What is SNS?
SNS stands for School Network Server. This is a
Redhat based server distribution specially made for Canberra Schools.
SNS is also a strong community of teachers, admins and students
who all collabrate on documenting what they do and supporting
each other through an email forum and regular meetings.
Unlike Windows Server software, SNS installs in
ten minutes on an Intel based PC and forms the heart of a Local
Area Network providing, authentication, web services and content
management systems like Moodle. The great advantage is that when
your server crashes, (like Windows does) you can rebuild it from
scratch in 10 minutes plus the time taken to add your users home
directories from your backup, possibly 30 minutes worth. Now,
if you've ever had a Windows server crash you know how long it
can take to get back on the road. SNS makes running a school network
painless and when things go wrong, quick to pick up and run again.
Based on RedHat 9 SNS uses kickstart and installs
via anaconda quickly on modest computers. SNS servers provide
many schools with file/print and domain control for labs of MS
Windows client workstations. Many schools use Macintosh workstations
too. SNS is an Open Source /Free Software Linux distribution that
provides seamless file and print services to SMB/CIFS clients
as well as packaging numerous programs like Apache, Netatalk,
OpenOffice. SNS is freely available from the linux.act.edu.au
by mail only. No web download is possible at this time.
MSCS - Multiple Server Configuration System.
At the heart of the SNS system is the MSCS. Designed
by Damien Clarke in response to dozens of schools calls for a
standard File/Print server the MSCS is a tool for distributing
near identical school servers. In Canberra this tool was used
to deploy 100 proxy servers. It has been used with great success
to deploy 1/3rd of schools with a consistent and manageable file/server
& Windows domain control system. A one CD installer automatically
installs a Linux/File Server and Domain controller reconfigured
for use in schools. Generic accounts are preloaded with permissions
set for school usage. New users are added via a text file that
is easy to manage.
The MSCS is a database (Damien uses Midnight Commander)
of network details collected about every Canberra school. This
information is used to build kickstart
files that are text files that contain each school's unique network
details on the WAN. Each school's kickstart file is then burned
to CD along with the usual RedHat 9 software. When Kickstart is
started it installs a server from the details stored in the school's
kickstart file.
School Networks Servers in Canberra...
The SNS Server is a Linux RedHat 9
server that provides most of the functions of Windows Servers
for $0. It is administered through a web browser on any student
workstation so can run headless in a backroom. It also comes with
lots of default users accounts so adding individual student accounts
can come later when the school is ready. The server package is
authored and maintained by Damien Clarke and is now at version
1.3.10
SNS Server provides a tool for
deploying near identical servers across an entire system. Site
specific information like domain names, IP addresses are installed
at each location. This system is presently used in the ACT to
provide a standard student network server for each school.
SNS uses the KickStart
software to create install CD's. The installer automatically installs
a file print server configured for the school and its unique hardware.
Domain names, IP addresses and network settings are installed
automatically. You don't need to know anything about setting up
servers. Simply pop in the disk and type install and it does it
all itself.
For users new to networking and servers simply install
and leave the server to itself. Connection from a workstation
is easy and users will have access to all the shared resources
available.
SNSs use
"free software" and require modest investment in hardware.
Management is
very simple. Users are added with a one word command and a text
file. Users do not need to know linux commands. All dealings with
the network are conducted from Windows or Macintosh student workstations.
Yes all admin tasks can be completed from a Windows workstation
anywhere on the network!
Administration
Beginner: configure windows workstation and leave
server to its own devises.
Intermediate: Web based administration through Webmin
from any workstation.
Advanced: Power users can use all the Linux tools
available in RedHat 9.
SNS Support
Support for student networks is NOT available from
the Department of Education's Information Management Branch. Schools
are on their own when it comes to all student networks. It is
not that the dept is against linux, merely that the dept does
not provide any support for student/curriculum networks. Their
mandate is the administration network of teacher workstations.
There is no link between the two networks but for limited terminal
access.
Support is available from a vibrant community of
schoolies and volunteers. The schools using SNS help each other
with usage and configuration problems.
Support is available online from numerous sites.
Just do a google search for samba or linux. www.linux.act.edu.au
has 60 subscribers to the email discussion list. This community
model of support is proving very successful.
Support for student networks can not be supplied
by Lyneham High. We are very happy to provide as much support
as we can by phone. Please drop by for a demonstration.
Many IT providers in Canberra are familiar with
the SNS just ask.
Many schools
use Linux RedHat servers running Samba to provide file and print
sharing services. A list of schools that use Linux/samba is here.
All Canberra
Schools have a Linux RedHat Squid server for web proxy and firewall
services. The system that was used to develop the CD installation
for each school is used to build installers for Student Network
Samba Servers.
SNS began life as a file/server build for the Lyneham
High School read more here.
Samba
File/Print services are provided by a program called
Samba. Samba makes resources on Unix/Linux computers available
to Microsoft Windows users via the SMB protocol that is common
to Windows PCs. Linux servers are cheaper, faster and more powerful
so using Samba allows Windows workstations to connect to and be
a client on a Samba network for $0.
Samba is the most popular Open
Source project and excellent support is available online
Hardware.
Read the Documentation pages
for more info but essentially for one lab a simple workstation
would suffice.
For more than one lab you might think about approaching
your hardware vendors and getting quotes on low end servers. These
are essentially high powered PCs with some special pieces to improve
data processing. You want a fast hard disk and a quick network
card as well as lots of memory. Lyneham High uses 1.5GB of memory
for 115 concurrent users.
Windows Compatibility.
This is the whole point of SNS and Samba. It is
built to share files with Windows client workstations. SMB or
server message block is the protocol that all windows machines
use for client server interactions. Samba ia a Linux program for
using SMB to pass data to and from *NIX-like computers. It is
the industry standard now with IBM as a key partner in supporting
the development based here in Canberra ACT!
Lyneham runs many 32 and 16bit Windows (.exe) programs
from the SNS. Windows workstations can connect to Shared Apps
directory and load windows programs right from the network. Games,
Educational software and Open Office all run right off the server
and load onto a Windows workstation in front of the student. Students
don't know what OS the server is and it just isn't an issue.
Learning Objects are supported via the BELTS service
installed on the SNS. This allows multimedia content to be stored
and managed from within the school. This service is still in an
experimental phase but testing shows the system can easily outperform
any MS Windows server trying to do the same thing.
Why Linux Servers?
Linux servers are increasingly becoming the enterprise
standard for file servers and internet servers due to their low
cost of ownership and reliability. Linux is an operating system
like UNIX but written initially by a Finnish programmer Linus
Torvalds and hense then name LINUX. It is a free operating system
and anyone can load it to their X86 or PowerPC based computer
and configure it to their needs. Linux does require Windows users
to adapt to new terminology and new operating processes. The internet
is loaded with sites that can make this learning curve fairly
painless. ACT Schools use Linux as web proxy servers. Some schools
use Linux servers to share files among the many different kinds
of PCs in their campuses such as Windows 98-XP and Apple Macintosh
computers.
History
Proxy Servers
Information Management Branch's IT Support Section
installs and maintains web cache and proxy servers in each school
in Canberra that run the proxy cache program Squid. These RedHat
based Squid proxy boxes are equipped with dual NICs and serve
as a router between student and teacher networks. Web pages and
resources are stored locally within schools to speed up access
to frequently used pages and to reduce ISP costs. These Linux
proxy servers have been very reliable and provide an essential
caching service. In this case the IT Support Section supports
and maintains a Linux RedHat server platform across Canberra's
96 schools.
File Servers
The same multiple server configuration system (MSCS)
that manages the details of each school proxy server is used by
Lyneham High under the direction of Damien Clarke to deploy and
develop the Samba server packaged and sent out to dozens of schools.
Local English/Media teacher Nick Oliver and IT guru Damien Clarke
makes available installation disks for schools to install on their
own equipment.
Schools should be reminded that IT Support has issued caution
over the use of Linux and Open source software due to the lack
of resources and support services. This is an important point
and should be considered carefully against the support available
for other products and its cost. It is particularly important
to weigh up this advice against the fact that no support for student
networks is available anyway via the dept!
Samba was written here in Canberra
by Andrew Trigdell (www.clug.org.au) and there are support sites
all over the world.
How Do I Get a SNS CD?
Download SNS from RITE