Hello,
I would like to allow users to type command in a GNU/Linux online shell. The shell should be connected to a KVM virtual machine running a GNU/Linux system. I know this sounds quite hard to achieve, but :
* Do you know if any Moodle plugin allows to type commands.
* Are you aware of a Moodle site allowing to type command.
Kind regards,
Frédéric Moreau
Not a developer ... and like Visvanath ... not aware of other such plugins ... cept the ones already mentioned.
However, maybe something to think about ...
As Visvanath pointed out, VirtualBox/VMWare on local machine means teacher cannot access to help IF student messes up big time but there is yet another option ... factors depending ...
In Amazon and Google, there are prebuilt OS instances ... some even include a certain web based app like a Moodle. Can't find the article now, but a gentleman did share how he did Google instances ... which all had a 30 trial ... teacher shared the instance ... students could 'install' under their own accounts.
30 days in the free tier ... after which, the individual student and the option to pay X amount per month.
30 days isn't much time for a class.
Amazon surely has something similar.
Would think, however, the Google route would be better just because the student account would have access to Google Docs and Google Drive ... which would be very compatible with a Moodle instance using Google's Oauth2 authentication - and Google Drive.
2 cent opinion ...
'spirit of sharing', Ken
Thank you for the answer and the modules for programming assignments.
@Ken Task
Linux includes its own virtual machine system called "KVM". So you can create an unlimited number of virtual machines without paying Google or Amazon. You only need IPv6 and a dedicated server with enough RAM and CPU.
Yes, I am really looking for a Unix shell inside Moodle. I was thinking of KVM as backend for vitual machines. I am runing dedicated servers.
Recently I saw an example on Internet of a tutorial with interactive shell included. You could configure your Linux server and restart it. I will get back with a precise link, so we can study it.
Scaleway (a French provider of virtual machines) allows to administer the virtual machines using a shell inside the browser. You can reboot your server in rescue mode and access the shell inside your browser. Another example is the Unix shell of IPMI managers in Supermicro servers. DELL servers should have the same features. So it is possible to have a shell inside a browser.
Hmmmm ... 'server with enough RAM ..." ... with remotely hosted no investment in hardware at all.
Still ... you might investigate:
And I think if student wanted to pursue more than what was offered in your class they could take over accounts and thus not be bound by any curriculum sequence.
And, on linux, there is software student could use to make a text based screen movie ... that can be shared.
Anyhoo
'spirit of sharing', Ken
@Visvanath
Ok, now you've peaked my curiosity ... these other 'loose' solutions ... mind sharing info about them? (without giving away the store, of course). Could handle links to info.
For years, in a former life of IT/Admin for schools using Moodles, I had searched for but never found anything that could be used (safely) for students interested in server admin or just linux CLI.
Thanks in advance for any info.
'spirit of sharing', Ken
Thanks. Those kinda sound like some of my mis-steps ... but didn't have a Ras's or other ... just a single CentOS boxen. :|
Still though, given the social media's emphasis on Cloud and the fact that's where all this stuff is leading ... at least media would have one think so ... a Google Compute Engine instance initially setup by prof/teacher would give students 'cloud' experiences.
When I first dove into that environment, can recall setting up 2 - one on CentOS and the other Ubuntu ... got busy with other things after initial launch of the Ubuntu and didn't do the first thing an admin should do ... apt-get upgrade, etc. to get the latest fixes/patches. 2 days later, a message from Google saying that server had been involved in network activity and if I didn't fix it in 2 days time, it would be removed. (help desk turn around time was 5 biz days so couldn't get more info on it). Dropped it instead.
But it was nice to know that Google was paying attention! Have seen some remotely hosted VPS systems that provider had not clue ... uhhhh ... not good!
Anyhoo ... back to more 'fun' in Moodledom!
'spirit of sharing', Ken
And with all due respect to your contributions as well ...
"herding your students to the kraken, that is a breach of trust!" and then say ...
"I am not too keen on a tedious discussion"
Now how is one to not take that seriously ... and respond ... regardless of thread!
Much depends upon one's environment ... and I mean country, + State in my case (Tx).
When Google for Edu and Google Classroom came out, there was a mass exodus from Moodle - especially for Elemenary and most Jr. High teachers. High Schools seem to stay ... but are struggling with many things one can do with Google Suite rather easily ... but not inside a Moodle.
Besides that, many ISD's have opted to go with ChromeBooks in addition to iPad's.
Wouldn't call either of those 'open'. Are ISD's leading their students to 'other krakens'?
Besides that ... for years, schools have 'herded' students to another 'kraken' ... that of Microsoft. And here's a kicker ... in Texas we have a State Board of Education which does decide directions public schools take ... one member is a lobbyist in State Legislature for Microsoft!
There is a state wide organization promoting the use of Technology in schools called TCEA ... every year they organize a 'visit' to the Legislature to 'talk tech' with those that make laws affecting all schools. In prep for that TCEA sends out a "TCEA Recommendations" list to members.
Sweeping ...
"Replace the outdated time-based system (Carnegie unit) of awarding credits and funding with one that is based on a student’s competency."
and here's one where a Moodle could fit ...
"Allow school districts to create their own full-time or part-time TxVSN school, if only within their own district boundaries."
I used to work (retired from) an Education Service Center in South Texas ... had many small school districts that were rural and whose total technology budget annually was $2500.00. Even with special M$ licensing for schools once one applies that to the budget ... doesn't leave much to work with. But, Linux servers for many things fits - and that's what I did ... provided a 'free solution' for cash strapped schools - which included Moodles.
Now that's in schools ... I have also supported (for years) a corp and their multiple Moodles. No thought of Google there.
Besides ... the youth are more technically aware than in the past ... and they will become and are becoming tech consumers in their own right. Heck, there's change afloat right now with a generation coming to positions of decision making. Funny, I'd venture a guess that many of those folks ... use iPhones!
So IMHO, historically, schools have been herding students to krakens for years!
My suggestion for students to get hands on in a Google hosted Linux server which is capable of 'cloud' isn't saying this is the only way to do it and could give them insight into the yin/yang of it.
Ok, nuff said.
'spirit of sharing', Ken
@Ken @Visvanath,
Too often technology common sense is overwhelmed by slick marketing and "brave new world of the future". The stated intention of the Dark Side is to treat technology the same as a utility. We used to create our own energy in our own hovels, which, OK, is not a great solution, but it was reliable, as long as we didn't burn the house down. Along comes gas lighting and stoves, a huge improvement, as long as we remembered to turn the gas off at night and not kill ourselves by suffocation or burn the house down. Then electricity changes it all, and we are now saddled with a never ending annual, quarterly, monthly or weekly payment.
This is what is now happening with technology, we are being bamboozled by "inevitable" changes making it "cheaper" or "more cost effective" and all the time, we are moving away from self sufficiency, just as we did going from wood to electricity. There will be a huge cost, the only thing that is really "inevitable", somewhere along the line, I expect, but I have no idea what that cost may be.
BTW, we had a blackout here a little while ago, 1.4million people went without power for 4-16 hours. You should have been able to hear the cry around the world. They laughed at us in Perth and Sydney, but they are not laughing as more and more people are now connecting to solar panels, returning a little self sufficiency to the individual. I wonder how that will happen with technology when it does all go wrong?
