--- Forwarded Message from Bob Majors <[log in to unmask]> ---

>User-Agent: Microsoft-Entourage/10.1.0.2006
>Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2002 13:28:51 -0700
>Subject: Re: #6773 Language Lab
>From: Bob Majors <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information    Forum   <[log in to unmask]>
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
> --- Forwarded Message from Aleta Anderson <[log in to unmask]> ---
>> Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 12:02:00 -0700
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> From: Aleta Anderson <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Language Lab
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas about daily (or weekly) restoring hard drives in
> a lab? We are hesitant to try RevRDist, as it may not work with both
> Macintosh OS 9 and OS X on the machine. The graphics program (with whom we
> share the lab) will be using OS X, but the language programs do not work in
> OS X, even in the Classic mode.
> 
> It would be very convenient to be able to run a program that would restore
> the language part of the disk, removing all applications and files that
> have been added by individuals over the week. Please let us know your
> thoughts and experience.

I'm not sure about a dual-partition OS setup, but in general, some tools to
look at might be:

For software updating:

http://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/

If you have fewer machines, more student help than IT/IS help, and restoring
from CD makes sense:

http://developer.apple.com/testing/docs/TNasr.html

If you have a fast network (100baseT switched or Gb), you could consider
NetBooting, which would give you a pristine image every time a machine
boots:

http://www.apple.com/server/netboot.html

For OS X 10.2 (but not OS 9), there may be some new tools that might make
lab use easier.  Even with 10.1.x, it is theoretically possible to point
clients to a Parent NetInfo database (on an OS X server), employ a read-only
home directory (stored on the server), and have that home dir automatically
mounted and set as the active desktop/environment on login.  I was able to
get this to work in 10.1.x, but it's a long story.  In 10.2 I think this
will work better.

Bob Majors
Language Learning Center
University of Washington