstick_net">Tellstick -Net</a> to be able to read sensor input as well as control power -sockets. I want to control ovens in the basement to avoid the pipes -to freeze, and monitor the humidity to detect flooding. The default -setup for Tellstick Net is to be controlled by the vendor web service, -which to me is a security problem, but it is also possible to build -ones own -<a href="http://developer.telldus.com/blog/2012/03/02/help-us-develop-local-access-using-tellstick-net-build-your-own-firmware">firmware -with local access</A> instead of being controlled by a Swedish -company, thanks to the release of the GPL licensed firmware source -code. I plan to get that running before I let it control anything -important. But while working on this, one idea to make it easier for -the kids came to me yesterday. We can set up a night light controlled -by the computer, and turn it automatically on at 07:00. The kids can -then check the light in the morning to know if they are supposed to -get up or not. They joined me in setting everything up, and I -repeated the concept several times before bed times to make sure they -remembered to check the light before getting up in the morning.</p> - -<p>We tested it this morning, and all the kids stayed in bed until -after 07:00, and every one of them commented on the fact that the -"morning light" was turned on and signalled that the morning had -arrived. So this look like a success, and I am excited to see how -this develops the next few days. :) I really hope this can allow us -all to sleep a bit longer in the morning.</p> - -<p>A nice advantage of this setup is that we can remote control when -to tell the kids to get up. We do not have to wait until 07:00, and -can also delay it if we want to.</p> + The value of a good distro wide test suite... + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/The_value_of_a_good_distro_wide_test_suite___.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/The_value_of_a_good_distro_wide_test_suite___.html + Sat, 22 Jun 2013 07:00:00 +0200 + <p>In the <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / +Skolelinux</a> project, we include a post-installation test suite, +which check that services are running, working, and return the +expected results. It runs automatically just after the first boot on +test installations (using test ISOs), but not on production +installations (using non-test ISOs). It test that the LDAP service is +operating, Kerberos is responding, DNS is replying, file systems are +online resizable, etc, etc. And it check that the PXE service is +configured, which is the topic of this post.</p> + +<p>The last week I've fixed the DVD and USB stick ISOs for our Debian +Edu Wheezy release. These ISOs are supposed to be able to install a +complete system without any Internet connection, but for that to +happen all the needed packages need to be on them. Thanks to our test +suite, I discovered that we had forgotten to adjust our PXE setup to +cope with the new names and paths used by the netboot d-i packages. +When Internet connectivity was available, the installer fall back to +using wget to fetch d-i boot images, but when offline it require +working packages to get it working. And ad the packages changed name +from debian-installer-6.0-netboot-$arch to +debian-installer-7.0-netboot-$arch, we no longer pulled in the +packages during installation. Without our test suite, I suspect we +would never have discovered this before release. Now it is fixed +right after we got the ISOs operational.</p> + +<p>Another by-product of the test suite is that we can ask system +administrators with problems getting Debian Edu to work, to run the +test suite using <tt>/usr/sbin/debian-edu-test-install</tt> and see if +any errors are detected. This usually pinpoint the subsystem causing +the problem.</p> + +<p>If you want to help us help kids learn how to share and create, +please join us on +<a href="irc://irc.debian.org/%23debian-edu">#debian-edu on +irc.debian.org</a> and the +<a href="http://lists.debian.org/debian-edu/">debian-edu@</a> mailing +list.</p> - Hva stemte hver stortingsrepresentant i voteringene om datalagringsdirektivet? - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Hva_stemte_hver_stortingsrepresentant_i_voteringene_om_datalagringsdirektivet_.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Hva_stemte_hver_stortingsrepresentant_i_voteringene_om_datalagringsdirektivet_.html - Sat, 9 Feb 2013 18:10:00 +0100 - <p>Nytt stortingsvalg er på trappene, og folket får igjen mulighet til -å påvirke sammensetningen i vår lovgivende forsamling. Da er det -relevant å vite hvilke representanter og partier som har støttet -innføringen av brev- og besøkskontroll av hele den norske -befolkningen, det vil si datalagringsdirektivet.</p> - -<p>Hvis du vil vite hva hver enkelt stortingsrepresentant har stemt i -stortingsvoteringene om datalagringsdirektivet, så har nettstedet til -<a href="http://www.holderdeord.no/">Holder De Ord</a> den (så vidt jeg -vet) eneste komplette oversikten på sin temaside om -<a href="http://beta.holderdeord.no/issues/innfore-datalagringsdirektivet">innføringen -av datalagringsdirektivet</a>. Den har detaljene fra de 11 relevante -forslagene som har vært fremmet så lagt. De har vært votert over -2011-04-04, 2011-04-11, 2012-06-11, 2012-10-05 og 2012-12-06.</p> - -<p>Hvis du lurer på hva som er problemet med datalagringsdirektivet, -anbefaler jeg å lese <a href="http://www.uhuru.biz/?cat=84">artiklene -fra Jon Wessel-Aas</a> om temaet, samt informasjon fra foreningen -<a href="http://www.digitaltpersonvern.no/">Digitalt -Personvern</a>.</p> + Debian Edu interview: Victor Nițu + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Victor_Ni_u.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Victor_Ni_u.html + Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:50:00 +0200 + <p>The <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu and +Skolelinux</a> distribution have users and contributors all around the +globe. And a while back, an enterprising young man showed up on +<a href="irc://irc.debian.org/%23debian-edu">our IRC channel +#debian-edu</a> and started asking questions about how Debian Edu +worked. We answered as good as we could, and even convinced him to +help us with translations. And today I managed to get an interview +with him, to learn more about him.</p> + +<p><strong>Who are you, and how do you spend your days?</strong></p> + +<p>I'm a 25 year old free software enthusiast, living in Romania, +which is also my country of origin. Back in 2009, at a New Year's Eve +party, I had a very nice <strike>beer</strike> discussion with a +friend, when we realized we have no organised Debian community in our +country. A few days later, we put together the infrastructure for such +community and even gathered a nice Debian-ish crowd. Since then, I +began my quest as a free software hacker and activist and I am +constantly trying to cover as much ground as possible on that +field.</p> + +<p>A few years ago I founded a small web development company, which +provided me the flexible schedule I needed so much for my +activities. For the last 13 months, I have been the Technical Director +of <a href="http://ceata.org/">Fundația Ceata</a>, which is a free +software activist organisation endorsed by the FSF and the FSFE, and +the only one we have in our country.</p> + +<p><strong>How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux / Debian Edu +project?</strong></p> + +<p>The idea of participating in the Debian Edu project was a surprise +even to me, since I never used it before I began getting involved in +it. This year I had a great opportunity to deliver a talk on +educational software, and I knew immediately where to look. It was a +love at first sight, since I was previously involved with some of the +technologies the project incorporates, and I rapidly found a lot of +ways to contribute.</p> + +<p>My first contributions consisted in translating the installer and +configuration dialogs, then I found some bugs to squash (I still +haven't fixed them yet though), and I even got my eyes on some other +areas where I can prove myself helpful. Since the appetite for free +software in my country is pretty low, I'll be happy to be the first +one around here advocating for the project's adoption in educational +environments, and maybe even get my hands dirty in creating a flavour +for our own needs. I am not used to make very advanced plannings, so +from now on, time will tell what I'll be doing next, but I think I +have a pretty consistent starting point.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>Not a long time ago, I was in the position of configuring and +maintaining a LDAP server on some Debian derivative, and I must say it +took me a while. A long time ago, I was maintaining a bigger +Samba-powered infrastructure, and I must say I spent quite a lot of +time on it. I have similar stories about many of the services included +with Skolelinux, and the main advantage I see about it is the +out-of-the box availability of them, making it quite competitive when +it comes to managing a school's network, for example.</p> + +<p>Of course, there is more to say about Skolelinux than the +availability of the software included, its flexibility in various +scenarios is something I can't wait to experiment "into the wild" (I +only played with virtual machines so far). And I am sure there is a +lot more I haven't discovered yet about it, being so new within the +project.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>As usual, when it comes to Debian Blends, I see as the biggest +disadvantage the lack of a numerous team dedicated to the +project. Every day I see the same names in the changelogs, and I have +a constantly fear of the bus factor in this story. I'd like to see +Debian Edu advertised more as an entry point into the Debian +ecosystem, especially amongst newcomers and students. IMHO there are a +lot low-hanging fruits in terms of bug squashing, and enough +opportunities to get the feeling of the Debian Project's dynamics. Not +to mention it's a very fun blend to work on!</p> + +<p>Derived from the previous statement, is the delay in catching up +with the main Debian release and documentation. This is common though +to all blends and derivatives, but it's an issue we can all work +on.</p> + +<p><strong>Which free software do you use daily?</strong></p> + +<p>I can hardly imagine myself spending a day without Vim, since my +daily routine covers writing code and hacking configuration files. I +am a fan of the Awesome window manager (but I also like the +Enlightenment project a lot!), +<a href="http://www.claws-mail.org/‎">Claws Mail</a> due to its ease of +use and very configurable behaviour. Recently I fell in love with +<a href="https://launchpad.net/redshift">Redshift</a>, which helps me +get through the night without headaches. Of course, there is much more +stuff in this bag, but I'll need a blog on my own for doing this!</p> + +<p><strong>Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?</strong></p> + +<p>Well, on this field, I cannot do much more than experiment right +now. So, being far from having a recipe for success, I can only assume +that:</p> + +<ul> + +<li>schools would like to get rid of proprietary software</li> + +<li>students will love the openness of the system, and will want to + experiment with it - maybe we need to harvest the native curiosity + of teenagers more?</li> + +<li>there is no "right one" when it comes to strategies, but it would + be useful to have some success stories published somewhere, so + other can get some inspiration from them (I know I'd promote + them!)</li> + +<li>more active promotion - talks, conferences, even small school + lectures can do magical things if they encounter at least one + person interested. Who knows who that person might be? ;-)</li> + +</ul> + +<p>I also see some problems in getting Skolelinux into schools; for +example, in our country we have a great deal of corruption issues, so +it might be hard(er) to fight against proprietary solutions. Also, +people who relied on commercial software for all their lives, would be +very hard to convert against their will.</p> - Økt overvåkning applauderes igjen av Arbeiderpartiet, Høyre og Fremskrittspartiet - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/_kt_overv_kning_applauderes_igjen_av_Arbeiderpartiet__H_yre_og_Fremskrittspartiet.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/_kt_overv_kning_applauderes_igjen_av_Arbeiderpartiet__H_yre_og_Fremskrittspartiet.html - Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:30:00 +0100 - <p>Jeg ser med gru at Arbeiderpartiet, Høyre og Fremskrittspartiet -<a href="http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Positive-til-mer-smuglerovervaking-7110348.html">applauderer -tollvesenets forslag</a> om å øke overvåkningen i Norge nok et hakk. -Det er ikke så rart, da de som uttaler seg jo også har støttet -innføringen av datalagringsdirektivet eller i hvert fall ikke veldig -aktivt har motarbeidet det. Innføringen av datalagringsdirektivet er -en lovendring som innebærer brev og besøkskontroll for hele -befolkningen.</p> - -<p><a href="http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/?p=48717">Datalagringsdirektivet</a> -har vært oppe til votering i stortinget tre ganger så langt. Det ble -<a href="http://svartelisten.org/">vedtatt første gang 2011-04-04</a> -og -<a href="https://github.com/holderdeord/hdo-folketingparser/blob/master/data/votering-2011-04-11.xml">andre -gang 2011-04-11</a> (lovendringer voteres to ganger), og forslag om å -stoppe loven ble -<a href="http://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Saker/Sak/Voteringsoversikt/?p=53844&dnid=1">nedstemt -2012-12-06</a> (se også -<a href="http://beta.holderdeord.no/issues/innfore-datalagringsdirektivet">oversikt fra Holder De -Ord</a>).</p> - -<p>Jan Bøhler i Arbeiderpartiet stemte for å innføre -datalagringsdirektivet i lovverket i første votering, var ikke -tilstede i andre votering og støttet loven i tredje votering. André -Oktay Dahl i Høyre var ikke til stede i første og andre votering men -støttet loven i tredje votering. Ulf Leirstein i Fremskrittspartiet -stemte mot loven i første votering men var ikke til stede i andre og -tredje votering.</p> - -<p>Hvis du lurer på hva som er problemet med datalagringsdirektivet, -anbefaler jeg å lese <a href="http://www.uhuru.biz/?cat=84">artiklene -fra Jon Wessel-Aas</a> om temaet, samt informasjon fra foreningen -<a href="http://www.digitaltpersonvern.no/">Digitalt -Personvern</a>.</p> - -<p><strong>Oppdatering 2013-03-09</strong>: Endret lenke til Holder De -Ord, som har byttet mange lenker i forbindelse med import av -voteringsdata for 2010-2011.</p> + Debian Edu interview: Jonathan Carter + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Jonathan_Carter.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Jonathan_Carter.html + Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:50:00 +0200 + <p>There is a certain cross-over between the +<a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / Skolelinux +project</a> and <a href="http://www.edubuntu.org/">the Edubuntu +project</a>, and for example the LTSP packages in Debian are a joint +effort between the projects. One person with a foot in both camps is +Jonathan Carter, which I am now happy to present to you.</p> + +<p><strong>Who are you, and how do you spend your days?</strong></p> + +<p>I'm a South-African free software geek who lives in Cape Town. My +days vary quite a bit since I'm involved in too many things. As I'm +getting older I'm learning how to focus a bit more :)</p> + +<p>I'm also an Edubuntu contributor and I love when there are +opportunities for the Edubuntu and Debian Edu projects to benefit from +each other.</p> + +<p><strong>How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux / Debian Edu +project?</strong></p> + +<p>I've been somewhat familiar with the project before, but I think my +first direct exposure to the project was when I met Petter +[Reinholdtsen] and Knut [Yrvin] at the Edubuntu summit in 2005 in +London. They provided great feedback that helped the bootstrapping of +Edubuntu. Back then Edubuntu (and even Ubuntu) was still very new and +it was great getting input from people who have been around longer. I +was also still very excitable and said yes to everything and to this +day I have a big todo list backlog that I'm catching up with. I think +over the years the relationship between Edubuntu and Debian-Edu has +been gradually improving, although I think there's a lot that we could +still improve on in terms of working together on packages. I'm sure +we'll get there one day.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>Debian itself already has so many advantages. I could go on about +it for pages, but in essence I love that it's a very honest project +that puts its users first with no hidden agendas and also produces +very high quality work.</p> + +<p>I think the advantage of Debian Edu is that it makes many common +set-up tasks simpler so that administrators can get up and running +with a lot less effort and frustration. At the same time I think it +helps to standardise installations in schools so that it's easier for +community members and commercial suppliers to support.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>I had to re-type this one a few times because I'm trying to +separate "disadvantages" from "areas that need improvement" (which is +what I originally rambled on about)</p> + +<p>The biggest disadvantage I can think of is lack of manpower. The +project could do so much more if there were more good contributors. I +think some of the problems are external too. Free software and free +content in education is a no-brainer but it takes some time to catch +on. When you've been working with the same proprietary eco-system for +years and have gotten used to it, it can be hard to adjust to some +concepts in the free software world. It would be nice if there were +more Debian Edu consultants across the world. I'd love to be one +myself but I'm already so over-committed that it's just not possible +currently.</p> + +<p>I think the best short-term solution to that large-scale problem is +for schools to be pro-active and share their experiences and grow +their skills in-house. I'm often saddened to see how much money +educational institutions spend on 3rd party solutions that they don't +have access to after the service has ended and they could've gotten so +much more value otherwise by being more self-sustainable and +autonomous.</p> + +<p><strong>Which free software do you use daily?</strong></p> + +<p>My main laptop dual-boots between Debian and Windows 7. I was +Windows free for years but started dual-booting again last year for +some games which help me focus and relax (Starcraft II in +particular). Gaming support on Linux is improving in leaps and bounds +so I suppose I'll soon be able to regain that disk space :)</p> + +<p>Besides that I rely on Icedove, Chromium, Terminator, Byobu, irssi, +git, Tomboy, KVM, VLC and LibreOffice. Recently I've been torn on +which desktop environment I like and I'm taking some refuge in Xfce +while I figure that out. I like tools that keep things simple. I enjoy +Python and shell scripting. I went to an Arduino workshop recently and +it was awesome seeing how easy and simple the IDE software was to get +up and running in Debian compared to the users running Windows and OS +X.</p> + +<p>I also use mc which some people frown upon slightly. I got used to +using Norton Commander in the early 90's and it stuck (I think the +people who sneer at it is just jealous that they don't know how to use +it :p) + +<p><strong>Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?</strong></p> + +<p>I think trying to force it is unproductive. I also think that in +many cases it's appropriate for schools to use non-free systems and I +don't think that there's any particular moral or ethical problem with +that.</p> + +<p>I do think though that free software can already solve so so many +problems in educational institutions and it's just a shame not taking +advantage of that.</p> + +<p>I also think that some curricula need serious review. For example, +some areas of the world rely heavily on very specific versions of MS +Office, teaching students to parrot menu items instead of learning the +general concepts. I think that's very unproductive because firstly, MS +Office's interface changes drastically every few years and on top of +that it also locks in a generation to a product that might not be the +best solution for them.</p> + +<p>To answer your question, I believe that the right strategy is to +educate and inform, giving someone the information they require to +make a decision that would work for them.</p> - Bitcoin GUI now available from Debian/unstable (and Ubuntu/raring) - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Bitcoin_GUI_now_available_from_Debian_unstable__and_Ubuntu_raring_.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Bitcoin_GUI_now_available_from_Debian_unstable__and_Ubuntu_raring_.html - Sat, 2 Feb 2013 09:00:00 +0100 - <p>My -<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/How_to_backport_bitcoin_qt_version_0_7_2_2_to_Debian_Squeeze.html">last -bitcoin related blog post</a> mentioned that the new -<a href="http://packages.qa.debian.org/bitcoin">bitcoin package</a> for -Debian was waiting in NEW. It was accepted by the Debian ftp-masters -2013-01-19, and have been available in unstable since then. It was -automatically copied to Ubuntu, and is available in their Raring -version too.</p> - -<p>But there is a strange problem with the build that block this new -version from being available on the i386 and kfreebsd-i386 -architectures. For some strange reason, the autobuilders in Debian -for these architectures fail to run the test suite on these -architectures (<a href="http://bugs.debian.org/672524">BTS #672524</a>). -We are so far unable to reproduce it when building it manually, and -no-one have been able to propose a fix. If you got an idea what is -failing, please let us know via the BTS.</p> - -<p>One feature that is annoying me with of the bitcoin client, because -I often run low on disk space, is the fact that the client will exit -if it run short on space (<a href="http://bugs.debian.org/696715">BTS -#696715</a>). So make sure you have enough disk space when you run -it. :)</p> - -<p>As usual, if you use bitcoin and want to show your support of my -activities, please send Bitcoin donations to my address -<b><a href="bitcoin:15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b&label=PetterReinholdtsenBlog">15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b</a></b>.</p> + Fixing the Linux black screen of death on machines with Intel HD video + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Fixing_the_Linux_black_screen_of_death_on_machines_with_Intel_HD_video.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Fixing_the_Linux_black_screen_of_death_on_machines_with_Intel_HD_video.html + Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0200 + <p>When installing RedHat, Fedora, Debian and Ubuntu on some machines, +the screen just turn black when Linux boot, either during installation +or on first boot from the hard disk. I've seen it once in a while the +last few years, but only recently understood the cause. I've seen it +on HP laptops, and on my latest acquaintance the Packard Bell laptop. +The reason seem to be in the wiring of some laptops. The system to +control the screen background light is inverted, so when Linux try to +turn the brightness fully on, it end up turning it off instead. I do +not know which Linux drivers are affected, but this post is about the +i915 driver used by the +<a href="http://www.linlap.com/packard_bell_easynote_lv">Packard Bell +EasyNote LV</a>, Thinkpad X40 and many other laptops.</p> + +<p>The problem can be worked around two ways. Either by adding +i915.invert_brightness=1 as a kernel option, or by adding a file in +/etc/modprobe.d/ to tell modprobe to add the invert_brightness=1 +option when it load the i915 kernel module. On Debian and Ubuntu, it +can be done by running these commands as root:</p> + +<pre> +echo options i915 invert_brightness=1 | tee /etc/modprobe.d/i915.conf +update-initramfs -u -k all +</pre> + +<p>Since March 2012 there is +<a href="http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=4dca20efb1a9c2efefc28ad2867e5d6c3f5e1955">a +mechanism in the Linux kernel</a> to tell the i915 driver which +hardware have this problem, and get the driver to invert the +brightness setting automatically. To use it, one need to add a row in +<a href="http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c">the +intel_quirks array</a> in the driver source +<tt>drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c</tt> (look for "<tt>static +struct intel_quirk intel_quirks</tt>"), specifying the PCI device +number (vendor number 8086 is assumed) and subdevice vendor and device +number.</p> + +<p>My Packard Bell EasyNote LV got this output from <tt>lspci +-vvnn</tt> for the video card in question:</p> + +<p><pre> +00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation \ + 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller [8086:0156] \ + (rev 09) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller]) + Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:0688] + Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- \ + ParErr- Stepping- SE RR- FastB2B- DisINTx+ + Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- \ + <TAbort- <MAbort->SERR- <PERR- INTx- + Latency: 0 + Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 42 + Region 0: Memory at c2000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M] + Region 2: Memory at b0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M] + Region 4: I/O ports at 4000 [size=64] + Expansion ROM at <unassigned> [disabled] + Capabilities: <access denied> + Kernel driver in use: i915 +</pre></p> + +<p>The resulting intel_quirks entry would then look like this:</p> + +<p><pre> +struct intel_quirk intel_quirks[] = { + ... + /* Packard Bell EasyNote LV11HC needs invert brightness quirk */ + { 0x0156, 0x1025, 0x0688, quirk_invert_brightness }, + ... +} +</pre></p> + +<p>According to the kernel module instructions (as seen using +<tt>modinfo i915</tt>), information about hardware needing the +invert_brightness flag should be sent to the +<a href="http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/dri-devel">dri-devel +(at) lists.freedesktop.org</a> mailing list to reach the kernel +developers. But my email about the laptop sent 2013-06-03 have not +yet shown up in +<a href="http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/dri-devel/2013-June/thread.html">the +web archive for the mailing list</a>, so I suspect they do not accept +emails from non-subscribers. Because of this, I sent my patch also to +the Debian bug tracking system instead as +<a href="http://bugs.debian.org/710938">BTS report #710938</a>, to make +sure the patch is not lost.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, it is not enough to fix the kernel to get Laptops +with this problem working properly with Linux. If you use Gnome, your +worries should be over at this point. But if you use KDE, there is +something in KDE ignoring the invert_brightness setting and turning on +the screen during login. I've reported it to Debian as +<a href="http://bugs.debian.org/711237">BTS report #711237</a>, and +have no idea yet how to figure out exactly what subsystem is doing +this. Perhaps you can help? Perhaps you know what the Gnome +developers did to handle this, and this can give a clue to the KDE +developers? Or you know where in KDE the screen brightness is changed +during login? If so, please update the BTS report (or get in touch if +you do not know how to update BTS).</p> - Welcome to the world, Isenkram! - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Welcome_to_the_world__Isenkram_.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Welcome_to_the_world__Isenkram_.html - Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:00:00 +0100 - <p>Yesterday, I -<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/First_prototype_ready_making_hardware_easier_to_use_in_Debian.html">asked -for testers</a> for my prototype for making Debian better at handling -pluggable hardware devices, which I -<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Lets_make_hardware_dongles_easier_to_use_in_Debian.html">set -out to create</a> earlier this month. Several valuable testers showed -up, and caused me to really want to to open up the development to more -people. But before I did this, I want to come up with a sensible name -for this project. Today I finally decided on a new name, and I have -renamed the project from hw-support-handler to this new name. In the -process, I moved the source to git and made it available as a -<a href="http://anonscm.debian.org/gitweb/?p=collab-maint/isenkram.git">collab-maint</a> -repository in Debian. The new name? It is <strong>Isenkram</strong>. -To fetch and build the latest version of the source, use</p> + Third alpha release of Debian Edu / Skolelinux based on Debian Wheezy + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Third_alpha_release_of_Debian_Edu___Skolelinux_based_on_Debian_Wheezy.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Third_alpha_release_of_Debian_Edu___Skolelinux_based_on_Debian_Wheezy.html + Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:50:00 +0200 + <p>The third wheezy based alpha release of Debian Edu was wrapped up +today. This is the release announcement:</p> + +<p><strong>New features for Debian Edu 7.0.0 alpha2 released +2013-06-10</strong></p> + +<p>This is the release notes for for Debian Edu / Skolelinux 7.0.0 edu +alpha2, based on Debian with codename "Wheezy".</p> + +<p><strong>About Debian Edu and Skolelinux</strong></p> + +<p><a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu, also known as +Skolelinux</a>, is a Linux distribution based on Debian providing an +out-of-the box environment of a completely configured school +network. Immediately after installation a school server running all +services needed for a school network is set up just waiting for users +and machines being added via GOsa², a comfortable Web-UI. A netbooting +environment is prepared using PXE, so after initial installation of +the main server from CD, DVD or USB stick all other machines can be +installed via the network. The provided school server provides LDAP +database and Kerberos authentication service, centralized home +directories, DHCP server, web proxy and many other services. The +desktop contains +<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Educational_applications_included_in_Debian_Edu___Skolelinux__the_screenshot_collection____.html">more +than 60 educational software packages</a> and more are available from +the Debian archive, and schools can choose between KDE, Gnome, LXDE +and Xfce desktop environment.</p> + +<p>This is the third test release based on Debian Wheezy. Basically +this is an updated and slightly improved version compared to the +Squeeze release.</p> + +<p><strong>Software updates</strong></p> -<pre> -git clone http://anonscm.debian.org/git/collab-maint/isenkram.git -cd isenkram && git-buildpackage -us -uc -</pre> +<ul> -<p>I have not yet adjusted all files to use the new name yet. If you -want to hack on the source or improve the package, please go ahead. -But please talk to me first on IRC or via email before you do major -changes, to make sure we do not step on each others toes. :)</p> +<li>Iceweasel was updated from 10 to 17. (DSA 2699-1) +<li>Updated libxv (DSA-2674), libxvmc (DSA-2675), libxfixes (DSA-2676), libxrender (DSA-2677), mesa (DSA-2678), xserver-xorg-video-openchrome (DSA-2679), libxt (DSA-2680), libxcursor (DSA-2681), libxext (DSA-2682), libxi (DSA-2683), libxrandr (DSA-2684), libxp (DSA-2685), libxcb (DSA-2686), libfs (DSA-2687), libxres (DSA-2688), libxtst (DSA-2689), libxxf86dga (DSA-2690), libxinerama (DSA-2691), libxxf86vm (DSA-2692), libx11 (DSA-2693), chromium-browser (DSA-2695), gnutls26 (DSA-2697), wireshark (DSA-2700), krb5 (DSA-2701), telepathy-gabble (DSA-2702) and subversion (DSA-2703). +<li>Switched xrdp on thin client servers to use tightvncserver instead of xvnc4. +<li>Now install software oscilloscope xoscope by default. +<li>Now install music tools gtick, lingot and pianobooster by default. -<p>If you wonder what 'isenkram' is, it is a Norwegian word for iron -stuff, typically meaning tools, nails, screws, etc. Typical hardware -stuff, in other words. I've been told it is the Norwegian variant of -the German word eisenkram, for those that are familiar with that -word.</p> +</ul> + +<p><strong>Other changes</strong></p> + +<ul> + +<li>The subnet-change script is now able to change all files needing a change on the main-server when changing the IP network used. +<li>Updated translation of the installation. +<li>New Romanian translation. +<li>Fix security problem causing root and first user password to no longer show up in /var/cache/debconf/templates.dat. +<li>Fix roaming workstation setup (Closed in libpam-mklocaluser/0.8, libpam-mklocaluser/0.8~deb7u1: #706753: libpam-mklocaluser: Fail to create local user during first login). +<li>Made roaming workstation setup more robust in non-Debian Edu environments. +<li>New script debian-edu-bless to transform a Debian installation to a Debian Edu profile. +<li>Adjust Iceweasel setup to improve performance when $HOME is on NFS. +<li>More testsuite tests. +<li>Make automatic proxy configuration more robust. +<li>Adjust GOsa² GUI configuration. + +<li>Update thin client and diskless workstation setup to work with +LTSP in Wheezy.</li> + +<li>Diskless workstations now run out of the box -- no need to set +them up with GOsa².</li> + +<li>Update IMAP server setup. </li> + +<li>Fix login into Skolelinux Backup Tool (Closed in +slbackup-php/0.4.4-1: #700257: slbackup-php: Fails to submit correctly +entered password). </li> + +</ul> + +<p><strong>Known issues</strong></p> + +<ul> + +<li>DVD binary and source images are not yet ready.</li> + +<li>No mass import of user account data in GOsa (ldif or csv) +available yet (Open in gosa/2.7.4-4: #698840: gosa-plugin-ldapmanager: +missing import feature).</li> + +<li>Missing artwork for the KDE desktop (and probably a few others). </li> + +<li>KDE Debian submenu lacks icons (Closed: #502192: menu-xdg: invents +own icon names instead of using existing). This will remain +unfixed.</li> + +</ul> + +<p><strong>Where to get it</strong></p> + +<p>To download the multiarch netinstall CD release you can use</p> + +<ul> -<p><strong>Update 2013-01-26</strong>: Added -us -us to build -instructions, to avoid confusing people with an error from the signing -process.</p> +<li><a href="ftp://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.0+edu0~a2-CD.iso">ftp://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.0+edu0~a2-CD.iso</a></li> -<p><strong>Update 2013-01-27</strong>: Switch to HTTP URL for the git -clone argument to avoid the need for authentication.</p> +<li><a href="http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.0+edu0~a2-CD.iso">http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.0+edu0~a2-CD.iso</a></li> + +<li>rsync -avzP ftp.skolelinux.org::skolelinux-cd/wheezy/debian-edu-7.0+edu0~a2-CD.iso .</li> + +</ul> + +<p>The MD5SUM of this image is: 27bbcace407743382f3c42c08dbe8178 +<br>The SHA1SUM of this image is: e35f7d7908566cd3075375b3721fa10ee420d419</p> + +<p><strong>How to report bugs</strong></p> + +<p><a href="http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs">http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs</a> - First prototype ready making hardware easier to use in Debian - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/First_prototype_ready_making_hardware_easier_to_use_in_Debian.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/First_prototype_ready_making_hardware_easier_to_use_in_Debian.html - Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0100 - <p>Early this month I set out to try to -<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Lets_make_hardware_dongles_easier_to_use_in_Debian.html">improve -the Debian support for pluggable hardware devices</a>. Now my -prototype is working, and it is ready for a larger audience. To test -it, fetch the -<a href="http://anonscm.debian.org/viewvc/debian-edu/trunk/src/hw-support-handler/">source -from the Debian Edu subversion repository</a>, build and install the -package. You might have to log out and in again activate the -autostart script.</p> - -<p>The design is simple:</p> + Is there a PHP expert in the building? Debian Edu need help! + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Is_there_a_PHP_expert_in_the_building___Debian_Edu_need_help_.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Is_there_a_PHP_expert_in_the_building___Debian_Edu_need_help_.html + Wed, 5 Jun 2013 17:50:00 +0200 + <p>Here is a call for help from the Debian Edu / Skolelinux project. +We have two problems blocking the release of the Wheezy version we +hope to get released soon. The two problems require some with PHP +skills, and we seem to lack anyone with both time and PHP skills in +the project: + +<ol> + +<li>It is impossible to log into the slbackup web interface + (slbackup-php) using the root user and password. This is + <a href="http://bugs.debian.org/700257">BTS report #700257</a>. + This used to work, but stopped working some time since Squeeze. + Perhaps some obsolete PHP feature was used?</li> + +<li>It is not possible to "mass import" user lists in Gosa, neither + using ldif nor using CSV files. The feature was disabled after a + major rewrite of Gosa, and need to be ported to the new system. + This is <a href="http://bugs.debian.org/698840">BTS report + #698840</a>.</li> + +</ol> + +<p>If you can help us, please join us on IRC +(<a href="irc://irc.debian.org/%23debian-edu">#debian-edu on +irc.debian.org</a>) and provide patches via the BTS.</p> + + + + + Debian Edu interview: Cédric Boutillier + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__C_dric_Boutillier.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__C_dric_Boutillier.html + Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0200 + <p>It has been a while since my last English +<a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu and Skolelinux</a> +interview last November. But the developers and translators are still +pulling along to get the Wheezy based release out the door, and this +time I managed to get an interview from one of the French translators +in the project, Cédric Boutillier.</p> + +<p><strong>Who are you, and how do you spend your days?</strong></p> + +<p>I am 34 year old. I live near Paris, France. I am an assistant +professor in probability theory. I spend my daytime teaching +mathematics at the university and doing fundamental research in +probability in connexion with combinatorics and statistical physics.</p> + +<p>I have been involved in the Debian project for a couple of years +and became Debian Developer a few months ago. I am working on Ruby +packaging, publicity and translation.</p> + +<p><strong>How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux / Debian Edu +project?</strong></p> + +<p>I came to the Debian Edu project after a call for translation of +<a href="http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/Documentation/Manuals">the +Debian Edu manual</a> for the release of Debian Edu Squeeze. Since +then, I have been working on updating the French translation of the +manual. + +<p>I had the opportunity to make an installation of Debian Edu in a +virtual machine when I was preparing localised version of some screen +shots for the manual. I was amazed to see it worked out of the box and +how comprehensive the list of software installed by default was.</p> + +<p>What amazed me was the complete network infrastructure directly +ready to use, which can and the nice administration interface provided +by <a href="https://oss.gonicus.de/labs/gosa/">GOsa²</a>. What pleased +me also was the fact that among the software installed by default, +there were many "traditional" educative software to learn languages, +to count, to program... but also software to develop creativity and +artistic skills with music (<a href="http://ardour.org/">Ardour</a>, +<a href="http://audacity.sourceforge.net/">Audacity</a>) and +movies/animation (I was especially thinking of +<a href="http://linuxstopmotion.sourceforge.net/">Stopmotion</a>).</p> + +<p>I am following the development of Debian Edu and am hanging out on +<a href="irc://irc.debian.org/%23debian-edu">#debian-edu</a>. +Unfortunately, I don't much time to get more involved in this +beautiful project.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>For me, the main advantages of Skolelinux/Debian Edu are its +community of experts and its precise documentation, as well as the +fact that it provides a solution ready to use.</p> + +<p>I would add also the fact that it is based on the rock solid Debian +distribution, which ensures stability and provides a huge collection +of educational free software.</p> + +<p><strong>What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?</strong></p> + +<p>Maybe the lack of manpower to do lobbying on the +project. Sometimes, people who need to take decisions concerning IT do +not have all the elements to evaluate properly free software +solutions. The fact that support by a company may be difficult to find +is probably a problem if the school does not have IT personnel.</p> + +<p>One can find support from a company by looking at +<a href="http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/Help/ProfessionalHelp">the +wiki dokumentation</a>, where some countries already have a number of +companies providing support for Debian Edu, like Germany or +Norway. This list is easy to find readily from the manual. However, +for other countries, like France, the list is empty. I guess that +consultants proposing support for Debian would be able to provide some +support for Debian Edu as well.</p> + +<p><strong>Which free software do you use daily?</strong></p> + +<p>I am using the KDE Plasma Desktop. But the pieces of software I use +most runs in a terminal: Mutt and OfflineIMAP for emails, latex for +scientific documents, mpd for music. VIM is my editor of choice. I am +also using the mathematical software +<a href="http://www.scilab.org/en/scilab/about‎">Scilab</a> and +<a href="http://www.sagemath.org/index.html‎">Sage</a> (built from +source as not completely packaged for Debian, yet). + +<p><strong>Do you have any suggestions for teachers interested in +using the free software in Debian to teach mathematics and +statistics?</strong></p> + +<p>I do not have any "nice" recommendations for statistics. At our +university, we use both <a href="http://www.r-project.org/‎">R</a> and +Scilab to teach statistics and probabilistic simulations. For +geometry, there are nice programs:</p> <ul> -<li>Add desktop entry in /usr/share/autostart/ causing a program -hw-support-handlerd to start when the user log in.</li> +<li><a href="http://www.drgeo.eu/">drgeo</a> and +<a href="http://edu.kde.org/applications/all/kig‎">kig</a> to do +constructions in planar geometry -<li>This program listen for kernel events about new hardware (directly -from the kernel like udev does), not using HAL dbus events as I -initially did.</li> +<li><a href="http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/software/download/kali.html">kali</a> +to discover symmetry groups (the so-called wallpapers and frieze +groups), although the interface looks a bit old.</li> -<li>When new hardware is inserted, look up the hardware modalias in -the APT database, a database -<a href="http://anonscm.debian.org/viewvc/debian-edu/trunk/src/hw-support-handler/modaliases?view=markup">available -via HTTP</a> and a database available as part of the package.</li> +</ul> -<li>If a package is mapped to the hardware in question, the package -isn't installed yet and this is the first time the hardware was -plugged in, show a desktop notification suggesting to install the -package or packages.</li> +<p>I like also +<a href="http://edu.kde.org/applications/all/cantor">cantor</a>, which +provides a uniform interface to SciLab, Sage, +<a href="http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Octave‎">Octave</a>, etc...</p> + +<p><strong>Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?</strong></p> -<li>If the user click on the 'install package now' button, ask -aptdaemon via the PackageKit API to install the requrired package.</li> +<p>My suggestions would be to</p> -<li>aptdaemon ask for root password or sudo password, and install the -package while showing progress information in a window.</li> +<ul> -</ul> +<li>advertise the reduction of costs when free software is used.</li> + +<li>communicate about the quality of free software projects, using + well known examples like Firefox, ThunderBird and + OpenOffice.org/LibreOffice.</li> + +<li>advertise the living and strong community around the project.</li> -<p>I still need to come up with a better name for the system. Here -are some screen shots showing the prototype in action. First the -notification, then the password request, and finally the request to -approve all the dependencies. Sorry for the Norwegian Bokmål GUI.</p> - -<p><img src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-01-21-hw-support-1-notification.png"> -<br><img src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-01-21-hw-support-2-password.png"> -<br><img src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-01-21-hw-support-3-dependencies.png"> -<br><img src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-01-21-hw-support-4-installing.png"> -<br><img src="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/images/2013-01-21-hw-support-5-installing-details.png" width="70%"></p> - -<p>The prototype still need to be improved with longer timeouts, but -is already useful. The database of hardware to package mappings also -need more work. It is currently compatible with the Ubuntu way of -storing such information in the package control file, but could be -changed to use other formats instead or in addition to the current -method. I've dropped the use of discover for this mapping, as the -modalias approach is more flexible and easier to use on Linux as long -as the Linux kernel expose its modalias strings directly.</p> - -<p><strong>Update 2013-01-21 16:50</strong>: Due to popular demand, -here is the command required to check out and build the source: Use -'<tt>svn checkout -svn://svn.debian.org/debian-edu/trunk/src/hw-support-handler/; cd -hw-support-handler; debuild</tt>'. If you lack debuild, install the -devscripts package.</p> - -<p><strong>Update 2013-01-23 12:00</strong>: The project is now -renamed to Isenkram and the source moved from the Debian Edu -subversion repository to a Debian collab-maint git repository. See -<a href="http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Welcome_to_the_world__Isenkram_.html">build -instructions</a> for details.</p> +<li>show that it is not more difficult to use than any other + system.</li> + +</ul> - Thank you Thinkpad X41, for your long and trustworthy service - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Thank_you_Thinkpad_X41__for_your_long_and_trustworthy_service.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Thank_you_Thinkpad_X41__for_your_long_and_trustworthy_service.html - Sat, 19 Jan 2013 09:20:00 +0100 - <p>This Christmas my trusty old laptop died. It died quietly and -suddenly in bed. With a quiet whimper, it went completely quiet and -black. The power button was no longer able to turn it on. It was a -IBM Thinkpad X41, and the best laptop I ever had. Better than both -Thinkpads X30, X31, X40, X60, X61 and X61S. Far better than the -Compaq I had before that. Now I need to find a replacement. To keep -going during Christmas, I moved the one year old SSD disk to my old -X40 where it fitted (only one I had left that could use it), but it is -not a durable solution. - -<p>My laptop needs are fairly modest. This is my wishlist from when I -got a new one more than 10 years ago. It still holds true.:)</p> + Åpent møte på onsdag om bruken av Microsoft Exchange ved Universitetet i Oslo + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/_pent_m_te_p__onsdag_om_bruken_av_Microsoft_Exchange_ved_Universitetet_i_Oslo.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/_pent_m_te_p__onsdag_om_bruken_av_Microsoft_Exchange_ved_Universitetet_i_Oslo.html + Mon, 3 Jun 2013 14:00:00 +0200 + <p>Jeg jobber til daglig ved <a href="http://www.uio.no/">Universitetet +i Oslo</a>, en institusjon som lenge har vektlagt verdien av åpne +standarder og fri programvare. Men noe har endret seg, og for en +liten stund tilbake annonserte USIT at dagens fungerende e-postsystemet +basert på fri programvare skulle byttes ut med Microsoft Exchange og +at Microsoft Outlook skulle bli den best fungerende men antagelig ikke +eneste støttede e-postklienten. Annonseringen har ført til flere +protester og <a href="http://folk.uio.no/dssantos/nooutlookatuio/">en +underskriftskampanje</a>, initiert av Diana Santos, der så langt 253 +personer har signert. Prosjektet +<a href="http://www.usit.uio.no/prosjekter/nike/">NIKE (Ny integrert +kalender/e-post)</a> ble initiert for å se på mulige løsninger med +utgangspunkt i at en kombinert epost/kalenderløsning var påkrevd, og +prosjektet +<a href="http://www.usit.uio.no/prosjekter/nike-implementasjon/">NIKE-implementasjon</a> +er igang med å rulle ut MS Exchange ved Universitetet i Oslo.</p> + +<p>For kun kort tid siden ble det annonsert at det blir et åpent møte +med ledelsen hos universitetet i Oslo med disse planene som tema:</p> + +<p>Tid: <strong>Onsdag 2013-06-05 kl. 10:00</strong> +<br>Sted: <strong>9. etasje i Lucy Smiths hus (admin-bygget)</strong></p> + +<p> Det kan være en god plass å stille opp hvis en som meg ikke tror +valget av Microsoft Exchange som sentral epostinfrastruktur er et +heldig valg for Norges ledende forskningsuniversitet, men at en er mer +tjent med å selv +<a href="http://nuug.no/dokumenter/kronikk-friprog-itsikkerhet.shtml">beholde +kontrollen over egen infrastruktur</a>.</p> + +<p>Saken har ført til endel presseoppslag så langt. Her er de jeg har +fått med meg:</p> <ul> -<li>Lightweight (around 1 kg) and small volume (preferably smaller - than A4).</li> -<li>Robust, it will be in my backpack every day.</li> -<li>Three button mouse and a mouse pin instead of touch pad.</li> -<li>Long battery life time. Preferable a week.</li> -<li>Internal WIFI network card.</li> -<li>Internal Twisted Pair network card.</li> -<li>Some USB slots (2-3 is plenty)</li> -<li>Good keyboard - similar to the Thinkpad.</li> -<li>Video resolution at least 1024x768, with size around 12" (A4 paper -size).</li> -<li>Hardware supported by Debian Stable, ie the default kernel and - X.org packages.</li> -<li>Quiet, preferably fan free (or at least not using the fan most of - the time). +<li>2013-05-29 + <a href="http://universitas.no/nyhet/58462/forsvarer-nytt-it-system">Forsvarer + nytt IT-system</a> - Universitas</li> + +<li>2013-05-23 + <a href="http://www.uniforum.uio.no/nyheter/2013/05/uio-innforer-nytt-epost-og-kalendersystem.html">UiO + innfører nytt epost- og kalenderverktøy</a> - Uniforum</li> + + +<li>2013-05-22 + <a href="http://universitas.no/nyhet/58424/protestgruppe-vil-stanse-it-system">Protestgruppe + vil stanse IT-system</a> - Universitas</li> + + +<li>2013-05-15 + <a href="http://www.uniforum.uio.no/leserbrev/2013/uio-ma-ha-kontroll-over-sitt-eget-epostsystem.html">UiO + må ha kontroll over sitt eget epostsystem</a> - Uniforum</li> </ul> -<p>You will notice that there are no RAM and CPU requirements in the -list. The reason is simply that the specifications on laptops the -last 10-15 years have been sufficient for my needs, and I have to look -at other features to choose my laptop. But are there still made as -robust laptops as my X41? The Thinkpad X60/X61 proved to be less -robust, and Thinkpads seem to be heading in the wrong direction since -Lenovo took over. But I've been told that X220 and X1 Carbon might -still be useful.</p> - -<p>Perhaps I should rethink my needs, and look for a pad with an -external keyboard? I'll have to check the -<a href="http://www.linux-laptop.net/">Linux Laptops site</a> for -well-supported laptops, or perhaps just buy one preinstalled from one -of the vendors listed on the <a href="http://linuxpreloaded.com/">Linux -Pre-loaded site</a>.</p> +