[Sheflug] Re: Microsoft Rip off Heatlh Service (was: Partitioning)

[John Southall <xxxxx [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In message <200110221205.f9MC5BF18908 [at] zetnet.co.uk>, Richard Ibbotson
<richard [at] sheflug.co.uk> writes
>Keith
>
>> Is there no suitable Linux software for hospital or school use?
>> etc.

I have been quite busy recently and so have not had time to write to the
group. This seems like a timely slot for a quick update on Linux at
Wickersley Comp.

We have added a Squid on Linux proxy server and a basic masquerading
firewall  to connect us to the Internet. This has proved very boring.
After setting it up and running a test system for a few weeks nothing
went wrong or needed re-configuring, a pleasant surprise after three
years of regular crashes and associated fiddling with another expensive
and nicely packaged brand of server software. Also the configuration
options offered by Squid are a dream after the old system. We are
therefore transferring all our Internet load onto the Linux system. 

We now have a pair of Samba on Linux servers on test as fileservers for
user home directories and public directories. The original intention was
to use the NT sever as a PDC, but the Samba servers have proved so good
that we are considering ditching the other stuff and using Samba for the
domain controller as well.

The IT technicians are very enthusiastic about using Linux. They even
learnt to read so that they can follow the manuals and documentation.

>From the user point of view, there does not appear to be any difference
other than increased performance.

On the client side, we are still using M$ operating system and office
software. This will not be easy to change since staff have spent time
familiarising themselves with M$ stuff and preparing work closely tied
to navigating around M$ software. A move to Linux and Star Office on
workstations is desirable, but will have to be phased in over a number
of years.
-- 
John Southall
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