Linux @ SchoolLinux @ School

Leaving Microsoft Windows BehindLeaving Microsoft Windows Behind

Why Consider Linux?Why Consider Linux?

Less virusesLess viruses

Greater stabilityGreater stability

Reduce hardware costsReduce hardware costs

Reduce licensing costsReduce licensing costs

Reduce admin costsReduce admin costs

What about my programs?What about my programs?

Lots of Open-Source alternativesLots of Open-Source alternatives– Microsoft Office == Open OfficeMicrosoft Office == Open Office– Photoshop == The Gimp Photoshop == The Gimp – Programming IDEs == EclipseProgramming IDEs == Eclipse– Geometer’s Sketchpad == GeoGebraGeometer’s Sketchpad == GeoGebra

No Alternative?No Alternative?– Windows Terminal ServerWindows Terminal Server

Why not use Linux?Why not use Linux?

Resistance to changeResistance to change

Could be a difficult switchCould be a difficult switch

Too much proprietary softwareToo much proprietary software

In the ClassroomIn the Classroom

The GoodThe Good

Windsor Unified School Windsor Unified School District Northern CaliforniaDistrict Northern California

Original SetupOriginal Setup

an aging Microsoft Windows environment an aging Microsoft Windows environment running on 70 Hewlett-Packard and Dell running on 70 Hewlett-Packard and Dell servers spread across seven schoolsservers spread across seven schools

Upgrades would have meant purchasing Upgrades would have meant purchasing more powerful hardware and additional more powerful hardware and additional licensing costs totaling $100,000 – far too licensing costs totaling $100,000 – far too expensive for their limited IT budget expensive for their limited IT budget

Switching OverSwitching Over

running Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise running Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise ServerServer

Each site has a server room with 10 Each site has a server room with 10 servers with Novell's ZENworks and servers with Novell's ZENworks and GroupWise for collaboration GroupWise for collaboration

has resulted in a 90% reduction in the has resulted in a 90% reduction in the amount of time it takes IT staff to resolve amount of time it takes IT staff to resolve problemsproblems

also allows for better remote management also allows for better remote management

The Savings?The Savings?

Cost the district about $2,500 per school Cost the district about $2,500 per school to migrate to Linux compared with the to migrate to Linux compared with the estimated $100,000 it would have cost to estimated $100,000 it would have cost to upgrade their Windows infrastructure upgrade their Windows infrastructure

In addition, buying more Microsoft Office In addition, buying more Microsoft Office licenses would have cost the district $100 licenses would have cost the district $100 per license, she said, whereas OpenOffice per license, she said, whereas OpenOffice was free was free

The BadThe Bad

Monarch Park Collegiate, Monarch Park Collegiate, TorontoToronto

Original SetupOriginal Setup

Mr. MontgomeryMr. Montgomery’s classroom’s classroom

A computer lab used to teach computer A computer lab used to teach computer science and computer engineering classes science and computer engineering classes as well as business and ESL classesas well as business and ESL classes

The lab computers ran a combination of The lab computers ran a combination of Red Hat 7 and Mandrake 10.0Red Hat 7 and Mandrake 10.0

Resistance…Resistance…

Mr MontgomeryMr Montgomery was given a note, telling him was given a note, telling him that the Linux lab would be dismantled and that the Linux lab would be dismantled and replaced with a Microsoft-based Classroom replaced with a Microsoft-based Classroom Migration Technology Initiative (CTMI) labMigration Technology Initiative (CTMI) lab

The head of school wide services for Monarch The head of school wide services for Monarch Park removed all of the Linux computers from Park removed all of the Linux computers from the lab room under the direction of the school’s the lab room under the direction of the school’s principal while Montgomery was out at lunchprincipal while Montgomery was out at lunch

Quotes from CasesQuotes from Cases““The kids think Linux is cool because it's new, The kids think Linux is cool because it's new, but what they're really doing is stepping into the but what they're really doing is stepping into the 21st century.” 21st century.” – SysAdmin SysAdmin Windsor Unified School District Windsor Unified School District

““It’s necessary for students these days to learn It’s necessary for students these days to learn about Linux. It’s harmful to their present and about Linux. It’s harmful to their present and future educational opportunities and employment future educational opportunities and employment opportunities.” opportunities.” – Mr. MontgomeryMr. Montgomery