Open Source School

This page, when finished, will contain a complete list of all the tools you could use to have a fully-functioning open source and/or free-software school that rivals, if not exceeds a commercially-based technical infrastructure. There are many different options available, and I will eventually — i.e. whenever I get around to it — write posts describing what the benefits and disadvantages are of each tool, and instructions on how to set them up. The practicality of some of these tools may depend on your school or school district’s infrastructure, policies, etc.
Things to Consider

• Budget
• State Requirements
• Available Tech Support

Server Setup

• Choosing a Linux distribution
• Deploying Thin Clients with Edubuntu Linux and LTSP
• Absolutely Need Windows Applications? Save Your Budget from Oblivion with Terminal Services
• Run Windows applications on Linux with PlayOnLinux.
• Firewalling with Endian and IPCop
• Turn a cheap router into a robust firewall with DD-WRT, OpenWRT, and/or Tomato
• Web Filtering with DansGuardian and Squidguard
• Allow Employee Access from Home with OpenVPN
• Ghosting and Imaging Solutions
• Backing up with OpenFiler, Amanda, FreeFileSync, and DriveImageXML
• Virtualizing with VirtualBox and Proxmox

Data Management

• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• Data warehousing with openIntel

Network and Classroom Monitoring

• Zenoss, OpenPanel, WebMin and VirtualMin
• Nagios, Zabbix
• Monitoring Computer Activity with iTALC or FL_TeacherTool

Phone System

• Your Own Free PBX with Asterisk or FreeSwitch

User and Group Management

• Using Samba as a Windows domain controller
• Creating a Working User Management System with OpenLDAP
• Browsing the Directory Tree with Directory Administrator and GOsa

Email

• Choosing an Email Server (Zimbra, Zarafa, Google Apps Education Edition, MS Office 365 for Education)
• SOGO for Groupware
• Thunderbird, Lightning, and Sunbird
• SpamAssassin and DSPAM as Spam Filters
• Email Archiving with MailArchiva

Student Information Systems

• Focus/SIS
• Centre SIS
• OpenSIS
• ClaSS
• Novachi LMS/SIS
• Fedena (also includes a gradebook and HR apps)

Employee and Office Applications

• Word Processing with OpenOffice.org
• Create Collaborative Workspaces with O3Spaces, a SharePoint Alternative
• Why Bother with Installed Software? Use Google Apps for Education
• Managing the Books with GNUCash or kMyMoney
• Need Something Scanned? Use Skanlite
• Photo Editing with The GIMP or GimpShop
• Editing Videos with PiTiVi
• Managing Your School Library with KOHA, VuFind, OpenBiblio, and/or Emilda
• Adding a Point-of-Sale Cafeteria with PSCafePOS
• Manage Your Inventory with SpiceWorks
• TimeTrex as a Payroll Solution
• Virtual Meetings with BigBlueButton or WebHuddle
• Kuali
  
• Gradebook Software, or How to Create Your Own Gradebook Application in a Few Easy Steps
• Instant Message Other Employees with OpenFire and Spark
• Remote Desktop Sharing with PCHelpware and/or Redfire

Student Applications

• Getting the Most Out of Edubuntu
• Personal Portfolios with Mahara
• Word Processing with OpenOffice.org or OOo4Kids

Web Sites and Social Networking Tools

• Setting up Your School’s Web Site with a CMS (Joomla, Drupal, CMS Made Simple, etc.)
• Installing an Employee Portal and Leave Reporter with Orange HRM, Waypoint HR, or SimpleHRM
• How to Choose the Right CRM
• Selecting a Ticket Tracker
• Live Help Desk Support with Olark, LiveZilla, Help Center Live or Liberum
• Bug Reporting
• Paying School Fees Online – Integrate Paypal with your systems.
• Take Your Courses Online with a Learning Management System (Moodle, Dokeos, etc.)
• WordPress Multisite or MovableType for Staff Blogs