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Home > Archive > alt.os.linux > August 2002 > internet kiosk
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| Bruce Roberts 2002-08-27, 4:29 pm |
| I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser use
only.
Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
about
this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
Bruce
| |
| David Mills 2002-08-27, 4:29 pm |
| On Tue, 27 Aug 2002 22:04:30 +0100, Bruce Roberts wrote:
> I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser
> use only.
> Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
> about
> this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
>
> Bruce
Well what I did when I had the same problem, was just install the web
brouser, and nothing else on a base system, and chown the home
directory to root, like that the users can open the browser,
but can't cause any havoc...
Hope this helps
David
| |
|
| In order to obtain enlightenment,
r's koan is internet kiosk
> I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser use
> only.
> Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
> about
> this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
For a start, install nothing but BlackBox and $BROWSER. Set $BROWSER to
open on login. Set autologin up so account starts on boot. Remove power
and reset buttons. Wrap the case in a steel security case. Set $BROWSER
to reopen on close, or disable all methods of closing. Trap the
ctrl-alt-del sequence to open a windows saying "dont do that!". Set
homepage to something nice (like www.websterscafe.com  , and disable
changes to homepage. I'm not sure home to cripple OSS Browsers, I've
only ever had to do it with IE, which comes pre-crippled in some ways
anyhow.
Good luck!
> Bruce
>
>
--
Brought to you by your Friendly Neighborhod Linux User.
| |
| Dave Leigh 2002-08-27, 5:29 pm |
| jason wrote:
> In order to obtain enlightenment,
> r's koan is internet kiosk
>> I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser use
>> only.
>> Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
>> about
>> this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
>
> For a start, install nothing but BlackBox and $BROWSER. Set $BROWSER to
> open on login. Set autologin up so account starts on boot. Remove power
> and reset buttons. Wrap the case in a steel security case. Set $BROWSER
> to reopen on close, or disable all methods of closing. Trap the
> ctrl-alt-del sequence to open a windows saying "dont do that!". Set
> homepage to something nice (like www.websterscafe.com , and disable
> changes to homepage. I'm not sure home to cripple OSS Browsers, I've
> only ever had to do it with IE, which comes pre-crippled in some ways
> anyhow.
Do all of the above. Trap the F11 key.
For the Browser, use Opera in fullscreen mode. (there's no -kioskmode
switch in the Linux version yet)
$ opera -fullscreen
But it doesn't look like you exactly want what I'd call a kiosk... it looks
like you're wanting to set up something to use in an internet cafe. A kiosk
isn't used for general web browsing... it would have some web application
you've designed and where you provide all navigation (fullscreen mode won't
have the toolbars).
If you want the toolbars, etc. (as in a "guest browser" in an internet
cafe), don't use a window manager. When starting the application set the
geometry so it starts full screen. Change permissions on the opera.ini file
and bookmarks so that they're read-only (better test that one: if it
doesn't work then save them over and have your login script blow them away
and copy in a saved copy.)
If you need to reset anything, just press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace. If you need
to administer the box, use ssh.
--
Dave Leigh, Consulting Systems Analyst
Cratchit.org
| |
| Brian Schwarz 2002-08-27, 5:29 pm |
| You might consider creating a customized boot CD along the lines of Knoppix
or the Linux Bootable Business Card (www.lnx-bbc.org)- that way you could
just reboot to reset everything to normal. www.lnx-bbc.org has lots of
information on customizing your CD.
--
____________________________
The opinions expressed here are my
own, and do not reflect those of my
employers - past, present, or future.
____________________________
"David Mills" <_nospam_dmills@caramail.com> wrote in message
news an.2002.08.27.23.16.53.99052.2175@caramail.com...
> On Tue, 27 Aug 2002 22:04:30 +0100, Bruce Roberts wrote:
>
> > I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser
> > use only.
> > Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
> > about
> > this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
> >
> > Bruce
> Well what I did when I had the same problem, was just install the web
> brouser, and nothing else on a base system, and chown the home
> directory to root, like that the users can open the browser,
> but can't cause any havoc...
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
> David
>
| |
| Dave Leigh 2002-08-27, 6:28 pm |
| jason wrote:
> In order to obtain enlightenment,
> r's koan is internet kiosk
>> I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser use
>> only.
>> Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
>> about
>> this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
>
> For a start, install nothing but BlackBox and $BROWSER. Set $BROWSER to
> open on login. Set autologin up so account starts on boot. Remove power
> and reset buttons. Wrap the case in a steel security case. Set $BROWSER
> to reopen on close, or disable all methods of closing. Trap the
> ctrl-alt-del sequence to open a windows saying "dont do that!". Set
> homepage to something nice (like www.websterscafe.com , and disable
> changes to homepage. I'm not sure home to cripple OSS Browsers, I've
> only ever had to do it with IE, which comes pre-crippled in some ways
> anyhow.
Do all of the above. Trap the F11 key.
For the Browser, use Opera in fullscreen mode. (there's no -kioskmode
switch in the Linux version yet)
$ opera -fullscreen
But it doesn't look like you exactly want what I'd call a kiosk... it looks
like you're wanting to set up something to use in an internet cafe. A kiosk
isn't used for general web browsing... it would have some web application
you've designed and where you provide all navigation (fullscreen mode won't
have the toolbars).
If you want the toolbars, etc. (as in a "guest browser" in an internet
cafe), don't use a window manager. When starting the application set the
geometry so it starts full screen. Change permissions on the opera.ini file
and bookmarks so that they're read-only (better test that one: if it
doesn't work then save them over and have your login script blow them away
and copy in a saved copy.)
If you need to reset anything, just press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace. If you need
to administer the box, use ssh.
--
Dave Leigh, Consulting Systems Analyst
Cratchit.org
| |
| Brian Schwarz 2002-08-27, 6:28 pm |
| You might consider creating a customized boot CD along the lines of Knoppix
or the Linux Bootable Business Card (www.lnx-bbc.org)- that way you could
just reboot to reset everything to normal. www.lnx-bbc.org has lots of
information on customizing your CD.
--
____________________________
The opinions expressed here are my
own, and do not reflect those of my
employers - past, present, or future.
____________________________
"David Mills" <_nospam_dmills@caramail.com> wrote in message
newsan.2002.08.27.23.16.53.99052.2175@caramail.com...
> On Tue, 27 Aug 2002 22:04:30 +0100, Bruce Roberts wrote:
>
> > I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser
> > use only.
> > Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
> > about
> > this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
> >
> > Bruce
> Well what I did when I had the same problem, was just install the web
> brouser, and nothing else on a base system, and chown the home
> directory to root, like that the users can open the browser,
> but can't cause any havoc...
>
> Hope this helps
>
>
> David
>
| |
| don_pettengill@spamgilent.com 2002-08-27, 7:29 pm |
| Perhaps http://www.ltsp.org is one way to go. There is an example there
of a library using that for web terminals.
Bruce Roberts <broberts@ail.org> wrote:
: I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser use
: only.
: Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
: about
: this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
: Bruce
Don Pettengill
Agilent Laboratories
| |
| don_pettengill@spamgilent.com 2002-08-27, 8:42 pm |
| Perhaps http://www.ltsp.org is one way to go. There is an example there
of a library using that for web terminals.
Bruce Roberts <broberts@ail.org> wrote:
: I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web browser use
: only.
: Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how to go
: about
: this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
: Bruce
Don Pettengill
Agilent Laboratories
| |
| Michael Heiming 2002-08-27, 8:42 pm |
| Bruce Roberts (<yPRa9.117$Ab2.711456810@news.onr.com> ):
> I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web
> browser use only.
> Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how
> to go about
> this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
There's a kiosk howto, right over at linuxdoc.org.
Michael Heiming>
--
Remove the +SIGNS case mail bounces.
| |
| Michael Heiming 2002-08-27, 9:29 pm |
| Bruce Roberts (<yPRa9.117$Ab2.711456810@news.onr.com> ):
> I want to set up two linux boxes as "public" machines for web
> browser use only.
> Ideally only the web browser would be open. Does anyone know how
> to go about
> this? Any desktop will do. Thanks.
There's a kiosk howto, right over at linuxdoc.org.
Michael Heiming>
--
Remove the +SIGNS case mail bounces.
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