Using Linux in schools gives children the ability to experience technologies aside of main stream operating systems, thus learning about technical diversity and enhancing their skills in different information technologies. credativ is about to finish a pilot phase using an adapted version of SkoleLinux with about ten schools over a year, and another two dozen schools are preparing to join the project.

Beginning this year, credativ and a local government authority formed a alliance to explore the possiblities of Linux usage in schools. For this reason the local government decided to pick about ten test schools and provided them with an adapted version of SkoleLinux which includes Cipux for a comprehensive pupil data management.

The hardware setup is notable since it was especially designed with the needs of the schools in mind: besides the usual main server (called 'Tjener' in SkoleLinux), all schools were provided with so-called laptop trolleys. A trolley contains 12-16 laptops, two wireless access points, a switch and a lan cable. When the trolley is brought into a class room, the lan cable is connected to the main network via a plug in the class room. The laptops, which are taken out of the trolley by the pupils, use the wireless lan to access the trolley and thus have a connection to the server. Additionally, schools, if they had the hardware, were able to use a terminal server.

credativ's job was to install and set up the systems, whilst providing the schools with 2nd and 3rd level support. Since at that time only a virtual image for the server was available, credativ had to develop the installation mechanism for the terminal server as well as for the clients. The installation was based on preseeding to enable schools to re-install the systems via network on the fly if for some reason a system failed. This method was also used to bring up the terminal servers - so even when an entire terminal server crashed it could be re-installed immediately by the school in just two clicks.

Looking back now, the project was highly interesting and provided valuable experience. A good number of bugs were discovered and solved, and we were also able to give the developers lots of feedback about workflow and tools required in a school environment. In addition, we gained an insight into the needs of teachers concerning what tools, software and associated training would be required to enable them to use the system; we were then able to pass this information and our ideas on to local government.

From our perspective it was interesting to see what software was requested by the schools and which setups worked best. For example, not all schools were equipped with terminal servers, but those that did were highly satisfied with the setups. Also, many school admins were used to clone windows images and play them back as soon as they had problems, which is not that common in the Linux world, and wasn't possible in the pilot phase.Out of these experiences and the success of the pilot phase a new round has now been set up, which will include many more schools and a certification program for SkoleLinux business partners. Starting next year, even more schools will have the ability to run Linux based systems - giving pupils freedom of choice and diversity in an otherwise single vendor environment.