The small story of LTSP in NCIT.

Our final exams were going on and there was a notice from FOSS Nepal, they were to start a training on LTSP. I checked the date and found out that it was a 2 days training and was to start just after my exams. But everyone was not so lucky as me, Nitesh and Shiva had their exam on the same day.

We three decided to take part in the training and registered for it, it cost us Rs. 500 but the meal was also included. I was happy that it was finally time for the thing I was always interested in. On the day of training I got up early(which I usually don't) and headed for the venue. I was so excited and there was this feeling like I will know something new today.

I met Nitesh and Shiva at Shantinagar and they looked worried because they had their exams on the same day, Shiva was reading notes and kept saying, " I haven't read anything yaar". We got on Nepal Yatayat and headed for Naxal, though we knew where we were going, none of us knew the exact location of the venue(Brihaspati Vidyasadan). The training started and everyone was busy introducing himself/herself.

My two partners were gone at around 12pm for their exams and the funny thing is that they didn't get to have the 'masu bhat' though they paid for it. The training continued till 5pm and at the end of the day I had made many friends with little knowledge about LTSP.

Training continued the next day too, and when it was over we took photographs and made a commitment that we will implement whatever we had learn in the two days.

Now we knew about the pros and cons of LTSP and wanted to implement the system in our college. We had to convince the administration before we could do anything. But there was no progress for days and more days passed because we couldn't get the Boot ROMs we needed. We even thought of getting those ROMs from India and China, but it didn't seemed possible. After all this frustrating times, we decided to forget about the ROMs and testing the LTSP with inbuilt boot ROMs in newer computers. We first successfully tested and demonstrated LTSP in the then CISCO lab. Our principal and all the other teacheres were also happy to see that old computers could get new life with this system.

The demonstration was over, but the real testing was still to be done. So we switched to a bit older computers and successfully tested on around 12 computers with 1 normal computer as server.

Finally our dream was taking shape, things were getting favourable for us to deploy LTSP in library's net lab.

With the necessary hardware finally with us, we started the process of installing LTSP in library. After a long day of work everything was coming together and we were proud of ourselves. Our college became the first college in Nepal to practically implement LTSP(to my knowledge). But the real trouble started after all was installed and everything was going well. I don't know why they did that but some students knowingly or unknowingly were against this whole idea of having old computers in the library, I am sure they would also have supported us if they knew what LTSP really is.

Everything was going well (with some exceptions), our final exams started. We all know how it goes in Pokhara University. There was a long gap and we couldn't provide the support, which was the most for that lab. Then unfortunately, the college administration decided not to continue LTSP in the NCIT net lab and they did it without even having a word with us. Though that was not a good news to hear but I was happy that at least we tested a system which has a lot of potential in poor countries like Nepal.

And that my dear friends, was the story of LTSP in NCIT.

NOSK orientation, 2 Jan 2010

I remember the day when I first heard about Open Source Softwares. There were some guys from FOSS, they came to our college and gave a long presentation on FOSS and FOSS Nepal.
And today I was the one giving the long presentation :)
It felt really nice to have the juniors in our community, though there were few of them. For me the size or number really doesn't matter, what matters is the passion and interest. I am glad that those who were there had interest in what the community was telling to them.
When they were sitting there and also may be listening whatever we were telling them, I realized there in front of us were the pillars of our community, they were the ones who would continue our community, and I felt proud, proud of being a NOSKian......