[Server-devel] [XSCE] XSCE usage analysis: Malaysia Deployment

Tue Apr 29 18:55:41 EDT 2014

Here is the general info wiki for the latest stable version of XSCE
(those of you on the list, please correct me if 5.0 has been superceded,
the wiki hints that it hasn't):
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/XS_Community_Edition/5.0

The installation instructions are here:
https://github.com/XSCE/xsce/blob/master/docs/INSTALL.rst

(even though the "target" machine is an XO 1.5, 1.75, or XO-4, I haven't
had any problems installing XSCE on other platforms with these
instructions).  The instructions assume you have Fedora 18 already
installed and know the root password (you set the root password yourself
when installing Fedora)

I usually disable SELINUX right after installing Fedora 18 and before
installing XSCE.  If I remember correctly, you edit the file at
/etc/selinux/config and change selinux="permissive" to selinux="disabled".

Assuming Fedora 18 is installed, follow the instructions from "On the
XO..." to "Using tags."  Don't worry about the tags section or the
"Building the rpm" section.

Once XSCE is installed, it should have an IP address of 172.18.96.1 and
I think the DHCP server hands out IP addresses in the 172.18.100.x range.

If you want to see a working version, I created this VM a while back,
which you can download and load up in VirtualBox.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B88Fc8ICKovFUDdvMXNxSUFsVVk&usp=sharing

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes.

--Curt

On 4/26/2014 3:57 PM, Curt Thompson wrote:
> Hi Joanne,
>
> Basically whether it's worth it to try XSCE/IIAB depends on what you're
> trying to do and the relative 'costs' (cost of hardware, set-up time,
> maintenance time).  If you're just trying to set up the server to serve
> internet-in-a-box, it's fairly straightforward.  It is certainly helpful
> to have some basic understanding of how to use a command line and
> ideally whoever sets it up should have some familiarity with Linux.
>
> The problems you're seeing in this list probably arise because
> SchoolServer is being put in a larger infrastructure, as a gateway
> between the laptops and the real internet, with options for
> blacklisting/whitelisting websites and "local caching" of frequently
> visited sites to keep bandwidth costs down.  If you're not looking to
> connect to the "real internet," you *probably* won't run into most of
> these problems.
>
> I have set up a few SchoolServers for testing, and I was tangentially
> involved in setting up a couple for computer clubs in Haiti - If you
> like, I'd be happy to talk with you about what you're looking to do in
> Uganda and give you my opinion on if/how SchoolServer/IIAB can help. 
> You can call me anytime today at 626-817-2878 or if you prefer email:
> curtathompson at gmail.com
>
> Cheers,
> Curt Thompson
>
> On 4/26/2014 3:01 PM, Joanne Clemente wrote:
>> I signed up for this listserv because I thought it would be a good idea to use a server and Internet in a Box for deployments of XOs in Uganda. I am not a techie and these emails are scaring me to death. Is it advisable for a novice to try a server in a school that has XOs or should I just stick to using lone computers?
>> Joanne
>> Joanne Clemente, Ed.D.
>> Director of Online Learning
>> Center for Adult Student Education
>> Blackboard Administrator
>> Dominican College
>> Orangeburg, NY
>> 845.848.4017 work
>> 914.260.6237 cell
>> ________________________________________
>> From: server-devel-bounces at lists.laptop.org [server-devel-bounces at lists.laptop.org] On Behalf Of Tim Moody [tim at timmoody.com]
>> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2014 12:41 PM
>> To: xsce-devel at googlegroups.com; xsce-devel at googlegroups.com; tkkang at nurturingasia.com; Server-Devel at Lists. Org
>> Subject: Re: [Server-devel] [XSCE] XSCE usage analysis: Malaysia Deployment
>>
>> We had this problem in Haiti as well.  I always do a minimal Linux install which just creates boot, swap, and all remaining disk on root.  The alternate is the original xs partition scheme with a small root and everything else in library. Of course your solution will work too.
>>
>> Sent from my BlackBerry® PlayBook™
>> www.blackberry.com
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: "" <tkkang at nurturingasia.com>
>> To: "Tim Moody" <tim at timmoody.com>, "xsce-devel at googlegroups.com" <xsce-devel at googlegroups.com>, "tkkang at nurturingasia.com" <tkkang at nurturingasia.com>, "Server-Devel at Lists. Org" <server-devel at lists.laptop.org>
>> Sent: 26 April, 2014 3:53 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Server-devel] [XSCE] XSCE usage analysis: Malaysia Deployment
>>
>>
>> Below is what we found on the XSCE on followup 7 weeks later in the wild.
>>
>> Hope that will help in future installations...
>>
>> --
>> Dear T. K.,
>>
>> Here's a detailed explanation of what happened that day.
>>
>> We found that the /library/cache/swap.state is sized 47G, which occupies the whole partition of /.  I know by default during the installation the fedora will part the whole harddisk into two parts, for root (/) 50G, and for /home the remaining.  However, in XSCE's setting, the main content is put into /library which belongs to / partition.
>>
>> The reason why swap.state is so large is unknow. However, we removed the file and restart the squid service, it becomes normal now.
>>
>> To prevent future event from happening, we also _bind_ mount the /library/cache to home directory.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Weida
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Tim Moody [mailto:tim at timmoody.com]
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2014 01:10 PM
>>> To: xsce-devel at googlegroups.com, tkkang at nurturingasia.com,
>>> Server-Devel at Lists. Org
>>> Subject: RE: [Server-devel] [XSCE] XSCE usage analysis: Malaysia Deployment
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> what do things like df and mount show
>>>
>>>> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 09:41:32 +0545
>>>> From: martin at gnu.org
>>>> To: tkkang at nurturingasia.com; xsce-devel at googlegroups.com; server-devel at lists.laptop.org
>>>> Subject: Re: [Server-devel] [XSCE] XSCE usage analysis: Malaysia Deployment
>>>>
>>>> On 23.4.2014 16:49, tkkang at nurturingasia.com wrote:
>>>>> Thanks for the instructions. Let see if we could get that going.
>>>> Let me know if you run into any issues with the installation, T.K..
>>>>
>>>>> Because of the default Fedora 18 partition limited space was reserved for the /library in our XSCE. This lead to error :-)and also ejabberd crash.
>>>> How much space is available? Can the partition be enlarged?
>>>>
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Martin
>>>>
>>
>>
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