For the past few years we have been involved with numerous schools all across the country, and it's totally shocking to come across PC Labs where there are computers with no individual student login accounts, or updated virus protection. In most of these cases you also find that the computers with internet access have NO CENSORING for any Internet browsing!
It was about 4 years ago when we first installed an ActionBox at George Randell Primary School, with the purpose of censoring the broadband Internet we connected to their PC lab. We then started adapting the Linux server to the needs of a primary school, and 6 months later Kuswag Primary in East London was also fitted with the ActionBox. High schools soon followed, and it was only then that we realised we could replace expensive Windows servers with a single server that allows individual student logons, becomes a centralized file server, a proxy server, a firewall and much more, all in one box.
SERVER FUNCTIONALITY
The primary function of the server will be that as a FILE SERVER. It will store each individual user's files on the server without other user accounts being able to access it. The file server will also have shared locations that all users will be able to access when logged in.
All PCs in the PC Lab will have a WINDOWS DOMAIN LOGON requiring each student to have his/her own username and password. This will allow a student to access his/her documents from ANY of the computers in the lab by simply logging on with their username and password. Apart from the shared files/folder on the server, each user will have their own directory space on the server where they can safely store their own information.
All Internet browsing will be censored by the server ensuring that no downloads can be done from any of the lab PCs, as well as restricting the pornography that can get through on Internet Explorer. The teacher will also be able to view detailed reports of Internet usage per user on the network, as well as manually restrict access to certain websites.
The server also acts as a firewall for the entire network ensuring limited and authenticated access to the network through the Internet.
SERVER APPLICATIONS
Each school is unique in their requirments of the ActionBox, and therefore applications used and the configuration is different at each school. The server's operating system is Suse 11, with GUI (graphic user interface).
NETWORK AND SERVER ADMINISTRATION
The server will be accessible via a web-based interface that will allow administration of the particular applications on the server. We will also have remote access to the server where it stands in the school, allowing us to support the teacher in the classroom, depending on the support package selected with the server.
Training and support will be offered to the teacher in managing the various web-based control panels. This is not included in the price of the ActionBox, and will be quoted seperately. We do, however, offer a community website where teachers will be able to get support from schools who already have the ActionBox installed.
Once again, the hardware required for the ActionBox is not included in the price, as most schools have a PC available that can be converted into an ActionBox, and if not, we can quote on the server hardware seperately.
