Yes, I built demo and production VMs for Koha using VMware and the stripped down debian "business card" ISO. It was straight-forward once you get the networking done correctly (a common VM setup issue). VMs are the best way I know to bundle every last thing needed to run into one image, without requiring the end user to actually image their system. As for James Leech's problem, he would also have to carry the various versions of VMware player that might be needed to install for different OS's encountered in the field. That should still fit in under 4 GB though, or on a separate stick/DVD. I would recommend installing a linux desktop and firefox also, if ongoing administration is going to be an issue, but that can add GBs pretty quickly. With 4GB sticks around USD $7 now, you might as well.. --Joe On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 4:17 PM, <Fred.King@medstar.net> wrote:
This sounds like a job for Koha VMWare! [cue dramatic music, but where did they put the phone booth?] The uncompressed VMWare image of Koha 3.0 won't fit on a 2GB stick/card, but it fits on a 4GB one with room to spare. And the VMWare player can be downloaded for free.
I haven't tried running a full-fledged production Koha system from a VMWare image myself (I'm learning Koha in my spare time, which has been in short supply the past few months), but I don't think it would present too many difficulties. Has anyone else here tried it?
Fred King Medical Librarian, Washington Hospital Center fred.king@medstar.net 202-877-6221
koha-bounces@lists.katipo.co.nz wrote on 01/14/2009 03:27:41 AM:
Krishnan,
This is a great start. The intention for this concept is to provide remote knowledge centre's with a simple way to use their computer to monitor their books, CD's and DVD's , in places without tech support or reliable computers. These remote communities don't get support or funding to purchase a library management system and so I am wondering if it would be very difficult to make a USB stick library management system. A copy could be made – one for the administrator as the master and one for the public to use for browsing. Any changes can be made on the 'admin stick', duplicating this at any time would update the publicdatabase.
It would be best if it could be run from within a Windows environment without having to boot from the stick. This way, any computer that is working (desktop PC or a laptop) could be used to host the USB stick and software. Most of these remote libraries would have less than 1000 items total. Some have Internet – some don't. I have started a blog with a map showing where they all are : http://ikcnetwork.blogspot.com/
I might try and create mu own kitchen sink!
Cheerio,
James
James Leech Project officer - Keeping Culture Strong State Library of Queensland - Cairns Reef Terminal Building Level 1, 1 Spence Street, Cairns Qld 4870 P.O. Box 2352, Cairns, 4870 mob: 0407 674 378 wk:(07) 4031 3232 hm: (07) 4095 2724 fax: (07) 4031 1234