There have been computers running GNU/Linux at the University of Manitoba for a long time. Such installations have always been for specific groups of staff and students. Today that changed. Academic Computing & Networking launched a "Linux Pilot Project", where for the first time, desktop computers running GNU/Linux became available in open area labs to all U of M staff and students.

The goal of the ACN Linux pilot project is to broaden the service offered in the ACN labs to provide Linux in addition to Windows and Solaris. The pilot project is a working model on how we might deploy Linux in the open area labs. This approach allows us to gather feedback from the user community while simultaneously developing the support infrastructure needed to administer the system.

The first machine up is linux02.cc.umanitoba.ca, located in 113 Machray Hall, a 24 hour lab. I will post an update to this story when the other ones come online in the next few days.

More information on this pilot project.

Dean writes:

Now it's time to get serious...

Hi there people

I live in Winnipeg, have used Linux for many years, and am interested in challenging a formal certification in that particular field.

There are a number of certification choices available, ranging from the basic - CompTIA Linux+, to the mainstream SAIR Linux/Gnu Certified Professional and Linux Professional Institute, to the high end vendor certifications like Redhat's RHCE.

Anybody here have any experience with any of these various tracks? Any thoughts or suggestions would be welcome.

All the best.

But why would CFSL have anything against using Free Software? One look at the list of Computers for Schools Pan-Canadian sponsors makes it all too clear.

Read on for more warm fuzzies...

In an official announcement from the SchoolForge group today, spokesman Leon Brooks refuted statements on Microsoft's website which have been widely interpreted as a roadblock to the acceptance of donated computers by schools and other needy organisations.

While doing a bit of research on the Linux Terminal Server Project, I came across a very slick re-dist of RH 7.2 (enigma) with the LTSP binaries included and basically pre-configured.

http://www.k12ltsp.org/

Microsoft has a long and ugly track record when it comes to playing the 900 pound gorilla in the software market, but playing the schoolyard bully is a relatively new trick for them. That, however, doesn't stop them from raining threats, coercion, and blackmail (pronounced "software audit") upon the world's educational institutions. Their latest trick borders on fraud and misrepresentation. They are trying to convince schools that donated PCs are illegal unless they are donated with the original software.