Actions

Classroom Laptops: Difference between revisions

From HacDC Wiki

(thin clients)
(add category)
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
This page serves as a specification and feature request page for the classroom laptops.
This page serves as a specification and feature request page for the classroom laptops.


The classroom laptops are running a Linux distribution, currently Debian (probably better to be running testing than stable).
The classroom laptops are running a Linux distribution, currently Debian (probably better to be running testing than stable), with MATE desktop environment. Tom maintains a canonical image.


They are used primarily for modeling, rendering, and slicing 3d printed parts, but can and should be functional for all purposes in the classroom.
They are used primarily for modeling, rendering, and slicing 3d printed parts, but can and should be functional for all purposes in the classroom.
Line 7: Line 7:
Currently implemented on a bunch (6) of Dell D430s, maybe some D420s.
Currently implemented on a bunch (6) of Dell D430s, maybe some D420s.


TODO:
== Hardware ==


Update image and re-image all laptops.
I (Tom) donated 6 old Dell Core Duo D430/420 laptops for this use. They're super cheap and I had a pile of them. I think they're actually kind of ideal for this purpose, all things considered. They're not nice enough that anybody would want to re-purpose them to any other job, and since most of them don't have batteries nobody walks off with them. After almost a year they seem to be doing the job and getting lots of use.
Enable all laptops for incoming and outgoing email...?
Work out a way to do efficient X-forwarding over our WiFi to job server for heavier applications.
Fix the HW clock issue possibly by setup NTP so that SSL errors don't happen.
Configure laptops in some way to be more like a thin client so there is no/less need to 'update' the image or re-image regularly. In the dumbest case we could have them be simple VNC kiosks to a VM running on jobs...?
Test above last two for practicality.


Features to add:
== Software (locally installed or remote access) ==


Most recent Arduino suite. [INO]
=== 3d design ===
More scripts and or instructions for usability -- 2d printing, 3d printing, using jobs.
 
Maybe put ~/* or ~/Desktop on a network share.
*Cura
*Meshlab
*Implicitcad (runs on Jobs or gygax)
 
=== Browsers ===
 
*Firefox
*Chromium
*Midori or something similarly lightweight.
 
=== Microcontroller ===
 
*INO
*Arduino
 
=== Coding ===
*Python 3
*Rust
 
=== Productivity ===
 
*Something for email
*Printing should be enabled
 
=== Sys utils ===
 
*tmux ssh vi/vim emacs etc.
*Terminator
*guake
*most
*avahi-utils
 
=== Other HacDC activities ===
 
Documentation, links, and how-tos on the desktop...
 
== TODO ==
 
*Update image and re-image all laptops.
*Enable all laptops for incoming and outgoing email...?
*Fix the HW clock issue possibly by setup NTP so that SSL errors don't happen.
*Work out a way to do efficient X-forwarding over our WiFi to job server for heavier applications.
*Configure laptops in some way to be more like a thin client so there is no/less need to 'update' the image or re-image regularly. In the dumbest case we could have them be simple VNC kiosks to a VM running on jobs...?
**Test above last two for practicality.
 
== Feature requests ==
 
*Most recent Arduino suite. [INO]
*More scripts and or instructions for usability -- 2d printing, 3d printing, using jobs.
*Maybe put ~/* or ~/Desktop on a network share.
 
[[Category:HacDC Computers]]

Latest revision as of 00:41, 14 March 2018

This page serves as a specification and feature request page for the classroom laptops.

The classroom laptops are running a Linux distribution, currently Debian (probably better to be running testing than stable), with MATE desktop environment. Tom maintains a canonical image.

They are used primarily for modeling, rendering, and slicing 3d printed parts, but can and should be functional for all purposes in the classroom.

Currently implemented on a bunch (6) of Dell D430s, maybe some D420s.

Hardware

I (Tom) donated 6 old Dell Core Duo D430/420 laptops for this use. They're super cheap and I had a pile of them. I think they're actually kind of ideal for this purpose, all things considered. They're not nice enough that anybody would want to re-purpose them to any other job, and since most of them don't have batteries nobody walks off with them. After almost a year they seem to be doing the job and getting lots of use.

Software (locally installed or remote access)

3d design

  • Cura
  • Meshlab
  • Implicitcad (runs on Jobs or gygax)

Browsers

  • Firefox
  • Chromium
  • Midori or something similarly lightweight.

Microcontroller

  • INO
  • Arduino

Coding

  • Python 3
  • Rust

Productivity

  • Something for email
  • Printing should be enabled

Sys utils

  • tmux ssh vi/vim emacs etc.
  • Terminator
  • guake
  • most
  • avahi-utils

Other HacDC activities

Documentation, links, and how-tos on the desktop...

TODO

  • Update image and re-image all laptops.
  • Enable all laptops for incoming and outgoing email...?
  • Fix the HW clock issue possibly by setup NTP so that SSL errors don't happen.
  • Work out a way to do efficient X-forwarding over our WiFi to job server for heavier applications.
  • Configure laptops in some way to be more like a thin client so there is no/less need to 'update' the image or re-image regularly. In the dumbest case we could have them be simple VNC kiosks to a VM running on jobs...?
    • Test above last two for practicality.

Feature requests

  • Most recent Arduino suite. [INO]
  • More scripts and or instructions for usability -- 2d printing, 3d printing, using jobs.
  • Maybe put ~/* or ~/Desktop on a network share.