Difference between revisions of "School Server/RIT"

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For [[tos:RIT/Honors Seminar|RIT Honors Seminar]] project.
 
For [[tos:RIT/Honors Seminar|RIT Honors Seminar]] project.
 
==School Server Fall 2009 Seminar Project==
 
==School Server Fall 2009 Seminar Project==
−
(Draft, please contribute)
+
 
 
===Purpose===
 
===Purpose===
−
# Provide a school server test and development environment for the Honors Seminar participants,
+
 
−
# Develop School Server systems administration skills,
+
# To create a school server with minimal hardware requirements in order to develop and test ideas and innovation from within the community
−
## Backup registered XOs or Sugar Sticks
 
−
## Host Moodle content developed in class
 
−
# Test and Debug OLPC - Sugar Labs School Server software
 
−
# Develop a School Server SysAdmin training curriculum for volunteers who want to support an OLPC or Sugar deployment
 
−
===Resources===
 
−
# RIT LTL or other hardware
 
−
# OLPC XS development builds, http://wiki.laptop.org/go/School_server
 
−
# http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/server-devel and [http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/server-devel/ the list archives], [http://www.mail-archive.com/server-devel@lists.laptop.org/maillist.html archive with search]
 
−
# OLPC projects/xs repository, http://dev.laptop.org/git/?q=projects%2Fxs
 
−
# Martin Langhoff's git repository, http://dev.laptop.org/git/users/martin/
 
  
 
==schoolserver.rit.edu==
 
==schoolserver.rit.edu==
  
−
Note: Admin log is located on the server at /var/log/adminlog.log
+
'''Note:''' Admin log is located on the server at /var/log/adminlog.log
  
 +
===Project Ideas===
  
−
 
+
<P>'''Current Project and/or current main focus '''
−
===Project Ideas===
+
* [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Book_reader Library /Book Reader]. Thousands of books stored on the XS which children are able to pull over the network either as whole book  or bit by bit as they read them on their XO's.
 +
**An e-book reader client/server system
 +
**Additionally, they can "check out" books and bring them home on their laptops to read at home, or while not connected to the XS.
 +
**This may prove to be more economical than the proposal of distributing text via SD cards as it would allow for a wider range of content per available Gigabyte. One 40 gig hard disk library would hold 10 times as much content as ten, 4-GB SD cards replicated with identical content.
 +
** Run said books through Pootle, so children have access to books not in their native tongue.
 +
** Essentially, a back-end to the read activity.
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Currently under development; See "Reading Library" below.
 +
</P>
 +
<br>
 +
<P>'''Completed projects and tasks'''
 +
* File Distribution System
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font>  Completed; Testing and improvements currently under development. See more information below - "File Distribution System". Please email us at our contact address if you are interested in learning more about this portion of the XS project or are interested in assisting in development.
 
* Fix Ejabber
 
* Fix Ejabber
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Ejabber is running and working. XO's can communicate
 +
*** To use Ejabber point XO server to schoolserver.rit.edu
 
* Configure Moodle to our needs
 
* Configure Moodle to our needs
−
**Create an Activity(Application) for RIT XOs so students can easily access Moodle
+
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Moodle is not configured; We currently do not have a project that needs Moodle.
−
* Moodle xo python api
+
</P>
 +
<br>
 +
<P>'''Future project ideas'''
 +
 
 +
* Provide a school server test and development environment for the Honors Seminar participants
 +
* Develop School Server systems administration skills
 +
** Backup registered XO's or Sugar Sticks
 +
*** <font color="red">Status:</font>  Not started
 +
** Host Moodle content developed in class
 +
*** <font color="red">Status:</font>  Moodle is installed but not fully configured.
 +
* Test and Debug XS - Sugar Labs School Server software
 +
** Currently running OLPC-School-Server-0.6-i386.iso
 +
*** <font color="red">Status:</font>  Upgraded to the latest XS Server image.
 +
* Develop a School Server SysAdmin training curriculum for volunteers who want to support OLPC, the XS Server project, or Sugar deployment
 +
** Basic documentation and support is being compiled
 +
*** <font color="red">Status:</font>  Under development; not complete.
 +
* Create an Activity(XO Application) for RIT XO's so students can easily access Moodle
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
 +
* Moodle XO Python API
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
 
* XO Backup/Restore
 
* XO Backup/Restore
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
 
* XO Security [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Antitheft_HowTo]
 
* XO Security [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Antitheft_HowTo]
 +
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
 
* Deployment "whitebook"
 
* Deployment "whitebook"
−
* Provide a service that allows teachers/volunteers (who don't speak English) in actual deployments to communicate via email with technical support volunteers by using the translating service [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pootle Pootle]. Incoming and outgoing "tagged" emails would be translated in and out of the server on arrival / departure of the XS.
+
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
−
* [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Book_reader Library /Book Reader]. Thousands of books stored on the XS which children are able to pull over the network either as whole book  or bit by bit as they read them on their XO's.
+
* Provide a service that allows teachers/volunteers (who do not speak English) in actual deployments to communicate via email with technical support volunteers by using the translating service [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pootle Pootle]. Incoming and outgoing "tagged" emails would be translated in and out of the server on arrival/departure of the XS.
−
**Additionally, they can "check out" books and bring them home on their laptops to read at home, or while not connected to the XS.
+
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
−
**This may prove to be more economical than the proposal of distributing text via SDcards as it would allow for a wider range of content per available Gigabyte. One 40 gig hard disk library would hold 10 times as much content as ten, 4-GB SDcards replicated with identical content.
+
*In class quizzing. Teachers ask questions, students respond using their XO, quiz results stored on XS. (Think the [http://www.iclicker.com/dnn/ I>clicker]; Similar concepts were proposed by [http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/User:Acj3840 Alex Jones])
−
** Run said books through Pootle, so children have access to books not in their native tongue.
+
** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
−
** Essentially, a backend to the read activity.
 
−
*In class quizzing. Teachers ask questions, students respond using their XO, quiz results stored on XS. (Think the [http://www.iclicker.com/dnn/ I>clicker]) I believe similar concepts were proposed by [http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/User:Acj3840 Alex Jones]
 
 
**Possibility of parsing of information, possible graphical heuristics.
 
**Possibility of parsing of information, possible graphical heuristics.
−
**Is this already a feature of Moodle? (quiz module) / Possible integration or extension of idea with Moodle.
+
*** <font color="red">Status:</font> Not started
 +
</P>
 +
 
 
===Reading Library===
 
===Reading Library===
−
Some resources:
+
'''Resources:'''
 
* [[olpc:Collections]]
 
* [[olpc:Collections]]
 
* [[Activities/Get Internet Archive Books]]
 
* [[Activities/Get Internet Archive Books]]
Line 50: Line 75:
 
* [http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/library/2009-July/001046.html Nepali library]
 
* [http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/library/2009-July/001046.html Nepali library]
 
* [[Features/Content support]] (for contemplating the design and integration with Sugar)
 
* [[Features/Content support]] (for contemplating the design and integration with Sugar)
 +
* [[olpc:Simple Digital Library Index]], [http://www.mail-archive.com/server-devel@lists.laptop.org/msg03063.html discussion thread].
 
====Proposed Design Goals====
 
====Proposed Design Goals====
−
# Hold copies of ebooks for learners with no Internet access
+
# Hold copies of e-books for learners with no Internet access
−
# Compatible with existing Sugar ebook readers
+
# Compatible with existing Sugar e-book readers
−
# Teacher/administrator interface for loading books from a variety of Internet book archives and portable USB or CD/DVD storage media.
+
# Teacher/Administrator interface for loading books from a variety of Internet book archives and portable USB or CD/DVD storage media.
  
 
In the end, we want to have instructions and some supporting scripts to modify the standard OLPC School Server to support a reading library and our campus environment as independent features.
 
In the end, we want to have instructions and some supporting scripts to modify the standard OLPC School Server to support a reading library and our campus environment as independent features.
−
====File Distribution System====
+
====[[School_Server/RIT/File_Distribution_System|File Distribution System]]====
−
An alternative to extending e-book readers - a file distribution system for the server and a client for the XO.  
+
An alternative to extending e-book readers - a file distribution system for the server and a client for the XO. The goal of this project is to build an easy system to host files on the server that can be downloaded using the browser activity and possibly a file distribution download activity.
−
#We initially tried to set up an nfs mount however, this did not work.
 
−
#The file distribution system will be in two parts:
 
−
##Some server code that will keep a database of files and metadata about each file; the server will be viewed from a standard web browser as well as have an api that will allow our client to download files over HTTP.
 
−
##*Some optional features could be to allow each person to have a public file store that others can browse.
 
−
##The client side will be written in python; this app will ask the server for the file list and metadata, which will allows users to browse the files and any file they want they can click on and download - the downloaded file will show up in their journal.
 
−
##*This app would allow them to search for files or browse them in a more organized wat than the journal system and they will be able to download the files they want
 
−
#The front end would be a simple python activity for the XO
 
−
#There are three options for the back end:
 
−
##PHP driven webpage using apache and some sort of SQL
 
−
##* + Using existing server and database technology
 
−
##* + Doesn't require app, can use browser to get files as well
 
−
##* - Requires Apache + SQL + PHP support
 
−
##* + Would be installed if they have Moodle anyways
 
−
##* + Uses HTTP protocol, easy to implement in client
 
−
##Python server application
 
−
##* - We would have to implement our own server (and protocol if we do not use HTTP)
 
−
##* - Could potentially not have a website style interface
 
−
##* + Does not require Apache
 
−
##* - Always running on server even when not in use
 
−
##FTP System
 
−
##* - This would be the least desirable system as it would not support metadata
 
−
#We believe a file distribution system will be more valuable to the community as it could be used to distribute activities (the distribute client can be downloaded with the browse activity from its web-front end and then they can use the downloaded activity)
 
−
#It can also be used to download e-books from a PDF system
 
−
#The client could also make a file wish list so the next time they are online it automatically downloads the requested files; or the teacher can mark a file to be automatically downloaded
 
  
−
====Necessary Tasks====
+
See the [[School_Server/RIT/File_Distribution_System|Project Page for File Distribution System]].
−
*
 
−
====Nice to have====
 
−
*
 
−
====For future development====
 
−
*
 
−
====Completed Tasks====
 
−
*
 
  
−
===Network configuration===
+
===Network Configuration===
 
The School Server, XS, as received is designed and configured for 2 Ethernet adapters,
 
The School Server, XS, as received is designed and configured for 2 Ethernet adapters,
−
* eth0 - connected to the wide area network (WAN) or the campus Internet connection,
+
* eth0 - connected to the Wide Area Network (WAN) or the campus Internet connection,
−
* eth1 - connected to an access point (AP) which the XOs connect to.
+
* eth1 - connected to an Access Point (AP) which the XOs connect to.
 
For robustness in unreliable power supply environments, there are scripts that reconfigure features on a frequent basis. This design has frustrated anyone wanting to deviate from the default configuration.
 
For robustness in unreliable power supply environments, there are scripts that reconfigure features on a frequent basis. This design has frustrated anyone wanting to deviate from the default configuration.
  
 
We will have to understand the design, carefully document our adjustments for our environment, and make preparations to restore one or more configurations once we upgrade to a new version of the server that may likely restore some of the default configurations.
 
We will have to understand the design, carefully document our adjustments for our environment, and make preparations to restore one or more configurations once we upgrade to a new version of the server that may likely restore some of the default configurations.
−
====Collaboration Server====
+
 
 +
===System Configuration===
 +
 
 +
Current OS installed:
 +
<br>OLPC-School-Server-0.6-i386.iso
 +
<br><br>
 +
From: [http://xs-dev.laptop.org/xs/ http://xs-dev.laptop.org/xs/] using Martin Langhoff's explicit instructions.
 +
 
 +
=====System Information=====
 +
All configurations based on the installing steps and configurations found at [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/School_server http://wiki.laptop.org/go/School_server] and modified as needed for our applications.
 +
 
 +
<br>Hostname: <code>schoolserver.rit.edu</code>
 +
<br>Server uptime: <code>12:54:38 up 9 days, 18:50,  1 user,  load average: 0.00, 0.01, 0.00</code>
 +
<br>CPU model: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.80GHz
 +
 
 +
 
 +
===Collaboration Server===
 
* This bug report, http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/9242, covers the missing collaborator icons in the Neighborhood view (after first connection and before reboot or reconnection to the access point)
 
* This bug report, http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/9242, covers the missing collaborator icons in the Neighborhood view (after first connection and before reboot or reconnection to the access point)
  
−
* /etc/idmgr.conf edited line BIND_DOMAIN=172.18.0.1 to BIND_DOMAIN=129.21.47.159 in order to try to enable the registration service. Ran service idmgr restart.
+
* <code>/etc/idmgr.conf</code> edited line <code>BIND_DOMAIN=172.18.0.1</code> to <code>BIND_DOMAIN=129.21.47.159</code> in order to try to enable the registration service. Ran <code>service idmgr restart</code>.
−
*: But, on trying to register my XO, it stalls for a minute or two and then reports that it failed to connect to the schoolserver (it was connected to the ejabberd service).  --[[User:FGrose|FGrose]] 00:35, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
+
*: But, on trying to register my XO, it stalls for a minute or two and then reports that it failed to connect to the schoolserver (it was connected to the ejabberd service).  <br>--[[User:FGrose|FGrose]] 00:35, 17 October 2009 (UTC)
 +
 
 +
==Schedule/Milestones==
 +
===Necessary Tasks===
 +
#Server up and running
 +
#Register the server with the RIT network
 +
#Establish connectivity to the server
 +
#Server administrative tasks
 +
#Server log of tasks
 +
#Develop a list of project ideas
 +
 
 +
===Completed Tasks (Weeks 1-6):===
 +
#Server up and running
 +
#Register the server with the RIT network
 +
#Establish connectivity to the server
 +
#All group members have an account on the server
 +
#Server administrative tasks<br>''Admin log is located on the server <code>/var/log/adminlog.log</code>"
 +
#Develop project ideas
 +
##Ejabber up and running<br>''To use Ejabber, point XO server to <code>schoolserver.rit.edu</code>''
 +
##Moodle installed on the server
 +
 
 +
===Tasks Under Development (Current)===
 +
#Library/E-Book Reader
 +
#File Distribution System
 +
 
 +
===For Future Development===
 +
#Configure Backup/Restore for registered XOs and Sugar Sticks
 +
#XO Security
 +
#Configure Moodle
 +
#*Create and XO Activity for easy access to Moodle
 +
#*XO Python API
 +
#Develop a School Server SysAdmin training curriculum
 +
#Deployment "whitebook"
 +
#Translation Service using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pootle Pootle]
 +
#In-class quizzing
 +
 
 +
===Resources===
 +
* RIT LTL or other hardware
 +
* OLPC XS development builds, http://wiki.laptop.org/go/School_server
 +
* http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/server-devel and [http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/server-devel/ the list archives], [http://www.mail-archive.com/server-devel@lists.laptop.org/maillist.html archive with search]
 +
* OLPC projects/xs repository, http://dev.laptop.org/git/?q=projects%2Fxs
 +
* Martin Langhoff's git repository, http://dev.laptop.org/git/users/martin/
 +
 
 +
===Subpages===
 +
[[School Server/RIT/File Distribution System|School Server/RIT/File Distribution System]]<br>[[School Server/RIT/XS on XO|School Server/RIT/XS on XO]]
 +
 
  
−
==Subpages==
+
==Contact Information==
−
{{Special:PrefixIndex/{{PAGENAME}}/}}
+
email: schoolserver.rit.edu@gmail.com
 +
<br>
 +
googlegroup: http://groups.google.com/group/schoolserver_rit_edu
 +
<br>
 +
[[User:rnolette| Ryan Nolette]]
 +
<br>
 +
[[User:Fapryce| Fatima Pryce]]
 +
<br>
 +
[[User:Jlew|Justin Lewis]]
 +
<br>
 +
[[User:Wwdillingham|Wesley Dillingham]]
 +
<br>
 +
[[User:FGrose|Fred Grose]]
 +
<br>

Latest revision as of 11:38, 17 November 2009

For RIT Honors Seminar project.

School Server Fall 2009 Seminar Project

Purpose

  1. To create a school server with minimal hardware requirements in order to develop and test ideas and innovation from within the community

schoolserver.rit.edu

Note: Admin log is located on the server at /var/log/adminlog.log

Project Ideas

Current Project and/or current main focus

  • Library /Book Reader. Thousands of books stored on the XS which children are able to pull over the network either as whole book or bit by bit as they read them on their XO's.
    • An e-book reader client/server system
    • Additionally, they can "check out" books and bring them home on their laptops to read at home, or while not connected to the XS.
    • This may prove to be more economical than the proposal of distributing text via SD cards as it would allow for a wider range of content per available Gigabyte. One 40 gig hard disk library would hold 10 times as much content as ten, 4-GB SD cards replicated with identical content.
    • Run said books through Pootle, so children have access to books not in their native tongue.
    • Essentially, a back-end to the read activity.
    • Status: Currently under development; See "Reading Library" below.


Completed projects and tasks

  • File Distribution System
    • Status: Completed; Testing and improvements currently under development. See more information below - "File Distribution System". Please email us at our contact address if you are interested in learning more about this portion of the XS project or are interested in assisting in development.
  • Fix Ejabber
    • Status: Ejabber is running and working. XO's can communicate
      • To use Ejabber point XO server to schoolserver.rit.edu
  • Configure Moodle to our needs
    • Status: Moodle is not configured; We currently do not have a project that needs Moodle.


Future project ideas

  • Provide a school server test and development environment for the Honors Seminar participants
  • Develop School Server systems administration skills
    • Backup registered XO's or Sugar Sticks
      • Status: Not started
    • Host Moodle content developed in class
      • Status: Moodle is installed but not fully configured.
  • Test and Debug XS - Sugar Labs School Server software
    • Currently running OLPC-School-Server-0.6-i386.iso
      • Status: Upgraded to the latest XS Server image.
  • Develop a School Server SysAdmin training curriculum for volunteers who want to support OLPC, the XS Server project, or Sugar deployment
    • Basic documentation and support is being compiled
      • Status: Under development; not complete.
  • Create an Activity(XO Application) for RIT XO's so students can easily access Moodle
    • Status: Not started
  • Moodle XO Python API
    • Status: Not started
  • XO Backup/Restore
    • Status: Not started
  • XO Security [1]
    • Status: Not started
  • Deployment "whitebook"
    • Status: Not started
  • Provide a service that allows teachers/volunteers (who do not speak English) in actual deployments to communicate via email with technical support volunteers by using the translating service Pootle. Incoming and outgoing "tagged" emails would be translated in and out of the server on arrival/departure of the XS.
    • Status: Not started
  • In class quizzing. Teachers ask questions, students respond using their XO, quiz results stored on XS. (Think the I>clicker; Similar concepts were proposed by Alex Jones)
    • Status: Not started
    • Possibility of parsing of information, possible graphical heuristics.
      • Status: Not started

Reading Library

Resources:

Proposed Design Goals

  1. Hold copies of e-books for learners with no Internet access
  2. Compatible with existing Sugar e-book readers
  3. Teacher/Administrator interface for loading books from a variety of Internet book archives and portable USB or CD/DVD storage media.

In the end, we want to have instructions and some supporting scripts to modify the standard OLPC School Server to support a reading library and our campus environment as independent features.

File Distribution System

An alternative to extending e-book readers - a file distribution system for the server and a client for the XO. The goal of this project is to build an easy system to host files on the server that can be downloaded using the browser activity and possibly a file distribution download activity.

See the Project Page for File Distribution System.

Network Configuration

The School Server, XS, as received is designed and configured for 2 Ethernet adapters,

  • eth0 - connected to the Wide Area Network (WAN) or the campus Internet connection,
  • eth1 - connected to an Access Point (AP) which the XOs connect to.

For robustness in unreliable power supply environments, there are scripts that reconfigure features on a frequent basis. This design has frustrated anyone wanting to deviate from the default configuration.

We will have to understand the design, carefully document our adjustments for our environment, and make preparations to restore one or more configurations once we upgrade to a new version of the server that may likely restore some of the default configurations.

System Configuration

Current OS installed:
OLPC-School-Server-0.6-i386.iso

From: http://xs-dev.laptop.org/xs/ using Martin Langhoff's explicit instructions.

System Information

All configurations based on the installing steps and configurations found at http://wiki.laptop.org/go/School_server and modified as needed for our applications.


Hostname: schoolserver.rit.edu
Server uptime: 12:54:38 up 9 days, 18:50, 1 user, load average: 0.00, 0.01, 0.00
CPU model: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.80GHz


Collaboration Server

  • This bug report, http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/9242, covers the missing collaborator icons in the Neighborhood view (after first connection and before reboot or reconnection to the access point)
  • /etc/idmgr.conf edited line BIND_DOMAIN=172.18.0.1 to BIND_DOMAIN=129.21.47.159 in order to try to enable the registration service. Ran service idmgr restart.
    But, on trying to register my XO, it stalls for a minute or two and then reports that it failed to connect to the schoolserver (it was connected to the ejabberd service).
    --FGrose 00:35, 17 October 2009 (UTC)

Schedule/Milestones

Necessary Tasks

  1. Server up and running
  2. Register the server with the RIT network
  3. Establish connectivity to the server
  4. Server administrative tasks
  5. Server log of tasks
  6. Develop a list of project ideas

Completed Tasks (Weeks 1-6):

  1. Server up and running
  2. Register the server with the RIT network
  3. Establish connectivity to the server
  4. All group members have an account on the server
  5. Server administrative tasks
    Admin log is located on the server /var/log/adminlog.log"
  6. Develop project ideas
    1. Ejabber up and running
      To use Ejabber, point XO server to schoolserver.rit.edu
    2. Moodle installed on the server

Tasks Under Development (Current)

  1. Library/E-Book Reader
  2. File Distribution System

For Future Development

  1. Configure Backup/Restore for registered XOs and Sugar Sticks
  2. XO Security
  3. Configure Moodle
    • Create and XO Activity for easy access to Moodle
    • XO Python API
  4. Develop a School Server SysAdmin training curriculum
  5. Deployment "whitebook"
  6. Translation Service using Pootle
  7. In-class quizzing

Resources

Subpages

School Server/RIT/File Distribution System
School Server/RIT/XS on XO


Contact Information

email: schoolserver.rit.edu@gmail.com
googlegroup: http://groups.google.com/group/schoolserver_rit_edu
Ryan Nolette
Fatima Pryce
Justin Lewis
Wesley Dillingham
Fred Grose

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sugarlabs.org/index.php?title=School_Server/RIT&oldid=40364"