[ale] Help needed for a Non-Profit project - if not Linux then will go Windows

Sun Apr 6 11:49:25 EDT 2003

Thanks for the info.  It will be duly noted & passed on.

Yes ! Help is needed.  I have loaded Suse 8.0 on a pc with only 1.6 GB so we
can definitely load up Linux.  I just discovered LVM (yeah, I know) and so
we can use spare small hard drives to get a bigger / partition to load up
Linux.  The only problem I am having now is configuring the modem(s) (I have
3 test ones).

BTW  If anyone has modem configuring foo then please share the knowledge.
We are this --->| |<----- close to getting a Linux project off the ground.

Greg Canter

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-admin at ale.org [mailto:ale-admin at ale.org]On Behalf Of Geoffrey
> Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 11:48 PM
> To: ale at ale.org
> Cc: Watson McKeel; Keld; FreeBytes Director
> Subject: Re: [ale] Help needed for a Non-Profit project - if not Linux
> then will go Windows
>
>
> I'd like to help, but will be out of town.
>
> One note, I'd be interested in knowing how anyone plans to lock you out
> of the command line with win98.  If you've got a browser, you fire up
> command.com and you've got a dos window.
>
> I've done something very similar to what you're looking for though.  Had
> a slide show fire up from boot for my wife during conference week.  It's
> pretty straight forward, you call startx from rc as the last thing to
> run. In the .xinitrc file it simply called the browser passing to it the
> location of the slideshow.  Worked like a champ.
>
> If you're still looking for assistance late next week I'll be back in
> town, let me know.
>
> Sorry, I would have loved to get involved on this one.
>
> Greg wrote:
> >  I am helping out at a non-profit called Free Bytes
> > (http://www.freebytes.org) that is providing support to the Atlanta Food
> > Bank for an initial order of 30 computers - out of a possible
> future order
> > of several hundred.  We are looking for an OS that can be installed on
> > machines that will immediately dial up via modem to an ISP, have a web
> > browser come up so folks can use a web based form for ordering food
> > shipments, and the box must be configured so that it will not
> allow the user
> > to get to a command line or otherwise play with the machine.  A working
> > model must be done by this week and not only is there a time crunch, but
> > since the first distro we went with (a Slackware derived version) failed
> > miserably (only 1 successful install out of 4 machines and even then the
> > modem is almost unconfigurable). We need a solid victory or
> Windows 98 will
> > be installed on all machines (it is an all or nothing project -
> only 1 OS
> > will be selected).  MS Windows is our back-up if a Open Source solution
> > cannot be found.
> >
> > Here are the HW requirements:
> > 	RAM:	64 MG (sorry, we have little ram and the machines
> have varying slots)
> > 	HD:	1 GB is the lowest size, we can put other hard
> drives in the PCs (all
> > less than 1 GB, though)
> > 	CPU:	Pentium 133 MHz
> > 	Modem:	We need an easily customizable interface so we can
> easily customize
> > it.
> >
> > Here are the SW requirements
> > 	Boot to a browser after the X windows comes up.
> > 	GUI (for a browser and for a button to push that will do a
> shutdown/halt)
> > Need to have good looking fonts on browser.
> > 	A button to push that will do a shutdown/halt
> > 	Can meet the HW requirements.
> > 	Easily installable.  I understand that given enough time
> any one can figure
> > out how to make a modem work, but we don't have the time or the
> folks who
> > have a high level knowledge of a *nix to configure the modems
> to work.  Our
> > installers have primarily Windows experience and work primarily
> on Saturdays
> > for several hours.  A member of the Free Bytes staff will go out to the
> > field to deliver, configure, and do a field test of the PC's as well as
> > teach the end users and supervise the initial install and test.
> >
> > 	Time Line:
> > 	If I cannot find a easily configurable distro by Sunday
> night and no one
> > steps up with a viable alternative/solution, then I will have
> to call the
> > project manager at Free Bytes and tell them to go ahead with
> Windows 98.  We
> > would like to do a demo this week to the customer with a Linux
> box and show
> > how easy it is (think kiosk). If I can get a workable solution by Sunday
> > night I will call and tell the Free Bytes project manager we
> can use Linux -
> > with a demo box to follow by mid week.
> >
> > 	Current Problems:
> > 	* HD size: most modern Linux distro's are horribly bloated
> and we don't
> > have the time to take out every single thing as well as the
> fact that the
> > minimum for most distro's is about 1.7 GB anyway.
> >
> > 	* Needs to be easily installable.  We may have to do
> several hundred of
> > these boxen.
> >
> > 	* Time.  We bet on a solution that has not worked out and
> does not have an
> > easy way to automatically crank up the modem and easily
> configure the modem
> > so we lost valuable time already.  A solution needs to be done
> ASAP - (in 2
> > days) and a working model by this Wed (so I can have a working
> box in the
> > project manager's hands by mid week).
> >
> > 	What I need help with:
> > 	Suggestions on a good distro. I intend to try several of my
> old ones this
> > weekend.  The modern ones (RH and Suse bombed)
> > 	An already scripted distro that can be installed that will
> provide a kiosk
> > or even just simple window manager, browser and a method to
> easily configure
> > the modem.
> > 	Suggestions on good modem cards and/or external modems that
> work well with
> > Linux.  I know about the Linux hardware compatibility list but
> I want real
> > world advice.
> > 	Any suggestions on how to EASILY configure modems. ( I only
> have experience
> > with TCP/IP and Linux).
> > 	Any help to come by next Saturday to put some boxes out the
> door - unless I
> > have to recommend a Windows solution.
> > 	Either Linux or a BSD solution is ok.  I know it can be
> done, I just don't
> > have the time now (already spending 12 hrs at work daily) to do
> it and test
> > it myself and Free Bytes needs it soon too.
> >
> > 	What I don't need help with:
> > 	Any politically motivated flames.  I don't have the time
> nor the mind.  The
> > customer wants a simple computer solution and has already seen
> a Windows box
> > and considers it the standard to beat. We need to have a
> solution that is
> > realistic and will work.  The customer doesn't care about the
> how - just the
> > what.  I will not hesitate to recommend a MS solution to help them feed
> > people.
> > 	I am sorry, but the hardware and other requirements are not
> negotiable.  I
> > really wish we had modern boxes with already installed <distro
> here> that
> > automagically just needed the phone # to work, but that is not
> the reality.
> > What is in the requirements is all we have to work with (unless some one
> > donates several hundred bigger/better/faster/newer computer's
> in the next 4
> > days).
> >
> > 	So, can any one help ?  in any way ? even advice on modems
> is needed.  It
> > would be nice if several dozen or even a few were to come by
> next Saturday
> > to help with installs too, but right now I need to get a demo
> working within
> > the requirements. If it passes muster, then we will worry about
> the initial
> > order of 30.
> >
> > 	If you want to help, then please email me at
> runman at speedfactory.net  If
> > anyone wants to seriously help take on this project AND CAN
> REALLY REALLY
> > DONATE THE TIME then just ask and we can talk on the phone to
> night - but at
> > any rate I need to give the project manager the word not later
> than Sunday
> > night.
> >
> > 	TIA,
> >
> > 	Greg Canter
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ale mailing list
> > Ale at ale.org
> > http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> >
> >
>
> --
> Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at 3times25.net
>
> The latest, most widespread virus?  Microsoft end user agreement.
> Think about it...
>
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> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>

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