Petter Reinholdtsen: Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker

@@ -233,7 +357,7 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

@@ -354,17 +478,17 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

diff --git a/blog/data/2012-03-09-skolelinux-nigel-barker.txt b/blog/data/2012-03-09-skolelinux-nigel-barker.txt index 462062c394..56da851a05 100644 --- a/blog/data/2012-03-09-skolelinux-nigel-barker.txt +++ b/blog/data/2012-03-09-skolelinux-nigel-barker.txt @@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ Title: Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker Tags: english, debian edu, intervju Date: 2012-03-09 11:30 -

Inspired by the interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a -Norwegian interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / -Skolelinux community. This was so popular that I believe it is time -to move to a more international audience.

Inspired by the +interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a Norwegian +interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / Skolelinux +community. This was so popular that I believe it is time to move to a +more international audience.

While Debian Edu and Skolelinux originated in France and Norway, and have most users in diff --git a/blog/index.html b/blog/index.html index 7786db8b1f..45aca4448d 100644 --- a/blog/index.html +++ b/blog/index.html @@ -19,6 +19,124 @@ +

Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker

9th March 2012

Inspired by the interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a +Norwegian interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / +Skolelinux community. This was so popular that I believe it is time +to move to a more international audience.

+ +

While Debian Edu and +Skolelinux originated in France and Norway, and have most users in +Europe, there are users all around the globe. One of those far away +from me is Nigel Barker, a long time Debian Edu system administrator +and contributor. It is thanks to him that Debian Edu is adjusted to +work out of the box in Japan. I got him to answer a few questions, +and am happy to share the response with you. :) + + +

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

+ +

My name is Nigel Barker, and I am British. I am married to Yumiko, +and we have three lovely children, aged 15, 14 and 4(!) I am the IT +Coordinator at Hiroshima International School, Japan. I am also a +teacher, and in fact I spend most of my day teaching Mathematics, +Science, IT, and Chemistry. I was originally a Chemistry teacher, but +I have always had an interest in computers. Another teacher teaches +primary school IT, but apart from that I am the only computer person, +so that means I am the network manager, technician and webmaster, +also, and I help people with their computer problems. I teach python +to beginners in an after-school club. I am way too busy, so I really +appreciate the simplicity of Skolelinux.

+ +

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

+ +

In around 2004 or 5 I discovered the ltsp project, and set up a +server in the IT lab. I wanted some way to connect it to our central +samba server, which I was also quite poor at configuring. I discovered +Edubuntu when it came out, but it didn't really improve my setup. I +did various desperate searches for things like "school Linux server" +and ended up in a document called "Drift" something or other. Reading +there it became clear that Skolelinux was going to solve all my +problems in one go. I was very excited, but apprehensive, because my +previous attempts to install Debian had ended in failure (I used +Mandrake for everything - ltsp, samba, apache, mail, ns...). I +downloaded a beta version, had some problems, so subscribed to the +Debian Edu list for help. I have remained subscribed ever since, and +my school has run a Skolelinux network since Sarge.

+ +

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

+ +

For me the integrated setup. This is not just the server, or the +workstation, or the ltsp. Its all of them, and its all configured +ready to go. I read somewhere in the early documentation that it is +designed to be setup and managed by the Maths or Science teacher, who +doesn't necessarily know much about computers, in a small Norwegian +school. That describes me perfectly if you replace Norway with +Japan.

+ +

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

+ +

The desktop is fairly plain. If you compare it with Edubuntu, who +have fun themes for children, or with distributions such as Mint, who +make the desktop beautiful. They create a good impression on people +who don't need to understand how to use any of it, but who might be +important to the school. School administrators or directors, for +instance, or parents. Even kids. Debian itself usually has ugly +default theme settings. It was my dream a few years back that some +kind of integration would allow Edubuntu to do the desktop stuff and +Debian Edu the servers, but now I realise how impossible that is. A +second disadvantage is that if something goes wrong, or you need to +customise something, then suddenly the level of expertise required +multiplies. For example, backup wasn't working properly in Lenny. It +took me ages to learn how to set up my own server to do rsync backups. +I am afraid of anything to do with ldap, but perhaps Gosa will +help.

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

Nowadays I only use Debian on my personal computers. I have one for +studio work (I play guitar and write songs), running AV Linux +(customised Debian) a netbook running Squeeze, and a bigger laptop +still running Skolelinux Lenny workstation. I have a Tjener in my +house, that's very useful for the family photos and music. At school +the students only use Skolelinux. (Some teachers and the office still +have windows). So that means we only use free software all day every +day. Open office, The GIMP, Firefox/Iceweasel, VLC and Audacity are +installed on every computer in school, irrespective of OS. We also +have Koha on Debian for the library, and Apache, Moodle, b2evolution +and Etomite on Debian for the www. The firewall is Untangle.

+ +

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

+ +

Current trends are in our favour. Open source is big in industry, +and ordinary people have heard of it. The spread of Android and the +popularity of Apple have helped to weaken the impression that you have +to have Microsoft on everything. People complain to me much less about +file formats and Word than they did 5 years ago. The Edu aspect is +also a selling point. This is all customised for schools. Where is the +Windows-edu, or the Mac-edu? But of course the main attraction is +budget.The trick is to convince people that the quality is not +compromised when you stop paying and use free software instead. That +is one reason why I say the desktop experience is a weakness. People +are not impressed when their USB drive doesn't work, or their browser +doesn't play flash, for example.

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

Debian Edu screencast: Mass creation of user accounts in Squeeze

7th March 2012

@@ -427,80 +545,6 @@ solution for your school.

Skolelinux-intervju: Olav Dahlum

18th February 2012

I serien med intervjuer av folk i -Skolelinux-miljÃ¸et, fÃ¥r vi nÃ¥ -hÃ¸re fra et nyvalgt medlem i foreningen -Fri programvare i -Skolen.

- -

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

- -

Jeg heter Olav Dahlum, og er frilans oversetter, tester, -prosjektleder og bruker av fri og Ã¥pen programvare som -LibreOffice. Jeg er ogsÃ¥ et av styremedlemmene i FRISK.

- -

Hvordan kom du i kontakt med Skolelinux-prosjektet?

- -

Jeg kom i kontakt med prosjektet i 2009, da jeg ble ansatt i -stiftelsen Ãpne kontorprogram pÃ¥ norsk for Ã¥ oversette og teste den -norske utgaven av OpenOffice.org. Arbeidet har hele tiden vÃ¦rt -koordinert sammen med Skolelinux, og mange av de samme menneskene er -involvert, sÃ¥ pÃ¥ den mÃ¥ten ble jeg en del av den utvidede -familien.

- -

Hva er fordelene med Skolelinux slik du ser det?

- -

Skolelinux handler i likhet med utdanningssektoren om Ã¥ dele -kunnskap med andre, og det er dette som er hovedstyrken til -prosjektet. Selv om Skolelinux hovedsaklig er involvert i utvikling -av programvare, er det ogsÃ¥ et sted der man kan utfolde seg uavhengig -av bakgrunn og ferdigheter.

- -

Hva er ulempene med Skolelinux slik du ser det?

- -

Liten utbredelse og manglende stÃ¸tte fra leverandÃ¸rer som leverer -pedagogisk programvare til skolebruk. Kunne kanskje hatt flere -verktÃ¸y som letter administrasjonen ytterligere, slik at ogsÃ¥ mindre -erfarne databrukere kan utfÃ¸re lett vedlikehold og rutinejobber.

- -

Hvilken fri programvare bruker du til daglig?

- -

Jeg er nesten forpliktet til Ã¥ si at jeg bruker LibreOffice... Jeg -bruker forÃ¸vrig frie og Ã¥pne operativsystemer basert pÃ¥ -operativsystemkjernen Linux, for tiden openSUSE 12,1 med KDE4. Men -hvis jeg skal dra fram noen flere eksempler sÃ¥ er nok Mozilla Firefox -og Thunderbird to av de jeg bruker mest. I tillegg er jeg en flittig -bruker av OpenSSH, Irssi, Midnight Commander, Git, Subversion, -Translation Toolkit og Super Maryo Chronicles (litt gÃ¸y skal man ha, -og med to hÃ¥ndkontroller liggende er det ikke til Ã¥ unngÃ¥).

- -

Hvilken strategi tror du er den rette Ã¥ bruke for Ã¥ fÃ¥ -skoler til Ã¥ ta i bruk fri programvare?

- -

Vi mÃ¥ fÃ¥ leverandÃ¸rer av pedagogisk programvare med pÃ¥ laget, men -ogsÃ¥ utvikle vÃ¥r egen tilpasset det norske markedet. Det er ogsÃ¥ -mulig Ã¥ involvere utdanningssektoren direkte i arbeidet, for eksempel -gjennom studentprosjekter der elevene selv er med Ã¥ utforme -programvare direkte eller indirekte gjennom aktive bidrag. Dette gjÃ¸r -ikke bare samarbeidet tettere, men fokuset pÃ¥ standarder og friheten -til Ã¥ velge sin egen lÃ¸sning vil kanskje stimulere interessen for -framtidig deltakelse i bransjen. Vi som driver med fri og Ã¥pen -programvare Ã¸nsker oss ikke rene konsumenter, men tenkende og -selvstendige individer som kan vÃ¦re med Ã¥ skape sin egen fremtid.

- - - Tags: debian edu, intervju, norsk. - - -

@@ -516,7 +560,7 @@ selvstendige individer som kan vÃ¦re med Ã¥ skape sin egen fremtid.

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@@ -637,17 +681,17 @@ selvstendige individer som kan vÃ¦re med Ã¥ skape sin egen fremtid.

diff --git a/blog/index.rss b/blog/index.rss index bf02af8c73..161bc40d55 100644 --- a/blog/index.rss +++ b/blog/index.rss @@ -6,6 +6,118 @@ http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/ + + Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + Fri, 9 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0100 + Inspired by the interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a +Norwegian interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / +Skolelinux community. This was so popular that I believe it is time +to move to a more international audience. + +While <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu and +Skolelinux</a> originated in France and Norway, and have most users in +Europe, there are users all around the globe. One of those far away +from me is Nigel Barker, a long time Debian Edu system administrator +and contributor. It is thanks to him that Debian Edu is adjusted to +work out of the box in Japan. I got him to answer a few questions, +and am happy to share the response with you. :) + + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +My name is Nigel Barker, and I am British. I am married to Yumiko, +and we have three lovely children, aged 15, 14 and 4(!) I am the IT +Coordinator at Hiroshima International School, Japan. I am also a +teacher, and in fact I spend most of my day teaching Mathematics, +Science, IT, and Chemistry. I was originally a Chemistry teacher, but +I have always had an interest in computers. Another teacher teaches +primary school IT, but apart from that I am the only computer person, +so that means I am the network manager, technician and webmaster, +also, and I help people with their computer problems. I teach python +to beginners in an after-school club. I am way too busy, so I really +appreciate the simplicity of Skolelinux. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +In around 2004 or 5 I discovered the ltsp project, and set up a +server in the IT lab. I wanted some way to connect it to our central +samba server, which I was also quite poor at configuring. I discovered +Edubuntu when it came out, but it didn't really improve my setup. I +did various desperate searches for things like "school Linux server" +and ended up in a document called "Drift" something or other. Reading +there it became clear that Skolelinux was going to solve all my +problems in one go. I was very excited, but apprehensive, because my +previous attempts to install Debian had ended in failure (I used +Mandrake for everything - ltsp, samba, apache, mail, ns...). I +downloaded a beta version, had some problems, so subscribed to the +Debian Edu list for help. I have remained subscribed ever since, and +my school has run a Skolelinux network since Sarge. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +For me the integrated setup. This is not just the server, or the +workstation, or the ltsp. Its all of them, and its all configured +ready to go. I read somewhere in the early documentation that it is +designed to be setup and managed by the Maths or Science teacher, who +doesn't necessarily know much about computers, in a small Norwegian +school. That describes me perfectly if you replace Norway with +Japan. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The desktop is fairly plain. If you compare it with Edubuntu, who +have fun themes for children, or with distributions such as Mint, who +make the desktop beautiful. They create a good impression on people +who don't need to understand how to use any of it, but who might be +important to the school. School administrators or directors, for +instance, or parents. Even kids. Debian itself usually has ugly +default theme settings. It was my dream a few years back that some +kind of integration would allow Edubuntu to do the desktop stuff and +Debian Edu the servers, but now I realise how impossible that is. A +second disadvantage is that if something goes wrong, or you need to +customise something, then suddenly the level of expertise required +multiplies. For example, backup wasn't working properly in Lenny. It +took me ages to learn how to set up my own server to do rsync backups. +I am afraid of anything to do with ldap, but perhaps Gosa will +help. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Nowadays I only use Debian on my personal computers. I have one for +studio work (I play guitar and write songs), running AV Linux +(customised Debian) a netbook running Squeeze, and a bigger laptop +still running Skolelinux Lenny workstation. I have a Tjener in my +house, that's very useful for the family photos and music. At school +the students only use Skolelinux. (Some teachers and the office still +have windows). So that means we only use free software all day every +day. Open office, The GIMP, Firefox/Iceweasel, VLC and Audacity are +installed on every computer in school, irrespective of OS. We also +have Koha on Debian for the library, and Apache, Moodle, b2evolution +and Etomite on Debian for the www. The firewall is Untangle. + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +Current trends are in our favour. Open source is big in industry, +and ordinary people have heard of it. The spread of Android and the +popularity of Apple have helped to weaken the impression that you have +to have Microsoft on everything. People complain to me much less about +file formats and Word than they did 5 years ago. The Edu aspect is +also a selling point. This is all customised for schools. Where is the +Windows-edu, or the Mac-edu? But of course the main attraction is +budget.The trick is to convince people that the quality is not +compromised when you stop paying and use free software instead. That +is one reason why I say the desktop experience is a weakness. People +are not impressed when their USB drive doesn't work, or their browser +doesn't play flash, for example. + + + Debian Edu screencast: Mass creation of user accounts in Squeeze http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_screencast__Mass_creation_of_user_accounts_in_Squeeze.html @@ -360,73 +472,5 @@ solution for your school. - - Skolelinux-intervju: Olav Dahlum - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Skolelinux_intervju__Olav_Dahlum.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Skolelinux_intervju__Olav_Dahlum.html - Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:40:00 +0100 - I serien med intervjuer av folk i -<a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Skolelinux</a>-miljÃ¸et, fÃ¥r vi nÃ¥ -hÃ¸re fra et nyvalgt medlem i foreningen -<a href="http://www.friprogramvareiskolen.no/">Fri programvare i -Skolen</a>. - -Hvem er du, og hva driver du med til daglig? - -Jeg heter Olav Dahlum, og er frilans oversetter, tester, -prosjektleder og bruker av fri og Ã¥pen programvare som -LibreOffice. Jeg er ogsÃ¥ et av styremedlemmene i FRISK. - -Hvordan kom du i kontakt med Skolelinux-prosjektet? - -Jeg kom i kontakt med prosjektet i 2009, da jeg ble ansatt i -stiftelsen Ãpne kontorprogram pÃ¥ norsk for Ã¥ oversette og teste den -norske utgaven av OpenOffice.org. Arbeidet har hele tiden vÃ¦rt -koordinert sammen med Skolelinux, og mange av de samme menneskene er -involvert, sÃ¥ pÃ¥ den mÃ¥ten ble jeg en del av den utvidede -familien. - -Hva er fordelene med Skolelinux slik du ser det? - -Skolelinux handler i likhet med utdanningssektoren om Ã¥ dele -kunnskap med andre, og det er dette som er hovedstyrken til -prosjektet. Selv om Skolelinux hovedsaklig er involvert i utvikling -av programvare, er det ogsÃ¥ et sted der man kan utfolde seg uavhengig -av bakgrunn og ferdigheter. - -Hva er ulempene med Skolelinux slik du ser det? - -Liten utbredelse og manglende stÃ¸tte fra leverandÃ¸rer som leverer -pedagogisk programvare til skolebruk. Kunne kanskje hatt flere -verktÃ¸y som letter administrasjonen ytterligere, slik at ogsÃ¥ mindre -erfarne databrukere kan utfÃ¸re lett vedlikehold og rutinejobber. - -Hvilken fri programvare bruker du til daglig? - -Jeg er nesten forpliktet til Ã¥ si at jeg bruker LibreOffice... Jeg -bruker forÃ¸vrig frie og Ã¥pne operativsystemer basert pÃ¥ -operativsystemkjernen Linux, for tiden openSUSE 12,1 med KDE4. Men -hvis jeg skal dra fram noen flere eksempler sÃ¥ er nok Mozilla Firefox -og Thunderbird to av de jeg bruker mest. I tillegg er jeg en flittig -bruker av OpenSSH, Irssi, Midnight Commander, Git, Subversion, -Translation Toolkit og Super Maryo Chronicles (litt gÃ¸y skal man ha, -og med to hÃ¥ndkontroller liggende er det ikke til Ã¥ unngÃ¥). - -Hvilken strategi tror du er den rette Ã¥ bruke for Ã¥ fÃ¥ -skoler til Ã¥ ta i bruk fri programvare? - -Vi mÃ¥ fÃ¥ leverandÃ¸rer av pedagogisk programvare med pÃ¥ laget, men -ogsÃ¥ utvikle vÃ¥r egen tilpasset det norske markedet. Det er ogsÃ¥ -mulig Ã¥ involvere utdanningssektoren direkte i arbeidet, for eksempel -gjennom studentprosjekter der elevene selv er med Ã¥ utforme -programvare direkte eller indirekte gjennom aktive bidrag. Dette gjÃ¸r -ikke bare samarbeidet tettere, men fokuset pÃ¥ standarder og friheten -til Ã¥ velge sin egen lÃ¸sning vil kanskje stimulere interessen for -framtidig deltakelse i bransjen. Vi som driver med fri og Ã¥pen -programvare Ã¸nsker oss ikke rene konsumenter, men tenkende og -selvstendige individer som kan vÃ¦re med Ã¥ skape sin egen fremtid. - - - diff --git a/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html b/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html index b147cb8974..98125b2590 100644 --- a/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html +++ b/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html @@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

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@@ -179,17 +179,17 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

diff --git a/blog/sitemap.xml b/blog/sitemap.xml index d311b968e0..913f33168f 100644 --- a/blog/sitemap.xml +++ b/blog/sitemap.xml @@ -200,6 +200,11 @@ 0.50 weekly + + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + 0.50 + weekly + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_roaming_workstation___at_the_university_of_Oslo.html 0.50 diff --git a/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html b/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html index e00a5bd239..64b0b63388 100644 --- a/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html +++ b/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html @@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ with parallel booting enabled by default.

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@@ -197,17 +197,17 @@ with parallel booting enabled by default.

diff --git a/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html b/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html index f3c885792a..0a89dba465 100644 --- a/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html @@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

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@@ -731,17 +731,17 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

diff --git a/blog/tags/amiga/index.html b/blog/tags/amiga/index.html index 79b93a19e9..0532c76a35 100644 --- a/blog/tags/amiga/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/amiga/index.html @@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

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@@ -185,17 +185,17 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

diff --git a/blog/tags/aros/index.html b/blog/tags/aros/index.html index d157c19756..266ae23fa4 100644 --- a/blog/tags/aros/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/aros/index.html @@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

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@@ -185,17 +185,17 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

diff --git a/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html b/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html index 5524a84d14..6c8da1047c 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html @@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ equally valid for gold, which was used as a currency for many years.

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@@ -314,17 +314,17 @@ equally valid for gold, which was used as a currency for many years.

diff --git a/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html b/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html index 6b2e48b059..5be80d6952 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html @@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ from when sysvinit was introduced into Debian, a long time ago.

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@@ -892,17 +892,17 @@ from when sysvinit was introduced into Debian, a long time ago.

diff --git a/blog/tags/bsa/index.html b/blog/tags/bsa/index.html index 309f272bfb..815d626918 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bsa/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bsa/index.html @@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss b/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss index e7f2598ce2..170c0a1223 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss +++ b/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss @@ -6230,5 +6230,117 @@ Theora</a> file. Check it out below. + + Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + Fri, 9 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0100 + Inspired by the interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a +Norwegian interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / +Skolelinux community. This was so popular that I believe it is time +to move to a more international audience. + +While <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu and +Skolelinux</a> originated in France and Norway, and have most users in +Europe, there are users all around the globe. One of those far away +from me is Nigel Barker, a long time Debian Edu system administrator +and contributor. It is thanks to him that Debian Edu is adjusted to +work out of the box in Japan. I got him to answer a few questions, +and am happy to share the response with you. :) + + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +My name is Nigel Barker, and I am British. I am married to Yumiko, +and we have three lovely children, aged 15, 14 and 4(!) I am the IT +Coordinator at Hiroshima International School, Japan. I am also a +teacher, and in fact I spend most of my day teaching Mathematics, +Science, IT, and Chemistry. I was originally a Chemistry teacher, but +I have always had an interest in computers. Another teacher teaches +primary school IT, but apart from that I am the only computer person, +so that means I am the network manager, technician and webmaster, +also, and I help people with their computer problems. I teach python +to beginners in an after-school club. I am way too busy, so I really +appreciate the simplicity of Skolelinux. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +In around 2004 or 5 I discovered the ltsp project, and set up a +server in the IT lab. I wanted some way to connect it to our central +samba server, which I was also quite poor at configuring. I discovered +Edubuntu when it came out, but it didn't really improve my setup. I +did various desperate searches for things like "school Linux server" +and ended up in a document called "Drift" something or other. Reading +there it became clear that Skolelinux was going to solve all my +problems in one go. I was very excited, but apprehensive, because my +previous attempts to install Debian had ended in failure (I used +Mandrake for everything - ltsp, samba, apache, mail, ns...). I +downloaded a beta version, had some problems, so subscribed to the +Debian Edu list for help. I have remained subscribed ever since, and +my school has run a Skolelinux network since Sarge. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +For me the integrated setup. This is not just the server, or the +workstation, or the ltsp. Its all of them, and its all configured +ready to go. I read somewhere in the early documentation that it is +designed to be setup and managed by the Maths or Science teacher, who +doesn't necessarily know much about computers, in a small Norwegian +school. That describes me perfectly if you replace Norway with +Japan. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The desktop is fairly plain. If you compare it with Edubuntu, who +have fun themes for children, or with distributions such as Mint, who +make the desktop beautiful. They create a good impression on people +who don't need to understand how to use any of it, but who might be +important to the school. School administrators or directors, for +instance, or parents. Even kids. Debian itself usually has ugly +default theme settings. It was my dream a few years back that some +kind of integration would allow Edubuntu to do the desktop stuff and +Debian Edu the servers, but now I realise how impossible that is. A +second disadvantage is that if something goes wrong, or you need to +customise something, then suddenly the level of expertise required +multiplies. For example, backup wasn't working properly in Lenny. It +took me ages to learn how to set up my own server to do rsync backups. +I am afraid of anything to do with ldap, but perhaps Gosa will +help. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Nowadays I only use Debian on my personal computers. I have one for +studio work (I play guitar and write songs), running AV Linux +(customised Debian) a netbook running Squeeze, and a bigger laptop +still running Skolelinux Lenny workstation. I have a Tjener in my +house, that's very useful for the family photos and music. At school +the students only use Skolelinux. (Some teachers and the office still +have windows). So that means we only use free software all day every +day. Open office, The GIMP, Firefox/Iceweasel, VLC and Audacity are +installed on every computer in school, irrespective of OS. We also +have Koha on Debian for the library, and Apache, Moodle, b2evolution +and Etomite on Debian for the www. The firewall is Untangle. + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +Current trends are in our favour. Open source is big in industry, +and ordinary people have heard of it. The spread of Android and the +popularity of Apple have helped to weaken the impression that you have +to have Microsoft on everything. People complain to me much less about +file formats and Word than they did 5 years ago. The Edu aspect is +also a selling point. This is all customised for schools. Where is the +Windows-edu, or the Mac-edu? But of course the main attraction is +budget.The trick is to convince people that the quality is not +compromised when you stop paying and use free software instead. That +is one reason why I say the desktop experience is a weakness. People +are not impressed when their USB drive doesn't work, or their browser +doesn't play flash, for example. + + + diff --git a/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html b/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html index 4be899c216..82959e4320 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html @@ -7240,6 +7240,130 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

+ Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker +

+ 9th March 2012 +

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

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

+ +

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

@@ -7255,7 +7379,7 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

February (10)

March (5)

March (6)

@@ -7376,17 +7500,17 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

diff --git a/blog/tags/debian/index.html b/blog/tags/debian/index.html index 62c2b299f0..5265ee16e6 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/debian/index.html @@ -4312,7 +4312,7 @@ outdated.

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@@ -4433,17 +4433,17 @@ outdated.

diff --git a/blog/tags/digistan/index.html b/blog/tags/digistan/index.html index a2ebda68be..9b7f0b1ca6 100644 --- a/blog/tags/digistan/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/digistan/index.html @@ -995,7 +995,7 @@ scared by the sketchy form of the current pages. :)

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@@ -1116,17 +1116,17 @@ scared by the sketchy form of the current pages. :)

diff --git a/blog/tags/english/english.rss b/blog/tags/english/english.rss index 9c22791a11..0e4695db44 100644 --- a/blog/tags/english/english.rss +++ b/blog/tags/english/english.rss @@ -7227,5 +7227,117 @@ Theora</a> file. Check it out below. + + Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + Fri, 9 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0100 + Inspired by the interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a +Norwegian interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / +Skolelinux community. This was so popular that I believe it is time +to move to a more international audience. + +While <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu and +Skolelinux</a> originated in France and Norway, and have most users in +Europe, there are users all around the globe. One of those far away +from me is Nigel Barker, a long time Debian Edu system administrator +and contributor. It is thanks to him that Debian Edu is adjusted to +work out of the box in Japan. I got him to answer a few questions, +and am happy to share the response with you. :) + + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +My name is Nigel Barker, and I am British. I am married to Yumiko, +and we have three lovely children, aged 15, 14 and 4(!) I am the IT +Coordinator at Hiroshima International School, Japan. I am also a +teacher, and in fact I spend most of my day teaching Mathematics, +Science, IT, and Chemistry. I was originally a Chemistry teacher, but +I have always had an interest in computers. Another teacher teaches +primary school IT, but apart from that I am the only computer person, +so that means I am the network manager, technician and webmaster, +also, and I help people with their computer problems. I teach python +to beginners in an after-school club. I am way too busy, so I really +appreciate the simplicity of Skolelinux. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +In around 2004 or 5 I discovered the ltsp project, and set up a +server in the IT lab. I wanted some way to connect it to our central +samba server, which I was also quite poor at configuring. I discovered +Edubuntu when it came out, but it didn't really improve my setup. I +did various desperate searches for things like "school Linux server" +and ended up in a document called "Drift" something or other. Reading +there it became clear that Skolelinux was going to solve all my +problems in one go. I was very excited, but apprehensive, because my +previous attempts to install Debian had ended in failure (I used +Mandrake for everything - ltsp, samba, apache, mail, ns...). I +downloaded a beta version, had some problems, so subscribed to the +Debian Edu list for help. I have remained subscribed ever since, and +my school has run a Skolelinux network since Sarge. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +For me the integrated setup. This is not just the server, or the +workstation, or the ltsp. Its all of them, and its all configured +ready to go. I read somewhere in the early documentation that it is +designed to be setup and managed by the Maths or Science teacher, who +doesn't necessarily know much about computers, in a small Norwegian +school. That describes me perfectly if you replace Norway with +Japan. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The desktop is fairly plain. If you compare it with Edubuntu, who +have fun themes for children, or with distributions such as Mint, who +make the desktop beautiful. They create a good impression on people +who don't need to understand how to use any of it, but who might be +important to the school. School administrators or directors, for +instance, or parents. Even kids. Debian itself usually has ugly +default theme settings. It was my dream a few years back that some +kind of integration would allow Edubuntu to do the desktop stuff and +Debian Edu the servers, but now I realise how impossible that is. A +second disadvantage is that if something goes wrong, or you need to +customise something, then suddenly the level of expertise required +multiplies. For example, backup wasn't working properly in Lenny. It +took me ages to learn how to set up my own server to do rsync backups. +I am afraid of anything to do with ldap, but perhaps Gosa will +help. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Nowadays I only use Debian on my personal computers. I have one for +studio work (I play guitar and write songs), running AV Linux +(customised Debian) a netbook running Squeeze, and a bigger laptop +still running Skolelinux Lenny workstation. I have a Tjener in my +house, that's very useful for the family photos and music. At school +the students only use Skolelinux. (Some teachers and the office still +have windows). So that means we only use free software all day every +day. Open office, The GIMP, Firefox/Iceweasel, VLC and Audacity are +installed on every computer in school, irrespective of OS. We also +have Koha on Debian for the library, and Apache, Moodle, b2evolution +and Etomite on Debian for the www. The firewall is Untangle. + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +Current trends are in our favour. Open source is big in industry, +and ordinary people have heard of it. The spread of Android and the +popularity of Apple have helped to weaken the impression that you have +to have Microsoft on everything. People complain to me much less about +file formats and Word than they did 5 years ago. The Edu aspect is +also a selling point. This is all customised for schools. Where is the +Windows-edu, or the Mac-edu? But of course the main attraction is +budget.The trick is to convince people that the quality is not +compromised when you stop paying and use free software instead. That +is one reason why I say the desktop experience is a weakness. People +are not impressed when their USB drive doesn't work, or their browser +doesn't play flash, for example. + + + diff --git a/blog/tags/english/index.html b/blog/tags/english/index.html index 1711e11284..20421339c9 100644 --- a/blog/tags/english/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/english/index.html @@ -8585,6 +8585,130 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

+ Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker +

+ 9th March 2012 +

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

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

+ +

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

@@ -8600,7 +8724,7 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

February (10)

March (5)

March (6)

@@ -8721,17 +8845,17 @@ Theora file. Check it out below.

diff --git a/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html b/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html index 9a9d4fe49c..4eca0237fc 100644 --- a/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html @@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ tjeneste. MÃ¥tte de fÃ¥ fÃ¸lge av resten av landets kommuner snart. :)

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@@ -1053,17 +1053,17 @@ tjeneste. MÃ¥tte de fÃ¥ fÃ¸lge av resten av landets kommuner snart. :)

diff --git a/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html b/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html index 0a1af05551..d20cd82275 100644 --- a/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html @@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

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@@ -758,17 +758,17 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

diff --git a/blog/tags/intervju/index.html b/blog/tags/intervju/index.html index 6d2976cf6b..563db2eb1a 100644 --- a/blog/tags/intervju/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/intervju/index.html @@ -1718,6 +1718,130 @@ under dette.

+ Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker +

+ 9th March 2012 +

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

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

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

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

+ +

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

@@ -1733,7 +1857,7 @@ under dette.

February (10)

March (5)

March (6)

@@ -1854,17 +1978,17 @@ under dette.

diff --git a/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss b/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss index 14972e8a5c..11865ca2e4 100644 --- a/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss +++ b/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss @@ -1512,5 +1512,117 @@ under dette. + + Debian Edu interview: Nigel Barker + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__Nigel_Barker.html + Fri, 9 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0100 + Inspired by the interview series conducted by Raphael, I started a +Norwegian interview series with people involved in the Debian Edu / +Skolelinux community. This was so popular that I believe it is time +to move to a more international audience. + +While <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu and +Skolelinux</a> originated in France and Norway, and have most users in +Europe, there are users all around the globe. One of those far away +from me is Nigel Barker, a long time Debian Edu system administrator +and contributor. It is thanks to him that Debian Edu is adjusted to +work out of the box in Japan. I got him to answer a few questions, +and am happy to share the response with you. :) + + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +My name is Nigel Barker, and I am British. I am married to Yumiko, +and we have three lovely children, aged 15, 14 and 4(!) I am the IT +Coordinator at Hiroshima International School, Japan. I am also a +teacher, and in fact I spend most of my day teaching Mathematics, +Science, IT, and Chemistry. I was originally a Chemistry teacher, but +I have always had an interest in computers. Another teacher teaches +primary school IT, but apart from that I am the only computer person, +so that means I am the network manager, technician and webmaster, +also, and I help people with their computer problems. I teach python +to beginners in an after-school club. I am way too busy, so I really +appreciate the simplicity of Skolelinux. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +In around 2004 or 5 I discovered the ltsp project, and set up a +server in the IT lab. I wanted some way to connect it to our central +samba server, which I was also quite poor at configuring. I discovered +Edubuntu when it came out, but it didn't really improve my setup. I +did various desperate searches for things like "school Linux server" +and ended up in a document called "Drift" something or other. Reading +there it became clear that Skolelinux was going to solve all my +problems in one go. I was very excited, but apprehensive, because my +previous attempts to install Debian had ended in failure (I used +Mandrake for everything - ltsp, samba, apache, mail, ns...). I +downloaded a beta version, had some problems, so subscribed to the +Debian Edu list for help. I have remained subscribed ever since, and +my school has run a Skolelinux network since Sarge. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +For me the integrated setup. This is not just the server, or the +workstation, or the ltsp. Its all of them, and its all configured +ready to go. I read somewhere in the early documentation that it is +designed to be setup and managed by the Maths or Science teacher, who +doesn't necessarily know much about computers, in a small Norwegian +school. That describes me perfectly if you replace Norway with +Japan. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The desktop is fairly plain. If you compare it with Edubuntu, who +have fun themes for children, or with distributions such as Mint, who +make the desktop beautiful. They create a good impression on people +who don't need to understand how to use any of it, but who might be +important to the school. School administrators or directors, for +instance, or parents. Even kids. Debian itself usually has ugly +default theme settings. It was my dream a few years back that some +kind of integration would allow Edubuntu to do the desktop stuff and +Debian Edu the servers, but now I realise how impossible that is. A +second disadvantage is that if something goes wrong, or you need to +customise something, then suddenly the level of expertise required +multiplies. For example, backup wasn't working properly in Lenny. It +took me ages to learn how to set up my own server to do rsync backups. +I am afraid of anything to do with ldap, but perhaps Gosa will +help. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Nowadays I only use Debian on my personal computers. I have one for +studio work (I play guitar and write songs), running AV Linux +(customised Debian) a netbook running Squeeze, and a bigger laptop +still running Skolelinux Lenny workstation. I have a Tjener in my +house, that's very useful for the family photos and music. At school +the students only use Skolelinux. (Some teachers and the office still +have windows). So that means we only use free software all day every +day. Open office, The GIMP, Firefox/Iceweasel, VLC and Audacity are +installed on every computer in school, irrespective of OS. We also +have Koha on Debian for the library, and Apache, Moodle, b2evolution +and Etomite on Debian for the www. The firewall is Untangle. + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +Current trends are in our favour. Open source is big in industry, +and ordinary people have heard of it. The spread of Android and the +popularity of Apple have helped to weaken the impression that you have +to have Microsoft on everything. People complain to me much less about +file formats and Word than they did 5 years ago. The Edu aspect is +also a selling point. This is all customised for schools. Where is the +Windows-edu, or the Mac-edu? But of course the main attraction is +budget.The trick is to convince people that the quality is not +compromised when you stop paying and use free software instead. That +is one reason why I say the desktop experience is a weakness. People +are not impressed when their USB drive doesn't work, or their browser +doesn't play flash, for example. + + +

+ Petter Reinholdtsen + +

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