ALT Linux (School Junior)

ALT Linux School Junior is an open source, freely distributed and bootable GNU/Linux operating system intended for young children, as an educational desktop system. It contains many open source applications for educational use and it’s built around the Xfce graphical desktop environment.

Available for download as installable-only DVDs

The School Junior edition of ALT Linux is distributed as installable-only ISO images, supporting both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x86_64) instruction set architectures. These DVDs can be written on either blank single-layer DVD discs or USB thumb drives of 4GB or higher capacity.

Distributed as part of the ALT Linux School project

ALT Linux School Junior is actually distributed as part of the ALT Linux School project, which offers many other flavors, such as ALT Linux School Server, ALT Linux School Master and ALT Linux School Teacher.

Boot options

ALT Linux School Junior’s boot menu is quite simplistic, allowing the user to only start the installation, with normal configuration or in safe graphics mode, boot an existing OS from the local drive, as well as to run a memory diagnostic test.

Installing ATL Linux School Junior

The operating system supports multiple languages, including English (USA), Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish, which will be presented to users on the first screen of the graphical installer.

Next, you must agree to the license agreement, select a timezone, partition the disk, wait for the system to be installed, choose where to install the bootloader, setup the network, enter a password for the root account (system administrator), as well as to create a user and assign it a password.

Uses the Xfce desktop environment and includes numerous educational apps

As mentioned, the distribution’s main and only graphical interface is powered by the ligthweight Xfce desktop environment, which uses a traditional layout comprised of a single panel (taskbar) located on the bottom edge of the screen.

It includes numerous educational apps, among which we can mention GnuPlot, Logisim, Radio Controlled Robotic Construction Set, Scratch, Kumir, wxMaxima GUI, a simple examination system and a multiformat dictionary.

What is new in this release:

• Updated software closing known vulnerabilities as of May 22, 2015 with further updates available through Platform 7 repositories
• Updated timezones
• System Control Center is now able to join Active Directory
• LiveCDs gained RW partition support during UEFI boot as well
• "poweroff" kernel commandline parameter will cause the system to shut down upon installation to ease automated deployment
• Online repositories will always be configured, not just when found available
• Linux 3.14.41
• Mesa 10.0.5
• Firefox 31.6.0
• Various bugs were fixed with updated Intel video driver

What is new in version 7.0.4:

• This is a minor update to the 7.0.x series, adding bugfixes and SecureBoot tolerance.

What is new in version 6.0.0:

• Zero-cost end-user license fee;
• Сentralized administration of pupil computers;
• Deep customization;
• Сentralized authentication via directory service;
• Network boot of diskless nodes that store personal data on server;
• High security and virus protection;
• Graphical interface on server (disabled by default).
• Special School Server images are ready to install to Hyper-V