[svlug] linux component to a university internet connect CD

[Karsten M. Self]

on Thu, Apr 10, 2003 at 11:03:19AM -0700, Gordon Vrololjak (gvrdolja at nature.Berkeley.EDU) wrote:
> Hello,
> At UC Berkeley, to get students and staff connected to the internet, we
> distribute a CD that has on it programs that assist people to connect and
> use the internet through campus network, and dial up modems.  The cd
> supports mac, pc's, and Linux.
> 
> The linux component hasn't been updated other than slight changes to the
> installation help files.  Currently, it has on it from last year: kppp,
> netscape, ppp-primer, ssh22, dip, ethernetHowTo,
> ezppp,HardwareHowTo,ppp-2.3.5,PPP-HowTo.  I was wondering what software
> you would recommend the CD to have on it?  Our campus has campus dialup
> modems, direct ethernet connections, and a wireless network as well (i
> think 802.11b) - everything TCP/IP.  Most distributions of linux come with
> enough default software in the installation to set up people - but what do
> you think would be the best utilities for students to have on the CD to
> connect them on linux to the campus network quickly and easily, no matter
> which linux distro they have?
> 
> Here is info about the CD:
> http://cab.berkeley.edu/buy/index.html
> and the linux componenet:
> http://cab.berkeley.edu/help/readmes/readme-linux.html
> 
> Thanx

Hmm...

I'd somewhat question the utility of providing a GNU/Linux CD with
packages on it.

GNU/Linux variations are sufficiently diverse that a single binary image
of a complex system component (such as a web browser) may not work or
work readily, with a given system.  Variations among distros (are you
going to support Red Hat, SuSE, Mandrake, Debian, ...) and versions (RH
6.x, 7.x, 8.x, 9.x; Debian Potato, Woody, Sarge....) are sufficient that
things tend to break.

If you want to provide a disk which gives GNU/Linux tools for network
connectivity, Knoppix is a good bet:  http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/

Otherwise, the primary thing GNU/Linux users need to connect is
*information* -- what hosts, services, configuration options, and
authentication mechanisms, are provided?  Generally, these include:

  - Dialup (PPP, chat/pap, username, password).
  - DHCP for live dorm or campus connections
  - SMTP (mail)
  - NNTP (usenet)

...and recommendations for software to include.  Most GNU/Linux users
can install necessary software for cheap or free from online sources.
You could include packages for a few recent tools, but frankly I don't
think it's worth the effort.  Docs are useful though.

I'll second that Netscape is a piss-poor browser -- Mozilla or Galeon
would be much better choices.

...and with all that said, don't get me wrong, I think the heart's in
the right place.  Just concerned about the execution.

Peace.

-- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself at ix.netcom.com>        http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
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