LTSP NepaLinux in Dailekh

The trip to Dailekh remains as one of the unforgettable moment in my Life. Me and Amit are only two technical person for the project from MPP. We have been guided my Min Sir, who was local to the Dailekh from Rato Bangala school. .


One of the block of Basanta School, where students are playing football.


Amit, probably helps me a lot, in case of logistic management and guide me a lot about the local rivers , place and city.

The students who haven't even seen TV got an opportunity to touch the computer.





This was quite exhilirating moment for them so far I felt.

Sound and USB support in NepaLinux

Debian and NepaLinux now have sound and USB support for LTSP client. For sound support in debian system install the LTSP system by following the instruction in http://wiki.debian.org/LTSP/Howto

1. Add the key(s) for the repository to your keyring(after verifying that you trust them):

• wget http://pkg-ltsp.alioth.debian.org/debian/pkg-ltsp-keyring apt-key add pkg-ltsp-keyring

2. Add to /etc/apt/sources.list:

• deb http://pkg-ltsp.alioth.debian.org/debian etch-ltsp-backports main

3. Update:

• apt-get update

4. Install new packages:

• apt-get install ltsp-server-standalone ltspfs

5. When building a chroot, you'll need to tell it to use the backport sources:

ltsp-build-client \ --extra-mirror "http://pkg-ltsp.alioth.debian.org/debian etch-ltsp-backports main" \ --apt-key /etc/apt/trusted.gpg

if X doesn't automatically configure properly (it uses X.org's built-in configuration, which doesn't work as well on the version on X.org in etch), you may want to switch back to the slower but more reliable X configuration using xdebconfigurator:

1. chroot /opt/ltsp/i386 apt-get install xdebconfigurator

2. cp /opt/ltsp/i386/usr/share/doc/ltsp-client-core/examples/configure-x-xdebconfigurator.gz /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/

3. gunzip /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/configure-x-xdebconfigurator.gz

4. chmod +x /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/configure-x-xdebconfigurator

5. echo CONFIGURE_X_COMMAND=/etc/configure-x-xdebconfigurator >> /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/lts.conf

6. echo 'copy_dirs="$copy_dirs /var/cache/debconf"' >> /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/default/ltsp-client-setup

7. echo 'temp_copy_dirs=" "' >> /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/default/ltsp-client-setup


8.configure the server as stated in the file, /usr/share/doc/ltsp-server/README.Debian.sound
a.apt-get install libasound2-plugins

b. add the following lines to /etc/asound.conf:

pcm.!default {
type pulse
}

ctl.!default {
type pulse
}

and then configure sound applications to talk to alsa. in my experience, KDE
and GNOME applications worked automatically, if the whole environments were
installed. some applications, notably alsaplayer, didn't work using the
alsa/pulse plugins.

for those applications, you may have luck using the padsp wrapper.

padsp alsaplayer some_music_file.ogg

if you changed the defaults, and only installed ltsp-client-core in the chroot
environment, you may need to install the additional dependencies in the chroot:

chroot /opt/ltsp/i386 apt-get install pulseaudio-esound-compat alsa-utils libasound2-plugins



In summary this does the alsa to use pulse for audio system. Sound gets work in client for all esd, alsa, pulseaudio except OSS.





For USB support,
1.simply install these two fuse packages if they are not installed.
fuse-utils and libfuse2

2.load the fuse module (modprobe fuse, for permanently loading the module add fuse to /etc/modules file.

3.assign the ltsp users to the fuse group.

4. Edit the /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/lts.conf and make sure LOCALDEV=True

LTSP general overview and NepaLinux

LTSP
Linux Terminal Server Project


1. LTSP Overview.
LTSP system add thin client support to Linux server. A thin client is a client computer which depends on Central server for processing activities and mainly focuses on conveying input and output between the user and the remote server.
Linux Thin client is becoming more and more popular because of its stability and not tampering ,Virus issues and distributed in GNU GPL.

LTSP system is designed to use minimal hardware for workstations referred to as thin clients that is dirven by the central server.The Client needs PXE(Pre boot Execution) enabled LAN card , machine without HardDrive, CD ROM/Floppy etc.
Applications typically run on the server and accept input and display their output on the thin client display. LTSP is available as a set of packages that can be installed on any Linux system. It is also available as a part of complete distributions, such as K12Ltsp, SkoleLinux and EduLinux.

2. Server and Client Hardware Specification

The Hardware you need depends on the amount of load you will have.

Server Specification

Disk Space:
Depends on the number of the thin client and the number of users, how much space is allocated to each users etc.
Generally 120 GB is sufficient for 5 to 10 Clients.

RAM
Since all the application being used in the thin client are actually running on the server, there shouldn't be compromise in the RAM. The LTSP documentation says that the project has successfully run 50 workstation from a machine with 4 GB RAM.

Processor

Beside RAM, then there is role of processor. Intel Dual Core Processor combined with Hyper Threading 3.2 GHz (May not Supported by NepaLinux, But HT only is supported).



Extra.
Depending upon your needs such as DVD/RW, Printer etc.
Backup Hardware may be best option as all the clients data is centralised.



Client

The list for choosing client workstation is more a list of what you don't need that what you do. you don't need to have Hard disk, CD/DVD drive or any storage devices.
The processor can be ancient, Pentium III, 128 MB RAM is sufficient.


Networking Hardware
Each workstation and server will need at least one network interface card, appropriate cabling and a network Switch.

3. LTSP configuration:

LTSP configuration generally depends on the which version you choose to setup. For LTSP 5.0 (NepaLinux, edubuntu, debian edu etc.) You just have to modify dhcp configuration file and IP address setting.

For NepaLinux 2.0 with LTSP enabled system, you have to do nothing expect the IP setting, Set the IP to 192.168.0.1, netmask 255.255.255.0. you don't have to modify dhcp configuration file.


4. LTSP working Principle general Overview

When Client gets Power on, it searches the Network address to boot from. The LTSP server itself acts as a DHCP server and offers an IP to the Client. Then the client loads the kernel and other necessary configuration file through the TFTP. Then Finally with the Use of LDM, GUI login prompt is presented in the Client system. Since the client doesn't have any Disk space any files that are stored in local RAM is made available using NFS from the server.


DHCP ----> Dynamic host configuration protocol
NFS----> Network File System
TFTP-----> Trivial File System
LDM-------> LTSP display Manager


Note:In server all the LTSP required files are stored in /opt/ltsp directory.



5. LTSP Enabled NepaLinux
NepaLinux 2.0 LTSP DVD support LTSP system, and has also been implemented successfully. The users in the workstation can login either in GNOME or KDE and can run all the application included.

Advantages
Localized System
Stable and Robust System
Economical



Major Drawback
Sound support in the Client
Confusion to use as a technology or as a education tool in the schools
Lack of Adequate Support and Standard curriculum


Challenges:
Sound Support in NepaLinux LTSP system.
working with government to work with standard curriculum based on Linux System.
Generating sufficient manpower for support.



References: ltsp.org

NepaLinux LTSP trip to Dhading

This LTSP trip was not more adventurous and memorable as of the LTSP trip to Dailekh. But , I can't deny it is more enjoyable and full of pleasure. The students and teachers are exhilarated by having computers and are quite surprise with full of joy for having computer in Nepali.




The Bus on the way to school get trapped in local river.




overwhelming students for seeing computer.





Teachers trying to explore the NepaLinux

It may take time for making LTSP project a mega success. Rather than talking about other lucrative project people should start to implement it. Even government has shown a positive response on it.