Meadows Community School
From Schoolforge-UK
Case Study
| School Name | The Meadows Community School | Role in school | Curriculum coordinator/ Network manager |
| School Location | Chesterfield | Student numbers | 850 |
| Grade range | 11-16 | Teachers | 55 |
| Computers | 165 networked computers | GNU/Linux computers | 4 |
| Length of Time (Start) | 5 years ago | User GROUP Affiliation | SpireLUG |
| Request Assistance? | - | Project Leader | Colin Davies |
| Project URL | - | Contact E-mail | colinidavies at yahoo.com |
| How Project Started: |
Irish Colin came FROM a school with PCs to a school with archimedes and so asked for a suite of PCs. The price quoted was £30,000 so he decided to use second-hand 486s instead. Next came a Linux server (running a novell emulator) and afterwards ran samba file sharing. |
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| Why use GNU/Linux? | The reason for using Linux was primarily one of cost | ||
| Project Description |
There is one proxy server, 2 application/file servers (one primary and one backup) providing file sharing and network services. |
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| Project Evaluation |
From a non-technical perspective Linux is poorly packaged and it is relatively difficult to source support but once up and running it provides services that otherwise would not have been available |
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| Future Uses |
The use of Linux servers has been such a success that a suite of thin clients is planned, as well as being a trial school for Smoothwall Guardian (a network protection and content filtering solution). The school now uses a 'white list' of appropriate websites for classes rather than trying to keep pace with all the inappropriate content. |
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| Additional Info |
The key issue facing the school is finding (or finding someone to develop) an effective Print control package to manage the volume of printing done in the school. |
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