Belfast Methodist College

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Case Study

School Name Belfast Methodist College Role in school Linux admin (pupil)
School Location Belfast Student numbers 1900
Age range 11-18 + small primary department Teachers 200
Computers  About 200 PCs GNU/Linux computers -
Length of Time (Start)  We have been using a Linux proxy since we got an Internet connection (6 years+); however other use has grown gradually User GROUP Affiliation none
Request Assistance? - Project Leader Martin Orr
Project URL http://henry.methody.org/%7Emartin/mcbsam/</td> Contact 
E-mail</td>
martin-oss at walnut.methody.org</td> 
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How 
Project Started:</td>
When we got our first Internet connection, there was a need for a proxy server and some means of controlling access so that the bandwidth could be best used where it was needed</td> 
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Why 
use GNU/Linux?</td>
It offered the most easily configurable/extensible proxy system at the time, and was also easy to write a CGI interface using Perl/Apache</td> 
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Project 
Description</td>

We only have three Debian GNU/Linux servers on a mainly Windows 95/98/NT network; however these are the only three computers visible FROM the outside. They are used for:

1.gateway doing masquerading for those computers which need direct Net access and HTTP proxy for the rest. Also hosts our DNS and the MCBSAM software, developed by the school for controlling proxy access


2.e-mail for all pupils and staff (although not many use it). Also a webmail interface and a database through which past pupils can exchange details and get in touch (our main website is hosted off-site but doesn't allow CGI scripting)


3.a general shell server which is used a little by the A-level computing classes and other interested pupils. This is also hosts a variety of miscellaneous Web-based services primarily intended for internal school use - the most interesting of these is a detention-management system to be deployed next academic year.


All this is administrated/developed entirely by volunteer pupils

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Project 
Evaluation</td>
The fact that this is run entirely by pupils always makes for a rather uncertain future, although I will be in charge for another two years and hopefully will train somebody to take over after that. We are however very lucky in 
terms of HAVING equipment purchased for us - we may have only three computers, but two of these have by far the best spec of anything in the school. Development of new software is rather slow due to time constraints and plans of marketing to other schools have so far not developed. In terms of providing the basic services of proxy and e-mail, we have been entirely successful.</td>
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Future 
Uses</td>
We are presently developing a resource management package, which will allow teachers to book computer labs and other equipment through a web interface.</td> 
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Additional 
Info</td>
How much of this will be maintained next year is uncertain, due to the Classroom 2000 project which will lead to most of the responsibility for computers in Northern Irish schools being transferred to Sx3.
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