Question regarding "Kid Proofing" a station

[matrix7linux]

Hello all, I am new to the forums here and have a couple of questions I would like to throw out there. Little background first though so you know where I'm coming from.

I am a former Windows (yuck) network administrator of a smallish network (20 PCs and one mac) for about 5 years and am familiar with working on command prompt type stuff, networking, system setting and other mid level "guts work".

I used Linux a little in College (ten years ago or so) - (Red Hat 7) but had dialup at home so I decided until I got high speed I would keep reading up on it but not install. I've had high speed for about a year now and had forgotten about it until I started getting into downloading Podcasts and saw the "Going Linux" podcast. I downloaded a couple episodes and fell in love, so I downloaded a few LiveCD's and have been tinkering since then.

An idea that I had (and my questions) is since money is tight all around this may be an opportune time to start introducing some local coffee shops, internet cafes, libraries and schools to Linux as a low cost alternative to the Pricey and hardware hungry Windows boxes. Many times they just want something that can do the following:

- Let the kids get online (with some limitations of course)
- Let them write reports and save in Word format (Open Office should do for that)
- "Kid Proof" the station so it would be low maintenance for the staff
- Usually run on older hardware so they don't have to upgrade all the time
- Not get a bunch of viruses on the computer
- Restrict kids from installing a bunch of junk on the system

My thoughts on this after using LiveCD's is what if you converted their current systems into a LiveCD Linux box? Since it is a CD everything would be Read Only, Linux doesn't get viruses (does anybody else have trouble convincing people of that??), it is very minimal in the system requirements, and anything they would more than likely download to install (again Read Only disc) would also not run on Linux.

Okay here is what i would like to know:

- Is anybody doing this - if so what success/problems should I expect.
- What distro should I use and what packages should I install
- Should I stay with the Live CD idea and somehow disable the CD tray unless you are staff OR do a full install on a small hard drive.
- I am looking to do this to both help bring my community up to speed and maybe to make a little cash on the side. Linux is free so of course no charge for that, but how long would each station take and how much should I charge to set each up?

Just some thoughts - I have heard how well the Linux community LOVES forums and being helpful so here's your chance, go crazy When recommending distros please use ones (if possible) that have Live CD's so I can test hardware and such before I install.

Thanks much, will be back on tonight.

Matrix7

PS - The Linux distro I have been messing with is the latest from Ubuntu's site if that helps.

[dijetlo]

Is anybody doing this - if so what success/problems should I expect.

Schools take a long time to make up their minds, Even if they love the idea, they have follow process so get started early.
Talk to the IT guys and make sure imbedding it in the larger school system isn't going to make them insane. They can torpedo you faster than anybody. Find out what they need to be comfortable with the project and provide that for them as priority one.
The only other problem you'll encounter is every person who touches the systems will be hell bent on destroying them and children are disturbingly creative when it comes to something like that.
Make sure you carry a service rider on your contract. Schools will alway claim it's the software because they don't want to buy hardware, Don't put the physical computers anywhere the children can get at them...there are still copies of "Matrix" and "Swordfish" on late night TV, it always seems to give them ideas.....

Should I stay with the Live CD idea and somehow disable the CD tray unless you are staff OR do a full install on a small hard drive.

No, nobody adds or removes software but the guy who has the software maintenance contract (you)
Listen, this isn't what this board is for, this conversation doesn't belong here and it would be rude to continue since I realize our hosts are liable to take offense, contact me off-line and I'll tell you what I know about it.,

[D-cat]

- What distro should I use and what packages should I install?

I can't answer that one for you, but you can look through the distro list on linux.org. There are some "kid friendly" type distros.

- Should I stay with the Live CD idea and somehow disable the CD tray unless you are staff OR do a full install on a small hard drive.

The kids would bring their own paper clip if they had to. I'd suggest a hard drive load of a live distro (this is faster, and still read-only for the security). You can password protect the boot loader and definitely the BIOS (plus set the bios to boot hard drive only) so no changes can be made without admin permission, opening the case, or admin stupidity (too easy a password or written in a known location).


Perhaps the better option in networked environments is the Linux-Based Thin Client Desktop setups. These require minimal hardware (except for the server), and the clients are bare bones, with no direct net access themselves and the kids have no physical access to the server. The clients can be mirrored for easy recovery in event they try to hack it, which if successful, will only result in them being cut off from the network period. All applications and net access is controlled by the server, which is much easier to manage. The con to this is it introduces a single point of failure to make the whole network useless, so backups are requirements in this setup, no excuses, and a synchronized backup server (if in budget) isn't a bad idea either.

As far as making money off the set-up, this is your labor fee based on your experience and rates as comparable in your area. This is something I think would be inappropriate to discuss in these forums.