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Hi, im trying to make a public pc that can only be used for Surfing, openoffice tools, also no access to primary hardrive, only to removable-storage.
What distro/software should i use to make this possible with as little effort as possible. The system has to very restricted so that people cannot change settings or gain control.
If your plan is to only allow internet browsing and open office I'd suggest going with a less bloated distribution like Slackware and doing a minimal install, then installing KDE (as mentioned by reddazz) and necessary tools.
PCLinuxOS Mini-Me version, then add the programs you need for your kiosks. Also any language-related stuff if you are not in USA. You can then create a live CD I agree is has to be KDE, easier to lock down.
Whilst mentioning PCLOS (or other LiveCD distros) you could use Mini-Me, adding programs then a remaster to make a LiveCD which can be run from RAM (super fast) in a diskless machine (will need loads of RAM) which is obviously the ultimate in security, as switching the computer off, then rebooting will clear anything that anyone has done, it will always reboot from your "perfectly set up" LiveCD. Stuff like Printer, NTP, Firewall will stay set up from the live image you make, Network connections, Scanners and many other peripherals will be automatically detected on bootup.
you can try one called KioskCD. I didn't think much of it as you can't confgure anything at all. Didn't recognise the keyboard and Mouse. witho9ut those on a computer your screwed.... But I use a wireless Keyboard mouse set if you use PS2 plugged directly into the machine then you should be fine
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