X-Git-Url: http://pere.pagekite.me/gitweb/homepage.git/blobdiff_plain/33e44ffb5509d9a6da554341cc87897c8e936a70..fc69198f89b689c41f669748e7e9839dfcf9d19b:/blog/index.html diff --git a/blog/index.html b/blog/index.html index 1720ceb403..4402fb8ab0 100644 --- a/blog/index.html +++ b/blog/index.html @@ -20,24 +20,112 @@
-
Isenkram 0.2 finally in the Debian archive
-
3rd April 2013
-

Today the Isenkram -package finally made it into the archive, after lingering in NEW -for many months. I uploaded it to the Debian experimental suite -2013-01-27, and today it was accepted into the archive.

- -

Isenkram is a system for suggesting to users what packages to -install to work with a pluggable hardware device. The suggestion pop -up when the device is plugged in. For example if a Lego Mindstorm NXT -is inserted, it will suggest to install the program needed to program -the NXT controller. Give it a go, and report bugs and suggestions to -BTS. :)

+
How to fix a Thinkpad X230 with a broken 180 GB SSD disk
+
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, isenkram. + Tags: debian, english.
@@ -45,106 +133,54 @@ BTS. :)

-
EFN nyutgir novellen Kodémus av Tor Åge Bringsværd
-
27th March 2013
-

For noen dager siden nevnte jeg at vi jobbet med å typesette en -novelle med DocBook. I dag ble -utgivelsen annonsert med følgende pressemelding fra Elektronisk -Forpost Norge), som jeg gjengir i sin helhet:

- -

- -

EFN nyutgir Kodémus:

- -

Tor Åge Bringsværd-novelle om IT og overvåkning fra -informasjonsteknologiens spedbarndom får nytt liv

- -

Elektronisk Forpost Norge (EFN) er veldig glad for anledningen til -å nyutgi Tor Åge Bringsværds novelle Kodémus i digitalt format for nye -(og gamle) generasjoner. Novellen ble skrevet så tidlig som vinteren -1968, og første gang trykt i novellesamlingen Probok på Gyldendal -samme år.

- -

Informasjonsteknologi spiller en sentral rolle i Kodémus, og det er -spennende å sammenligne beskrivelsen av IT fra 1968 med dagens IT i -2013. Forskjellene er mange -- men det er jammen likhetene også. Ikke -minst det at idag går jo nesten alle rundt med lillebrødre på seg!

- -

"Riktignok er det ikke påbudt å ha mobil," sier Thomas Gramstad, -leder i EFN. "Men vi holder på å lage et samfunn der det blir så -upraktisk eller tungvint å ikke ha det, at man i praksis ikke slipper -unna. Og disse lillebrødrene sladrer hele tiden til staten (og til -mange andre) om hvor vi er, hva vi gjør, hva vi bryr oss om, hva vi -liker..."

- -

Det at Kodémus åpenbart er skrevet i en annen tid med en annen type -IT og likevel virker så relevant idag, er i seg selv et hardtslående -tankekors.

- -

Tross sitt IT-tema fantes ikke Kodémus i elektronisk form, og -frivillige i EFN har skannet inn, OCR-tolket og korrekturlest -novellen, og deretter kodet den i en rekke digitale formater.

- -

Forfatteren har gitt tillatelse til publisering av Kodémus under ny -lisens, og novellen utgis av EFN med en Creative Commons (CC) -fribrukslisens (nærmere bestemt lisensen CC-BY-NC-ND). For leserne -eller brukerne innebærer dette at de får en klar og standardisert -beskjed om hvilke rettigheter de har til å dele novellen videre med -andre. For forfatteren innebærer dette økt synlighet og -tilgjengelighet for verket, slik at det ikke blir glemt, da -søkemotorer og nettlesere inneholder egne søkevalg for CC-lisenser, og -mange brukere søker etter verk som de vet de kan dele og bruke på -lovlig vis.

- -

EFN oppfordrer andre forfattere om å gi ut sine gamle tekster med -en fribrukslisens, slik at tekstene ikke blir glemt og for å stimulere -lovlig deling på nettet. EFN kan være behjelpelig med digitalisering -og utlegging på nett, i den grad det finnes kapasitet blant EFNs -medlemmer til dette. Vi mener at nyutgivelser av tekster under frie -lisenser kan øke interessen rundt forfatterskapet, og vil gjerne bidra -til dette.

- -

EFN utgir og deler med dette en novelle fra den digitale -informasjonsteknologiens tidligste barndom. En novelle som fortsatt er -full av vitalitet og aktualitet, og som derfor kan bidra til, og gi -ettertanke i dagens debatter om IT, personvern, overvåkning og -individets frihet og integritet.

- -

Du finner novellen her: -
http://efn.no/kodemus/

- -

i flere forskjellige formater, for ulike plattformer. Per idag -finnes novellen i disse formatene: EPUB, MOBI, XML, HTML, PDF og -txt. Det kan bli flere formater senere, og evt. frivillige -bidragsytere til dette er velkommen.

- -

Kontaktperson for denne pressemeldingen,

- -

Thomas Gramstad -
thomas@efn.no -
4817 6875

- -
- -

EFN arbeider for dine borgerrettigheter i IT-samfunnet, for -nettverks- og delingskultur, personvern og frihet fra overvåkning, -åpne standarder, brukerstyrt programvare, retten til å kopiere, og -styrking av det digitale sivilsamfunnet m.m. -
www.efn.no

- -

- -

Jeg håper flere forfattere ser verdien av å gjøre kulturen -tilgjengelig for flere, og slår følge med Hr. Bringsværd i å gi ut -sine verker med bruksvilkår med færre bruksbegrensinger enn -opphavsretten legger opp til. Selv om jeg gjerne skulle sett at han -hadde brukt en Creative Commons-lisens som tillot avledede verker og -kommersiell bruk.

+
Intel SSD 520 Series 180 GB with Lenovo firmware still lock up from sustained writes
+
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: docbook, norsk, opphavsrett. + Tags: debian, english.
@@ -152,44 +188,26 @@ kommersiell bruk.

-
Change the font, save the world (and save some money in the process)
-
26th March 2013
-

Would you like to help the environment and save money at the same -time, without much sacrifice? A small step could be to change the -font you use when printing.

- -

Three years ago, -Ars -Technica reported how the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay -changed their default front from -Arial to -Century -Gothic to save money. The Century Gothic font uses 30% less toner -than Arial to print the same text. In other word, you could cut your -toner costs by 30% (or actually, increase your toner supply life time -by more than 30%), by simply changing the default font used in your -prints.

- -

But it is not quite obvious how much one will safe by switching. -The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay said it used $100,000 per year -on ink and toner cartridges, according to -a report from -TwinCities.com, and expected to save between $5,000 and $10,000 -per year by asking staff and students to use a different font. Not -all PDFs and documents are created internally, and those from external -sources will most likely still use a different font. Also, the -Century Gothic font is slightly wider than Arial, and thus might use -more sheets of paper to print the same text, so the total saving -depend on the documents printed.

- -

But it is definitely something to consider, if you want to reduce -the amount of trash, decrease the amount of toner used in the world, -and save some money in the process.

+
July 13th: Debian/Ubuntu BSP and Skolelinux/Debian Edu developer gathering in Oslo
+
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: english. + Tags: debian, debian edu, english, nuug.
@@ -197,129 +215,79 @@ and save some money in the process.

-
Typesetting a short story using docbook for PDF, HTML and EPUB
-
24th March 2013
-

A few days ago, during a discussion in -EFN about interesting books to read -about copyright and the data retention directive, a suggestion to read -the 1968 short story Kodémus by -Tore Åge Bringsværd -came up. The text was only available in old paper books, and thus not -easily available for current and future generations. Some of the -people participating in the discussion contacted the author, and -reported back 2013-03-19 that the author was OK with releasing the -short story using a Creative -Commons license. The text was quickly scanned and OCR-ed, and we -were ready to start on the editing and typesetting.

- -

As I already had some experience formatting text in my project to -provide a Norwegian version of the Free Culture book by Lawrence -Lessig, I chipped in and set up a -DocBook processing framework to -generate PDF, HTML and EPUB version of the short story. The tools to -transform DocBook to different formats are already in my Linux -distribution of choice, Debian, so -all I had to do was to use the -dblatex, -dbtoepub -and xmlto tools to do the -conversion. After a few days, we decided to replace dblatex with -xsltproc/fop (aka -docbook-xsl), -to get the copyright information to show up in the PDF and to get a -nicer <variablelist> typesetting, but that is just a minor -technical detail.

- -

There were a few challenges, of course. We want to typeset the -short story to look like the original, and that require fairly good -control over the layout. The original short story have three -parts/scenes separated by a single horizontally centred star (*), and -the paragraphs do not contain only flowing text, but dialogs and text -that started on a new line in the middle of the paragraph.

- -

I initially solved the first challenge by using a paragraph with a -single star in it, ie <para>*</para>, but it made sure a -placeholder indicated where the scene shifted. This did not look too -good without the centring. The next approach was to create a new -preprocessor directive <?newscene?>, mapping to "<hr/>" -for HTML and "<fo:block text-align="center"><fo:leader -leader-pattern="rule" rule-thickness="0.5pt"/></fo:block>" -for FO/PDF output (did not try to implement this in dblatex, as we had -switched at this time). The HTML XSL file looked like this:

- -

-<?xml version='1.0'?> 
-<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version='1.0'>
-  <xsl:template match="processing-instruction('newscene')">
-    <hr/>
-  </xsl:template>
-</xsl:stylesheet> 
-

- -

And the FO/PDF XSL file looked like this:

- -

-<?xml version='1.0'?> 
-<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version='1.0'>
-  <xsl:template match="processing-instruction('newscene')">
-    <fo:block text-align="center">
-      <fo:leader leader-pattern="rule" rule-thickness="0.5pt"/>
-    </fo:block>
-  </xsl:template>
-</xsl:stylesheet> 
-

- -

Finally, I came across the <bridgehead> tag, which seem to be -a good fit for the task at hand, and I replaced <?newscene?> -with <bridgehead>*</bridgehead>. It isn't centred, but we -can fix it with some XSL rule if the current visual layout isn't -enough.

- -

I did not find a good DocBook compliant way to solve the -linebreak/paragraph challenge, so I ended up creating a new processor -directive <?linebreak?>, mapping to <br/> in HTML, and -<fo:block/> in FO/PDF. I suspect there are better ways to do -this, and welcome ideas and patches on github. The HTML XSL file now -look like this:

- -

-<?xml version='1.0'?> 
-<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version='1.0'>
-  <xsl:template match="processing-instruction('linebreak)">
-    <br/>
-  </xsl:template>
-</xsl:stylesheet> 
-

- -

And the FO/PDF XSL file looked like this:

- -

-<?xml version='1.0'?> 
-<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version='1.0'
-  xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format">
-  <xsl:template match="processing-instruction('linebreak)">
-    <fo:block/>
-  </xsl:template>
-</xsl:stylesheet> 
-

- -

One unsolved challenge is our wish to expose different ISBN numbers -per publication format, while keeping all of them in some conditional -structure in the DocBook source. No idea how to do this, so we ended -up listing all the ISBN numbers next to their format in the colophon -page.

- -

If you want to check out the finished result, check out the -source repository at -github -(future/new/official -repository). We expect it to be ready and announced in a few -days.

+
The Thinkpad is dead, long live the Thinkpad X230?
+
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: docbook, english, freeculture, opphavsrett. + Tags: debian, english.
@@ -327,72 +295,39 @@ days.

-
Regjeringen, FAD og DIFI går inn for å fjerne ODF som obligatorisk standard i det offentlige
-
18th March 2013
-

I -siste -høring om -referansekatalogen -for IT-standarder i offentlig sektor, med høringsfrist 2012-09-30 -(DIFI-sak 2012/498), ble det foreslått å fjerne ODF som obligatorisk -standard når en publiserte dokumenter som skulle kunne redigeres -videre av mottaker. NUUG og andre protesterte på forslaget, som er et -langt steg tilbake når det gjelder å sikre like rettigheter for alle -når en kommuniserer med det offentlige. For noen dager siden ble jeg -oppmerksom på at Direktoratet for forvaltning og IKT (DIFI) og -Fornyings-,administrasjons- og kirkedepartementet (FAD) har -konkludert, og oversendt forslag til regjeringen i saken. FADs -dokument -2012/2168-8, -«Utkast til endring av standardiseringsforskriften» datert 2013-02-06 -har følgende triste oppsummering fra høringen i saken:

- -

-Det kom noen innvendinger på forslaget om å fjerne ODF som -obligatorisk standard for redigerbare dokumenter. Innvendingene har -ikke blitt ilagt avgjørende vekt. -

- -

Ved å fjerne ODF som obligatorisk format ved publisering av -redigerbare dokumenter setter en Norge tiår tilbake. Det som vil skje -er at offentlige etater går tilbake til kun å publisere dokumenter på -et av de mange formatene til Microsoft Office, og alle som ikke -aksepterer bruksvilkårene til Microsoft eller ikke har råd til å bruke -penger på å få tilgang til Microsoft Office må igjen basere seg på -verktøy fra utviklerne som er avhengig av å reversutvikle disse -formatene. I og med at ISO-spesifikasjonen for OOXML ikke komplett og -korrekt spesifiserer formatene til MS Office (men er nyttige å titte i -når en reversutvikler), er en tilbake til en situasjon der en ikke har -en -fri og åpen standard å forholde seg til, men i stedet må springe -etter Microsoft. Alle andre leverandører enn Microsoft vil dermed ha -en seriøs ulempe. Det er som å fjerne krav om bruk av meter som -måleenhet, og heretter aksepterer alle måleenheter som like gyldige, -når en vet at den mest brukte enheten vil være armlengden til Steve -Ballmer slik Microsoft måler den.

- -

Jeg er ikke sikker på om forslaget er vedtatt av regjeringen ennå. -Kristian Bergem hos DIFI nevnte på et møte forrige tirsdag at han -trodde det var vedtatt i statsråd 8. mars, men jeg har ikke klart å -finne en skriftlig kilde på regjeringen.no som bekrefter dette. -Kanskje det ennå ikke er for sent...

- -

Jeg ba i forrige uke om innsyn i dokument 6, 7 og 8 i FAD-saken, og -har i dag fått innsyn i dokument 7 og 8. Ble nektet innsyn i -dokumentet med tittelen «Oppsummering av høring om endringer i -forskrift om IT-standarder i offentlig forvaltning» med hjemmel i -off. lovens §15.1, så det er vanskelig å vite hvordan argumentene fra -høringen ble mottatt og forstått av saksbehandleren hos DIFI. Lurer -på hvordan jeg kan klage på at jeg ikke fikk se oppsummeringen. Fikk -tre PDFer tilsendt fra FAD, -Endring av underversjon i EHF, -Bakgrunnsnotat knyttet til versjon av EHF standarden i Forskrift om IT-standarder i offentlig sektor og -Utkast til endring av standardiseringsforskriften, hvis du vil ta en titt.

+
The Thinkpad is dead, long live the Thinkpad X230
+
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: digistan, norsk, standard. + Tags: debian, english.
@@ -400,64 +335,115 @@ tre PDFer tilsendt fra FAD,
-
Skolelinux 6 got a video review from Pcwizz
-
17th March 2013
-

Via -twitter -I just discovered that Pcwizz have -done a video -review on Youtube of Skolelinux -/ Debian Edu version 6. He installed the standalone profile and -the video show a walk-through of of the menu content, demonstration of -a few programs and his view of our distribution.

- -

There is also some really nice quotes (transcribed by me, might -have heard wrong). While looking thought the Graphics menu:

- -
-"Basically everything you ever need in a school environment." -
- -

And as a general evaluation of the entire distribution:

- -
-"So, yeah, a bit bloated. It kept all the Debian stuff in there, just -to keep it nice and GNU. So, I do not want to go on about it, but -lets give it 7 out of 10. I am not going to use it. That is because -I am not deploying a school network. There may be some mythical -feature to help you deploy Skolelinux on a school network." -
- -

To bad he did not test the server profile, and discovered the PXE -installation option. It make it possible to install only the main -server from CD, and the rest of the machines via the net, and might be -considered the mythical feature he talk about. :)

- -

While looking through the menus, there is also this funny comment -about the part of the K menu generated from the Debian menu subsystem: - -

-"[The K menu] have a special Debian section for software that no-one -is going to look at, because it contain lots of junky stuff that you -actually don't need in the education distribution, but have just been -included because it isn't stripped out for some reason." -
- -

I guess it is yet another argument for merging the Debian menu and -Gnome/KDE desktop menu entries into -one -consistent menu system instead of two incomplete and partly -inconsistent menu systems.

- -

The entire video is available below for those accepting iframe -embedding:

- - +
Fourth alpha release of Debian Edu/Skolelinux based on Debian Wheezy
+
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 edu, english, video. + Tags: debian edu, english.
@@ -465,170 +451,70 @@ embedding:

-
Til frikanalens støttespillere - fra styret i Frikanalen
-
13th March 2013
-

Min venn Erik Vold har på vegne av styret i -Frikanalen sendt ut -følgende -epost til alle kanalens medlemmer og støttespillere, i et forsøk -på å redde kanalen etter at kulturdepartementet kuttet all -finansiering i fjor høst. Jeg fikk meldingen som -NUUG-styremedlem, og mener den -trenger et større publikum. Jeg gjengir den derfor i sin helhet, -inkludert lenken til budsjett og regnskapsutkast, etter -avtale -med Erik.

- -

-

Til Frikanalens støttespillere

- -

Frivillighetens TV kanal har med minimal støtte avviklet daglige -sendinger siden 2009 og til tross for at statsstøtten uteble i år, er -vi nå i full gang med å utvikle et nytt TV system som foreningen selv -vil eie. Departementet fikk dessverre ikke med seg at nettet vil -berike TV sendingen fremfor å gjøre den overflødig. De har nå overlatt -finansieringen av videre drift til frivilligheten og vi håper derfor -på deres hjelp til å søke om midler. På kjøpet får dere langt flere -muligheter til å nå ut med deres budskap og med utbyggingen av Hybrid -TV (nett på TV) kan vi sammen motbevise departementets påstand.

- -

Kostnaden med denne utviklingen er svært lav ettersom de fleste -programmererne jobber gratis og alt er basert på åpen kildekode der -man deler hverandres bidrag til kringkastingsorienterte systemer. I -samarbeid med flere europeiske kanaler i EBU (SVT, BBC, NRK, ZDF, ARD, -France Televisions etc) ønsker vi å bygge opp et nettverk for delt -support og åpen kildekode der Frikanalen er den eneste sandkassen hvor -ny teknologi kan testes på luft. Riks TV åpner for annonsering av -nettinnhold relatert til det du ser på TV (streamevents i HbbTV) -allerede i sommer. Med støtte fra Media Netwerk som drifter Frikanalen -samt Sofia Digital som stiller med Hybrid TV server er vi & NRK sikret -en sentral rolle i utprøvingen. Det vil da bli mulig og streame -direkte til Riks TV sine nye mottakere (og nye IDTV'er) i HD samt at -TV'n kan annonsere en link til deres organisasjonssider, med -oppdaterte nyheter (RSS feeds), relaterte videoer etc., under -avviklingen av deres innslag.

- -

Vi tror sendingene på den nye nettstyrte TV-kanalen vil bli rikere enn -på den kommersielle plattformen vi har vært på så langt. Brukerne vil -nå få en tettere integrasjon med sosiale medier samt at innholdet -etterhvert kommer ut på Hybrid TV og mobile enheter. Teknisk ansvarlig -i Frikanalen, Erik Vold, er sentral i utviklingen av streamingdelen -for tv.nrk.no (årets produkt i PC World) og erfaringen NRK har gjort -på mobile enheter kan videreføres til oss. Det er heller ingen tvil om -at Hybrid TV vil bli en suksess også i Norge. Erik sitter i Nordig som -har vedtatt en felles standard for de nordiske kringkasterne basert på -HbbTV. Denne standarden bruker web-protokoller som gjør det like -enkelt og billig å utvikle tjenester for Hybrid TV som å lage en -nettside. Samtlige nye TV apparater solgt i Norden vil ha støtte for -HbbTV og med det tror vi oppslutningen vil bli like stor som ellers i -Europa (Tyskland og Frankrike tredoblet antall HbbTV-brukere i -fjor). Vi forventer også mye d rahjelp fra disse foregangslandene. Vår -utvikler Tore Sinding Bekkedal er i skriv ende stund på en HbbTV -workshop med EBU-medlemmer hos IRT i München der han på vegne av NRK -tester og utvikler ny stremingteknologi (MPEG- DASH) for -mobile enheter og hybrid TV.

- -

Frikanalen har forøvrig flyttet inn i nye kostnadsfrie lokaler på -Chateau Neuf. Med massiv hjelp fra frivillige får vi der en -flerkameraregi i egnede lokaler. Dette åpner for debatter, konserter, -events og mye spennende innhold i samarbeid med Student TV'ene.

- -

Med hjelp fra NUUG har også streamingdelen av systemet fått plass på -Uninett (Forskningsparken) og dermed er vi på Norges beste -internettlinjer. Vi åpner med dette for live mottak fra samtlige -medlemmer og på sikt kan vi tilby HD på hybrid TV og PC / MAC / mobil.

- -

Avvikling på luft skjer allerede med egenutviklede løsninger i åpen -kildekode (playout og live-koding). Det er også mulig å se første -byggetrinn med programoversikt og videoer på nett, men foreløpig kun -for nettleserne Opera, Chrome og Firefox: -http://beta.frikanalen.tv/guide/ -og -http://beta.frikanalen.tv/video/. Kom -gjerne med ønsker og tilbakemeldinger til vår hovedutvikler Benjamin -Bruheim: grolgh (at) gmail.com

- -

Med en tettere tilknytning til Akademia og NRK, er det god grunn til å -tro at utviklingen vil skyte fart og at vi raskere kommer ut med -dagsaktuelt innhold.

- -

Vi sender i dag på Riks TV og Altibox, men ikke lenger på TV8. Det er -viktig for våre brukere igjen å komme ut på Get og Canal Digital, -dermed er det svært heldig at vi nå har formidlingsplikt på kabel. Til -tross for at det tar noe tid å få nye avtaler på plass, med frivillig -juridisk bistand, vil vi sannsynligvis komme bedre ut i andre enden -også her. Formidlingsplikten gjelder samtlige kabeldistribusjoner i -Norge, ikke bare de regionene TV8 hadde avtale med.

- -

Om alt dette skal se dagens lys er vi avhengig av en -grunnfinansiering. Deres medlemsavgifter er i så måte et svært viktig -bidrag som vi er veldig takknemlige for. Vi ser oss likevel nødt til -å be dere om å delta i arbeidet med å dekke de resterende -driftskostnader. Frikanalen sin arbeidskapasitet er betydelig redusert -etter at foreningen ikke lenger kunne finansiere en daglig leder, men -allmøtet kan åpne for at flere bidrar til inntjening (Ekstraordinær -generalforsamling foreslo å tillate sponsorplakater på sendeflaten og -deler av disse inntektene kan tilfalle kanalen). Håper alle -medlemmene kan hjelpe oss med å skrive søknader og skaffe sponsorer, -eller i det minste komme med gode forslag til inntjening. Det er ikke -mye som skal til for å klare videre drift, kun 0,5 mill. pr år.

- -

Med en støtte som tilsvarer en norsk kortfilm vil vi kunne redde -sendearkivet for flere tusen videoer bygget opp av frivilligheten -gjennom 5 år og vi dobler kapasiteten for å ta imot nye (De som -leverer HD vil for øvrig kunne få HD på nett, mobil og hybrid TV).

- -

Vi vil også kunne videreføre konsesjonen på Riks TV og realisere en -formidlingsplikt på kabel som har en årlig verdi på ca. 5 millioner -kroner (når over 2/3 av Norges befolkning).

- -

Uten støtte står verdens eneste nasjonale nettstyrte åpne TV kanal i -fare for å forsvinne. En konkursbegjæring vil gjøre at utstyrsparken -går til advokatsalærer i behandling av boet og kreditorene vil ikke -kunne få dekket sine krav. Det mener vi ikke bare er urett ovenfor -långiverne, men det er urett mot alle de som har bidratt med å bygge -opp frivillighetens eneste sendearkiv og ikke minst alle de som i dag -jobber frivillig med å videreutvikle TV-systemet.

- -

Håper dere i likhet med styret ser verdien i videre drift og kan melde -tilbake innen årsmøtet (Kontaktinformasjon til styret og frivillige -utviklere er i kopifeltet).

- -

Vennligst fyll ut det blå feltet i regnearket under med det dere tror -er mulig å få inn. Det dere skriver her er ikke bindende, men gir -styret en indikasjon på om videre drift er mulig. Det blir tatt -stilling til av generalforsamlingen medio mars. Setter derfor pris på -om alle kan bidra med forslag til støtte eller antatte verdier fra -søknad/spons innen det.

- -

Forhåpentligvis når vi også ønsket budsjett på 1 mill. pr år. Med det -kan vi nedbetale gjelden raskere og sørge for en bedre -tilgjengelighet, samt raskere utvikling:

- -

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AouVL_e9_H1QdDgyX01kbElvcWI0UjFQbVNGbFIyUmc&usp=sharing#gid=0

- -

Med vennlig hilsen -
Styret i Frikanalen

-

- -

Jeg håper noen av mine lesere med dette ser verdien av Frikanalen -og melder seg inn for å sende sine videoer ut på TV til RiksTV og -Altibox-seerne. Det haster. Årsmøtet i foreningen Frikanalen skal -straks avholdes, og innen den tid må en redningsplan være på plass. -NUUG bidrar allerede litt ved å organisere utviklersamlinger og -finansiere litt mat og drikke til de frivillige som stiller opp på -dugnadsbasis for å utvikle den tekniske løsningen. Det er ikke nok -til å redde kanalen, men gir et lite steg i riktig retning.

- -

Update 2013-03-13 13:00: Epostlistelenkene -fungerer ikke lenger, da epostarkivet nå ikke lenger er tilgjengelig -for ikke-abonnenter. Korrigerte teksten fra styret litt etter -oppfordring fra Frikanalen-styret.

+
Automatically locate and install required firmware packages on Debian (Isenkram 0.4)
+
25th June 2013
+

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 +Isenkram package +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:

+ +

+# 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) ...
+# 
+

+ +

When all the requested firmware is present, a simple message is +printed instead:

+ +

+# isenkram-autoinstall-firmware 
+info: did not find any firmware files requested by loaded kernel modules.  exiting
+# 
+

+ +

It could use some polish, but it is already working well and saving +me some time when setting up new machines. :)

+ +

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 +apt-get install. The end result is a slightly better working +machine.

+ +

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 BTS report +#655507. 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.

- Tags: frikanalen, norsk, nuug, video. + Tags: debian, english, isenkram.
@@ -636,40 +522,50 @@ oppfordring fra Frikanalen-styret.

-
Osloskolen bryter loven når de sender politihunder inn i klasserom med elever
-
10th March 2013
-

Om noen år skal mine barn antagelig begynne på skolen i Oslo. Der -skal de blant annet lære seg å verdsette og håndheve sine egne grenser -og beskytte sin personlige integritet og privatsfære. Det blir ikke -enkelt når ledelsen i Osloskolen med vitende og vilje legger opp til å -krenke elevenes privatsfære ved å la politiet ransake elevene med -narkohund i klasserommet. Jon Wessel-Aas har publisert noen -interessante kommentarer om hvorfor dette er ulovlig. - -

- -

Jeg er veldig glad for at han bidrar med argumenter og forklaringer -vi foreldre kan ta med oss når vi skal protestere på og få en slutt på -denne forkastelige praksisen. Narkotikaproblemet må adresseres på -andre måter som ikke krenker barn og ungdoms integritet. Jeg ønsker -ikke at mine barn skal læres opp til å akseptere radering av -privatlivets fred, men heller at de skal læres opp til å sloss imot -den innføringen av stadig mer totalitær overvåkning som har pågått -over mange år i Norge.

+
The value of a good distro wide test suite...
+
22nd June 2013
+

In the Debian Edu / +Skolelinux 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.

+ +

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.

+ +

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 /usr/sbin/debian-edu-test-install and see if +any errors are detected. This usually pinpoint the subsystem causing +the problem.

+ +

If you want to help us help kids learn how to share and create, +please join us on +#debian-edu on +irc.debian.org and the +debian-edu@ mailing +list.

- Tags: norsk, personvern. + Tags: debian edu, english.
@@ -677,102 +573,143 @@ over mange år i Norge.

-
First Skolelinux / Debian Edu Squeeze update released
-
8th March 2013
-

Last Sunday, 2013-03-03,, Holger Levsen announced the first update -of Skolelinux / Debian Edu -based on Debian Squeeze. This is the first update since -the -initial release 2012-03-11. This is the -release -announcement email from Holger:

- -

Hi,

- -

it's my pleasure to announce the immediate availability of Debian -Edu 6.0.7+r1 ("Debian Edu Squeeze").

- -

Debian Edu 6.0.7+r1 is an incremental update to Debian Edu -6.0.4+r0, containing all the changes between Debian 6.0.4 and 6.0.7 as -well Debian Edu specific bugfixes and enhancements. See below (in this -mail) for the full list of (edu) changes. Please see -http://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120311 -for more information on "Debian Edu Squeeze".

- -

Images are available for download at -http://ftp.skolelinux.org/skolelinux-cd/

- -

md5sums: -
1fe79eb4f0f9ae1c58fc318e26cc1e2e debian-edu-6.0.7+r1-CD.iso -
a6ddd924a8bd9a1b5ca122e8fe1c34ec debian-edu-6.0.7+r1-DVD.iso -
ac6c72cd7925ccec51bfbf58e2a7c69c debian-edu-6.0.7+r1-source-DVD.iso

- -

sha1sums: -
a4b58233b672a99c7df8dc24fb6de3327654a5c3 debian-edu-6.0.7+r1-CD.iso -
9b524915e0ff2aa793f13d93123e5bd2bab2dbaa debian-edu-6.0.7+r1-DVD.iso -
43997614893fc5e9e59ad6ce066b05d07fd836fa debian-edu-6.0.7+r1-source-DVD.iso

- -

These images are suitable for amd64+i386.

- -

Changes for Debian Edu 6.0.7+r1 Codename "Squeeze", released -2013-03-03:

+
Debian Edu interview: Victor Nițu
+
17th June 2013
+

The Debian Edu and +Skolelinux distribution have users and contributors all around the +globe. And a while back, an enterprising young man showed up on +our IRC channel +#debian-edu 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.

+ +

Who are you, and how do you spend your days?

+ +

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 beer 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.

+ +

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 Fundația Ceata, which is a free +software activist organisation endorsed by the FSF and the FSFE, and +the only one we have in our country.

+ +

How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux / Debian Edu +project?

+ +

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.

+ +

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.

+ +

What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

+ +

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.

+ +

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.

+ +

What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?

+ +

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!

+ +

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.

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

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!), +Claws Mail due to its ease of +use and very configurable behaviour. Recently I fell in love with +Redshift, 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!

+ +

Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?

+ +

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:

    -
  • sitesummary was updated from 0.1.3 to 0.1.8 -
      -
    • Make Nagios configuration more robust and efficient
      • -
    • Comply with 3.X kernel
      • -
    • -
  • debian-edu-doc from 1.4~20120310~6.0.4+r0 to 1.4~20130228~6.0.7+r1 -
      -
    • Minor updates from the wiki
      • -
    • Danish translation now complete
      • -
    • -
  • debian-edu-config from 1.453 to 1.455 -
      -
    • Fix /etc/hosts for LTSP diskless workstations. Closes: #699880
      • -
    • Make ltsp_local_mount script work for multiple devices.
      • -
    • Correct Kerberos user policy: don't expire password after 2 days. - Closes: #664596
      • -
    • Handle '#' characters in the root or first users password. - Closes: #664976
      • -
    • Fixes for gosa-sync: -
        -
      • Don't fail if password contains "
        • -
      • Don't disclose new password string in syslog
        • -
      • -
    • Fixes for gosa-create: -
        -
      • Invalidate libnss cache before applying changes
        • -
      • Multiple failures during mass user import into GOsa²
        • -
      • gosa-netgroups plugin: don't erase entries of attribute type - "memberNisNetgroup". Closes: #687256
        • -
      • First user now uses the same Kerberos policy as all other users
        • -
      • -
    • Add Danish web page
      • -
    -
  • debian-edu-install from 1.528 to 1.530 -
      -
    • Improve preseeding support and documentation
      • -
    • -
- -

End-user documentation in English is available at -http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/Documentation/Squeeze/ -- translations to French, Italian, Danish and German are available in -the debian-edu-doc package. (Other languages could use your help!)

-

If you want to contribute to Debian Edu, please join our -mailinglist -debian-edu@lists.debian.org! -

+
  • schools would like to get rid of proprietary software
    • + +
  • 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?
    • + +
  • 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!)
    • + +
  • 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? ;-)
    • -

    I am very happy to see the fruits of a year of hard work. :)

    + + +

    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.

    - Tags: debian edu, english. + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju.
    @@ -780,58 +717,131 @@ mailinglist
    -
    Frikanalen - Complete TV station organised using the web
    -
    3rd March 2013
    -

    Do you want to set up your own TV station, schedule videos and -broadcast them on the air? Using free software? With video on demand -support using -free and -open standards? Included a web based video stream as well? And -administrate it all in your web browser from anywhere in the world? A -few years now the Norwegian public access TV-channel -Frikanalen have been building a -system to do just this. The source code for the solution is licensed -using the GNU LGPL, and -available from github.

    - -

    The idea is simple. You upload a video file over the web, and -attach meta information to the file. You select a time slot in the -program schedule, and when the time come it is played on the air and -in the web stream. It is also made available in a video on demand -solution for anyone to see it also outside its scheduled time. All -you need to run a TV station - using your web browser.

    - -

    There are several parts to this web based solution. I'll mention -the three most important ones. The first part is the database of -videos and the schedule. This is written in Django and include a REST -API. The current database is SQLite, but the plan is to migrate it to -PostgreSQL. At the moment this system can be tested on -beta.frikanalen.tv. The -second part is the video playout, taking the schedule information from -the database and providing a video stream to broadcast. This is done -using CasparCG from SVT and -Media Lovin' Toolkit. Video -signal distribution is handled using -Open Broadcast Encoder. The -third part is the converter, handling the transformation of uploaded -video files to a format useful for broadcasting, streaming and video -on demand. It is still very much work in progress, so it is not yet -decided what it will end up using. Note that the source of the latter -two parts are not yet pushed to github. The lead author want to clean -them up a bit more first.

    - -

    The development is coordinated on the -#frikanalen IRC -channel (irc.freenode.net), and discussed on -the -frikanalen mailing list. The lead developer is Benjamin Bruheim -(phed on IRC). Anyone is welcome to participate in the -development.

    +
    Debian Edu interview: Jonathan Carter
    +
    12th June 2013
    +

    There is a certain cross-over between the +Debian Edu / Skolelinux +project and the Edubuntu +project, 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.

    + +

    Who are you, and how do you spend your days?

    + +

    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 :)

    + +

    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.

    + +

    How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux / Debian Edu +project?

    + +

    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.

    + +

    What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?

    + +

    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.

    + +

    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.

    + +

    What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux / Debian +Edu?

    + +

    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)

    + +

    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.

    + +

    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.

    + +

    Which free software do you use daily?

    + +

    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 :)

    + +

    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.

    + +

    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) + +

    Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?

    + +

    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.

    + +

    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.

    + +

    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.

    + +

    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.

    - Tags: english, frikanalen, nuug, video. + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju.
    @@ -855,7 +865,13 @@ development.

  • March (9)
    • -
  • April (1)
    • +
  • April (6)
    • + +
  • May (9)
    • + +
  • June (10)
    • + +
  • July (6)
    • @@ -999,15 +1015,15 @@ development.

  • bankid (4)
    • -
  • bitcoin (6)
    • +
  • bitcoin (7)
  • bootsystem (12)
  • bsa (2)
    • -
  • debian (71)
    • +
  • debian (83)
    • -
  • debian edu (121)
    • +
  • debian edu (137)
  • digistan (10)
    • @@ -1015,7 +1031,7 @@ development.

  • drivstoffpriser (4)
    • -
  • english (186)
    • +
  • english (209)
  • fiksgatami (21)
    • @@ -1025,9 +1041,9 @@ development.

  • frikanalen (11)
    • -
  • intervju (33)
    • +
  • intervju (37)
    • -
  • isenkram (6)
    • +
  • isenkram (7)
  • kart (18)
    • @@ -1039,11 +1055,11 @@ development.

  • multimedia (25)
    • -
  • norsk (227)
    • +
  • norsk (234)
    • -
  • nuug (151)
    • +
  • nuug (153)
    • -
  • offentlig innsyn (7)
    • +
  • offentlig innsyn (8)
  • open311 (2)
    • @@ -1057,7 +1073,7 @@ development.

  • rfid (2)
    • -
  • robot (6)
    • +
  • robot (7)
  • rss (1)
    • @@ -1071,11 +1087,11 @@ development.

  • skepsis (4)
    • -
  • standard (41)
    • +
  • standard (43)
  • stavekontroll (3)
    • -
  • stortinget (6)
    • +
  • stortinget (7)
  • surveillance (15)