Text 52770, 52 rader
Skriven 2009-01-16 12:37:16 av Alan Zisman (1:123/789.0)
  Kommentar till text 52761 av Jeff Guerdat (1:124/311)
Ärende: Doorbell
================
Jeff Guerdat -> Alan Zisman wrote:
 JG> Alan Zisman wrote:

 >> I'm considering setting up a test system running only Ubuntu-- the
 JG> issue isn't
 >> web browsing and Open Office-- at least 50% of the time, students are
 JG> using one
 >> of a large number of Windows-only educational software that I've
 JG> collected over
 >> the years. Despite this, I'm toying with the idea of moving all my
 JG> workstations
 >> to Ubuntu, to have them be safe and usable during the NEXT security
 >> 'crisis'.

 >> However, I'm going to be retiring- either this year or next... the
 >> person who
 >> replaces me will almost certainly be familiar with Windows, and almost
 >> certainly lack familiarity with Linux.

 JG> First, is it possible that you can get the district to identify that
 JG> person in advance for training, etc.?

 JG> Regardless, it may be "simpler" to set up VMs for the Windows app uses.
 JG>   By having a known good disk image safely stored on a server (or even
 JG> on each system) that can be copied into place any time there's an issue,
 JG> you could always recover from any infections with a simple copy.
 JG> VirtualBox supports integration with the host desktop which removes the
 JG> Windows desktop, leaving only the application windows and task bar.
 JG> Might be a trial run to (dis)prove utility and usability...

At the moment, my district's IT department does not officially support Linux--
and only begrudgingly supports Macs.... so anything I do would be 'swimming
against the current'.

The extent of the current security mess-- and the time it is taking the
understaffed technicians to be able to deal with each of the 10,000 computers-
along with the newly-hired CIO may lead to changes in this regard-- I may make
a proposal to the CIO for an 'official' pilot project, rather than just doing
it, which has been the way I've been able to work up to now, but which has
downsides.

Use of the VMWare Player safe browser appliance might be an interesting way to
go... as a way to run a browser under Linux from a Windows desktop.

-- 
==================================
- email: alan (at) zisman (dot) ca
- website: http://www.zisman.ca
(running on Mac OS X)

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