By leveraging a number of Linux-based OpenText solutions, Lowell Area Schools has built a highly stable, proactive IT infrastructure to support the ever-changing learning needs of its students and staff

As the school system faced a major network upgrade, LAS was intent on selecting a platform that would serve its needs for the long term. “When you’re using taxpayer money, you have to look at all the alternatives to make sure you’re making a prudent decision and investing their money wisely,” said Eric Stanek, network administrator for Lowell Area Schools.

Like many public schools, LAS needed a flexible and reliable enterprise-level platform amidst a limited budget and labor force. “We need a platform that requires minimal attention from IT staff,” said Stanek. “In return, we can focus more attention on delivering the right technology to our students and teachers.”

The school system now runs a plethora of applications, including GroupWise, GWAVA, eDirectory and open source solutions like FreeRADIUS, Squid and SquidGuard on a six-node cluster of OpenText Open Enterprise Server and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The school leverages Xen to run several Windows-based applications as virtual guests on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server-based machines. The school uses the OpenText iPrint capabilities in Open Enterprise Server to improve the accessibility of printers across the school system.

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