X-Git-Url: http://pere.pagekite.me/gitweb/homepage.git/blobdiff_plain/29e0ea99da0e6b37432b2980f458f0cea17687ca..1f159d8c8620e22e9a182facd8041fdfab082a22:/blog/index.html diff --git a/blog/index.html b/blog/index.html index 4a4a7096ab..0a0e425aab 100644 --- a/blog/index.html +++ b/blog/index.html @@ -20,207 +20,133 @@
-
Åpent møte på onsdag om bruken av Microsoft Exchange ved Universitetet i Oslo
-
3rd June 2013
-

Jeg jobber til daglig ved Universitetet -i Oslo, 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 epostsystemet -basert på fri programvare skulle byttes ut med Microsoft Exchange og -at MS Outlook skulle bli den foretrukkede og (antagelig ikke eneste) -støttede epostklienten. Annonseringen har ført til flere protesterer -og en -underskriftskampanje, initiert av Diana Santos, der så langt 253 -personer har signert. Prosjektet -NIKE (Ny integrert -kalender/e-post) ble initiert for å se på mulige løsninger med -utgangspunkt i at en kombinert epost/kalenderløsning var påkrevdt, og -prosjektet -NIKE-implementasjon -er igang med å rulle ut MS Exchange ved Universitetet i Oslo.

- -

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:

- -

Tid: Onsdag 2013-06-05 kl. 10:00 -
Sted: 9. etasje i Lucy Smiths hus (admin-bygget)

- -

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 -beholde -kontrollen over egen infrastruktur.

- -

Saken har ført til endel presseoppslag så langt. Her er de jeg har -fått med meg:

+ +
22nd August 2013
+

The second wheezy based beta release of Debian Edu was wrapped up +today, slightly delayed because of some bugs in the initial Windows +integration fixes . This is the release announcement:

+ +

New features for Debian Edu 7.1+edu0~b1 released 2013-08-22

+ +

These are the release notes for Debian Edu / Skolelinux +7.1+edu0~b1, based on Debian with codename "Wheezy".

+ +

About Debian Edu and Skolelinux

+ +

Debian Edu, also known as +Skolelinux, 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 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 +more +than 60 educational software packages and more are available from +the Debian archive, and schools can choose between KDE, Gnome, LXDE +and Xfce desktop environment.

+ +

This is the sixth test release based on Debian Wheezy. Basically this +is an updated and slightly improved version compared to the Squeeze +release.

+ +

ALERT: Alpha based installations should reinstall or downgrade the +versions of gosa and libpam-mklocaluser to the ones used in this beta +release. Both alpha and beta0 based installations should reinstall or +deal with gosa.conf manually; there are two options: (1) Keep +gosa.conf and edit this file as outlined +on +the mailing list. (2) Accept the new version of gosa.conf and +replace both contained admin password placeholders with the password +hashes found in the old one (backup copy!). In both cases every user +need to change their their password to make sure a password is set for +CIFS access to their home directory.

+ +

Software updates

    -
  • 2013-05-29 - Forsvarer - nytt IT-system - Universitas
  • +
  • Added ssh askpass packages to default installation, to ensure ssh + work also without a attached tty.
  • +
  • Add the command-not-found package to the default installation to + make it easier to figure out where to find missing command line + tools. Please note, that the command 'update-command-not-found' + has to be run as root to actually make it useful (internet access + required).
  • + +
+ +

Other changes

+ +
    -
  • 2013-05-23 - UiO - innfører nytt epost- og kalenderverktøy - Uniforum
  • +
  • Adjusted the USB stick ISO image build to include every tool +needed for desktop=xfce installations.
  • +
  • Adjust thin-client-server task to work when installing from USB +stick ISO image.
  • +
  • Made new grub artwork (changed png from indexed to RGB format).
  • +
  • Minor cleanup in the CUPS setup.
  • +
  • Make sure that bootstrapping of the Samba domain really happens + during installation of the main server and adjust SID handling to + cope with this.
  • +
  • Make Samba passwords changeable (again) via GOsa².
  • +
  • Fix generation of LM and NT password hashes via GOsa² to avoid + empty password hashes.
  • +
  • Adapted Samba machine domain joining to latest change in the + smbldap-tools Perl package, fixing bugs blocking Windows machines + from joining the Samba domain.
  • +
-
  • 2013-05-22 - Protestgruppe - vil stanse IT-system - Universitas
  • +

    Known issues

    +
      -
    • 2013-05-15 - UiO - mÃ¥ ha kontroll over sitt eget epostsystem - Uniforum
    • +
    • KDE fails to understand the wpad.dat file provided, causing it to + not use the http proxy as it should.
    • +
    • Chromium also fails to use the proxy when using the KDE desktop + (using the KDE configuration).
    +

    Where to get it

    -
    -
    - - - Tags: norsk, standard. - - -
    -
    -
    - -
    - -
    1st June 2013
    -

    Included in Debian Edu / -Skolelinux, there are quite a lot of educational software. -Created to help teachers teach, and pupils learn. We have tried to -tag them all using debtags use::learning and role::program, and using -the debtags I was happy to be able to create a collage of the -educational software packages installed by default, sorted by the -debtag field. Here it is. Click on a image to learn more about the -program.

    - - - -

    field::arts

    -

    -audacity -childsplay -denemo -freebirth -gcompris -gimp -hydrogen -lilypond -lmms -rosegarden -scribus -solfege -stopmotion -tuxpaint -

    +

    To download the multiarch netinstall CD release you can use

    -

    field::astronomy

    -

    -celestia-gnome -gpredict -kstars -planets -stellarium -xplanet -

    + -

    field::linguistics

    -

    -gcompris -kanagram -khangman -klettres -parley -

    +

    The MD5SUM of this image is: 1e357f80b55e703523f2254adde6d78b +
    The SHA1SUM of this image is: 7157f9be5fd27c7694d713c6ecfed61c3edda3b2

    -

    field::mathematics

    -

    -childsplay -drgeo -gcompris -geogebra -[geomview] -grace -graphmonkey -graphthing -kalgebra -kbruch -kig -kmplot -mathwar -rocs -scratch -tuxmath -xabacus -

    +

    To download the multiarch USB stick ISO release you can use

    -

    field::physics

    -

    -gcompris -step -

    + + +

    The MD5SUM of this image is: 7a8408ead59cf7e3cef25afb6e91590b +
    The SHA1SUM of this image is: f1817c031f02790d5edb3bfa0dcf8451088ad119

    -

    field::TODO

    -

    -blinken -cgoban -childsplay -gcompris -gnuchess -gnugo -gtans -ktouch -librecad -scratch -

    -

    In total, 61 applications. 3 of them lacked screen shots on -screenshot.debian.net. If -you know of some packages we should install by default, please let us -know on IRC, #debian-edu -on irc.debian.org, or our -mailing list -debian-edu@.

    +

    How to report bugs

    + +

    http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs

    @@ -233,90 +159,29 @@ debian-edu@.

    - -
    27th May 2013
    -

    Two days ago, I asked -how -I could install Linux on a Packard Bell EasyNote LV computer -preinstalled with Windows 8. I found a solution, but am horrified -with the obstacles put in the way of Linux users on a laptop with UEFI -and Windows 8.

    - -

    I never found out if the cause of my problems were the use of UEFI -secure booting or fast boot. I suspect fast boot was the problem, -causing the firmware to boot directly from HD without considering any -key presses and alternative devices, but do not know UEFI settings -enough to tell.

    - -

    There is no way to install Linux on the machine in question without -opening the box and disconnecting the hard drive! This is as far as I -can tell, the only way to get access to the firmware setup menu -without accepting the Windows 8 license agreement. I am told (and -found description on how to) that it is possible to configure the -firmware setup once booted into Windows 8. But as I believe the terms -of that agreement are completely unacceptable, accepting the license -was never an alternative. I do not enter agreements I do not intend -to follow.

    - -

    I feared I had to return the laptops and ask for a refund, and -waste many hours on this, but luckily there was a way to get it to -work. But I would not recommend it to anyone planning to run Linux on -it, and I have become sceptical to Windows 8 certified laptops. Is -this the way Linux will be forced out of the market place, by making -it close to impossible for "normal" users to install Linux without -accepting the Microsoft Windows license terms? Or at least not -without risking to loose the warranty?

    - -

    I've updated the -Linux Laptop -wiki page for Packard Bell EasyNote LV, to ensure the next person -do not have to struggle as much as I did to get Linux into the -machine.

    - -

    Thanks to Bob Rosbag, Florian Weimer, Philipp Kern, Ben Hutching, -Michael Tokarev and others for feedback and ideas.

    -
    -
    - - - Tags: debian, english. - - -
    -
    -
    - -
    - -
    25th May 2013
    -

    I've run into quite a problem the last few days. I bought three -new laptops for my parents and a few others. I bought Packard Bell -Easynote LV to run Kubuntu on and use as their home computer. But I -am completely unable to figure out how to install Linux on it. The -computer is preinstalled with Windows 8, and I suspect it uses UEFI -instead of a BIOS to boot.

    - -

    The problem is that I am unable to get it to PXE boot, and unable -to get it to boot the Linux installer from my USB stick. I have yet -to try the DVD install, and still hope it will work. when I turn on -the computer, there is no information on what buttons to press to get -the normal boot menu. I expect to get some boot menu to select PXE or -USB stick booting. When booting, it first ask for the language to -use, then for some regional settings, and finally if I will accept the -Windows 8 terms of use. As these terms are completely unacceptable to -me, I have no other choice but to turn off the computer and try again -to get it to boot the Linux installer.

    - -

    I have gathered my findings so far on a Linlap page about the -Packard Bell -EasyNote LV model. If you have any idea how to get Linux -installed on this machine, please get in touch or update that wiki -page. If I can't find a way to install Linux, I will have to return -the laptop to the seller and find another machine for my parents.

    - -

    I wonder, is this the way Linux will be forced out of the market -using UEFI and "secure boot" by making it impossible to install Linux -on new Laptops?

    + +
    18th August 2013
    +

    Earlier, I reported about +my +problems using an Intel SSD 520 Series 180 GB disk. Friday I was +told by IBM that the original disk should be thrown away. And as +there no longer was a problem if I bricked the firmware, I decided +today to try to install Intel firmware to replace the Lenovo firmware +currently on the disk.

    + +

    I searched the Intel site for firmware, and found +issdfut_2.0.4.iso +(aka Intel SATA Solid-State Drive Firmware Update Tool) which +according to the site should contain the latest firmware for SSD +disks. I inserted the broken disk in one of my spare laptops and +booted the ISO from a USB stick. The disk was recognized, but the +program claimed the newest firmware already were installed and refused +to insert any Intel firmware. So no change, and the disk is still +unable to handle write load. :( I guess the only way to get them +working would be if Lenovo releases new firmware. No idea how likely +that is. Anyway, just blogging about this test for completeness. I +got a working Samsung disk, and see no point in spending more time on +the broken disks.

    @@ -329,127 +194,57 @@ on new Laptops?

    - -
    24th May 2013
    -

    En ting -Skolelinux-prosjektet har -hatt mye glede av er studentprosjekter. F.eks. er -stillbildeanimasjonssystemet -Stopmotion resultat av et studentprosjekt i Skolelinux. De siste -månedene har en ivrig student veiledet av Marius Kotsbak i -FRiSK testet hva en -kan få til med en datamaskin til NOK 400,- (antagelig 1700,- med -skjerm, tastatur og mus) når det brukes i Skolelinux. Jeg spurte han -om et intervju.

    - -

    Hvem er du, og hva driver du med til daglig?

    - -

    Jeg heter Nirosan Thiyagalingam. Jeg er 24 år og studerer -dataingeniør studiet ved Høgskolen i Sør Trøndelag. Interessen for -data har siden ung alder vært tilstede og jeg har i tillegg alltid -vært glad i å lære nye ting. Med teknologi som endres svært hurtig er -det alltid noe nytt å lære. Noe som igjen har gjort det svært -interessant å følge med på utviklingen. Jeg valgte dataingeniør -studiet grunnet ønske om å lære enda mer om programmering og utvikling -av store systemer.

    - -

    Hvordan kom du i kontakt med Skolelinux-prosjektet?

    - -

    Skolelinux prosjektet hørte jeg først om i media. Men det var først -når jeg skulle velge bacheloroppgave at jeg fattet mer interesse for -prosjektet. Et enkelt søk på nettet førte meg til skolelinux sine -hjemmesider. Informasjonen jeg fant der gjorde meg enda nysgjerrig og -jeg valgte derfor en oppgave som gikk ut på å få en -Raspberry PI. Altså en -ultra-billig datamaskin til å kjøre Debian Edu på lik linje med -vanlige datamaskiner. I løpet av prosjektet ble det gjort mye -forskning på nettet. Det var mye jeg måtte forstå rundt hvordan -operativsystemet Linux fungerte før jeg kunne angripe -problemet. Prøvde først å finne ut hvordan man kunne transformere en -vanlig installasjon av Skolelinux til Raspberry PI, men dette var -altfor vanskelig å jeg endte opp med mer spørsmål enn svar. Det ble -videre opprettet kontakt med Skolelinux utviklere på IRC der jeg fikk -diskutert hvilken retning jeg burde gå for å få til en fullverdig -løsning. Det ble bestemt at jeg skulle gå for å først installere -Raspian. Dette er et -operativsystem basert på Debian spesiallaget for Raspberry Pi sin -maskinvare. Nå som Debian var installert på datamaskinen gjenstod det -å installere de nødvendige Skolelinux pakkene for å få til et -fullverdig system. Disse pakkene ble installert manuelt i første -omgang, men ble senere installert automatisk via et script som Petter -Reinholdtsen laget. Dette scriptet er så enkel å bruke at man er i -gang med installasjonen i løpet av bare 5 minutter. Ikke nok med det, -alt skjer helt automatisk. Alt i alt er jeg veldig fornøyd med -resultatet av installasjonsprosessen. Raspberry Pi er en veldig svak -maskin og det merkes godt når man har installert Skolelinux på -den. Video og 3D-rendering fungerer utrolig dårlig, men nettsurfing og -kontorprogrammer fungerer godt. Det kan derfor konkluderes med at -datamaskinen er egnet for enkle oppgaver. - -

    Jeg syns det er viktig påpeke at dette kun er startfasen av en slik -løsning. På markedet finnes det nå maskiner som har bedre hardware enn -Raspberry Pi. Det er store muligheter for at man kan klare å -installere Skolelinux på disse også, og da forsvinner nok mest -sannsynlig ytelsesproblemene med Video og 3D rendering også.

    - -

    Det ble også prøvd med en løsning som gjorde at Raspberry Pi -fungerte som en tynnklient. Denne løsningen hadde langt bedre ytelse -med tanke på hastighet og brukeropplevelse. Men også her var video og -3D rendering dårlig. Det ble brukt en liten Linux distribusjon kalt -BerryTerminal for å få til -dette.

    - -

    Hva er fordelene med Skolelinux slik du ser det?

    - -

    Fordelen med Skolelinux er mange. At det er gratis er en stor -fordel, men at det er så mange som er med på å utvikle det og -vedlikeholde det er en enda større fordel. Allerede før jeg startet -med prosjektet så jeg mange fordeler, og når jeg nærmet meg sluttfasen -så jeg langt flere. At prosjektet skulle inneha en så høy kvalitet -hadde jeg aldri trodd. En vanlig Skolelinux installasjon har de -nødvendige programmene og funksjonen som både små og store skoler i -tillegg til organisasjoner kan klare seg med. At prosjektet tilbyr en -så komplett løsning er en kjempefordel. Installasjonen er knirkefri -og det er svært enkelt å installere og komme i gang.

    - -

    Hva er ulempene med Skolelinux slik du ser det?

    - -

    Ulempene jeg ser med prosjektet er ryddigheten av websidene. Selv -om websidene er enkle og konsise er det allikevel ikke appellerende i -like stor grad som for eksempel -Ubuntu sine sider. Deres side -tilbyr, i tillegg til godt design og presentasjon, en nettbasert -emulator av deres operativsystem. Dette er en stor fordel slik jeg ser -det. Bortsett fra dette ser jeg absolutt ingen ulemper med -Skolelinux-prosjektet.

    - -

    Hvilken fri programvare bruker du til daglig?

    - -

    Til daglig er jeg en flittig bruker av det åpne media -sentersystemet XBMC. Det enorme -samfunnet rundt dette prosjektet har gjort dette til et program som -dekker alles behov. Man kan tilpasse det akkurat slik man vil både med -tanke på utseende og funksjoner ved installere plug-ins eller -scripts.

    - -

    Hvilken strategi tror du er den rette å bruke for å få -skoler til å ta i bruk fri programvare?

    - -

    Strategien som burde brukes sett fra mine øyne er -markedsføring. Jeg er sikker på at om flere skoler fikk et lite innsyn -i hvor bra Skolelinux er så ville de ikke nølt med å gå over fra noe -annet som koster de store summer. At skolelinux til de grader tilbyr -en så komplett løsning bure komme frem. Enten via reklamekampanjer -eller ved å sende ut folk til skoler for så å la skolenettverk -ansvarlige få teste ut hvordan Skolelinux fungerer i praksis. Om det -i tillegg ble utviklet gode websider og en emulator for å la brukere -prøve operativsystemet ville nok dette ha styrket inntrykket -betraktelig.

    + +
    2nd August 2013
    +

    It has been a while since my last update. Since last summer, I +have worked on a Norwegian +docbook version of the 2004 book +Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig, +to get a Norwegian text explaining the problems with the copyright +law. Yesterday, I finally broken the 90% mark, when counting the +number of strings to translate. Due to real life constraints, I have +not had time to work on it since March, but when the summer broke out, +I found time to work on it again. Still lots of work left, but the +first draft is nearing completion. I created a graph to show the +progress of the translation:

    + +

    + +

    When the first draft is done, the translated text need to be +proof read, and the remaining formatting problems with images and SVG +drawings need to be fixed. There are probably also some index entries +missing that need to be added. This can be done by comparing the +index entries listed in the SiSU version of the book, or comparing the +English docbook version with the paper version. Last, the colophon +page with ISBN numbers etc need to be wrapped up before the release is +done. I should also figure out how to get correct Norwegian sorting +of the index pages. All docbook tools I have tried so far (xmlto, +docbook-xsl, dblatex) get the order of symbols and the special +Norwegian letters ÆØÅ wrong.

    + +

    There is still need for translators and people with docbook +knowledge, to be able to get a good looking book (I still struggle +with dblatex, xmlto and docbook-xsl) as well as to do the draft +translation and proof reading. And I would like the figures to be +redrawn as SVGs to make it easy to translate them. Any SVG master +around? There are also some legal terms that are unfamiliar to me. +If you want to help, please get in touch with me, and check out the +project files currently available from +github.

    + +

    If you are curious what the translated book currently look like, +the updated +PDF +and +EPUB +are published on github. The HTML version is published as well, but +github hand it out with MIME type text/plain, confusing browsers, so I +saw no point in linking to that version.

    @@ -457,179 +252,132 @@ betraktelig.

    - -
    17th May 2013
    -

    Debian Edu / Skolelinux is -an operating system based on Debian intended for use in schools. It -contain a turn-key solution for the computer network provided to -pupils in the primary schools. It provide both the central server, -network boot servers and desktop environments with heaps of -educational software. The project was founded almost 12 years ago, -2001-07-02. If you want to support the project, which is in need for -cash to fund developer gatherings and other project related activity, -please -donate some money. - -

    A topic that come up again and again on the Debian Edu mailing -lists and elsewhere, is the question on how to transform a Debian or -Ubuntu installation into a Debian Edu installation. It isn't very -hard, and last week I wrote a script to replicate the steps done by -the Debian Edu installer.

    - -

    The script, -debian-edu-bless -in the debian-edu-config package, will go through these six steps and -transform an existing Debian Wheezy or Ubuntu (untested) installation -into a Debian Edu Workstation:

    - -
      - -
    1. Add skolelinux related APT sources.
    2. -
    3. Create /etc/debian-edu/config with the wanted configuration.
    4. -
    5. Install debian-edu-install to load preseeding values and pull in - our configuration.
    6. -
    7. Preseed debconf database with profile setup in - /etc/debian-edu/config, and run tasksel to install packages - according to the profile specified in the config above, - overriding some of the Debian automation machinery.
    8. -
    9. Run debian-edu-cfengine-D installation to configure everything - that could not be done using preseeding.
    10. -
    11. Ask for a reboot to enable all the configuration changes.
    12. - -
    - -

    There are some steps in the Debian Edu installation that can not be -replicated like this. Disk partitioning and LVM setup, for example. -So this script just assume there is enough disk space to install all -the needed packages.

    - -

    The script was created to help a Debian Edu student working on -setting up Raspberry Pi as a -Debian Edu client, and using it he can take the existing -Raspbian installation and -transform it into a fully functioning Debian Edu Workstation (or -Roaming Workstation, or whatever :).

    - -

    The default setting in the script is to create a KDE Workstation. -If a LXDE based Roaming workstation is wanted instead, modify the -PROFILE and DESKTOP values at the top to look like this instead:

    - -

    -PROFILE="Roaming-Workstation"
    -DESKTOP="lxde"
    -

    - -

    The script could even become useful to set up Debian Edu servers in -the cloud, by starting with a virtual Debian installation at some -virtual hosting service and setting up all the services on first -boot.

    -
    -
    - - - Tags: debian, debian edu, english. - - -
    -
    -
    - -
    - -
    14th May 2013
    -

    The Debian Edu / Skolelinux -project is making great progress and made its second Wheezy based -release today. This is the release announcement:

    + +
    27th July 2013
    +

    The first wheezy based beta release of Debian Edu was wrapped up +today. This is the release announcement:

    -

    New features for Debian Edu 7.0.0 alpha1 released -2013-05-14

    +

    New features for Debian Edu 7.1+edu0~b0 released +2013-07-27

    -

    This is the release notes for for Debian Edu / Skolelinux 7.0.0 edu -alpha1, based on Debian with -codename "Wheezy".

    +

    These are the release notes for for Debian Edu / Skolelinux +7.1+edu0~b0, based on Debian with codename "Wheezy".

    About Debian Edu and Skolelinux

    -

    Debian Edu, also known as Skolelinux, is a Linux distribution based -on Debian providing an out-of-the box environment of a completely -configured school network. Immediatly 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.

    - -

    This is the first test release based on Wheezy (which currently is -not released yet). Basically this is an updated and slightly improved -version compared to the Squeeze release.

    +

    Debian Edu, also known as +Skolelinux, 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 +more +than 60 educational software packages and more are available from +the Debian archive, and schools can choose between KDE, Gnome, LXDE +and Xfce desktop environment.

    + +

    This is the fifth test release based on Debian Wheezy. Basically +this is an updated and slightly improved version compared to the +Squeeze release.

    + +

    ALERT: Alpha based installations should reinstall or downgrade the +versions of gosa and libpam-mklocaluser to the ones used in this beta +release.

    Software updates

    +
      -
    • Install freemind (0.9.0) by default, and stop installing vym by - default.
    • -
    • Install chromium (26.0.1410.43) by default.
    • -
    • Install goplay (0.5-1.1) to make golearn available by default.
    • -
    • Updated support for Japanese input methods, now based on - ibus-anthy.
    • + +
    • Switched roaming workstation profiles from wicd to network-manager + for network configuration, as wicd didn't work any more.
    • +
    • Changed version numbers of patched gosa and libpam-mklocaluser + packages to make sure our locally patched versions will be replaced + by the official packages when they are released from Debian. Those + installing alpha version need to reinstall or manually downgrade gosa + and libpam-mklocaluser.
    • +
    • Added bluetooth tools to the default desktop (bluedevil, blueman).
    • +
    • Added tools for sharing the desktop on KDE (krdc, krfb).
    • +
    • Added valgrind to the default installation for easier debugging of + crash bugs.
    • +

    Other changes

    +
      -
    • Switched default file system from ext3 to ext4 for speed and - reliability improvements.
    • -
    • Got rid of unwanted winbind daemon and PAM setup activated because - of 706434.
    • -
    • Extended and improved the testsuite tests to detect more possible - problems.
    • -
    • Corrected proxy handling to not set http_proxy to a bogus - direct:// URL.
    • -
    • Corrected proxy setup for diskless workstations.
    • -
    • Corrected PXE setup to use our updated udebs during installation.
    • -
    • Made installation handling of low entropy level more robust.
    • -
    • Create larger partitions for Roaming workstations and Thin client - servers, to make room for all the software installed.
    • -
    • Fix bug in Roaming workstation PAM setup, making it impossible to - log in (706753).
    • +
    • Fixed artwork package to work with gnome, no longer break + desktop=gnome installations.
    • +
    • Adjusted installer to now work when forced to use a proxy with the + netinst CD.
    • +
    • Fixed code detecting and setting/loading hardware specific + setup/firmware to work more robust out of the box.
    • +
    • Adjusted Kerberos setup to detect realm and server settings at + install time instead of dynamically at run time. This avoid a crash + with krb5-auth-dialog on diskless workstations without a DNS name.
    • +
    • Worked around misfeature in network-manager not calling the dhclient + exit hooks, causing automatic proxy configuration and automatic host + name setting at run time to work again.
    • +
    • Fixed feature setting the default Iceweasel start page from URL + fetched from LDAP, to allow schools to set the global default by + updating the dc=skole,dc=skolelinux,dc=no LDAP object.
    • +
    • Changed default host name on all networked machines to be unique + (generated from MAC or reverse DNS) after boot.
    • +
    • Adjusted partition sizes to make sure they are big enough.
    • +

    Known issues

    +
      -
    • IP resolution for the local hostname give useless IPv6 address - (705900). Only install - libnss-myhostname on roaming workstations until it is fixed.
    • -
    • DVD images are not yet ready.
    • -
    • No mass import of user account data in GOsa (ldif or csv) - available yet (698840).
    • -
    • Missing artwork for the KDE desktop (and probably a few others).
    • -
    • KDE Debian submenu lacks icons.
    • -
    • LXDE menu lacks entry for changing GOsa password - (website). Installing gosa-desktop will be an option.
    • -
    • Backup configuration via web interface is impossible due to - password submission problem - (700257).
    • +
    • Grub is missing the new artwork.
    • +
    • KDE fail to understand the wpad.dat file provided, causing it to + not use the http proxy as it should.
    • +
    • Chromium also fail to use the proxy.

    Where to get it

    To download the multiarch netinstall CD release you can use

    + + + +

    The MD5SUM of this image is: 55d5de9765b6dccd5d9ec33cf1a07109 +
    The SHA1SUM of this image is: 996a1d9517740e4d627d100de2d12b23dd545a3f

    + +

    To download the multiarch USB stick ISO release you can use

    + -

    The MD5SUM of this image is: 685ed76c1aa8e44b12d3fde21faf450b

    +

    The MD5SUM of this image is: d8f0818c51a78d357de794066f289f69 +
    The SHA1SUM of this image is: 49185ca354e8d0543240423746924f76a6cee733

    -

    The SHA1SUM of this image is: 6c874de157024da13e115bab29c068080a11ec4c

    How to report bugs

    -

    http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs

    +

    http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs

    @@ -642,47 +390,274 @@ version compared to the Squeeze release.

    - -
    11th May 2013
    -

    In January, -I -announced a new IRC -channel #debian-lego, for those of us in the Debian and Linux -community interested in LEGO, the -marvellous construction system from Denmark. We also created -a wiki page to have -a place to take notes and write down our plans and hopes. And several -people showed up to help. I was very happy to see the effect of my -call. Since the small start, we have a debtags tag -hardware::hobby:lego -tag for LEGO related packages, and now count 10 packages related to -LEGO and Mindstorms:

    - -

    - - - - - - - - - - -
    brickosalternative OS for LEGO Mindstorms RCX. Supports development in C/C++
    leocadvirtual brick CAD software
    libnxtutility library for talking to the LEGO Mindstorms NX
    lnpddaemon for LNP communication with BrickOS
    nbccompiler for LEGO Mindstorms NXT bricks
    nqcNot Quite C compiler for LEGO Mindstorms RCX
    python-nxtpython driver/interface/wrapper for the Lego Mindstorms NXT robot
    python-nxt-filersimple GUI to manage files on a LEGO Mindstorms NXT
    scratcheasy to use programming environment for ages 8 and up
    t2nsimple command-line tool for Lego NXT

    - -

    Some of these are available in Wheezy, and all but one are -currently available in Jessie/testing. leocad is so far only -available in experimental.

    - -

    If you care about LEGO in Debian, please join us on IRC and help -adding the rest of the great free software tools available on Linux -for LEGO designers.

    + +
    17th July 2013
    +

    Today I switched to +my +new laptop. I've previously written about the problems I had with +my new Thinkpad X230, which was delivered with an +180 +GB Intel SSD disk with Lenovo firmware that did not handle +sustained writes. My hardware supplier have been very forthcoming in +trying to find a solution, and after first trying with another +identical 180 GB disks they decided to send me a 256 GB Samsung SSD +disk instead to fix it once and for all. The Samsung disk survived +the installation of Debian with encrypted disks (filling the disk with +random data during installation killed the first two), and I thus +decided to trust it with my data. I have installed it as a Debian Edu +Wheezy roaming workstation hooked up with my Debian Edu Squeeze main +server at home using Kerberos and LDAP, and will use it as my work +station from now on.

    + +

    As this is a solid state disk with no moving parts, I believe the +Debian Wheezy default installation need to be tuned a bit to increase +performance and increase life time of the disk. The Linux kernel and +user space applications do not yet adjust automatically to such +environment. To make it easier for my self, I created a draft Debian +package ssd-setup to handle this tuning. The +source +for the ssd-setup package is available from collab-maint, and it +is set up to adjust the setup of the machine by just installing the +package. If there is any non-SSD disk in the machine, the package +will refuse to install, as I did not try to write any logic to sort +file systems in SSD and non-SSD file systems.

    + +

    I consider the package a draft, as I am a bit unsure how to best +set up Debian Wheezy with an SSD. It is adjusted to my use case, +where I set up the machine with one large encrypted partition (in +addition to /boot), put LVM on top of this and set up partitions on +top of this again. See the README file in the package source for the +references I used to pick the settings. At the moment these +parameters are tuned:

    + +
      + +
    • Set up cryptsetup to pass TRIM commands to the physical disk + (adding discard to /etc/crypttab)
    • + +
    • Set up LVM to pass on TRIM commands to the underlying device (in + this case a cryptsetup partition) by changing issue_discards from + 0 to 1 in /etc/lvm/lvm.conf.
    • + +
    • Set relatime as a file system option for ext3 and ext4 file + systems.
    • + +
    • Tell swap to use TRIM commands by adding 'discard' to + /etc/fstab.
    • + +
    • Change I/O scheduler from cfq to deadline using a udev rule.
    • + +
    • Run fstrim on every ext3 and ext4 file system every night (from + cron.daily).
    • + +
    • Adjust sysctl values vm.swappiness to 1 and vm.vfs_cache_pressure + to 50 to reduce the kernel eagerness to swap out processes.
    • + +
    + +

    During installation, I cancelled the part where the installer fill +the disk with random data, as this would kill the SSD performance for +little gain. My goal with the encrypted file system is to ensure +those stealing my laptop end up with a brick and not a working +computer. I have no hope in keeping the really resourceful people +from getting the data on the disk (see +XKCD #538 for an explanation why). +Thus I concluded that adding the discard option to crypttab is the +right thing to do.

    + +

    I considered using the noop I/O scheduler, as several recommended +it for SSD, but others recommended deadline and a benchmark I found +indicated that deadline might be better for interactive use.

    + +

    I also considered using the 'discard' file system option for ext3 +and ext4, but read that it would give a performance hit ever time a +file is removed, and thought it best to that that slowdown once a day +instead of during my work.

    + +

    My package do not set up tmpfs on /var/run, /var/lock and /tmp, as +this is already done by Debian Edu.

    + +

    I have not yet started on the user space tuning. I expect +iceweasel need some tuning, and perhaps other applications too, but +have not yet had time to investigate those parts.

    + +

    The package should work on Ubuntu too, but I have not yet tested it +there.

    + +

    As for the answer to the question in the title of this blog post, +as far as I know, the only solution I know about is to replace the +disk. It might be possible to flash it with Intel firmware instead of +the Lenovo firmware. But I have not tried and did not want to do so +without approval from Lenovo as I wanted to keep the warranty on the +disk until a solution was found and they wanted the broken disks +back.

    +
    +
    + + + Tags: debian, english. + + +
    +
    +
    + +
    + +
    10th July 2013
    +

    A few days ago, I wrote about +the +problems I experienced with my new X230 and its SSD disk, which +was dying during installation because it is unable to cope with +sustained write. My supplier is in contact with +Lenovo, and they wanted to send a +replacement disk to try to fix the problem. They decided to send an +identical model, so my hopes for a permanent fix was slim.

    + +

    Anyway, today I got the replacement disk and tried to install +Debian Edu Wheezy with encrypted disk on it. The new disk have the +same firmware version as the original. This time my hope raised +slightly as the installation progressed, as the original disk used to +die after 4-7% of the disk was written to, while this time it kept +going past 10%, 20%, 40% and even past 50%. But around 60%, the disk +died again and I was back on square one. I still do not have a new +laptop with a disk I can trust. I can not live with a disk that might +lock up when I download a new +Debian Edu / Skolelinux ISO or +other large files. I look forward to hearing from my supplier with +the next proposal from Lenovo.

    + +

    The original disk is marked Intel SSD 520 Series 180 GB, +11S0C38722Z1ZNME35X1TR, ISN: CVCV321407HB180EGN, SA: G57560302, FW: +LF1i, 29MAY2013, PBA: G39779-300, LBA 351,651,888, LI P/N: 0C38722, +Pb-free 2LI, LC P/N: 16-200366, WWN: 55CD2E40002756C4, Model: +SSDSC2BW180A3L 2.5" 6Gb/s SATA SSD 180G 5V 1A, ASM P/N 0C38732, FRU +P/N 45N8295, P0C38732.

    + +

    The replacement disk is marked Intel SSD 520 Series 180 GB, +11S0C38722Z1ZNDE34N0L0, ISN: CVCV315306RK180EGN, SA: G57560-302, FW: +LF1i, 22APR2013, PBA: G39779-300, LBA 351,651,888, LI P/N: 0C38722, +Pb-free 2LI, LC P/N: 16-200366, WWN: 55CD2E40000AB69E, Model: +SSDSC2BW180A3L 2.5" 6Gb/s SATA SSD 180G 5V 1A, ASM P/N 0C38732, FRU +P/N 45N8295, P0C38732.

    + +

    The only difference is in the first number (serial number?), ISN, +SA, date and WNPP values. Mentioning all the details here in case +someone is able to use the information to find a way to identify the +failing disk among working ones (if any such working disk actually +exist).

    +
    +
    + + + Tags: debian, english. + + +
    +
    +
    + +
    + +
    9th July 2013
    +

    The upcoming Saturday, 2013-07-13, we are organising a combined +Debian Edu developer gathering and Debian and Ubuntu bug squashing +party in Oslo. It is organised by the +member assosiation NUUG and +the Debian Edu / Skolelinux +project together with the hack space +Bitraf.

    + +

    It starts 10:00 and continue until late evening. Everyone is +welcome, and there is no fee to participate. There is on the other +hand limited space, and only room for 30 people. Please put your name +on the event +wiki page if you plan to join us.

    +
    +
    + + + Tags: debian, debian edu, english, nuug. + + +
    +
    +
    + +
    + +
    5th July 2013
    +

    Half a year ago, I reported that I had to find a +replacement +for my trusty old Thinkpad X41. Unfortunately I did not have much +time to spend on it, and it took a while to find a model I believe +will do the job, but two days ago the replacement finally arrived. I +ended up picking a +Thinkpad X230 +with SSD disk (NZDAJMN). I first test installed Debian Edu Wheezy as +a roaming workstation, and it seemed to work flawlessly. But my +second installation with encrypted disk was not as successful. More +on that below.

    + +

    I had a hard time trying to track down a good laptop, as my most +important requirements (robust and with a good keyboard) are never +listed in the feature list. But I did get good help from the search +feature at Prisjakt, which +allowed me to limit the list of interesting laptops based on my other +requirements. A bit surprising that SSD disk are not disks according +to that search interface, so I had to drop specifying the number of +disks from my search parameters. I also asked around among friends to +get their impression on keyboards and robustness.

    + +

    So the new laptop arrived, and it is quite a lot wider than the +X41. I am not quite convinced about the keyboard, as it is +significantly wider than my old keyboard, and I have to stretch my +hand a lot more to reach the edges. But the key response is fairly +good and the individual key shape is fairly easy to handle, so I hope +I will get used to it. My old X40 was starting to fail, and I really +needed a new laptop now. :)

    + +

    Turning off the touch pad was simple. All it took was a quick +visit to the BIOS during boot it disable it.

    + +

    But there is a fatal problem with the laptop. The 180 GB SSD disk +lock up during load. And this happen when installing Debian Wheezy +with encrypted disk, while the disk is being filled with random data. +I also tested to install Ubuntu Raring, and it happen there too if I +reenable the code to fill the disk with random data (it is disabled by +default in Ubuntu). And the bug with is already known. It was +reported to Debian as BTS +report #691427 2012-10-25 (journal commit I/O error on brand-new +Thinkpad T430s ext4 on lvm on SSD). It is also reported to the Linux +kernel developers as +Kernel bugzilla +report #51861 2012-12-20 (Intel SSD 520 stops working under load +(SSDSC2BW180A3L in Lenovo ThinkPad T430s)). It is also reported on the +Lenovo forums, both for +T430 +2012-11-10 and for +X230 +03-20-2013. The problem do not only affect installation. The +reports state that the disk lock up during use if many writes are done +on the disk, so it is much no use to work around the installation +problem and end up with a computer that can lock up at any moment. +There is even a +small C program +available that will lock up the hard drive after running a few +minutes by writing to a file.

    + +

    I've contacted my supplier and asked how to handle this, and after +contacting PCHELP Norway (request 01D1FDP) which handle support +requests for Lenovo, his first suggestion was to upgrade the disk +firmware. Unfortunately there is no newer firmware available from +Lenovo, as my disk already have the most recent one (version LF1i). I +hope to hear more from him today and hope the problem can be +fixed. :)

    - Tags: debian, english, robot. + Tags: debian, english.
    @@ -690,33 +665,39 @@ for LEGO designers.

    - -
    10th May 2013
    -

    I fjor sommer ble jeg -gledelig -overrasket over et oppslag i avisen Fremover om Narvik kommunes -bruk av Skolelinux. Oppslaget -var basert på et notat som besvarte spørsmål fra ordfører Tor Nysæter -og rådgiver for skolesektoren, Petter Falkbu, om bruken av Skolelinux -i Narvikskolene og konstnaden ved å gå over til Windows. For litt -over en uke siden siden fikk jeg endelig bedt kommunen om å få innsyn -i dette notatet, og det ble oversendt på epost tirsdag. Jeg fikk -lagt -ut notatet samme dag, og fikk i dag sjekket postlista til Narvik, -der jeg fant notatet som -sak -2013/1023.

    - -

    Notatet forteller at Narvik ville måtte betalt minst 9 millioner -for å gå over til Windows på skolene. I tillegg dokumenterer notatet -at læreplanens krav oppfylles uten problemer ved bruk av Skolelinux. -Jeg anbefaler alle å lese de 10 sidene med gode argumenter for å kutte -unødige utgifter på IT i skoleverket. :)

    + +
    4th July 2013
    +

    Half a year ago, I reported that I had to find a replacement for my +trusty old Thinkpad X41. Unfortunately I did not have much time to +spend on it, but today the replacement finally arrived. I ended up +picking a Thinkpad +X230 with SSD disk (NZDAJMN). I first test installed Debian Edu +Wheezy as a roaming workstation, and it worked flawlessly. As I write +this, it is installing what I hope will be a more final installation, +with a encrypted hard drive to ensure any dope head stealing it end up +with an expencive door stop.

    + +

    I had a hard time trying to track down a good laptop, as my most +important requirements (robust and with a good keyboard) are never +listed in the feature list. But I did get good help from the search +feature at Prisjakt, which +allowed me to limit the list of interesting laptops based on my other +requirements. A bit surprising that SSD disk are not disks, so I had +to drop number of disks from my search parameters.

    + +

    I am not quite convinced about the keyboard, as it is significantly +wider than my old keyboard, and I have to stretch my hand a lot more +to reach the edges. But the key response is fairly good and the +individual key shape is fairly easy to handle, so I hope I will get +used to it. My old X40 was starting to fail, and I really needed a +new laptop now. :)

    + +

    I look forward to figuring out how to turn off the touch pad.

    - Tags: debian edu, norsk. + Tags: debian, english.
    @@ -724,36 +705,115 @@ unødige utgifter på IT i skoleverket. :)

    - -
    5th May 2013
    -

    When I woke up this morning, I was very happy to see that the -release announcement -for Debian Wheezy was waiting in my mail box. This is a great -Debian release, and I expect to move my machines at home over to it fairly -soon.

    - -

    The new debian release contain heaps of new stuff, and one program -in particular make me very happy to see included. The -Scratch program, made famous by -the Teach kids code movement, is -included for the first time. Alongside similar programs like -kturtle and -turtleart, -it allow for visual programming where syntax errors can not happen, -and a friendly programming environment for learning to control the -computer. Scratch will also be included in the next release of Debian -Edu. - -

    And now that Wheezy is wrapped up, we can wrap up the next Debian -Edu/Skolelinux release too. The -first -alpha release went out last week, and the next should soon -follow.

    +

    +
    3rd July 2013
    +

    The fourth wheezy based alpha release of Debian Edu was wrapped up +today. This is the release announcement:

    + +

    New features for Debian Edu 7.1+edu0~alpha3 released +2013-07-03

    + +

    These are the release notes for for Debian Edu / Skolelinux +7.1+edu0~alpha3, based on Debian with codename "Wheezy".

    + +

    About Debian Edu and Skolelinux

    + +

    Debian Edu, also known as +Skolelinux, 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 +more +than 60 educational software packages and more are available from +the Debian archive, and schools can choose between KDE, Gnome, LXDE +and Xfce desktop environment.

    + +

    This is the fourth test release based on Debian Wheezy. Basically +this is an updated and slightly improved version compared to the +Squeeze release.

    + +

    Software updates

    +
      +
    • Dropped ispell dictionaries from our default installation.
    • +
    • 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.
    • +
    • 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.
    • +
    • 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.
    • +
    • Dropped the golearn (from goplay) package as the debtags in wheezy + are too few to make the package useful.
    • +
    +

    Other changes

    +
      +
    • Updated artwork matching http://wiki.debian.org/DebianArt/Themes/Joy +
    • Multi-arch i386/amd64 USB stick ISO available.
    • +
    • Got rid of ispell/wordlist related debconf questions that showed + up for some language options.
    • +
    • Switched to using http.debian.net as APT source by default.
    • +
    • Fixed proxy configuration on Main Server installations.
    • +
    • Changed LTSP setup to ask dpkg to use force-unsafe-io the same way + d-i is doing it.
    • +
    • Made sure root and user passwords were not left behind in the + debconf database after installation on Main Server installations.
    • +
    • 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.
    • +
    • Update system to install needed firmware packages during + installation, to work properly in Wheezy.
    • +
    • Update system to handle hardware quirks (debian-edu-hwsetup).
    • +
    • Corrected PXE installation setup to properly pass selected desktop + and keymap settings to PXE installation clients.
    • +
    • LTSP diskless workstations use sshfs by default, allowing them to + work without adding them to DNS and NIS netgroups for NFS access.
    • +
    +

    Known issues

    +
      +
    • No mass import of user account data in GOsa (ldif or csv) + available yet (698840).
    • +
    • Artwork not enabled for all desktops.
    • +
    +

    Where to get it

    + +

    To download the multiarch netinstall CD release you can use

    + + +

    The MD5SUM of this image is: 2b161a99d2a848c376d8d04e3854e30c +
    The SHA1SUM of this image is: 498922e9c508c0a7ee9dbe1dfe5bf830d779c3c8

    + +

    To download the multiarch USB stick ISO release you can use

    + + +

    The MD5SUM of this image is: 25e808e403a4c15dbef1d13c37d572ac +
    The SHA1SUM of this image is: 15ecfc93eb6b4f453b7eb0bc04b6a279262d9721

    + +

    How to report bugs

    + +

    http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/HowTo/ReportBugs

    - Tags: debian, debian edu, english. + Tags: debian edu, english.
    @@ -781,7 +841,11 @@ follow.

  • May (9)
  • -
  • June (2)
  • +
  • June (10)
  • + +
  • July (7)
  • + +
  • August (3)
  • @@ -931,29 +995,29 @@ follow.

  • bsa (2)
  • -
  • debian (76)
  • +
  • debian (84)
  • -
  • debian edu (129)
  • +
  • debian edu (139)
  • digistan (10)
  • -
  • docbook (9)
  • +
  • docbook (10)
  • drivstoffpriser (4)
  • -
  • english (195)
  • +
  • english (213)
  • fiksgatami (21)
  • fildeling (12)
  • -
  • freeculture (11)
  • +
  • freeculture (12)
  • frikanalen (11)
  • -
  • intervju (34)
  • +
  • intervju (37)
  • -
  • isenkram (6)
  • +
  • isenkram (7)
  • kart (18)
  • @@ -967,7 +1031,7 @@ follow.

  • norsk (234)
  • -
  • nuug (152)
  • +
  • nuug (153)
  • offentlig innsyn (8)