A Public Library's Linux Success Story 392
Joe Barr writes "What with the spate of professionally PR-generated FUD coming out of Redmond about Linux not being open source, or Windows having a lower TCO, and - believe it or not - even a claim that Windows is more reliable, it's good to read about some real world, grass-root results of successful migrations from Windows to Linux. This story at NewsForge takes a look at the Howard County (Maryland) Public Library's roll-out of over 200 public-use PCs, which used to run on Windows and now run on a custom Linux distribution called Lumix."
not open source? (Score:5, Interesting)
link please?
Re:not open source? (Score:5, Insightful)
This all relates to the SCO issue which is two-fold: SCO claims that Linux contains proprietary code, and second, that the GPL is invalid (they say unconstitutional!!!).
Re:not open source? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:not open source? (Score:5, Informative)
You missed it because it broke just today.
Re:not open source? (Score:5, Insightful)
Headline: Linux is not Open Source
Microsoft Rep: Open Source is not Linux
I am suspicious of why TechWorld could so blatantly take Microsoft's quote so out of context.
Re:not open source? (Score:2)
Some people just don't understand the directional arrows of logical implication. That think that "A implies B" automatically means that "B implies A". (Don't even THINK about trying to explain contrapositives!)
That or it's a typo, in which case the editors (if t here is one) and proofreader should be shot.
Re:not open source? (Score:3, Funny)
Maybe because there are about a zillion similar journals / websites / magazines with nearly identical bland names that few ever read except when they pull a stunt like this?
Re:not open source? (Score:3, Interesting)
I think this line of attack, as its called by the author of the article, can backfire. Their former argument was, and I paraphrase, that linux was created by a bunch of international hippie anarchists. Now they're saying Linux is a commercially developed operating system. Which sounds like a more legitimate product?
Re:not open source? (Score:2)
Re:not open source? (Score:3, Informative)
Of course, all of this could be laughed off if it wasn't for the fact that he actually has a good point. Last week, Red Hat announced that it would no longer support Red Hat Linux 9. Instead, it is directing all users to its Red Hat Enterprise Linux Platform.
And what's the difference between the two? Why, one is free and the other isn't. Guess which is which. Red Hat also announced yesterday that it is producing a desktop version that it w
Re:not open source? (Score:2)
Ahhh yes, but there is still Fedora... Speaking of RH Enterprise, can the source be downloaded for free? I don't know *anything* about the GPL really, but doesn't RHEL have GPL'd software in it (like the kernel)?
Re:not open source? (Score:3, Informative)
You get the source code for everything in the box with the CDs. The GPL ensures that binaries cannot be distributed without also giving away the source code - if you're not giving somebody a binary copy, they don't need the source code either.
However, Fedora is basically RH Enterprise unstable. Redhat is essentially following the Debian development model now, with Fedora stable releases being the e
Clear up for the parent's link (Score:5, Funny)
In the sense that Linux is the result of an open source project, and linux != open source.
Because if that was true, then mozilla = linux.
So it's the same thing as a Ford rep saying "Cars are not Corvettes". Because then, A Ford Focus would be a Corvette.
And no matter how much you pray at night, your Ford Focus won't turn into a corvette.
-asoap
Well, yes.. (Score:4, Insightful)
If you don't need much more than websurfing and wordprocessing functionality, it doesn't make much sense to keep up with the Joneses running Windows.
Windows is a very capable OS with many features for many tasks. Most of those features, however, are wholly unsuited for a kiosk and totally extraneous.
Linux, OTOH, is able to step in at these places and fill just enough of the hole left by the Windows uninstallation with Windows software clones that the average kiosk user can hardly tell the difference.
Re:Well, yes.. (Score:5, Interesting)
That's about all 80% of PC users actually do need, if you add in a spreadsheet and email and a few other bits.
What I really want someone to come up with is a really simplified version of desktop linux - a kind of minimal installation with all the basics and locked-down so that it's difficult to break. In fact, what these guys have come up with. This is the type of set-up they should be selling in Walmart.
Re:Well, yes.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Now, if you include directions on how to "unlock" your computer, you'll be OK. Include a system restore CD. (You know someone's going to buy and install Windows; make it easy for them to switch back.)
When the restore CD is run, ask them if they want to install the normal version (as it came on their computer) or the "advanced" version, which is pretty much the same as the normal except it allows you to select packages to install off the CD or the Internet.
My linux VS my XP (Score:4, Informative)
Games:
XP: Lots, some older 98 games broken
Linux: Less, some windows games work via Wine, increasing support (Doom3, HL2) expected
Internet:
XP: Firefox/IE
Linux: Firefox
Email:
XP: Thunderbird
Linux: Thunderbird
Media:
XP: Winamp, WMP
Linux: XMMS/MPlayer (DVD's sometimes an issue)
P2P:
XP: KazaaLite, Emule
Linux: Emule
IM:
XP: MSN 6.1, GAIM
Linux: GAIM
Office:
XP: MS/OpenOffice
Linux: OpenOffice
CD Burning:
XP: Nero, lots of others
Linux: MKCD, lots of others
DVD Burning:
XP: Many suck, currently testing ULead DVD Workshop 2 (awesome)
Linux: Experimenting [gentoo.org] (suggestions welcome)
Those are my regular activities. Some of the other stuff may or may not work in linux
Re:Well, yes.. (Score:4, Insightful)
Even more so in kiosks where the company that put it there (or the library in this case) has branded their interface. When I go to Best Buy and look something up on one of their computers, it is irrelevant that it's a Windows machine because their frontend is plastered with their logo and lots of graphics to make it look cool.
When people use publically available computers, I don't think we expect them to look and feel like what we have at home.
RaviOh really now? (Score:3, Interesting)
Bout time someone actually tested the fact that the admin costs are cheaper. I agree. But many others dont:
http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;3838698
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/41485
And much more...
A much-needed upgrade (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A much-needed upgrade (Score:5, Interesting)
upgrade OO.o and instantly all other machines are upgraded.
Hell a old P-233 machine is 200 times faster than the best NCD X terminal you can buy and insanely cheaper.
Re:A much-needed upgrade (Score:2)
Conversely, if the main machine crashes for one reason or another, they're all out of luck.
Plus, there's that little comprehension gap between the installers and the librarians. It's not that they're incapable of understanding, but they've got a thousand little things bugging them and setting up individual PCs with
Re:A much-needed upgrade (Score:3, Interesting)
Really, I think this is the only medium-long-term solution for businesses. You will buy a box about the size of a mini ethernet switch that you plug a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and ethernet into and away you go. It will run Linux-box X server which is booted off the server machine. The box will be solid state, will run for about 10 years without becoming obsolete, and if it ever breaks down, you j
The next step.... (Score:2)
Re:The next step.... (Score:3, Interesting)
Lumix.org (Score:3, Interesting)
Am I the only one unable to find anything about a Lumix named linux distribution? The only thing I could figure out is that Panasonic makes a camera called "Lumix" that is Linux compatible.
RTFA (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Lumix.org (Score:3, Interesting)
It is just a name for their custom Linux From Scratch compile. You won't find it because it isn't a real distro. However, you can visit the library to use it.
The Article (Score:2)
That isn't what the article says...
Lumix is open source, and if you're interested in getting a CD containing Lumix, just send them a request for it by e-mail.
You can also visit their website [lumixtech.com]. (pretty slow right now...)
Re:Lumix.org (Score:2)
Lumix [uspto.gov]
Re:Lumix.org (Score:2)
Hopefully this [uspto.gov] is a more permanent link.
Re:Lumix.org (Score:2, Funny)
In other news... (Score:3, Funny)
Due out FY07.
Re:In other news... (Score:2)
BTW, aren't you under court order to only go by Skinner now?
Good for them (Score:5, Informative)
Geoffeg
How to help (Score:5, Insightful)
>Most libraries are stuck with Windows simply because they don't have enough money to move away (it does COST money to get everything working with linux)
As geoffeg also notes, libraries are extremely crunched for money. They love volunteers for that reason. If a local linux users group worked out a long-term volunteer agreement with their local public library to help with their catalogue and IS systems, I'm sure it could result in switching their systems over to linux. It would take a bit of time and energy to earn trust and to help the librarians see the value, but I'm sure it could be a great way to help your local library and expose more people to linux at the same time.Re:How to help (Score:3, Informative)
Well, you'd have to be awful certain you'll be able to fulfill that promise, or in a few years when the LUGs can no longer provide that, you're gonna start reading stories about libraries having to shell out $$$ en-masse as they become unsupported and need Microsoft consultants to migrate them away.
In this case, the actual staff the library who would have had to manage the machines anyway decided to simplify their lives. They built i
Perhaps they should contact their local LUG. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Perhaps they should contact their local LUG. (Score:3, Interesting)
Sadly, this place, like many others are so hooked on MS that I doubt I'll see the day where anything else is used. I couldn't even get them to use Linux on a TESTING web server. No, they went out and bought a brand n
Nice. They managed to let go. (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Nice. They managed to let go. (Score:2)
I would love to see more institutions switching to L
Re:Nice. They managed to let go. (Score:3, Insightful)
This is kind of ironic if you think about it, but average non-tech people will not take Linux seriously until game companies start releasing top titles for Linux. Which of course means video card companies have to start doing a better job of card drivers and smooth driver install. The fact that so much of getting a Linux install to work requires being computer literate does not work in Linuxs' favor as far as wide-spread acceptance with non-t
Re:Nice. They managed to let go. (Score:5, Insightful)
Please tell me who they would call for service/support on Windows 98 or NT in the year 2004? Certainly not Microsoft... so the library being concerned about "Offical Vendor" support doesn't seem to be a factor here as they were running old, unsupported software to begin with.
Not to metion the fact that there's virtually no support from MS even when the software in question is still "Officially" supported by them. The whole idea of them actually standing behind their product and answering consumer phone calls is a myth.
Re:Nice. They managed to let go. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Nice. They managed to let go. (Score:2)
If they did, Linux would be taken a lot more seriously at a high level within a few months.
Uh-oh... (Score:2, Funny)
I mean, Balmer wouldn't lie to us about the GPL virus, would he?
Slightly OT... (Score:5, Interesting)
The local public library (somewhere in Mass.) here has an iMac sitting in the front lobby, with the iTunes application running - for people to browse through their library of songs.
I went and asked the librarian(s) about the machine and they said Apple had donated it. Interesting concept - free advertising and people think the company's being Good (TM) by donating to the public library. Not very useful for downloading songs though, given the DRM restrictions on downloads. All the other machines running the Catalog app are Windows though.
Just thought it was interesting enough to post here on /. ... pardon the OTness.
It sounds perfect for my library... (Score:3, Interesting)
My university library [wfu.edu] is a bit sillier. They have brand-spanking-new IBM machines worth several grand, I'm sure, and all they're doing is running kiosk-mode Internet Explorer to their card catalog site [wfu.edu] (one that is easily bypassed by Win+R, by the way).
Re:It sounds perfect for my library... (Score:2)
Perfect Fit... (Score:3, Interesting)
I know many years ago I donated a collection of 486 and early pentiums to a shop in brooklynn that refurbished them and distributed them to inner city workshops that taught kids how to work on computers. I can only imagine how much of a boon to this program it would have been had linux then been up to the level that it is today.
Interesting... (Score:2)
Way to go HCPL!
Well, yes.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Windows is a very capable OS. It has features that are designed to ease the many disparate tasks that different users will expect to handle. It is precisely because of this that Windows is unsuitable for a kiosk-like system. It is simpl
Re:Well, yes.. (Score:2)
Too powerful?
The available apps FOR Windows are more numerous and very powerful, but Windows itself is hardly anything special. Winlots like you get excited about some basic OS-functionality like "starting applications" but that's hardly anything that makes
Re:Well, yes.. (Score:3, Interesting)
I think your are confusing simplified with powerful. A bunch of task simplifying "wizards" does not equal power. I recently deployed 1,600 Windows 2000 based kiosks and all those wizards did nothing to help. I had to replaced explorer.exe the desktop shell with my own since it crashed too much and locked every stinkin file it touches. I wrapped IE wit
Good ... (Score:5, Funny)
I wonder how this is going to be affected by the government-mandated filters for sex information, science, art, and other governmentally-defined "objectionable material"?
The REAL way computing is changing (Score:5, Funny)
The turning point came when Dynix, a major vendor of library software, began to offer a new version of PAC, which enables public access to library catalogues. PAC can be used on any platform with a Web browser. Auger saw it as an opportunity to escape the Windows cash crunch.
What's that? Universally readable data? But, but, what about DRM?
Universally readable AND free. What will those criminal open source people think of next?
Power to the people, and may the Source be with us!
That's the sound of microsoft (Score:3, Insightful)
Microsoft lost the "browser war" (Score:4, Insightful)
Exactly.
Actually, despite the average poster's contrary views, Microsoft lost the so-called "browser war".
Netscape is destroyed, but Microsoft failed to destroy the Internet (and they did try to do exactly that with their at the time proprietary, incompatible MSN in the early 90's, which even got an icon in the default Windows 95 installation) and now they are scared because computers are connected with TCP/IP, HTTP, HTML, FTP, etc. all invented (or "innovated") in the OSS community, all open, all free and most importantly, all available on non-MS platforms.
Even the most rabid winlots won't be able to claim with a straight face that a browser-only setup is cheaper with Windows. With more and more specialized and in-house software being developed web-based (mostly because of easier maintanance), Microsoft's lock on many desktops has weakened or even disappeared.
On a related note... (Score:5, Interesting)
As for the "higher cost of training" fud, thats utter bullshit. Within two hours he was just as productive as he was in XP. He's using Kontact (he actually liked it better than evolution), Mozilla, Open Office, etc.
Towards the end of the day, he said, "
On a side-note, he asked me why everything starts with K. I told him about KDE's naming scheme. He called me up a while later and said, "How do I find my ip address? Is it kipconfig?"
Re:On a related note... (Score:2)
Re:On a related note... (Score:4, Interesting)
- Windows 2000 Pro
- Windows 2000 Server
- Active Directory
The first time I used XP I was lost for like 3 days. The same goes for almost anyone else I talk to.
MS bashing (Score:5, Insightful)
Is there any reason at all to include this statement in the headline of this submission? Does it seriously achieve anything other than reflect negatively on (particularly) the poster and, unfortunately (once again), the entire linux/os community? This submission is interesting in it's own right, it doesn't need to be put up in the fight against the Great Big Evil (TM).
In fact, for all you moderators, it perfectly illustrates the difference between (+1, interesting) and (-1, troll).
Re:MS bashing (Score:3, Insightful)
Anti-MS? Anti-Linux? Or pro-end user? (Score:3, Insightful)
I've seen a lot of Slashdotters (and Free Software developers in general) yell "Desktop world domination" or "Our software is just as easy to use as Windows" or "Lobby your government to replace Windows with Linux" one second and then
Ooookaaay (Score:5, Interesting)
Both stories backed up with loud exclamations of "TAKE THAT, M$ PR PEOPLE!!!" that suggest he spends far more time thinking about them than they do about Linux.
This library adoption is great. There is absolutely no reason to use Windows in this context and it's good to see Linux being used. (I'm curious to hear how the proposed switch to Open Office goes, but it will probably be fine, also.) But after five years of LINUX IS READY FOR THE DESKTOP!!!, the level of spraying seems a bit excessive for these two stories.
KDE Kiosk (Score:5, Informative)
-Benjamin Meyer
Re:KDE Kiosk (Score:3, Funny)
How convenient.
Re:KDE Kiosk (Score:3, Informative)
Edit /etc/inittab and #comment out (do not remove) the other terminals. Make sure that you leave one runlevel unchanged just in case you mess it up. (Typically, runlevel 5 is used for graphical desktops.)
Perfect example (Score:5, Insightful)
Better control for the sys admin, ease of use for the n00bs, increased stability and security, and lower TCO for the library. Could it be any better?
Grassroots (Score:5, Interesting)
There was a gentleman about to purchase some software. I forget exactly what, but it was something that most certainly existed for Linux free as in both speech and beer. Scott stopped him and explained very simply about Linux and how he doesn't actually need to pay one red cent for most software. By the end of the conversation, he was all ready to run home and boot a Knoppix CD to try it out. Even his wife was interested.
It wasn't that they were afraid to try something new, it was just that they didn't realize there are alternatives to Windows.
Now, corporations have another problem: the Sunken Cost Fallacy [skepdic.com]. Managers don't seem to understand that, for most business uses of a computer, there is no real reason to use Windows. They furthermore believe that, since they've already paid for a Windows environment, they'd lose that investment if they switched, and thus continue to pay.
I've found in my professional life that most office workers need very little to do their job. Office Suite, Web Browser, Calendar/Collaboration Software, Email, File Sharing, and maybe a simple Database: that's it.
Granted, there are some applications professionals use that don't currently exist in usable form on Linux, but those users can remain on Windows for the time being. (Or WINE, if they're adventurous). The first step is switching over all the office drones and secretaries who, quite frankly, don't need much software to do their job.
Heh... We're seriously considering standing outside of CompUSA one day and handing out Knoppix CDs and pamphlets. Spread the word. Vive la revolution! Blah blah blah....
You get my point
Re:Grassroots (Score:5, Insightful)
I agree that if you have an environment that requires a limited scope of software which is vertical in nature, Linux is a very viable alternative, but to say this is possible everywhere isn't very forthcoming.
This is why Sun failed and yes, I am saying this in hindsight. If Sun had promoted client-side, windows, _compiled_ development back in the late '90's, they would have pulled in tons of Visual Basic developers and a lot of these third party applications would now be running in Java and therefore portable to *nix platforms.
But the unrealistic passion for cross-platform-ness over basic good business sense overwhelmed Sun and we now see the results of those poor decisions. Some may say there was no way to get in bed with Microsoft with windows and survive, but I disagree....the way to beat Microsoft is to build better _clients_, not better OS's, better compilers, or better office products. You need to have tens of thousands of easily built departmental applications that run efficiently.
Take note of Mono now and start writing Mono WinForms apps. When the Mono people get smart-client technology working, you will see a surge in linux based departmental applications.
My two cents.
what's to come (Score:2, Interesting)
And i'm a natural skeptic, i am... but something about this time around feels good. We're hearing about adoption in the public and private sector. Companies are including OSS in their IT road maps. Microsoft is FUD-foaming at the mouth every da
Why Can't they? (Score:4, Interesting)
Why not? there is a shockwave plugin avilable that works with Mozilla and Konqueror (that I know of). Granted the plugin sucks royal ass and runs about half the speed it would on a comparable Windows box, that is shockwave's fault, however. But it still works.
Also a little useragent tweaking should get most of those "IE required" sites working too.
I am glad to see this. It seems libraries are having enough trouble these days with budget cuts without having to worry about how they are going to pay expensive software licenses.
Re:Why Can't they? (Score:3, Informative)
Some of the problems with IE "only" sites are they they are created by dummies that cannot handle making a simple HTML page with a little standards comliant JavaScrit and use JavaScript like do
I've used these machines (Score:5, Insightful)
Most other patrons don't notice the OS change at all, except that they don't crash or get hit with popups/malware/etc, which is an excellent endorsement for Linux in public terminals.
I hope the library has a good remote method for updates though. As much as I dislike Windows, SUS is A Good Thing. Also, they really ought to jump to Firefox when it hits 1.0.2 or so.My favorite excerpt from the story (Score:5, Insightful)
So many people become inured to the nuisances of MS Software that they don't realize that there's an alternative. Also, they don't realize that those alternatives are as good as Microsoft's or better and
Now, if they could only get that patron to download Firefox at home...
Deja Vu ? (Score:2, Funny)
"Hello, my name is Luis Salazar and i pronounce "Lumix." loo-mix".
Kickass! (Score:2)
And Free Wi-Fi Too (Score:2, Interesting)
And it really is refreshing to see library IT people being able to use Linux to breathe new life into perfectly good old PCs. I stopped off at the Prince George's County Library (also in MD) last night, and their web-based card catalog system is access through IE3 on Win95 Gateway machines, and they're still so slow to be p
At least the server WAS working just fine.... (Score:4, Funny)
Luis and Mike, however, are offering additional assistance for those who require it. They can be reached at the LumixTech [lumixtech.com] Web site.
Ouch. You gotta feel sorry for their mailserver and webserver now that this has been brought to the attention of"The Howard County Public Library burned to the ground today when several computers burst into flames, touching off the conflagration."....
Seems to make perfect sense to me. (Score:2, Interesting)
I mean really, with the cost to upgrade to XP, plus the cost of hardware upgrades, where the Linux route cost virtually nothing.
If you look closely at a lot of the TCO advertisements and such, they are compared between a mainframe, and a dual-processer Xeon Intel box. Hmmmmm, I wonder where the majority of the TCO is comming from? Hmmmmm. Could it be the HARDWARE? Tell
Step two: Marketing... (Score:5, Insightful)
I didn't see any indication that they were making it clear to the Library patrons that they were using Linux and not Windows. I think that's a massive lost opportunity.
Seriously. It's great that Linux can seamlessly replace Windows in such a high-traffic environment. It would be even greater if there were signs near the kiosks reading something like:
Our kiosks run Linux, the free alternative to Microsoft Windows. We have made this switch to keep costs down as well as reduce virus problems and computer crashes.
Slowly, but surely, the patrons -- or other librarians, or visiting school teachers -- will notice -- it may not matter then, but later...
For example, six months later, a secretary who has been using the library is switched to Linux at work. Now, instead of freaking out when I.T. Guy he's removing Windows from her/his machine, (s)he thinks, "Oh! They run that at the library. I can do that."
Or better yet, perhaps (s)he, having gotten hit with yet another virus, starts telling her supervisor, "Why don't we switch to Linux? It's free and has fewer viruses, and I know how to use it."
Will it happen fast? No. But floods start with a trickle. HoCo is to be commended for making the switch -- now they should toss in a little marketing, too.
This story is *years* late... (Score:2)
Oh and if any of you admins there read this: You didn't lock it down well enough, I still managed to read slashdot even though you disabled editing the address bar & most of the copy-paste functionality
Kjella
I live in Howard County (Score:5, Informative)
linux in the library (Score:3, Informative)
Neat.... (Score:3, Insightful)
How to ease the Migration to Linux (Score:4, Informative)
Install
OpenOffice.Org [openoffice.org]
Mozilla [mozilla.org]
VideoLAN [videolan.org]
7-Zip [7-zip.org]
WinGimp [wingimp.org]
Open AntiVirus [openantivirus.org]
Then see if the users can use them and get used to them. Then maybe when you do switch to Linux, they will be using the same apps, but under Linux. With maybe the exception of 7-Zip, no Linux port yet?
For every 1 pub lib using Linux, 100's use Windoze (Score:3, Interesting)
Clara library are totally on Windows. I havn't yet
been to the new MLK in San Jose -- scary thing is
I see people using public computers and IE to do
online transactions.
Re:For every 1 pub lib using Linux, 100's use Wind (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:For every 1 pub lib using Linux, 100's use Wind (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Slashdot lies, opinions, and half-truths (Score:3, Insightful)
I really love these "axe to grind" kind of posts. You've really captured the feeling and the flavor of a spurned member of a mailing list (I've seen numerous examples of that).
My suggestion: build your own site and post the kind of stories you want and see if anyone shows up. Hell when you're ready you could even advertise your new pro-MS, pro-RIAA, and dare I say it pro-SCO (your comments about their situation were profoundly amusing) site here and see if anyone joins you.
Otherwise,
Re:Slashdot lies, opinions, and half-truths (Score:3, Interesting)
Probably a dual-core CPU running at 4GHz, 2 gigs of RAM, a terabyte of storage, a 1 Gbit, built-in, Ethernet-wired port and an 802.11g wireless link, and a graphics processor that runs three times faster than those on the market today. (See here [slashdot.org])
Re:What?@! (Score:2)
And another things, what are those... 'books' I keep hearing about?
In addition to changing the user workstations... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Isn't Gates gunning for libraries? (Score:2)
http://de.samba.org/samba/docs/man/howto/samba-bdc (Score:4, Informative)
http://de.samba.org/samba/docs/man/howto/samba-
Samba-3 is capable of acting as a Backup Domain Controller (BDC) to another Samba Primary Domain Controller (PDC). A Samba-3 PDC can operate with an LDAP Account backend. The LDAP backend can be either a common master LDAP server, or a slave server. The use of a slave LDAP server has the benefit that when the master is down, clients may still be able to log onto the network. This effectively gives Samba a high degree of scalability and is an effective solution for large organizations. If you use an LDAP slave server for a PDC, you will need to ensure the master's continued availability - if the slave finds it's master down at the wrong time, you will have stability and operational problems.
Seems pretty one-way to me... (Score:2, Troll)
Oh wait...
It's funny that the Winlots generally use "some anonymous posters" of course without any actual references to prove that the OSS-community is evil, but seem to purposely forget the things Microsoft TOP MANAGEMENT (and NOT some random nameless posters who don't count anyway) said.
Re:FUD goes both ways (Score:2)
Hey, I'll give you most of what you stated, but, the BSOD is NOT a thing of the past. Granted, it still does not happen quite as often as in the past...but, I still see them here and there.
I think usually...we just have to reboot them before they get to the BSOD stage nowdays...at least, around here......
Re:WinVNC (Score:2)
Re:WinVNC (Score:5, Interesting)
In fact, if you read the other article in the link, it says each machine is set up to wake-on-LAN, so they can be turned on and off remotely as well.
This must be god-sent to the Librarians. The machines turn themselves on and off, they update themselves from a central server (probably set up for the whole county), and they erase cookies and cache themselves. No more playing IT Admin whenever there is a new MS patch, no more virii, and at no additional software cost. As long as someone intelligent is updating the reference machine, this is an ideal set-up-and-forget system. I really hope this catches on.