home/user on the server.
So why should I use this?
A few reasons
- Centralised operating system – The operating system for the Raspberry Pis is stored on the server, centrally. This means if you want to make a change to it, say update a package or a configuration file, simple, just modify it on the server.
- Centralised users – The user accounts are stored on the server, not the Raspberry Pis. This means any student can sit down at any Raspberry Pi in the classroom, log on and get access to all their files.
- Centralised files – The pupils home folder of all their work is stored centrally. This means only a single folder (/home) has to be backed up, and all the students work is instantly backed up.
- Work collection – Raspi-LTSP contains a simple but effective system for collecting work from students, they just place it in a folder in their home folder called handin. Then the teacher selects an option in Raspi-LTSP and it goes and collects the work from every student, placing it in a single folder for the teacher to mark.
I want to see videos of it in action!
Well lucky for you, Ben Smith (@ManchesterBudo), a computer science teacher based near Blackpool has been trialing the system for a number of months now and has created some videos of it in action.
I am sold! How do I get started?
As mentioned above, a few prerequisites.
- You need a network switch. It must have at least a single gigabit port (10/100/1000mbit), also sometimes called a stacking port. It is fine if the rest of 100mbit (10/100mbit). These can be picked up off ebay for less than £20, example1
A single gigabit port is essential as the server must plug into it.
- You need a classroom set of model B Raspberry Pis.
- You need enough Ethernet CAT5 Ethernet cables to reach from your switch to Raspberry Pis
- An old router or a DHCP server installed on the server machine to manage IP addresses on the network
- A server machine – this can be an old desktop machine, it does not need to have large amounts of processing power, should have at least 2gb of RAM and at least 70gb of hard drive space. You will be formatting this machine. Finally, it must also have a gigabit Ethernet port.
The setup process is very simple, but requires internet to build Raspbian. Once it is finished, it won’t need an internet connection, unless you want to update or install new software.