'Thin Client Linux' - Königsweg für Entwicklungsländer?

THIN CLIENT LINUX FOR SCHOOLS- IS THIS THE HOLY GRAIL FOR CHEAP EDUCATION COMPUTING? Delivering connected computers in Africa’s schools is harder than it looks. The question is how can you connect different systems with robust but cheap software. What system can deliver relatively low maintenance requirements and a high level of stability? Denis Brandjes of DireqLearn SA presents the argument for using a thin client, linux-based system Earlier this year DireqLearn SA deployed its first DireqOpenLab solution at Pholosho Primary School in Alexandra, South Africa. DireqOpenLab is a thin-client, diskless computer centre solution, based on Linux Terminal Server technology. The deployment followed eight months of intensive laboratory trials at the DireqLearn testing facility in Johannesburg, South Africa. This time was spent preparing and assessing a technically superior educational IT solution that can be deployed in schools throughout Africa at a level of cost effectiveness that was previously unthinkable. The system allows for the use of varied computer technologies, ranging from obsolete to state-of-the- art, in a diskless workstation configuration, designed especially to suit the education environment in the developing world. The DireqOpenLab solution at Pholosho Primary School uses an off-the-shelf AMD Athlon XP processor in in the server and standard AMD Athlon Duron processors in the workstations. Our research and experience has shown that these processors offer substantial performance and cost benefits over competitive processors. The workstations are totally diskless and boot off a pre-programmed network interface card. This circumvents the many technical problems such as corrupt file systems and failures typically associated with local hard disk drives in school computer labs the world over. DireqOpenLab has been developed as a comprehensive educational solution. It was designed after careful evaluation of the deployment and use of hundreds of new computer facilities in schools in South Africa over the last three to five years. Computer facility security is a major problem that is overcome with this solution. All the workstations are diskless and therefore "softwareless". Should these workstations be stolen, they have low resale value on the black market. The functionality and power of this system resides almost completey on the server, a powerful yet well-priced PC, with enough RAM and hard drive space to meet user and workstation needs. Security requirements and cost are reduced because it is only the server that needs to be fully secured, as that is where all functionality resides. The PCs deployed at Pholosho are all new but there have been deployments of systems using 486 and Pentium 1 workstations. You will be surprised at the new lease on life given to older PCs through this solution. Old PCs can perform as new, enabling schools with limited resources to bridge the Digital Divide. DireqLearn, through its relationship with NetDay Association has been able to assist in redeploying older refurbished computers into deserving schools. The most important quality of the product is its inestimable value as a comprehensive educational solution. The solution, based on the Open Source Software model, comes bundled with a range of relevant productivity applications including word processor, spreadsheet, presentations package, time management software and much, much more. This software has a look and feel just like that other graphical desktops such as the Windows and Apple Macintosh environment. There is a very high level of transferability of user interface skills between these systems and OpenLab. Server-based, web-based, platform-independent, specialist educational software and a range of applications ensure that the tools are available for an effective and meaningful educational experience. One of the key features is that the KDE desktop, the graphical user interface selected for OpenLab has been translated into Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans and Venda. This work has been undertaken by translate.org.za, a division of the Zuza Software Foundation. By the end of the year, this will be the only computer system interface that is available in all of the eleven official languages of South Africa. Indeed, it is the first time any of the indigenous languages have been made available in a comprehensive graphical user interface. Furthermore they are undertaking the translation of Sun Microsystem’s cutting edge office productivity suite, Open Office and the latest version of the well known Netscape Navigator web browser into all eleven languages. The well-known promoter of Linux within schools in South Africa, Linuxlab.org.za, has also recently invested time and resources into a Linux diskless computer lab at Alexander Sinton High School in the Western Cape. Alexander Sinton is an example of an ultralow-cost technical solution. Another recent success is the case of Rorke’s Drift in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The school community received the DireqOpenLab solution of 21 refurbished workstations, server and other equipment implemented in this rural, historic town with great enthusiasm. As the project was initiated at request of the Minister of Education, Prof. Kader Asmal, It is to be officially opened by the Minister. The DireqOpenLab thin-client diskless technology solution for education was showcased for the GautengOnline Pilot Project by Sahara Systems, one of the leading contenders for the rollout of 2500 computer labs by the Gauteng Provincial Government over the next three years. "A commitment to education means that all available solutions and technologies must be showcased, as there can never be a "one solution fits all" approach to crossing the Digital Divide in a developing country such as South Africa", says Selvin Kristnen, Director at Sahara Systems. DireqOpenLab had it’s international launch at a workshop hosted by the Imfundo Partnership, an initiative of the British Government Department for International Development, in London during April. Educationists from Europe, the US and a range of African countries warmly received it. As a result of the launch at Royal Holloway University of London, the translation of KDE into Swahili has been negotiated and will commence soon. DireqLearn is currently active in South Africa, Namibia and Nigeria. The DireqOpenLab solution was recently used with great success at the National Department of Education Conference for the top 100 Mathematics and Science schools nationwide, which was held in Midrand recently. The implementation there used an OpenLab solution with ten Pentium 1 diskless workstations in a cyber café arrangment demonstrating satellite access to the web. The delegates adapted easily to the system, with great interest being shown by these top educators. DireqOpenLab offers a host of other significant advantages over conventional alternatives based on proprietary software. One of these is the possibility that the life of an existing computer lab can be extended without the need to upgrade the workstations. This can be done without in any way sacrificing the use of all the latest in software from every area, including productivity (office suite software), educational, graphics, development, configuration and administration. The life span of a computer lab using DireqOpenLab is easily extended well beyond the average of three years after which workstations can no longer run the latest proprietary software because they are simply not powerful enough. In terms of initial hardware investment, DireqOpenLab therefore provides for a significant cost saving. It is, simply put, the most cost effective computer labs for schools, with no compromise on the quality. Costs are further reduced in that not only are there no initial purchase costs of the software, because it is free and open source, there are also no annual licence fees payable for the use of the software. On both these counts, the vendors of proprietary software have made it unaffordable for educational institutions to have access to the software tools that would not only expose them to the technology of the marketplace, but also make them more efficient as learners and educators. DireqOpenLab is enabling and empowering in that is it brings to the educational market the best and latest state-of-the-art tools, without any concern for annual license payments or initial purchase costs. It affords those many institutions that have resorted to the illegal use of stolen proprietary software an opportunity to break free of potential litigation and punitive payments when audited by the BSA. Once initial setup costs are covered, schools are free to choose fee-based technical support and upgrades to their systems, or to undertake such maintenance themselves. DireqLearn offers a number of attractive OpenLab alternatives and can tailor the solution to the needs and budget of a particular school. The Linux platform upon which DireqOpenLab is based offers unparalleled network security features. A system configured by our engineers offers a secure server with the most robust architecture available. These security features make Linux the ideal communications platform for providing the school with Internet connectivity. Connectivity is available in a number of models that combine different technologies to suit specific needs. These may include DigiNet, ISDN, cellular or analogue access, or a combination of these with satellite technology for high speed, low cost access. Another key feature of the system is its low maintenance requirements. Since the system has a vast reduction in the number of electro-mechanical devices, it is far less prone to mechanical failure than conventional systems with proprietary software. The user interface can be customised specifically for the needs of the institution: only those applications that the users require are built into the customised interface, which can be set up in colloboration between educators of an institution and our engineers. This lowers ongoing desktop maintenance requirements. Because the desktop is located on the server, all desktops can be customised, updated and maintained from one location. The system administrator never has to modify workstation software on a workstation-by-workstation basis, since there is no software installed client side. The author, Denis Brandjes can be contacted at: denis@direqlearn.org

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