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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 > > > > > > > > > > > -- *The Right-To-Know Law provides that most e-mail communications, to or from Lebanon Public Libraries employees regarding the business of the library, are government records available to the public upon request. Therefore, this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure. *