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====== Deployment Story: Debian Edu / Skolelinux and X2Go (without TJENER) ======

//Shared by: Mike Gabriel (with my [[http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu|Debian Edu]] Developer hat on)//

In Debian Edu contexts the main criticism since the release of Debian Edu / Skolelinux squeeze is: the whole Debian Edu system has become far to complex (LDAP, Kerberos, GOsa², Samba, LTSP, ...). The default Skolelinux system has become more complex, that is true indeed. If it has become too complex is another discussion. From the view point of a Debian Edu developer and IT service provider, the system is just as it has to be. From a teacher's perspective, I deeply get the criticism of to much complexity.

However, those who feel overwhelmed by Debian Edu's grown complexity, please consider the approach described below.

===== Your Gateway =====

  * Install ipFire as a Gateway on some minor hardware
    * Red + Green interface (you need two network cards)
    * let the Red interface connect you to the internet
    * Enable DHCP service on the Green interface

===== Basic Skolelinux Installation =====

  * Assemble an average server box:
    * 4 or 8 CPU cores
    * 16GiB or 32GiB RAM
    * two fast hard drives (SSD)
    * 2 network cards
  * Install a Debian Edu / Skolelinux Standalone system (no TJENER!) on that server hardware
  * Make sure that your Skolelinux system's hostname can internally be resolved via DNS. Use the ipFire system to configure this.
  * Test local login, test DNS, install required (educational) software
  * Create more users on the Skolelinux system through the normal Posix tools (''adduser'') or through some fancy user administration GUI (present in KDE / GNOME)

===== Basic X2Go Installation =====

  * Then proceed with setting up X2Go Server on the Skolelinux system:
    * Add the X2Go archives for Debian to the Skolelinux system
    * Install the packages ''x2goserver-xsession'' and ''x2goserver-fmbindings'' on the Skolelinux machine. Optionally, you may want to install the package ''x2godesktopsharing''.
    * Test X2Go access to the Skolelinux system from another client machine that gets hooked up to the Green network interface of the ipFire system

===== X2Go Thin Client Environment =====

  * Then proceeed with setting up an X2Go Thin Client Environment on the Skolelinux system:
    * Install the package ''x2gothinclient-management'' on the Skolelinux system
    * Follow the X2Go TCE documentation in this wiki to get the TCE up and running
    * During the X2Go TCE installation you will be guided to set up a DHCP+PXE server on the Skolelinux system. Make sure that DHCP serves the X2Go Thin Clients via the //second// network interface of the Skolelinux system. No DHCP on the first network card (the one that is connected to the Green ipFire interface)
    * Connect minimal, power-saving systems (i.e. thin-client-like hardware) two the Skolelinux system's second network card and configure them boot via PXE

==== What you have at the end... ====

... is a Debian Edu / Skolelinux based class room that can be administrated by normal Linux user and group administration tools. No Kerberos, no LDAP, no Samba, no XXX involved.
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