[IAEP] "Grannie" Needs Help!

[John Watlington]

Caryl,
   There are two easy solutions that jump to mind.
The decision is independent of a school server, you
are really choosing how to interface the laptops to
a network.

If the school will allow a Wifi network, add a small
cheap WiFi (802.11b/g) access point, configured
as a transparent access point.  The laptops will have
to select this AP once in the neighborhood, then
"everything" will work.

If the school insists on a wired network, then you can
use USB/ethernet dongles to connect the laptops to
the network.   Several dongles are known to work
(is there a list for F9 somewhere ?).
If they are supported their use is automatic if plugged in.

In either case, you might consider a school server
to interface between the laptop network and the internet.
For ten laptops in a school, however, it is definitely
not required.

Cheers,
wad

On Oct 8, 2009, at 1:01 AM, Caryl Bigenho wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I need to help the Audubon Middle School project get their 10 XOs  
> on the net. Their school evidently has high speed internet, but it  
> is all by ethernet cables... no wifi.  So, I need info on how to  
> set up something that will work with the XOs... a school server, I  
> guess.  I looked at the info on the OLPC wiki, but I don't  
> understand enough about it to set it up or tell them how to do it.
>
> I assume they need a computer to do this. Do they have to install  
> Linux before installing server software?  Is there any place on the  
> wiki that tells how to do this? Should they just find someone to  
> fund a decicated school server? Where can they get one? What is the  
> most reliable, inexpensive way for them to do this?  Maybe just an  
> inexpensive router? The school probably has some sort of firewall,  
> what will they have to do to log on?
>
> Caroline... have you dealt with this at all?
>
> Is there a Grannie's Guide to doing this anywhere? Links appreciated!
>
> Caryl (aka "Grannie")
>
> P.S. I haven't actually seen their set up, but will go visit them  
> next week.
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