> Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2003 17:14:59 -1000 (HST) > From: Nakashima <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi Peter, > Hi Ben, > Saw your post on luau. > Can you explain what HNLC is? HNLC is a five year grant awarded by the NSF to UH and HDOE with the main goal of improving Math and Science education for rural schools. HDOE schools can apply to be part of our grant and this comes with both benefits and responsibilities. The benefits include professional development training for teachers, etc, and the responsibilities include helping us collect the information we need to assess the success of the grant. So far we have signed up the first "cohort" of ten schools, and we are in the process of finalizing the selection of the next cohort of about ten schools. By the end of our grant we will likely have 50-60 schools participating in the HNLC program. For more information on HNLC, check out hnlc.org Ultimately, I think it would be wonderful for any school that wants their own Linux cluster lab to have it. But, at this point we feel this is a little premature for HNLC to push for this, and we at HNLC are hesitant to set something like that up in a school without us first developing some expertise in setting up our own lab. So before we go around evangelizing the benefits of Linux to sometimes very skeptical schools, we need to do our homework and make sure we can get everything working the way it should right here and begin a training program. By setting up our own lab, it may be a seed that will germinate into many linux labs in the schools down the road. > We have a few schools in our complex-area leaning towards installing Linux > labs like the one at Mid-Pac. > Maybe we can help you realize your vision. Great! Which complex area? As it is a RSI (rural systemic initiatives) grant, HNLC has not so far emphasized the island of oahu. Outside of HNLC, there is HDOE/ATRB, which would be the "spaceholder" for the Linux lab I am envisioning. Hopefully ATR can provide some support for the endeavors of the schools in the your complex area regardless of their HNLC status. > -- > Peter > Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2003 17:29:07 -1000 (HST) > From: Nakashima <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > This is very exciting and positive news! > ATRB and its head Vicky Kajioka would be instrumental in getting a > Linux/open source "toe" in the DOE door. I believe Vicky reports directly > to State Superintendent Hamamoto. > This is the BIGGEST fish (DOE department) that has so far expressed > interest in Linux/open source. > In my opinion, a large portion of HOSEF's resources should go to support > this effort. I am very appreciative of your support. What I am talking about is really in the most embryonic stages. Please bear in mind that the decision making process of the government takes time and can be sometimes frustrating. > Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2003 19:49:16 -1000 > From: Vince Hoang <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Vince, > Whenever the topic of the DOE and Linux comes up, the story about > how a single Linux was "hacked" in the past gets mentioned. > > Does anyone know the story behind this urban legend? I am > concerned this piece of FUD (fear, uncertainy, and doubt) is > hurting the cause. This particular event occurred before I came on board. About five years ago high-school students created a small (three or four computer) linux cluster for our branch. It was used for testing compatibility between Macs and PCs and for general education. It was remotely administered by them until it was given to a Kaiser CS e-school class and remotely administered by that teacher. But then that class ended and it seems the cluster was neglected until it was discovered to have been hacked and used to collect password information. At that point, the computers were unceremoniously unplugged and Linux forgotten. So, you are right that this is a case of FUD, but it is not merely an urban legend. I discussed this with the guy who pulled the plug. I want to give this group some perspective of the very real FUD that already exists, not to spread it, but so we can strategize around it. > Any unmaintained operation system is a security risk. Even > OpenBSD is susceptible to compromises. ("Only one remote hole in > the default install, in more than 7 years!") Yes, and therefore we need to develop basic security expertise as an absolute minimum. We need to train people how to upgrade software to the latest version, use good passwords, etc. I don't think many schools are so tech savvy and it will be necessary to convey the danger of an unprotected operating system. We need a system where somebody will be responsible for a computer and if they can't/won't maintain it, it should be unplugged. > My first question when I heard this was "Where is the firewall?" > I am not promoting M&M security (hard on the outside, soft on the > inside), but a simple firewall should have mitigated the risks of > a newbie installing Linux on the LAN and forgetting about it. > -Vince I suspect our firewall has been dramatically improved since then. We've been bruised by hackers and are more wary now. > From: Nakashima <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [luau] DOE and the compromised Linux box > The best way to combat FUD is a shining example of success within the DOE. > There are currently some schools interested, HOSEF needs to ensure that > these schools become those shining examples of success. Nothing will cures > the DOE's FUD better than a fast, secure, functioning, productive Linux > lab in a DOE public school. Very true. Thanks for your perspectives, --Benjamin