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Revision 9 as of 2010-02-02 18:10:18
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Comment: Refine format of contact info and added Taiwan.
Revision 10 as of 2010-02-04 23:12:17
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Comment: Fix: Get the bullets on what's new, not repeating old Skolelinux features
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the Debian Edu team. Several other projects have contributed additional functionality to Skolelinux, to tailor it for both local and international needs.
Skolelinux can be installed in more then 50 languages.
the Debian Edu team.
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Several other projects have contributed additional functionality to Skolelinux, to tailor it for both local and international needs. Skolelinux can be installed in more then 50 languages.
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Whats new in Skolelinux 5.0: '''Whats new:'''
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 * based on Debian 5.0 "Lenny" and therefore compatible with LSB 3.2, using kernel 2.6.26, KDE 3.5.10 and GNOME 2.22.2. The LinEx project of Extremadura in Spain has now merged with Debian Edu. The LinEx GNU/Linux solution is used by 250.000 students and teachers at 200 schools in Extremadura.  * Skolelinux is based on Debian 5.0 "Lenny" and therefore compatible with LSB 3.2, using kernel 2.6.26, KDE 3.5.10 and GNOME 2.22.2. The LinEx GNU/Linux project of Extremadura in Spain has now merged with Debian Edu.

 * GNOME desktop is now supported in addition to KDE.

 * Improved student desktop with educational software shortcuts to GCompris, Kalzium, KGeography, KMplot, KStars, Stopmotion and OpenOffice Write and Impress.

 * The documentation is renewed and translated to <fixme: please add the names of the languages supported>

 * Added PulseAudio in addition to ALSA and OSS sound system for better audio and multimedia performance on workstations and diskless workstations machines.

 * New startup menu letting users choosing diskless workstation, thin client or workstation.

 * Improved and simplified user and machine administration tool known as LWAT (LDAP Web-based Administration Tool).

 * Improved machine and network surveillance now reporting status on all machines added to the network.

Skolelinux is now deployed at many or all schools in municipalities, regions and states throughout Europa, Asia and South-America. It's used by 250.000 students and teachers at 200 schools in Extremadura. The German city of Hamburg and the state Rheinland-Pfalz are providing Skolelinux for their schools. The the Indian state Karnataka are basing their ICT@School project on Skolelinux.

'''Going forward'''

 * The next milestone of Skolelinux development aims to include the Sugar desktop, upgrade to KDE 4 and to provide netbook alternatives.

 * Initial work is done to include an early version of the Sugar Desktop. This is only for limited testing. Please don't use a newer version for production.

==== About Skolelinux ====
Skolelinux is a complete software solution tailored to the needs of schools and other educational institutions. It provides a complete system, from the central server running all the services the school needs, to the desktop software students use in class. Skolelinux works out of the box, with no tricky setting up to perform. Skolelinux provides:
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==== About Skolelinux ====
Skolelinux is a complete software solution tailored to the needs of schools and other educational institutions. It provides a complete system, from the central server running all the services the school needs, to the desktop software students use in class. Skolelinux works out of the box, with no tricky setting up to perform.
 * Several regions and states run and maintains Skolelinux centrally by commercial service providers or public employees. Smaller installations at on school can be maintained part-time by a teacher with no particular training. Reports from commercial and public installations suggest that diskless workstations, which require half the maintenance costs compared with any ordinary desktop alternative.
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Skolelinux is the result of the work of the Debian Edu project. Debian Edu is an official part of Debian, and Skolelinux is a "Debian Pure Blend". It is installed at many or all of the schools in municipalities, regions and cities throughout Europe, Asia and South America. The most active developers are in Spain, Germany, Norway and France <fixme: please add more contries; perhaps provide some links to large installations/institutions for reference>. Some large Skolelinux installations are maintained centrally by commercial service providers or employees in the public sector. Small installations can be maintained by a part-time teacher, with no particular training. Reports from commercial and public installations suggest that diskless workstations require half the maintenance costs of any ordinary desktop alternative.

The next milestone of Skolelinux development aims to include the Sugar desktop, upgrade to KDE 4 and to provide netbook alternatives.
Skolelinux is the result of the work of the Debian Edu project. Debian Edu is an official part of Debian, and Skolelinux is a "Debian Pure Blend". It is installed at many or all of the schools in municipalities, regions and cities throughout Europe, Asia and South America. The most active developers are in Spain, Germany, Norway and France <fixme: please add more contries; perhaps provide some links to large installations/institutions for reference>.

Press Package to be released to the media upon release of 5.0.

The press package contains the following pieces:

  1. A general press release announcing availability of Skolelinux 5.0. with media contacts from five countries and general information.
  2. Quotes from users, beta-testers, developers and media contacts
  3. Please include pictures of users and screenshots of desktop and applications? <fixme: please suggest pictures>

The press package is available in English, Spanish, Norwegian, and other languages online at http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/PressReleases/

Media information

This freely available 'press package' from Debian Edu is made available as a part of the 5.0 ("Lenny") release of our Debian Pure Blend and Skolelinux.

For questions regarding the 'press package' or any content found within, please contact the Debian-Edu media contacts found here: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/PressReleases/PressPackage_5.0/English

1: Press release

Debian-Edu: Skolelinux 5.0 Terra available for free download!

* Oslo <fixme: and other cities/places> - February 8, 2010

Skolelinux 5.0 is ready. This is a community release with comprehensive support from regional and national projects in Norway, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Taiwan, Japan and other places. Skolelinux is Debian for education, produced by the Debian Edu team.

Several other projects have contributed additional functionality to Skolelinux, to tailor it for both local and international needs. Skolelinux can be installed in more then 50 languages.

Whats new:

  • Skolelinux is based on Debian 5.0 "Lenny" and therefore compatible with LSB 3.2, using kernel 2.6.26, KDE 3.5.10 and GNOME 2.22.2. The ?LinEx GNU/Linux project of Extremadura in Spain has now merged with Debian Edu.

  • GNOME desktop is now supported in addition to KDE.
  • Improved student desktop with educational software shortcuts to GCompris, Kalzium, KGeography, KMplot, KStars, Stopmotion and OpenOffice Write and Impress.

  • The documentation is renewed and translated to <fixme: please add the names of the languages supported>

  • Added PulseAudio in addition to ALSA and OSS sound system for better audio and multimedia performance on workstations and diskless workstations machines.

  • New startup menu letting users choosing diskless workstation, thin client or workstation.
  • Improved and simplified user and machine administration tool known as LWAT (LDAP Web-based Administration Tool).
  • Improved machine and network surveillance now reporting status on all machines added to the network.

Skolelinux is now deployed at many or all schools in municipalities, regions and states throughout Europa, Asia and South-America. It's used by 250.000 students and teachers at 200 schools in Extremadura. The German city of Hamburg and the state Rheinland-Pfalz are providing Skolelinux for their schools. The the Indian state Karnataka are basing their ICT@School project on Skolelinux.

Going forward

  • The next milestone of Skolelinux development aims to include the Sugar desktop, upgrade to KDE 4 and to provide netbook alternatives.
  • Initial work is done to include an early version of the Sugar Desktop. This is only for limited testing. Please don't use a newer version for production.

About Skolelinux

Skolelinux is a complete software solution tailored to the needs of schools and other educational institutions. It provides a complete system, from the central server running all the services the school needs, to the desktop software students use in class. Skolelinux works out of the box, with no tricky setting up to perform. Skolelinux provides:

  • Full support for networked thin clients, diskless workstations, workstations and laptops. With diskless workstations users get full PC functionality, but with the maintenance level of thin clients. Sound, video, USB memory sticks and DVDs are supported. A new start up screen also allows local installation over PXE.
  • Skolelinux has over 80 applications selected for educational use, available in over 50 languages. Many new applications have been introduced in addition to popular classics such as !GCompris, KDE Edu, Firefox (branded as Iceweasel) and OpenOffice.org.

  • Installation is a breeze. You can install Skolelinux from a network install CD or from a single DVD supporting several processor architectures (i386, PowerPC and AMD64). Skolelinux still has low hardware requirements. A diskless workstation runs nicely with 256 MB of RAM, local swap and a 800 MHz processor, though we recommend slightly more powerful specifications for multimedia use.
  • Skolelinux is free software. The primary goal is to provide schools and students with every building block of a computer system. By providing an easy to use system, which also includes source code, students can study the software, learn and create with it. We emphasise learning by doing. Students can grow and excel by participation and sharing knowledge. The software has no restrictions on use, copying or learning.
  • Several regions and states run and maintains Skolelinux centrally by commercial service providers or public employees. Smaller installations at on school can be maintained part-time by a teacher with no particular training. Reports from commercial and public installations suggest that diskless workstations, which require half the maintenance costs compared with any ordinary desktop alternative.

Skolelinux is the result of the work of the Debian Edu project. Debian Edu is an official part of Debian, and Skolelinux is a "Debian Pure Blend". It is installed at many or all of the schools in municipalities, regions and cities throughout Europe, Asia and South America. The most active developers are in Spain, Germany, Norway and France <fixme: please add more contries; perhaps provide some links to large installations/institutions for reference>.

In depth

Diskless Workstations retrieve the OS and application software from the server, and then run them on the local machine. All software comes from the server instead of from the local hard drive. That means software can be installed and maintained once for many clients. The recommended minimum specification for client machines is > 256 MB RAM and 800 MHz CPU. Skolelinux now has improved tools for system monitoring and maintenance.

Suggestions for next Debian Edu should be provided at this wiki-page: <fixme: add the wiki page>

Please note that the documentation for 5.0 Lenny is now translated to <fixme: Add the list of translations>. If there is no translation of the documentation to your native language, please help out with the translation effort. Your translations will be available instantly online, and will also be included in next Debian Edu revision.

Contact information

<please: confirm this list>

  • General information about Debian-Edu or Skolelinux:
    • E-mail: debian-edu AT lists.debian.org
  • Media contacts
    • France
      • Xavier Oswald <xoswald AT debian.org>

    • Germany
      • Alexander Reichle-Schmehl <tolimar AT debian.org>

        Kurt Gramlich <kurt AT skolelinux.de>

    • Norway
      • Anders Kringstad Hanssen <akai AT skolelinux.no> +47 932 82 137 (cellphone)

        Knut Yrvin <knuty AT skolelinux.no> +47 908 95 765 (cellphone)

    • Pakistan
      • Tariq Farooqi <tariq AT linuxpakistan.org> +92-21-6622134 (officephone)

    • Spain
      • José L. Redrejo Rodríguez <jredrejo AT edu.juntaextremadura.net>

    • Taiwan
      • Andrew Lee (李健秋) <ajqlee AT debian.org> +886 988 978760 (cellphone)

For more information about Debian-Edu/Skolelinux please see our webpage at

Download:

A complete list of improvements have been made available at http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/ReleaseNotes

2: Quotes

<fixme: please add user quotes>