Hey guys. Newbie here in two regards: 1) New to linux (and therefore puppy) and 2) This is my first post to a discussion forum. I apologize in advance for any mistakes in forum etiquette I may make. Any help I recieve here will be greatly appreciated.
I have recently made a boot disk and test drove puppy 5.2 on an old gateway laptop. I like the OS and I think it will work nicely on old computers in my classroom. I have a specific need for students to be able to view a couple of different websites and possibly work in google docs. I think puppy can get this done.
Problem: I need to be able to lock the background, icons, limit websites, uninstall games and all the normal "teacher" administrative tasks. I know these are probably easy tasks, but being new to linux I don't know where to start. Networking the stations together would be a plus, but not a necessity.
Preferred solution: Guide me through the steps to follow to disable or limit certain features. Networking tips are fine to. Links to websites or documentation are fine, as I am fairly competent at following directions.
Alternate solution: Guide me to a version of puppy that has network/internet capability, firefox (flash capable), optional word processor and nothing else for any of my students to tamper with. (i.e. no graphic options, no games, no password menus to lock down student users)
Thanks in advance for any help. I apologize for my ignorance, but I believe this could be a great OS for reviving some dead computers around our school if I can limit some parameters for my students.
Puppy in my classroom
Puppy is mainly "root" : root is somehow the name for the admin . It is possible to use the "dummy" user "spot" but spot's directory is located at /root . Passwords and group files are
/etc/shadow
/etc/passwd
/etc/gshadow
/etc/group
Most puppy users are tired of the `sudo` attitude of larger distros because there is always something .
A while back at linuxquestions.org I got tired of the pro sudo mainstream there.
I think GrumpyWolfe made a puppy-derivate MyWolfe or similar to be found at the Puppy Derivates Section which is running some LoginScreen with passwords .
I really think that it is keeping pupils stupid somehow to have more barriers than a screen in front of them .
To connect puppy to a larger bundle of a closed interior network I have no experience .
You would have to change the executable pathes or the permissions for some 1200 to 1800 executables, create /home directories , learn to work with commands like adduser , groupadd , su , sudo , chmod , passwd and so on . And the man support at puppy is mostly a shellscript somehow exec defaultbrowser http://www.google.XY/search/manpage $@ manualpage .
Much Luck !
/etc/shadow
/etc/passwd
/etc/gshadow
/etc/group
Most puppy users are tired of the `sudo` attitude of larger distros because there is always something .
A while back at linuxquestions.org I got tired of the pro sudo mainstream there.
I think GrumpyWolfe made a puppy-derivate MyWolfe or similar to be found at the Puppy Derivates Section which is running some LoginScreen with passwords .
I really think that it is keeping pupils stupid somehow to have more barriers than a screen in front of them .
To connect puppy to a larger bundle of a closed interior network I have no experience .
You would have to change the executable pathes or the permissions for some 1200 to 1800 executables, create /home directories , learn to work with commands like adduser , groupadd , su , sudo , chmod , passwd and so on . And the man support at puppy is mostly a shellscript somehow exec defaultbrowser http://www.google.XY/search/manpage $@ manualpage .
Much Luck !
Sidders released HanSamBen.
He is still about and can maybe help you out in removing
applications or hiding them.
sidlygoldstream@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 523#425523
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 993#369993
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... &start=270
//////////
"CTRL + ALT + H - hide the menu except for FUN and Personal
CTRL + ALT + R - Reveal al menus
CTRL + ALT + D - Disable right click (doesnt work on touchpad) it maps all buttons in Xorg.conf to 1 1 1. "
CTRL + ALT + E - Enable right mouse button "
////////
I loved HSB but you might have older kids.
Chris.
He is still about and can maybe help you out in removing
applications or hiding them.
sidlygoldstream@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 523#425523
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 993#369993
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... &start=270
//////////
"CTRL + ALT + H - hide the menu except for FUN and Personal
CTRL + ALT + R - Reveal al menus
CTRL + ALT + D - Disable right click (doesnt work on touchpad) it maps all buttons in Xorg.conf to 1 1 1. "
CTRL + ALT + E - Enable right mouse button "
////////
I loved HSB but you might have older kids.
Chris.
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Dewbie
fhsteacher wrote:
http://www.browserlinux.com/
Edit:
Be sure to download current and previous BrowserLinux versions, as they are compiled with different kernels. Some computers won't work well (or at all) with certain kernels.
This might work for you:Alternate solution: Guide me to a version of puppy that has network/internet capability, firefox (flash capable), optional word processor and nothing else for any of my students to tamper with. (i.e. no graphic options, no games, no password menus to lock down student users)
http://www.browserlinux.com/
Edit:
Be sure to download current and previous BrowserLinux versions, as they are compiled with different kernels. Some computers won't work well (or at all) with certain kernels.
Last edited by Dewbie on Thu 13 Jan 2011, 01:56, edited 1 time in total.
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fhsteacher
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed 12 Jan 2011, 21:56
I apologize for not having more details about hardware. We have a hodgepodge of older computers I would like to put to use surfing the web. Ram probably ranges from 128 to 512 mb. I really don't know what's in the attic, but I plan on making it work with puppy.
I don't have to password protect, I just want to strip the os down so that it boots up with just a browser and maybe a word processor so that my students can ONLY view the test prep sites our school has purchased access to. Left to their own devices, a few students will screw up every computer if they have a chance.
A special thanks goes out for all the links and advice. I may try the "hide" shortcuts and see how they work. This would help if I need to grant "permissions" quickly for some students. Thanks again.
I don't have to password protect, I just want to strip the os down so that it boots up with just a browser and maybe a word processor so that my students can ONLY view the test prep sites our school has purchased access to. Left to their own devices, a few students will screw up every computer if they have a chance.
A special thanks goes out for all the links and advice. I may try the "hide" shortcuts and see how they work. This would help if I need to grant "permissions" quickly for some students. Thanks again.
What exactly are you wanting to do as far as networking is concerned? Just have the ability to share files between the computers? Also what restrictions do you want to have on that?
Also what network hardware do you have? A switch or router that they are all connected to (that you have control of)? Just the school network (each separately plugged into the wall)? Wireless or wired?
Also what network hardware do you have? A switch or router that they are all connected to (that you have control of)? Just the school network (each separately plugged into the wall)? Wireless or wired?
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gcmartin
Setting up the room
@fhsteacher...Hello
Having help many schools in the past I think I understand what you would want to do within a classroom. To get you started with this group, let me ask a couple questions so that the members here can help you.
Hope this helps
Having help many schools in the past I think I understand what you would want to do within a classroom. To get you started with this group, let me ask a couple questions so that the members here can help you.
- What class will be taught in the classroom(s) you set up?
- Would each person in the class have his/her own computer at the desk they sit or will they be working in groups on single computers?
- The research you will have them doing...will they be downloading files onto their computers or simply just looking at stuff on the internet?
- Will the WordProcessing you will have them doing be handed in as printed hard copy or electronically transferred to you?
- Would you expect each student to be able to save files in their names on your school network?
- Will YOU be the primary person responsible for the management of the class's PCs?
- What Operating Systems have you used in the past?
- How long have you used ANY Linux?
- And, do you already have a network at your school?
Hope this helps
Hello fhsteacher.
I have the scripts etc for the disabling of menus etc, i could make them into a *pet and test it on Lupu. Its as cthisbear says, It wont actually remove the games and other apps you dont want, just hide them.
If you are using Google docs, would you need to save anything to the PC?. The shutdown script can be alterted to not save anything from the session (I have never used Google docs, i am assuming you can save stuff in the in the cloud).
I'll stop there
Let me know
And welcome to the Kennels
PS. If you want to hide the menus, could you tell me which menus you want e.g Document, Network, Multimedia.
* A pet is a program installer in Puppy, one click and its done.
I have the scripts etc for the disabling of menus etc, i could make them into a *pet and test it on Lupu. Its as cthisbear says, It wont actually remove the games and other apps you dont want, just hide them.
If you are using Google docs, would you need to save anything to the PC?. The shutdown script can be alterted to not save anything from the session (I have never used Google docs, i am assuming you can save stuff in the in the cloud).
I'll stop there
Let me know
And welcome to the Kennels
PS. If you want to hide the menus, could you tell me which menus you want e.g Document, Network, Multimedia.
* A pet is a program installer in Puppy, one click and its done.
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RetroTechGuy
- Posts: 2947
- Joined: Tue 15 Dec 2009, 17:20
- Location: USA
Well, given that Puppy works well as a frugal install (using a pupsave/lupsave), runs from a live boot CD, and can run from a USB drive, how about each student is given a basic pupsave that you set up (say, copy it from a CD, thus the master setup is read-only) and then they all boot from a CD.fhsteacher wrote:I apologize for not having more details about hardware. We have a hodgepodge of older computers I would like to put to use surfing the web. Ram probably ranges from 128 to 512 mb. I really don't know what's in the attic, but I plan on making it work with puppy.
I don't have to password protect, I just want to strip the os down so that it boots up with just a browser and maybe a word processor so that my students can ONLY view the test prep sites our school has purchased access to. Left to their own devices, a few students will screw up every computer if they have a chance.
A special thanks goes out for all the links and advice. I may try the "hide" shortcuts and see how they work. This would help if I need to grant "permissions" quickly for some students. Thanks again.
Take the HDDs out of all the machines before you start... Make their HDD the flash drive they keep.
Then when they screw the system up, they only screw up their own OS...
Recopy the master lupsave, and they're back at their starting point.
[url=http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=58615]Add swapfile[/url]
[url=http://wellminded.net63.net/]WellMinded Search[/url]
[url=http://puppylinux.us/psearch.html]PuppyLinux.US Search[/url]
[url=http://wellminded.net63.net/]WellMinded Search[/url]
[url=http://puppylinux.us/psearch.html]PuppyLinux.US Search[/url]
safepup
The link given by Lobster contains safepup. Here is the link to the ISO and md5sum. It does what you want, and it is suitable for old PCs. There is a how-to at first boot to guide students.
If you want Java capability, you can rebuild the ISO using this pup_213.sfs. (If it is already installed to USB flash, then it is a matter of replacing/renaming the old pup_213.sfs.)
If you want Java capability, you can rebuild the ISO using this pup_213.sfs. (If it is already installed to USB flash, then it is a matter of replacing/renaming the old pup_213.sfs.)
Puppy user since Oct 2004. Want FreeOffice? [url=http://puppylinux.info/topic/freeoffice-2012-sfs]Get the sfs (English only)[/url].
Having been toying with "network booting" hammer, all I see now is "nails" waiting for this "hammer" ... fhsteacher, since your student computers are all networked, why don't you use network booting (netboot) instead?
You can then use any standard puppy (choose the smaller ones). Most puplets are also netboot capable. Doesn't matter if the students wreck anything - at the next reboot, everything will come back as new. No need to worry about de-partitioned harddisk, scratched CDs etc. The computer won't even start if your netboot server isn't turned on. All you have to do is manage one netboot server (which also run on top standard puppy). Look for "PXE booting" in this forum if you're interested.
I think raffy, being the most senior netboot guru, can give you more hints for operational matters
You can then use any standard puppy (choose the smaller ones). Most puplets are also netboot capable. Doesn't matter if the students wreck anything - at the next reboot, everything will come back as new. No need to worry about de-partitioned harddisk, scratched CDs etc. The computer won't even start if your netboot server isn't turned on. All you have to do is manage one netboot server (which also run on top standard puppy). Look for "PXE booting" in this forum if you're interested.
I think raffy, being the most senior netboot guru, can give you more hints for operational matters
Fatdog64 forum links: [url=http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=117546]Latest version[/url] | [url=https://cutt.ly/ke8sn5H]Contributed packages[/url] | [url=https://cutt.ly/se8scrb]ISO builder[/url]
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fhsteacher
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed 12 Jan 2011, 21:56
Thanks to all those with helpful input.
To be more specific: I teach Math and Pre-Algebra to 7th and 8th grades (12-14). Our school has one learning program (compasslearning) that is installed on the schools server and one program we can access over the internet (usatestprep).Students work on these programs while logged in to their accounts and it tracks progress. I currently have 3 windows computers with three internet connections. With 20 students per class, these computers are rarely used and the software we have purchased is a waste of money. My immediate goal is to get 7 more older (free) computers up and online so that I can do half class rotations.
We have no IT department so I will be maintaining this myself. The good thing is that I can get away with almost anything. We have a firewall at the district that only serves to block unproductive sites. Our school has a server that no one maintains, but at least it gets us internet service.
With puppy, I think I can get enough computers operational. I would place them around the perimeter of my classroom and students would work at them individually. The only networking that would be needed is to get each station access to the internet. I would prefer to get a switch or router so that I didn't have to network anything, but each station just connects to the internet. I could set up my computer as a server, but I would still need a switch, so I don't see the point.
I have no experience to speak of with linux. In the past few days I have gotten familiar with the whole mounting/direct hierarchy scheme. I have also played with a few commands. I don't think that is going to be a big issue though.
In short, I just need 10 internet stations. No student folders or accounts or printing capabilities. Browser Puppy would be a good fix if someone could guide me to it. If not, just help me on hiding or disabling features. I've seen where you can install lots of extras, I want to uninstall certain things without messing up the OS.
Thanks again for all the help.
To be more specific: I teach Math and Pre-Algebra to 7th and 8th grades (12-14). Our school has one learning program (compasslearning) that is installed on the schools server and one program we can access over the internet (usatestprep).Students work on these programs while logged in to their accounts and it tracks progress. I currently have 3 windows computers with three internet connections. With 20 students per class, these computers are rarely used and the software we have purchased is a waste of money. My immediate goal is to get 7 more older (free) computers up and online so that I can do half class rotations.
We have no IT department so I will be maintaining this myself. The good thing is that I can get away with almost anything. We have a firewall at the district that only serves to block unproductive sites. Our school has a server that no one maintains, but at least it gets us internet service.
With puppy, I think I can get enough computers operational. I would place them around the perimeter of my classroom and students would work at them individually. The only networking that would be needed is to get each station access to the internet. I would prefer to get a switch or router so that I didn't have to network anything, but each station just connects to the internet. I could set up my computer as a server, but I would still need a switch, so I don't see the point.
I have no experience to speak of with linux. In the past few days I have gotten familiar with the whole mounting/direct hierarchy scheme. I have also played with a few commands. I don't think that is going to be a big issue though.
In short, I just need 10 internet stations. No student folders or accounts or printing capabilities. Browser Puppy would be a good fix if someone could guide me to it. If not, just help me on hiding or disabling features. I've seen where you can install lots of extras, I want to uninstall certain things without messing up the OS.
Thanks again for all the help.
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Dewbie
fhsteacher wrote:
http://www.browserlinux.com/mijnpup/index.html
It's basically BrowserLinux with an OpenOffice derivative, LibreOffice.
However, MijnPup only has one kernel (shared with Puppy Linux 5.1.1), and it's still in Beta...so there may still be some bugs to contend with. I'm sorry that I didn't clarify this before.
optional word processor and nothing else for any of my students
I need to clarify something I posted before:Browser Puppy would be a good fix if someone could guide me to it.
BrowserLinux is not equipped for word processing. MijnPup is:Be sure to download current and previous BrowserLinux versions, as they are compiled with different kernels. Some computers won't work well (or at all) with certain kernels.
http://www.browserlinux.com/mijnpup/index.html
It's basically BrowserLinux with an OpenOffice derivative, LibreOffice.
However, MijnPup only has one kernel (shared with Puppy Linux 5.1.1), and it's still in Beta...so there may still be some bugs to contend with. I'm sorry that I didn't clarify this before.
It sounds to me like a simple re-master of maybe Wary is what is required here. Get it how you want, re-master, then if it gets screwed up, just delete the 'save' file and you are back to square one.
Please download and install Wary on something (Frugal install please) then tell us how you would like it to be. Maybe we can then guide you through the steps. Its not so difficult really.
Please download and install Wary on something (Frugal install please) then tell us how you would like it to be. Maybe we can then guide you through the steps. Its not so difficult really.
Spup Frugal HD and USB
Root forever!
Root forever!
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technosaurus
- Posts: 4853
- Joined: Mon 19 May 2008, 01:24
- Location: Blue Springs, MO
- Contact:
to make applications hard to access
Pup-Advert-Blocker has a list of adult sites that can be banned - It is in new Wary, Quirky versions and listed in the forum
Puppy/Wary can be exited to the prompt (not Quirky though except from the menu) and accessed that way but you can add a "dontzap" property to the xorg.conf to prevent it (Most users would never figure it out because it is Ctrl+Alt+Backspace instead of Del)
Only do all this work once though - then you can remaster and have a quick install cd for the rest and a backup for when (not if) a student figures out how to bypass stuff
- 1. delete (or move) the corresponding <program>.desktop files from /usr/share/applications
2. open a terminal and run fixmenus
3. restart the window manager (Menu ->Shutdown ->Restart jwm)
To remove the menu entries that don't go away with the .desktop files just remove them from /etc/xdg/templates/_root_.jwmrc
Pup-Advert-Blocker has a list of adult sites that can be banned - It is in new Wary, Quirky versions and listed in the forum
Puppy/Wary can be exited to the prompt (not Quirky though except from the menu) and accessed that way but you can add a "dontzap" property to the xorg.conf to prevent it (Most users would never figure it out because it is Ctrl+Alt+Backspace instead of Del)
Only do all this work once though - then you can remaster and have a quick install cd for the rest and a backup for when (not if) a student figures out how to bypass stuff
Check out my [url=https://github.com/technosaurus]github repositories[/url]. I may eventually get around to updating my [url=http://bashismal.blogspot.com]blogspot[/url].