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Provided thanks to St George District Office
Windows 98 (Second Edition) Shutdown Problems:
Many Phase 5 Rollout PCs seem to have a problem shutting down. They tend to hang at the "Windows is Shutting Down" screen and not go any further.
Microsoft has admitted there are problems with Windows 98 SE and have released two patches to rectify them. You can download them using the two links below. Simply save them onto your Win98SE computer (that's having problems) and run them. You will need to reboot after the patches have been applied.
SchoolsNET Linux Proxy/Cache Solution:
Schools looking for solutions to increase the speed of their department-provided internet link should make their first port of call the installation of a proxy/cache server. A proxy/cache makes access faster by storing copies of all pages downloaded from the internet onto a server in your school. Therefore, future requests for previously visited sites will be serviced locally rather than through the 64kBit ISDN gateway.
While a proxy/cache will not benefit users accessing search engines, web-based e-mail systems and other interactive sites, it is very beneficial for viewing static websites that contain educational information. All pages that are serviced locally free up the ISDN gateway, providing more bandwidth for new (un-cached) or interactive sites.
St George District Office has investigated several solutions including Wingate, WinProxy, FoolProof Qube and others and has determined the best value for money solution is Linux-based using the Squid Proxy/Cache software. Both the Linux operating system and Squid software are available free of charge, and all you need to setup a proxy/cache server in your school is a fairly recent rollout PC (Pentium) connected to your school network. That becomes your entire investment in this solution. The Pentium PC proxy/cache supports both Windows and Macintosh workstations equally effectively.
There are several varieties of the Linux operating system, and while they can be downloaded from the internet, it is quicker and easier to buy a Linux magazine from a newsagent and use the CD that usually comes with it. We have standardised on Mandrake Linux v7.2 (we had problems with RedHat v7) and have fully documented the procedure for installing and configuring the system together with Squid for use on the SchoolsNET system. The links below take you through the entire process. If you have any comments on how you went with this process, or on anything at all, please let us know using our Feedback Form.
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Mandrake Linux 7.2 Installation Instructions
This text file lists step by step instructions for installing Mandrake Linux 7.2 as supplied on the CDs that come with the "The Linux Pocketbook - 3rd Edition" (available from newsagents for just $19.95) onto a Wintel school rollout PC. Print the file and follow the steps. -
Squid v2.3 for Linux Installation Instructions
This text file lists step by step instructions for installing this version of Squid (available below) onto your prepared Linux server. Print the file and follow the steps. -
Squid v2.3 for Linux
You should be logged in at this point as the user ROOT on your prepared Linux server and using Netscape Navigator to view this webpage. Download Squid by clicking the link above. When asked to save the file, ensure that the Selection field shows: /root/squid-2.3.STABLE4-src.tar.gz
Once Squid has been downloaded, start Terminal and at the [root@proxy /root] prompt, type in the command tar -zxvf squid-2.3.STABLE4-src.tar.gz and click OK. Continue installation by following the provided notes. -
Squid v2.3 Configuration file for SchoolsNET
Once Squid has been installed, it must be configured to work with the SchoolsNET system. All of these settings that need changing are in the squid.conf file. To make this process easier, you can download a pre-configured squid.conf file by clicking the link above. When asked to save the file, ensure that the Selection field shows:
/usr/local/squid/etc/squid.conf and click OK. You will be asked if you wish to overwrite the existing copy of the file, choose Yes (Overwrite). Continue with the next step of the Squid installation instructions. NOTE: District Offices creating a Linux proxy server should use this squid.conf file - save it named as above. -
Identifying your new Proxy/Cache Server in your school's PAC file
These instructions must be followed to ensure your new proxy/cache server is identified by Information Technology Bureau, and that your school's Proxy Automatic Configuration (PAC) file is updated by ITB to reflect its presence at your school.