Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Aitch · Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 6825 Location: Chatham, Kent, UK

Rob

More info on Hotmail/MSNMessenger in browser options

See my post, here

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=39679

HTH

Aitch Smile

ecomoney · Posted: Mon 23 Mar 2009, 01:53 Post subject:

Thanks Aitch. It seems that the only way round the problem is to get seamonkey to "lie" about the type of browser it is. Its a shame that there isnt an browser extension to just lie when on Microsoft sites, fight fire with fire thats what I say Wink

Its these types of things that are show-stoppers when people are trying to switch to linux. Changing the browser "useragent" across all of the internet will stop other sites realizing a lot more people are using linux!

From the specs...

ypup · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

My interests is the use of the customized smoothwall in a Cybercafe in contrast to a DBRL server appliance that would be configured to boot several version of puppy linux.

Diskless Remote Boot Linux DRBL
How would an inexpensive computer in a CyberCafe's, setup to use Diskless Remote Boot Linux configured to boot Puppy versions 4.X, 3.X and 2.X, Compare with the customized smoothwall network boot that is being developed?.

This is a brief description of DBRL:

DBRL Description
================
DRBL is an open source solution to managing the deployment of the GNU/Linux operating system across many clients. Imagine the time required to install GNU/Linux on 40, 30, or even 10 client machines individually! DRBL allows for the configuration all of your client computers by installing just one server machine.

Diskless Remote Boot in Linux (DRBL) provides a diskless or systemless environment for client machines. It works on Debian, Puppy Linux, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS and SuSE. DRBL uses distributed hardware resources and makes it possible for clients to fully access local hardware.
*(Replace the other versions of Linux with the different versions of Puppy. Developers could work on special versions of Puppy to perform maintenance of the DRBP server appliance and workstations in the Cybercafe configuration. This could be added as a boot option .)

DRBL uses PXE/etherboot, NFS, and NIS to provide services to client machines so that it is not necessary to install GNU/Linux on the client hard drives individually. Once the server is ready to be a DRBL server, the client machines can boot via PXE/etherboot (diskless). "DRBL" does NOT touch the client hard drives, therefore, other Operating Systems (i.e. M$ Windows) installed on the client machines will be unaffected. This could be useful in, for example, during a phased deployment of GNU/Linux where users still want to have the option of booting to Windows and running Office. DRBL allows great flexibility in the deployment of GNU/Linux.
========================================================
This is a Link:
http://drbl.sourceforge.net/

These are the instructions for configuring small GNU/Linux distributions. The DBRP could be setup to exclusively use the different versions of Puppy linux.

drbl-SL.sh can load some small GNU/Linux, like DamnSmall Linux (DSL), Puppylinux, INSERT Linux, PLD rescue linux, Debian Live, GeeXbox or PUD-Linux into DRBL environment.
** By doing this, the client can use that Small GNU/Linu after booting via PXE. The client still can work even if the network cable is unplugged. It's fire and forget. In this mode, all the programs are loaded into client's memory. Therefore, the memory of client should be large enough. For DSL, PuppyLinux, INSERT, the memory requirement of client is 192 MB. For PLD Rescue Linux, since it will only run in rescue mode without graphic, the memory requirement for client is 25 MB.
Syntax:

Usage: /opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh [OPTION] [SL-ISO|SL-INDEX]

OPTION:
-i, --install: Load Small Linux into DRBL environment.
-u, --uninstall: Uninstall Small Linux.
-v, --verbose: Verbose mode.
SL-ISO is one of DSL PuppyLinux INSERT PLD ISO file, used with installation.
S-L-INDEX is one of DSL PuppyLinux INSERT PLD, used with uninstallation.
Ex: To load DSL Linux, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -i dsl-3.0.1.iso'
To load PuppyLinux, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -i puppy-2.12-seamonkey.iso'
To load INSERT Linux, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -i INSERT-1.3.8_en.iso' To load PLD Rescue CD, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -i rescue.iso'
To remove DSL, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -u DSL'
To remove PuppyLinux, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -u PuppyLinux'
To remove INSERT, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -u INSERT'
To remove PLD, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -u PLD'
To remove all Small Linux, run '/opt/drbl/sbin/drbl-SL.sh -u all'

Has this been considered for use in the Cybercafe?

A comparison of the tradeoffs in the Cybercafe would be appreciated, as well as links to more information on the customized smoothwall configuration.

Was DBRL eliminated from consideration in being used in the Cybercafe?

raffy · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4636 Location: Manila

DRBL can handle both large and small Linuxes. With small Linux, it's "fire and forget" as you said, meaning, that a continuous connection with the server is not required. This is not so with large Linux.

The net-booting setup here is for small Linux ("fire and forget"). However, the issue of maintaining some form of connection with the server will still be necessary, like when bigger programs such as OpenOffice would be needed.

In that regard, someone has suggested rootz:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=26218

It would be good if someone can implement DRBL in Puppy to net-boot the basic OS and then to make available bigger programs from a central server.

Will you be able to help implement this? Thanks in advance!

ypup · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks for the clarification Raffy.

Let me follow-up with more questions.

1. In the Cybercafe configuration is the "Fire & Forget" configuration that does NOT require a continuous connection far more efficient to operate?
ie o. Lower hardware requirements for the workstation
o. Lower hardware requirement for the server
o. Can support more con-current users

2. Would the DRBL sever with several Puppies in the Boot configuration be able to support the needs of over 70 percent of the Cybercafe users?

3. Could the Custom Smoothwall or rootz be integrated into the boot menu for the Cybercafe user that required a continuous connection?

4. Is the advantage of rootz over Smoothwall is that it has lower network bandwidth requirements on the server?

Was Planning on implementing a DRBL Puppy based server configuration in Computer Laboratory/Cybercafe configuration. Would appreciate links that provide information on design options in this configuration.

ecomoney · Posted: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 13:27 Post subject:

Hiya ypup. Welcome to the thread.

I havnt time at the moment to review your netboot appliance. The reason Ive decided (tentatively) gone for smoothwall is

-It has a large active community of developers that constantly update its security.

-It has a whole load of addons that can quickly add new functionality when needed

- It runs on really old computers

- Ive used it already, so I know a bit about it

- It has filters to filter more "exclusive" content that people that have been at sea a long time may be tempted to view (frees cleaning budget for better kit) Shocked

The documentation for netbooting puppy is sparse. The best stuff is probably on the thread above (thanks guys). This goes for the smoothwall as well as puppy Wink

I would be happy to help you with netbooting puppy (as far as I know it) as an option on your DBRL server. You may want to wait for the customized puppy setup that we will be using at the Seafarers cybercafe. This will be available for free download.

ecomoney · Posted: Wed 25 Mar 2009, 13:35 Post subject:

Have just had a text message through from an old friend. One of the schools we collect from where he works has donated an (soon to be ex) Windows NT server with twin 30gb SCSI RAID, 1.5gb RAM and a single 1.5mhz processor, expandable to dual processors (for possible future upgrades!).

This will free up the Single SCSI PII 450mhz/256mb server I had for the smaller of the two cybercafes.

This should be fun, Ive never [url=http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:vXN_lJxL0mwJ:www.dban.org/+dban&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a] dban'ed Windows NT before Cool

ypup · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

To improve my understanding of the Cybercafe Server Configuration, a hypothetical configuration to get comments from the experienced users.

Ecomoney hardware:
Cyber Cafe Server Appliance
twin 30gb SCSI RAID,
1.5gb RAM and a single 1.5mhz processor,
expandable to dual processors (future upgrades!).

DRBL installed and configured on the Server Appliance
o Several versions of Puppy configured for net boot.
o Puppy in the Fire & Forget configuration is preconfigured with an NFS connections to the server Appliance.
o Network Menu on the Puppy Workstation uses the login to define the space that is available on the Server Appliance that defines the user's work space that has been allocated for that login.

When the NFS connection is established between the Puppy Workstation on the Server Appliance, would this be considered a continuous connection?

Can Smoothwall be installed on the Server Appliance for security purpose and to intergrate the Seafarers Puppy configuration, for workstations that require the continuous connection?
Can DRBL and Seafarrers Smoothwall coexist?

Are there any statics that identify applications used and the time period spent working on these applications?

With this hardware, how many concurrent users would this support?

There is such an emphasis on replacing windows applications, there is a danger of not configuring the server optiminally for linux applications. The expereince of people that are using linux in a working Cybercafe is highly valued

Thanks in advance

raffy · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4636 Location: Manila

The seafarer netboot pup can simply be added to the Puppy builds available in DRBL.

From here, NFS is described thus:

linuxcbon · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 693

You could make a full install in each of the hard disks : they will keep all the datas and puppy will run faster.
Ok it is longer to install but simpler than the other solutions.

For the network, you can set iptables to allow only dns, http and https, nothing else just surfing. Example : http://linuxcbon.over-blog.com/article-2653925-6.html

raffy · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 4636 Location: Manila

Is that for rc.local? A setup for every client PC to protect itself? What about FTP and chat?

heh heh, we're trying to do economics here (be lazy and you become efficient) LOL

linuxcbon · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 693

ecomoney · Posted: Thu 26 Mar 2009, 04:01 Post subject:

ecomoney · Posted: Mon 06 Apr 2009, 06:49 Post subject:

Well, today the project manager is coming to see me at my house...hes due in an hour. Ive re set up the smoothwall server with the same settings as before, and Ive created a new initrd.gz with 4.2 final with the "ecofox" browser from my previous cybercafe.

Guess what? IT WONT BOOT!!!!

It loads the initrd.gz across the network, gets to the "booting the kernel" line and hangs. On my compaq Desktop it doesnt give an error message, just locks up, On my laptop its a different story, it says