School Proof-of-concept network
It is a vision of mine that linux will be used more in schools, making more
computing resources available, without encumbrances of commercial software.
Especially, perhaps, out here in some isolation, the Macintosh is widely
advocated and used in schools. Networks are now planned, and while linux is
the obvious choice (to me, at least), there is talk of commercial operating
systems, even Macs as servers, and perhaps a distrust of anything that is
free.
In my department there is at least one phone line, perhaps two. In one
classroom is a pair of macs, each with a modem, swapping use of the phone
line in that room for short connects to the WWW. When I saw this, I saw an
immediate need---a linux dialin gateway machine/router!
Classrooms of our department are all close to each other. Physical distance
would permit stringing of cable. There are a small number of macs in our
department, perhaps less than six, though I'm not sure. There aren't more
than ten, as we have ten instructors in our department. I am planning a
486 linux garbage can computer (in part to show what can be done).
I am asking for assistance in evaluating the potential to make a small
network using a linux 386 or 486 box as a gateway. I am going to write a
grant proposal. It seems to me it can be done for less than 1,000.00. I've
been using Linux for about 4 years on standalone machines, never networks.
I use ppp, but I'm not knowledgeble. I need to evaluate this concept before
I jump off the deep end with the proposal---it has to work. Almost
everything I have tried on Linux has worked, or showed promise.
I expect that macs will predominate, so they will be connected by appletalk
to the linux gateway.
I would like to request some pointers to help plan this proposed network.
I need something on paper within days. What is the cheapest way, what is
the best way? And, more to the point, on this list, AM I OVER-ESTIMATING
MY ABILITY? (How much potential is there to fail?). I think this is a
fairlyi simple network. I don't have any networking experience.
Alan Davis
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Alan E. Davis Marianas High School (Science Department)
AAA196, Box 10001 adavis@netpci.com http://www.saipan.netpci.com/~adavis
Saipan, MP 96950 15.16oN 145.7oE GMT+10 Northern Mariana Islands
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