OLE Nepal:Schoolserver
Schoolserver
The schoolserver provides many services in support of the XO laptops.
Schoolserver Hardware
The schoolserver is a desktop with a minimum 1gb of memory and a minimum of 160gb hard drive capacity. Specifically, the server should provide 2gb of disk space for each supported XO. It must have support usb including the ability to boot from usb. It must have two NIC interfaces. Normally, one of these is provided on the motherboard. The second is normally an added pci card. Server installation and administration does not require a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. In addition to the server, the second NIC is connected to an Access Point (e.g Lontech WL54G-BR). The Access Point must be configurable via an http address.
NEXS
NEXS is the software installed on the server. NEXS 1.0 is installed currently at the pilot schools. NEXS 2.0 is currently in test and will be installed beginning in December 2008. NEXS 3.0 is planned for installation in schools in the new school year beginning April 2009.
NEXS 2.0 is derived from OLPC_XS-0.4 and installed on a USB drive. The Kickstart install script is modified to enable an install on a server without a monitor or keyboard. When the server is rebooted after the install is completed, a configuration script is run which completes the system configuration except for local network specifics. When the server has been restarted, the deployment team will log in from an XO to run a script which completes the network configuration based on parameters specific to that school.
Services
The schoolserver provides protected access to the internet for the associated laptops via DansGuardian. It provides backup storage for the XO's datastore. It provides access to Pustakalaya, a library of educational materials maintained on the server. It provides access to educational activities via Moodle. It provides access to additional activities which the user of an XO can install or update from the server. It also provides a higher capacity mesh network through the attached AP using ejabberd, a jabber server. It also provides automatic authentication for XO users so that the conventional username and password login is unnecessary.