On Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 10:34 PM, Ian Pascoe <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
> Unashamedly cribbed from another list - very interesting application of > LTSP and Ubuntu! > > Ian > > > http://gnuveau.net/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi > > From the overview: > > > The SolarNetOne ICT terminal network was conceived and designed to solve > the challenging problem of how to provide Internet access and services to > rural and developing areas where there is no existing power or > communications infrastructure. This problem is solved by combining several > powerful technologies: Photovoltaic solar electrical systems, GNU/Linux, > 802.11a/b/g packet radio, commonly known as "wifi," Power over Ethernet, and > the MIT X11 windowing system. It has been described as an "ISP in a box," > for reasons detailed below. > > SERVER > > The SolarNetOne system incorporates a powerful server in a small form > factor that acts as the core of the communications system. It provides mid > to long range wireless internet coverage up to a 2 mile radius through its > integrated high power 802.11a/b/g wireless access point and high gain > omni-directional antenna. This configuration can be used to provide full > internet access, including Voice over IP telephone service, to the immediate > coverage area, which can be extended to longer ranges through the use of > wireless repeater devices. Also integrated into the server is the capability > for full end-to-end internet communications by means of its HTTP (web), SMTP > (email), DNS (domain name system), and SSH (secure shell) server software. > > Additional internet services can easily be added to the network by use of > the APT (advanced package tool) repositories of GNU/Linux software available > worldwide. This is an integral part of the underlying Ubuntu operating > system. APT automates the often difficult task of installing and updating > software, making system administration tasks of installation and maintenance > easy, particularly when critical updates effecting network security are > concerned. The server itself can also be used as a network console for > administration or day-to-day operator use through its integrated monitor, > keyboard, and mouse. > > TERMINALS > > Another key feature of the SolarNetOne system is its network attached > terminals, which provide traditional desktop services one would normally > associate with using a computer, with several powerful, attractive, and > popular desktop environments to choose from. It comes pre-installed with web > browsing, email, office, multimedia, software development and web > development applications, as well as a choice of over 15000 other > applications to suit most any computing need that are free for download > through the APT system. The terminals themselves connect to the system's > Ethernet hub, which provides both network connection and electrical power to > the terminals and their LCD monitors over a single CAT6 Ethernet wire. This > eliminates wire clutter and the need for extra power wiring costs. They > operate as "thin clients" with the majority of the workload being handled by > the server's higher capacity processors, enabling superior performance per > over than a standalone PC architecture and significantly lower maintenance > workload than a similar solution of several personal computers. > > Also available is full sound support through integrated audio jacks, 104 > key keyboard, laser scroll mouse and the ability to plug USB memory sticks > into the terminals, allowing users to take their data with them round out > the terminal's ability to provide a complete and rich user experience. > SolarNetOne comes standard with 5 terminals, and can expand to as many as 48 > terminals per server node. As an option in areas where allowed by law, an > ATA phone adapter provides Voice over IP telephone service through a > standard telephone handset. > > POWER SYSTEM > > The entire SolarNetOne system is powered by 12VDC electrical current > supplied through the system's elegant solar power generation and storage > subsystem. Using an array of photovoltaic solar panels, an advanced charge > controller, ample battery storage, and a design focusing on safety, the > power subsystem provides for all of the electrical needs associated with > 24/7 server operation and 8 hours per day of terminal access. Integrated > circuit breakers on every segment of the power sub-system provide the safest > possible implementation. In addition to its excellent performance, the use > of solar power means no fuel costs, no polluting emissions, and a long > lifespan of up to 20 years of use at listed power ratings with proper > maintenance. > > USER APPLICATIONS > > The SolarNetOne system comes pre-installed with a wide variety of user > applications. For the user, these include: > > Mozilla Firefox suite for web browsing and email > Evolution for email and calendering > OpenOffice? for office applications > GIMP and InkScape? for bitmap and vector graphics, respectively > Xmms, Xine, and Mplayer for multimedia playback > X-chat and Gaim for chat/instant messaging > Xaos fractal explorer > Bluefish html editor > and, a wide variety of games, and a choice of Enlightenment 17, Gnome, and > Fluxbox desktops environments. > > Security and feature updates to these packages are available, as well as > access to over 15000 other pre-compiled software packages in the Ubuntu > repositories available via the integrated APT packaging system. Ubuntu comes > GUI tools like the Synaptic Package Manager to add or remove applications, > as well as the underlying apt-get, apt-cache, and apt-file command line > tools, which Synaptic makes use of. The system also includes python, perl, > and shell interpreters, as well as gcc and its family of compilers, > libraries, debuggers and linkers for C and C++ development. > > CONCLUSION > > The SolarNetOne integrated communications system provides modern, > efficient, powerful and easily maintainable internet services and access > infrastructure specifically designed to overcome the challenges inherent in > off-grid and remote location scenarios. By combining several cutting edge > technologies, the SolarNetOne system stands head and shoulders above other > methods of addressing the aforementioned problems of providing internet > services and connectivity in some of the most challenging circumstances. > Designed for safety, longevity, elegance, and ecological friendliness, the > SolarNetOne system can effectively solve the problems facing anyone seeking > to deploy internet communications to developing areas for many years to > come. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's > challenge > Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great > prizes > Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world > http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ > _____________________________________________________________________ > Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss > For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.freenode.net > > > > -- > [email protected] > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk > https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/ > Thats pretty cool, I like the entire system over an ethernet cable, makes deployment easier. Would be great in schools or other places with large amounts of computers with relatively little power requirements. Mj
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