Computers for Uganda?

Shadowfax0 asks: "Recently, when I was attending the International Scout Jamboree in Sattahip, Thailand, I became friends with a fellow Scout from Uganda. One day we decided to both visit one of the small internet cafes that had been set up at the jamboree. I went in, and for only a few baht, was on the internet. My friend from Uganda was amazed, 'How do they do this?' he asked. I told him that in a lot of places in the world these are quite common; he was awe. "'ot in Uganda' he said to me. He told me that at the university he attends there are only three computers; and only one of them has the ability to get on the internet. In the spirit of the jamboree and of scouting, I told him that I would very gladly help him set up something similar at his university. Herein lies my question to the readers of Slashdot: How can I set up a small network for my friend in Uganda where the only fast internet connection may be a DSL line?"

" I was hoping to use thin-clients because they are very durable and create very little load for a server, however, I am not experienced enough to administer them properly using Linux (the same going for Solaris), and do not have enough money for Windows licensing (and also hope to have them be as reliable as possible). I would like to use Apple computers because that is the OS I am most well-versed in, and know that when I leave Uganda and if a problem were to arise, that there would be hope of the problem being rectified. I'm more looking to donate these computers to his school as opposed to set up an internet cafe; so I would be looking to have 6-20 computers and a server. I have never set up a network on a large scale and will need to know about what type of router/hub/network configurations would be plausible (I have a very basic knowledge of administering networks, something I hope to fix soon).

I thank all of you for your input, I hope we can make this happen!"

Comments

Scouting...

[mattsouthworth]

Better make sure your buddy's not gay or an atheist first.

Offtopic in Uganda?

[repvik]

I told him that in a lot of places in the world these are quite common; he was awe. "'ot in Uganda' he said to me.