Ubuntu and probably others have a guest mode that copies a home
directory into memory for the guest when they log in. It's deleted when
they log off. You can customize it by editing the files stored in the
directory it's copied from.
On 3/15/19 11:01 AM, Christopher Davis wrote:
This is a good thread and I also hope that it drives Linux usage up.
There's a Linux-compatible Deepfreeze alternative called Dafturn Ofris, a
bash script which "freezes" the Linux user's home directory. This means
that (at least on Linux distros based on Debian) you can install system
updates without thawing, whilst still preventing personalizations such as
browser cache, wallpapers, menu options, etc. from persisting beyond
reboot. The Dafturn Ofris script can be downloaded from
sourceforge.net/projects/dafturnofris-id/. The other cool thing about
Dafturn Ofris is that you only need to reboot the machine when you want to
freeze it.
I've found great success in downloading it to the Home directory, then you
can open a terminal, type in "bash dafturn-ofris.sh" and follow the
directions. Later, when the system if frozen, you can just quickly open a
terminal (ctrl+alt+t in Debian distros), tap the "Up" arrow key a few times
(scrolls through the history of terminal commands), and then run
dafturn-ofris.sh in just a few seconds.
HTH,
Christopher Davis, MLS
Systems & E-Services Librarian
Uintah County Library
204 E 100 N
Vernal, UT 84078
[email protected]
(435) 789-0091 ext. 261
website: uintahlibrary.org
catalog: basinlibraries.org
facebook.com/uintahcountylibrary
instagram.com/uintahcountylibrary
On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 7:46 AM Nick Critser <[email protected]>
wrote:
All,
I don't have professional experience loaning linux laptops in a library
setting. In fact my current gig uses windows as the dominant OS for both
staff computers and loaner computers. But I have been using Linux as my
home workstation OS for about 7 years now. I'd love to see more Linux in
the public sphere. As such I'll share my laptop experience with
distributions I've tried.
Debian - a free software distro , can have issues where drivers must be
installed via different repos but usually its a simple task.
The installer can be more manual (and possibly confusing).
Ubuntu - a corporate distro, and a great intro to linux distro. It is
easy to install and has a huge community with a great user knowledge
base. Also it benefits from all the Debian development, but also adds
some usability features like an easy to use dual boot install path, and
gui based everything.
Redhat - another corporate distro. You can now get redhat developer
licenses for free with sign up to their developer site. They also have
an excellent knowledge base for admins and i have never had a single
driver related issue with them on a laptop.
Fedora - the development feeder branch for Redhat. Gives the benefit of
the redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement.
Drawback is that is changes fast and can be hard to keep patched. Great
for checking out features before they get into (Redhat or CentOS).
CentOS ,the non-corporate supported REDHAT , gives the benefit of the
redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement.
Linux Mint - supported by Corporate and Community sponsors. Based on
Debian and Ubuntu, it has an easy to navigate UI and most things work
out of the box without driver issues. Good community knowledge base and
benefits from both Debian and Ubuntu development and tools. Very easy to
use as a Linux novice, coming from Windows.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.
These comments have been based on my experience, so please consume with
grains of salt.
Nick Critser
Systems Analyst/Programmer
Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
Columbia University
[email protected]
1(212)854 0405
GPG - Fingerprint
6A2C D078 DA48 C336 3FB3 894D 2623 D0E0 843D 4025
On 3/15/2019 6:08 AM, Ross Spencer wrote:
Hi Junior,
This sounds like a great initiative. I follow an education technology
person on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philshapiro they talk a lot about
procuring laptops from eBay and then installing distributions such as Linux
Mint on them to refresh them and loan them in their library. It might not
be something every org has an appetite for but it's one option.
I can also speak to the quality of System 76 laptops that Chuck
mentioned. The high-spec ones are great for development, but there may be
combinations of machine that are much cheaper and might offer a good
solution for your purposes as well.
All the best,
Ross
--
Tim McMahon
Technical Service and Interlibrary Loan
West Liberty Public Library
