XS Conf 08 MAR 25 IRC LOG

This is the IRC log for the School Server Teleconference 25 March 2008

Conversation with #olpc-xs 
(08:53:35 PM) mvn071: BryanWB:meeting started
(08:53:40 PM) h01ger [n=holger@socket.layer-acht.org] entered the room.
(08:53:43 PM) h01ger: hi
(08:53:55 PM) huslage [n=huslage@75-92-155-42.sea.clearwire-dns.net] entered the room.
(08:54:06 PM) huslage: g'day
(08:54:27 PM) m_stone [n=mstone@teach.laptop.org] entered the room.
(08:54:29 PM) martin_xsa: is that technically possible?
(08:54:42 PM) huslage: has the call started? i hear nothing
(08:54:43 PM) martin_xsa: what's your skye acct?
(08:54:52 PM) mvn071: it started
(08:54:53 PM) martin_xsa: BryanWB, what's your skype acct?
(08:54:55 PM) olpc_wad: Aaron, still hearing nothing ?
(08:55:02 PM) huslage: yep.
(08:55:11 PM) huslage: calling in again
(08:55:42 PM) BryanWB: my acct is berrdawg, skypeout
(08:56:30 PM) crosvera [n=crosvera@25-240-90.adsl.terra.cl] entered the room.
(08:56:34 PM) crosvera: hello
(08:56:36 PM) crosvera: sorry be late
(08:56:39 PM) martin_xsa: hola
(08:56:48 PM) crosvera: hola
(08:56:51 PM) crosvera: voy a llamar ahora
(08:57:21 PM) huslage: hola crosvera
(08:57:56 PM) crosvera: hi huslage
(08:58:02 PM) martin_xsa: ouch
(08:58:14 PM) huslage: major feedback
(08:58:21 PM) mvn071: sound is getting less
(08:58:48 PM) martin_xsa: BryanWB, can you hear? Carol suggests you talk via irc...
(08:59:31 PM) crosvera: i ha 11 minutes
(08:59:35 PM) BryanWB: i hear perfectly well
(08:59:38 PM) martin_xsa: say your name
(09:00:00 PM) martin_xsa: bryan is talking
(09:00:04 PM) crosvera: im in the call
(09:00:09 PM) martin_xsa: next?
(09:00:48 PM) dan_p: Hi, Dan Poltawski here, I work with moodle with K12 schools in the UK (got no voice)
(09:01:06 PM) crosvera: my turn?
(09:01:31 PM) BryanWB: dan_p: welcome
(09:02:24 PM) martin_xsa: anyone else?
(09:02:41 PM) mvn071: http://martenvijn.nl ...
(09:03:01 PM) arjs [i=Anks@221.134.239.1] entered the room.
(09:03:09 PM) martin_xsa: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/XS_Roadmap
(09:05:15 PM) cafl: me http://msbit.com/cafl.html -- static version of school website: http://msbit.com/robin/html/
(09:09:51 PM) olpc_wad: cafl: Any relationship with the NYC schools ? Or are they working solo ?
(09:10:09 PM) BryanWB: cafl: working w/ Teaching Matters?
(09:10:40 PM) cafl: I am freelancing...my daughter teaches at that school...teach for america. It is a charter
(09:12:15 PM) olpc_wad: Cool. Martin and I are talking to the NYC schools tmw. as well. When does Icahn Charter School plan to deploy ?
(09:12:57 PM) cafl: I am travelling there Thursday. Will be there through the next week.
(09:13:38 PM) cafl: I am putting this in one class...4/20th laptop per child
(09:15:22 PM) cafl: I hope success will interest the icahn foundation
(09:16:47 PM) TTown: Sound is dropping out for short times (from any participant). Anybody else experience this?
(09:16:57 PM) crosvera: yeah
(09:18:07 PM) martin_xsa: we all like hardware ;-)
(09:20:55 PM) mvn071: floss accespoint => wrap/alix/soekris performs well
(09:21:15 PM) crosvera: floss?
(09:21:20 PM) BryanWB: mvn: needs to be easy to set up accesspoint, i have no experience w/ this
(09:21:22 PM) mvn071: opensources
(09:21:29 PM) crosvera: yeah
(09:21:30 PM) mvn071: linux / bsd
(09:22:07 PM) mvn071: just make brigdes, or ssh configs form XS
(09:22:13 PM) mvn071: from
(09:23:02 PM) olpc_wad: We have noticed that OpenWRT turns cheap access points into good access points, but it adds to the installation overhead.
(09:23:23 PM) TTown: Large school scenario: I hear with traditional access points 1 one server for 250 clients is normal. Using no high end servers, will server clusters be considered (--> red hat cluster management suite)
(09:23:49 PM) crosvera: damn it i don't have more money
(09:23:55 PM) mvn071: ack, and not very scalable hardware (redoing)
(09:24:16 PM) olpc_wad: We are trying to avoid clusters if possible...
(09:25:41 PM) crosvera: I am out of the conference
(09:27:57 PM) BryanWB: sorry crosvera
(09:28:08 PM) crosvera: np
(09:28:33 PM) crosvera: then you talk me about the conference :D
(09:28:41 PM) BryanWB: sure :)
(09:28:59 PM) cafl: talking about taxonomy now, crosvera
(09:29:09 PM) crosvera: ;)
(09:29:17 PM) cafl: on wiki
(09:29:24 PM) huslage: olpc_wad: the OpenWRT idea is good, but I found when doing Katrina relief that it was more of a hindrance than useful after a fashion
(09:31:15 PM) olpc_wad: I agree, in terms of having to install it on the AP. Did you run into technical problems as well ?
(09:31:42 PM) huslage: yeah, mostly in administration issues.
(09:31:48 PM) mvn071: linksys had bad capcitors, better take smc
(09:32:01 PM) huslage: olpc_wad: has the 50x15 been considered as a school server platform?
(09:32:03 PM) BryanWB: huslage: I am wary of learning curve w/ OPenWRT, when we already have a lot of new tech to work w/
(09:32:13 PM) crosvera: cafl, what about backup XO's information?
(09:32:18 PM) huslage: exactly BryanWB
(09:32:34 PM) huslage: http://50x15.com/en-us/
(09:33:56 PM) martin_xsa: thanks for the yum comment, I'll see if I can make it more reliable
(09:35:01 PM) martin_xsa: our plan is to have the same mechanism that can be deployed via USB key or internet
(09:35:20 PM) martin_xsa: or mixed delivery
(09:35:28 PM) mvn071: bootable usb-stick..?
(09:35:36 PM) cafl: great ... easy to be blinded by being used to reliability
(09:35:54 PM) martin_xsa: mvn071, the usb key just has a signed script
(09:36:18 PM) martin_xsa: cafl, I'm familiar with _very_ bad connectivity areas: Pacific islands
(09:36:54 PM) olpc_wad: 50x15 is not environmentally sealed, and has no WAN connection.
(09:37:13 PM) huslage: what about customizations?
(09:37:21 PM) cafl: I'm not...this last 3 months has been a revelation
(09:37:32 PM) olpc_wad: I looked at it, but it is underpowered and doesn't get us much. AMD is suggesting a miniITX IPC if you are going to use AMD chips.
(09:38:35 PM) huslage: yrsh
(09:38:37 PM) huslage: yeah
(09:38:47 PM) huslage: we looked at it a while back at Inveneo
(09:38:49 PM) huslage: it sucked
(09:38:56 PM) huslage: i didn't know if it had gotten better
(09:46:20 PM) sulocha1 [n=root@124.41.199.252] entered the room.
(09:47:37 PM) TTown: Birmingham scenario: 20+% of student population changed schools within the last 12 months
(09:47:59 PM) mvn071: crypted backup's with user key
(09:48:03 PM) mvn071: ?
(09:49:04 PM) BryanWB: Yo sulo
(09:49:17 PM) sulocha1: hey bryan
(09:49:18 PM) sulocha1: hey guys
(09:49:51 PM) mvn071: edubuntu ?
(09:49:58 PM) crosvera: what are you talking about right now?
(09:50:22 PM) cafl: martin_xsa: why debian instead of ubuntu which is a secondary distro in the xo context?
(09:50:36 PM) BryanWB: cafl: debian more stable
(09:50:45 PM) dan_p: debian longer-term?
(09:51:39 PM) crosvera: yeah, Debian has several rules with the software update
(09:51:43 PM) mvn071: oke
(09:52:58 PM) dan_p: kernel?
(09:53:10 PM) crosvera: dan_p, ah?
(09:53:49 PM) dan_p: whacky hardware which might not be supported on stock debian kernels
(09:54:32 PM) huslage: yes dan_p
(09:55:26 PM) crosvera: but, it could be possible configure the kernel package
(09:56:01 PM) dan_p: yep. Indeed/backports
(09:56:26 PM) dan_p: woo for unsexy ;)
(09:56:35 PM) sulocha1 left the room.
(09:56:37 PM) martin_xsa: Cobol!
(09:59:31 PM) cafl: martin_xsa: Consider that schools will be adding/customizing application content (e.g. websites, etc.)
(10:01:24 PM) mvn071: http://reductivelabs.com/trac/puppet/wiki/PuppetOnDebian
(10:04:05 PM) huslage: puppet is very nice for what martin_xsa is talking about
(10:08:21 PM) mvn071: what is K<x>?
(10:08:37 PM) olpc_wad: Kindergarden through <x> grade
(10:08:38 PM) martin_xsa: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?f=731
(10:08:51 PM) mvn071: tnks
(10:09:32 PM) dan_p: (I am a developer) and we host over 100 K6 moodles
(10:09:56 PM) dan_p: But I am not clear on the pedology used in these schools
(10:10:28 PM) martin_xsa: carol - thanks for waiting a sec
(10:11:09 PM) mvn071: sorry_ have to show up @ dinner => bye => tnhks
(10:11:11 PM) martin_xsa: carol, go ahead
(10:11:14 PM) martin_xsa: please :-)
(10:11:21 PM) dan_p: http://cleo.net.uk/getfile.php?src=778/CLEO_PrimaryThemesFlyer.pdf
(10:12:47 PM) bemasc left the room (quit: "Quit").
(10:14:32 PM) cafl: static version of school website: http://msbit.com/robin/html/
(10:17:24 PM) BryanWB: I would like to see Moodle as the primary CMS. Has the critical mass in education.
(10:20:47 PM) BryanWB: dan_p: what's your e-mail address? want to talk w/ you about moodle for k-6 kids.
(10:21:01 PM) dan_p: talktodan@gmail.com
(10:21:07 PM) huslage: nice
(10:21:52 PM) BryanWB: dan_p: do you have examples we can look at from the regular Internet? We need a very, very simple UI for our Moodle install in Nepal. More for teachers than the kids.
(10:22:43 PM) dan_p: I am not sure there are any which you'd be able to get anywhere with (they are closed environments for thes chools)
(10:23:19 PM) BryanWB: dan_p: Argh. We want to use Moodle as 1) layout lesson plans for teachers so they don't feel at a loss what do to w/ the XO 2) forums for kids 3) blogging
(10:23:45 PM) BryanWB: let's use Sakai! :) joking
(10:27:55 PM) martin_xsa: cafl, I have to confess that you are quite an outstanding Drupal user
(10:35:53 PM) martin_xsa: open questions?
(10:37:03 PM) cafl: martin_xsa: getting special hardware at deployments like mine ... antenna chargers eg
(10:38:30 PM) olpc_wad: cafl: antenna chargers ?
(10:38:53 PM) olpc_wad: Active antennas and chargers ? Power supplies for standalone repeaters ?
(10:38:58 PM) cafl: live antennas, new gang chargers
(10:39:17 PM) cafl: typing one-handed
(10:39:20 PM) crosvera: martin_xsa, what about XS admin interface?
(10:40:07 PM) cafl: active antennas, new gang chargers
(10:40:07 PM) martin_xsa: todo: moodle+Pootle
(10:40:13 PM) olpc_wad: cafl: For that installation, we have to recommend conventional APs, not active antennas.
(10:40:20 PM) huslage: that hurts my brain
(10:40:31 PM) olpc_wad: Are you in touch with Richard Smith about gang chargers ?
(10:40:55 PM) TTown: Question: Scalability for large schools - if clusters are unwanted and fairly low cost of the shelf hardware the main server resource. At what student number do we expect to hit the ceiling?
(10:41:15 PM) martin_xsa: x11vnc
(10:41:17 PM) martin_xsa: ?
(10:41:34 PM) huslage: TTown: that depends on the hardware really
(10:41:44 PM) martin_xsa: export gdm - ?
(10:41:53 PM) crosvera: x11vnc??
(10:41:56 PM) cafl: olpc_wad: I am using a wap, but would be interested in the chargers. just thought it is something that should be documented
(10:42:04 PM) huslage: they are talking about sharing screens, crosvera
(10:42:13 PM) crosvera: aaaaa
(10:42:15 PM) huslage: it is not a server activity really
(10:42:24 PM) martin_xsa: crosvera, we'll talk admin UI later :-)
(10:42:34 PM) crosvera: with vinagre
(10:42:35 PM) BryanWB: huslage: not really a server activity but great for teacher training
(10:42:40 PM) huslage: yes
(10:42:43 PM) crosvera: with vinagre yo can share screens
(10:42:57 PM) crosvera: *you
(10:42:58 PM) huslage: i don't disagree, just telling him what we're talking about
(10:43:32 PM) olpc_wad: We are working to bring up early prototypes, but need people interested in buying them to go further. You can send mail to rsmith at l.org to let him know you are interested.
(10:43:56 PM) cafl: tx
(10:46:06 PM) crosvera: another tool to share screens http://italc.sourceforge.net/
(10:46:41 PM) olpc_wad: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Remote_display
(10:46:53 PM) olpc_wad: For sharing a display between laptops
(10:48:04 PM) martin_xsa: thanks all!