[SoaS] Optimizing the preparation of an operational SoaS USB key

[Jean Thiéry]

Hello,

Many people want to prepare operational SoaS USB keys.

Could you verify the protocol
"PREPARATION OF AN OPERATIONAL SoaS USB KEY"
attached at the end of this message ?

All comments are welcome !

NB: Part of this protocol could be added on
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_on_a_Stick/Blueberry#Download_locations

One of the main feature of Sugar is its Journal.
This Journal is rapidly saturated on USB keys.

Question 1 : Is it possible to increase its size ?

Its standard size seems to be 425 MB,
for persistent storages equal to
2012 MB, 3017 MB or 3213 MB (on 4 GB sticks) or
4095 MB (the maximum size imposed on a 16 GB stick).

Question 2 : Is it possible to display a warning
message at the top of the Journal when the available
storage size is less then 50 M (for example) ?

Question 3 : Activities seem to be updated
through the Journal. This may use up to 85 MB !
Is it possible to recover this place without
suppressing the updated Activities ?

Question 4 : Large files (e.g. ogg, pdf, ...) can be
easily imported from other USB keys by specific Activities
(like Browse ...). But the Journal is rapidly overcrowded !
Is it possible to store these files as classical
files, link them to the proper Activity,
and liberate the Journal.

NB: Files may also be imported with the Terminal
but this is not very convenient for new users !

All information on Journal optimization is welcome !

Thank you,

Jean Thiéry [Jean.Thiery(ò)ModLibre.info] [http://ModLibre.info]
Member of OLPC-France [http://olpc-france.org]

================================================================
PREPARATION OF AN OPERATIONAL SoaS USB KEY
With SoaS-2-Blueberry (version 0.86.3)
================================================================

Choose a 4 GB USB Key
(presently larger keys are not completely used).

Keys with a led flashing during data transfers are recommended
for safety reasons.


A. CREATION OF A LIVE SoaS USB KEY

Follow instructions on
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_on_a_Stick/Blueberry#Download_locations

All available space should be dedicated to "Persistent Storage".

Creation of a live USB key needs approximately 10 min,
depending on the USB transfer rate and on the size
of the persistent storage.


B. BOOT ON THE NEW SoaS USB KEY

- Shut down your computer.

- Insert the SoaS USB key.

- Start your computer. You may have to immediately press
   a key ("Esc", "F10", ...)  for booting on the SoaS USB key.
   In other cases you may have to boot with an auxiliary CD.
   See "Boot Helper" on
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Sugar_on_a_Stick/Blueberry#Download_locations


C. CHECK ON JOURNAL CAPACITY

- On the first boot, choose the proper user icon.

- Push the cursor on the "Journal" icon just below the user icon
   on the activity screen.

The Journal capacity is displayed :
usually around 425 MB at the first boot.


D. LOCALIZATION

- Push the cursor on the user icon on the activity screen.
- Push the cursor on the user name
- Click on "My Settings"
- Click on "Keyboard"
- Choose the proper "Keyboard Layout(s)"

For France :

1 French [(Legacy) Alternative, France]

For Morocco :

1 French [(Legacy) Alternative, France]
2 Arabic [azerty, Arabic]
3 Berber languages [Tifinagh, Morocco]

Key(s) to change layout : Alt-Shift

NB: These choices could be optimized by specialists.

- Click on the upper right "Check" sign.

- Click on "Language".

Choose the proper language(s) depending on your country.

- Click on the upper right "X" sign.

NB 1: After localization, there is nearly no change
in the Journal capacity

NB 2: Keyboard(s) and language(s) can be checked later on with the Speak 
activity.


E. CHECK ON UPDATES

- Push the cursor on the user icon on the activity screen.
- Push the cursor on user name.
- Click on "My Settings" (or its translation).
- Click on "Software update" (or its translation).

The complete check needs approximately 12 min
with a 100 MB/s connexion


F. UPDATING ACTIVITIES

The complete update needs approximately 10 min
with a 100 MB/s connexion
(update time in February 2010 for 18 updates corresponding to 61 MB).

NB: After update, there is a large decrease
in the Journal capacity :
425 MB -> 340 MB, for example.


G. INSTALLATION OF NEW ACTIVITIES

Depending on educational projects.


H. INSTALLATION OF NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Depending on educational projects.


I. SHUTDOWN

- Push the cursor on the user icon on the activity screen.
- Push the cursor on the user name
- Click on "Shutdown" (or its translation).

You may extract the SoaS USB key when the computer is stopped.