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Feasibility of Linux for Public-Access Labs?

Posted by Cliff on from the penguins-in-public-places dept.

Benanov asks: "I'm doing a literature review on the Feasibility of Linux for a public-access lab (i.e. not Computer Science students at a university but instead the entire student body would have a login), and I haven't found any detailed studies about any places where this is actually done. If you know of any citeable sources about studies / reviews, I'd really appreciate it."

4 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. "You mean... by Jonboy+X · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...I can't play minesweeper? What kind of lab is this?"

    --

    "In a 32-bit world, you're a 2-bit user. You've got your own newsgroup, alt.total.loser." -Weird Al
  2. Redhat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Any default install of Redhat on any computer with an always on connection is plenty public, i.e., anybody on the net can use them ;-)

  3. Re:MIT by jcoy42 · · Score: 2, Funny
    mit uses linux and solaris and irix

    Oh my!
    --
    Never trust an atom. They make up everything.
  4. Tips by BoneFlower · · Score: 3, Funny

    1) Use Mandrake. Its the simplest install, and in an educational setup the extra apps that it has can be beneficial, also, due to the wide range of users, having all of Mandrakes bloat can help people find programs that they will find useful.

    2) Use KDE/GNOME. Ideally, set it up to boot into X, have KDE/GNOME both installed and the users can select the one they want.

    3) Lock down permissions tighter than a Vatican nun.

    These tips will produce a perfectly usable system, fairly sturdy against morons trying to(or accidentally) screw up the system or introduce viruses or what have you. And make sure to review the logs, paying special attention to those who use the root account, either with su or by directly logging in