That script is pretty cool. It is a little dated, but I ended up making a
similar solution for your public desktop computers. You can see my solution
at
https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=linux-privacy-essentials-field-reports#_
.
Chuck McAndrew
IT Librarian
Lebanon Public Libraries
Lebanon, NH

On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 4:02 PM Christopher Davis <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> This is a good thread and I also hope that it drives Linux usage up.
> There's a Linux-compatible Deepfreeze alternative called Dafturn Ofris, a
> bash script which "freezes" the Linux user's home directory. This means
> that (at least on Linux distros based on Debian) you can install system
> updates without thawing, whilst still preventing personalizations such as
> browser cache, wallpapers, menu options, etc. from persisting beyond
> reboot. The Dafturn Ofris script can be downloaded from
> sourceforge.net/projects/dafturnofris-id/. The other cool thing about
> Dafturn Ofris is that you only need to reboot the machine when you want to
> freeze it.
>
> I've found great success in downloading it to the Home directory, then you
> can open a terminal, type in "bash dafturn-ofris.sh" and follow the
> directions. Later, when the system if frozen, you can just quickly open a
> terminal (ctrl+alt+t in Debian distros), tap the "Up" arrow key a few times
> (scrolls through the history of terminal commands), and then run
> dafturn-ofris.sh in just a few seconds.
>
> HTH,
>
> Christopher Davis, MLS
> Systems & E-Services Librarian
> Uintah County Library
> 204 E 100 N
> Vernal, UT 84078
> [log in to unmask]
> (435) 789-0091 ext. 261
> website: uintahlibrary.org
> catalog: basinlibraries.org
> facebook.com/uintahcountylibrary
> instagram.com/uintahcountylibrary
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 15, 2019 at 7:46 AM Nick Critser <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > All,
> > I don't have professional experience loaning linux laptops in a library
> > setting. In fact my current gig uses windows as the dominant OS for both
> > staff computers and loaner computers. But I have been using Linux as my
> > home workstation OS for about 7 years now. I'd love to see more Linux in
> > the public sphere. As such I'll share my laptop experience with
> > distributions I've tried.
> >
> > Debian - a free software distro , can have issues where drivers must be
> > installed via different repos but usually its a simple task.
> > The installer can be more manual (and possibly confusing).
> >
> > Ubuntu - a corporate distro, and a great intro to linux distro. It is
> > easy to install and has a huge community with a great user knowledge
> > base. Also it benefits from all the Debian development, but also adds
> > some usability features like an easy to use dual boot install path, and
> > gui based everything.
> >
> > Redhat - another corporate  distro. You can now get redhat developer
> > licenses for free with sign up to their developer site. They also have
> > an excellent knowledge base for admins and i have never had a single
> > driver related issue with them on a laptop.
> >
> > Fedora - the development feeder branch for Redhat. Gives the benefit of
> > the redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement.
> > Drawback is that is changes fast and can be hard to keep patched. Great
> > for checking out features before they get into (Redhat or CentOS).
> >
> > CentOS ,the non-corporate supported REDHAT , gives the benefit of the
> > redhat development, without the Redhat licences requirement.
> >
> > Linux Mint - supported by Corporate and Community sponsors. Based on
> > Debian and Ubuntu, it has an easy to navigate UI and most things work
> > out of the box without driver issues. Good community knowledge base and
> > benefits from both Debian and Ubuntu development and tools. Very easy to
> > use as a Linux novice, coming from Windows.
> >
> > Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.
> > These comments have been based on my experience, so please consume with
> > grains of salt.
> >
> > Nick Critser
> > Systems Analyst/Programmer
> > Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
> > Columbia University
> > [log in to unmask]
> > 1(212)854 0405
> > GPG -  Fingerprint
> > 6A2C D078 DA48 C336 3FB3  894D 2623 D0E0 843D 4025
> >
> > On 3/15/2019 6:08 AM, Ross Spencer wrote:
> > > Hi Junior,
> > >
> > > This sounds like a great initiative. I follow an education technology
> > person on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philshapiro they talk a lot about
> > procuring laptops from eBay and then installing distributions such as
> Linux
> > Mint on them to refresh them and loan them in their library. It might not
> > be something every org has an appetite for but it's one option.
> > >
> > > I can also speak to the quality of System 76 laptops that Chuck
> > mentioned. The high-spec ones are great for development, but there may be
> > combinations of machine that are much cheaper and might offer a good
> > solution for your purposes as well.
> > >
> > > All the best,
> > > Ross
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>


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