ALT Linux (School Server)

ALT Linux (School Server) is a special edition of the ALT Linux operating system tailored for server systems inside various educational institutions, such as schools and universities. It is forked from the Mandrake Linux distribution

Distributed as installable-only DVDs

The School Server edition of ALT Linux is available for download as two installable-only DVD ISO images that have approximately 1 GB in size each, optimized for computers supporting either of the 32-bit (i586) and 64-bit (x86_64) instruction set architectures.

This special ALT Linux flavor is part of a very special project, called ALT Linux School, which delivers distributions of Linux tailored for the educational environment. Among other similar editions, we can mention ALT Linux School Junior, ALT Linux School Master and ALT Linux School Teacher.

Boot options

From the boot menu, which is translated in several languages, including English, Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Belarusian, Turkish and Ukranian, the user can start the installation with normal configuration or with safe settings, boot from the local disk drive, as well as to run a memory test.

Installing ALT Linux School Server

To install this operating system on your computer, you must choose a language, accept the license agreement, select a timezone, partition the disk, copy the files to your PC (automatic), install the bootloader, configure network interfaces (optional), enter a password for the root (system administrator) account, and create users and passwords.

Uses the FVWM window manager

It’s quite strange for a server-oriented operating system to use a graphical desktop environment, that’s way after installation, users will be dropped to a shell prompt where they will be able to login with the username and password created during the installation process.

However, if you want to access a graphical interface, you should known that ALT Linux School Server comes pre-installed with a basic window manager, called FVWM, which can be fired up using the ‘startx’ command in the console environment.

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

What is new in version 4.1.0:

• This release of School Server is an extended version of a server suite for educational institutions that was developed for the government contract in the end of 2008. School Server includes: Linux kernel 2.6.25, base system glibc 2.5.1; LAN services: DHCP server, DNS server BIND 9.3.5, proxy server Squid 2.6.STABLE18 (with statistics viewer), a firewall, network interfaces management console, time server OpenNTPd 3.9p1; file servers - Samba 3.0.30 and FTP server ProFTPd 1.3.0, repository mirrors setup service (using NFS), print server CUPS....