Again, more useful information.

We actually would like to have a server. The hope is to eventually get the system to the point where we can instruct all computers to shut down from one location, tell all the computers to update, so as to avoid going around to each computer to do things, which is presently the big problem we're having.

To clarify in my mind how the home directory would work, upon login, the script would copy a known good home folder I've setup to a ramdisk, have the user run off the ramdisk, and then no changes will survive a logout.

Another question I have is if there is a way to force certain settings that can't be changed, such as forcing a proxy server on machines without letting users remove it.

Thank you once again, all this info is very useful!

Cody

This link covers your last question. Also search this site for "Squid" and "DansGuardian". The gist of the article is using squid to control access to the web. The DansGuardian will block websites in a blacklist.

http://www.cecea.org/jojo/cleanweb/
A proxy works effectively since there isn't another way set up to access the internet. A computer would need a default gateway entered to access the internet. If such a gateway doesn't exist, they need to go through the proxy.

I haven't read this whole thread, so forgive me if this isn't relevant.

Bill Ott of the Grand Rapids (MICH) Public Library uses open source extensively at the library and made an interesting presentation on Internet Station Manager to KLUG (Kalamazoo Linux Users Group) last year.