New functions are available from Labtix 2. In recent years, Labtix has become the most used installation tool worldwide within the Labdoo project.
In keeping with this, Labdoo (Germany) has been providing "pre-assembled, ready-made" images for cloning on the FTP server in various languages and contents for years. And here success has created a bottleneck. Thousands of helpers are now downloading the freely available, free images from the FTP server. The infrastructure and bandwidth, kindly provided free of charge by the Polytechnica Barcelona data center, are being shared by more and more users and this leads to slow downloads.
We have therefore expanded our concept. 2.09 can now handle both "finished" images as before, but also the new BASIC images without content.
These "finished" images will soon be removed from the FTP server. You will then find BASIC images prepared in 4 languages.

The big advantage:
There are now only 4 small BASIC images each approx. 16 GB (DE, EN, ES, FR), which drastically reduces the upload and download volume. So far all images were around 500 GB...

How does it work?
There are now control files that tell Labtix what content to install where. This affects the Kiwix and browser-based archives, which were previously part of the "finished" images.
This means that content is not saved multiple times in images, but only once in the folder http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/wiki-archive/ (you also need the subfolders here locally from the FTP server or ask for them via USB disk from your national hub representative).
This additional feature has other advantages. For example, you can create your own control files and quickly exchange them with each other, e.g. a file for reinstalling special content. Using a control file, it is also possible to install additional learning content in additional languages, e.g. the FR content for the EN_250 package.
The name of the control file specifies: 1. Language at the front refers to the BASIC image, i.e. for EN_250.txt = selects the image EN_BASIC, 250 refers to the recommended disk size of 250 GB. So everything as before. EN_FR_320.txt does the same thing, but also adds the French content, then needs 320 GB. By the way, FR_EN_250 matches the FR_BASIC image and installs EN content to it. In one case the system language when starting up is French, in the other case it is English.

What's the catch?
You need at least Labtix 2.09 (or higher) http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/Labtix/ and the learning content http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/wiki-archive/ .
An installation may take slightly longer. But you save a lot of time when downloading the images. If you have to install a lot of devices, you can save a local image you created yourself. Everything you need is included in Labtix.

Where can we find what?
Control files http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/wiki-archive/control_files/
Content http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/wiki-archive/
Current Labtix version http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/Labtix/

Technical information:
Control files must be located locally on a data storage medium or server near the content folders with Kiwx, among others in the /content_files/ folder.
Only local content on USB drives or local servers is supported. Remote servers over the Internet are deliberately not usable.
The control files need a certain syntax. Please refer to the examples (blank lines between comments and content; #### before headings, ####2nd_lang, etc.).
If you want to use your own content, its archive name must match the name in the control file.
For content with a date in the name (e.g. for Kiwix) a wildcard (*) is possible. So you could always install Wikipedia with the control file, regardless of the version.
Content can be installed once during installation. Or later via installscript-content.sh in the scripts folder on the desktop.

We would be happy to hear your suggestions.

The Labdoo FTP server allows users to download files freely. Here are some simple methods on how you can connect to the FTP server. Choose the one that suits you best.

For security reasons, Labdoo does not allow unsecured FTP protocol, only secured SFTP protocol (no ftp, only sftp). And since fall 2023, rsync has no longer been offered for security reasons..

Note: Labdoo is not responsible for third-party software.

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1. Accessing the server through your browser

Open the URL http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/ in a browser and navigate via the links (Make sure the URL begins with “http://” and not “ftp://). Here you can download all files for free.
To download a file, click on a link with the right button of your mouse, then click "Save target as" (name can be different depending on your browser and opperating system).
This method's advantage is that you can access without a password, but on the other hand files can only be downloaded individually.

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2. Access data to connect to the FTP server

It is more convenient to connect your PC or server directly to the FTP server. Depending on your operating system there are several tools below. We created a user on the FTP server: labdoo with the password labdoo and read permissions (no write permissions), which is available to you for this purpose. If you need write permissions, please contact contact@Labdoo.org (EN) or Labdoo-DACH@Labdoo.org (DE).

Protocol = sftp (sftp is safer than ftp, so only sftp is available)
Server = sftp.labdoo.org
Username = labdoo
Password = labdoo
Path = /

sftp://labdoo:labdoo@sftp.labdoo.org

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3. Integrate into the file manager (Windows, Swish)

Windows does not offer its own way to connect the file manager to an FTP server via the sftp protocol. ftp would be possible, but we do not offer this for security reasons. However, you can use additional programs sftp, e.g. the Swish Add-on for the Windows file manager http://www.swish-sftp.org/(link is external) .

After installing Swish, you have to set up the access to the FTP-Server:

	Login to the FTP server: Name - choose a name of your choice; server: sftp.labdoo.org; user: labdoo; path: /
	Security key: Save and connect - key remains permanently on the PC until changed; Simply connect - key is only saved for this session and will be queried again next time
	Enter the password labdoo, now you can use the FTP server like a drive on your PC.

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4. Filezilla

It is easy to connect your computer to the FTP server with special tools if you need to download massive files. The free FTP client Filezilla can be downloaded here https://filezilla-project.org/.. Also available for Apple (macOS) https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?platform=osx.

The start path can be set in the settings under Advanced --> Default directory on the server. Then you don't always have to click through the whole file system.

Enter the access data: Server - sftp://sftp.labdoo.org ; Username labdoo ; Password - labdoo ; Port - 22

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5. Linux
If you are using GNU/Linux, you can easily integrate the FTP server using the sftp protocol (secure FTP). Simply enter the path for the FTP folder → sftp://labdoo:labdoo@ftp.labdoo.org:/ in your favorite file manager.

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6. lftp

lftp is a free FTP client for Linux and other OS.

Install lftp under Linux using sudo apt install lftp.

Then you can mirror the /install-disk folder using the appropriate one-liner with lftp:

lftp -c "open http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/ ;mirror --parallel=10 -n -e -O /path/to/install-disk"

The "-e" option ensures that files that no longer exist on the server are deleted from the local install disk. If this is not desired, simply leave out this option.

The entire command can be entered into the crontab using "sudo nano /etc/crontab" if regular mirroring is desired.

Read more https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lftp

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7.Connecting Apple (macOS and iOS) using Filezilla or iTransfer to an FTP server

For Apple and (macOS ans iOS) you can install and use the free tools Filezilla or iTransfer.

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8.install-disk-maker.sh (Tool recommended by Labdoo)

You can download the tool for conveniently creating an installation disk (install disk) or a folder on a computer, server or NAS for Linux here. A download can be "clicked together" and saved as a download list for later repetitions. The download can only be limited to changed files, which saves download time.
http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/Labtix/install-disk-maker.sh
(if necessary make it executable)
But it is also part of every BASIC image of Labdoo (on the desktop of the user labdoo in the scripts folder). This is how you can do it after installing it on Labdoo laptops

Note for technical helpers: The tool is based on wget. Downloaded files that no longer exist on the FTP server are not automatically deleted by install-disk-maker. Every now and then it's worth clearing up "file corpses".

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9. recommended folders or links

If you want you can mirror the whole FTP drive :) Maybe you should choose the content you really need? Here are some useful paths that might be of interest to you:

All data necessary for an installation: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/
English documents: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/documents/english/
Graphics + logos: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/documents/material/

If you have any questions send an e-mail to Labdoo Global Support team wall and a Labdooer will get back to you.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Install Disk Maker [in preparation]

Labdoo's install disk is used to distribute Labdoo images and educational content in order to install Labdoo systems. Despite the name Install Disk, images and educational content do not necessarily have to be on a hard drive. Local folders or shares on the local network can also be used. The installation is usually carried out using the installation scripts in the zzFM file manager in Labtix. After installation, additional educational content can be installed from Labdoo using the installscript_content.sh script in the “Scripts” folder on the Labdoo desktop.

https://youtu.be/zc_vigNEthg

In order for the Labdoo installers to work correctly, the following folder structure must be ensured:

For Images:
/install-disk/DE_German_images/22.04_LTS_EN_Basic
/install-disk/EN_Englisch_images/22.04_LTS_DE_Basic etc.

For Kiwix-Dateien:
/install-disk/wiki-archive/kiwix/wikis/DE/Lerninhalt.zim
/install-disk/wiki-archive/kiwix/wikis/EN/Learning_content etc.

For Offline-Wikis:
/install-disk/wiki-archive/wikis/DE/beispiel.tar.gz
/install-disk/wiki-archive/wikis/EN/example.tar.gz etc.

For control files ( content_lists ) :
/install-disk/wiki-archive/content_list/DE_120.txt
/install-disk/wiki-archive/content_list/EN_FR_80.txt etc.

The Content_Lists play a special role (see below). They serve as control files and contain the information about which additional content (wikis and Kiwix files) will be installed during the installation with the installer scripts in Labtix or after the installation with installscript_content.sh in Labdoo. Many Content_Lists already exist on the server. The name contains the minimum size of the hard drives on the devices to be installed. With every download, the contents of the content_lists folder are updated!

It is still possible to use Clonezilla in Labtix to create your own Labdoo images with a lot of content and save them anywhere and clone them using the Labdoo installer in zzFM or with Clonezilla in Labtix.

The Install Disk Maker tool is used to easily create an install disk or a corresponding folder using selection menus. Images and content can be saved specifically in a correct folder structure.

The advantage is that the entire install disk no longer has to be downloaded from the Labdoo servers, thereby significantly reducing download times and server utilization. In addition, individual compilations can be created more easily, e.g. if Labdoo installations with bilingual content are required. Simply download the relevant content to the install disk, create a corresponding Content_List (see below) and you have created the possibility for an individual Labdoo installation.

The install disk maker downloads the desired files from the Labdoo server (http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/). A password is not necessary for this.

Of course the computer must be connected to the Internet!!!

The possibilities of the install disk maker:

• Reformat an empty hard drive and set it up as an install disk with content,
• set up a folder, hard drive or local share as an install disk with content,
• update an existing install disk or an existing install disk folder. The tool searches for existing files on the disk or in the folder and updates them if newer versions are available.
• update an existing install disk (or install disk folder) using an existing download list or repeat a download using a download list if there is an interruption. A download list is created with each complete run of the tool and stored in the target directory with a time stamp. The download list is a pure text file with a list of the ftp addresses used. It can therefore also be edited manually.

In general, if folders/files already exist in the target folder, only newer versions or versions with a different size will be downloaded. This also helps enormously to reduce download times and relieve the load on the FTP server.

The install-disk-maker

The Install Disk Maker is a shell script with Yad as the frontend for the dialogs. It should run on all Debian-based systems. The dependencies are yad, wget and sed. If not available, these should be installed later if necessary. Simply copy the script to your computer, make it executable, double-click it and run it in the terminal when asked. The script is already integrated into Labtix and Labdoo. It is only available with English user guidance.

Starting the script:

In Labtix: Double-click on the corresponding icon on the desktop (from Labtix 2.10)
In Labdoo: /Desktop/Scripts/install-disk-maker.sh , logged in as user labdoo

After a short README, a selection list appears in which the further procedure is determined.

There are four options to choose from:

1 format and use an unmounted hard disk as target
2 choose or create and use a folder as target
3 update an existing install-disk(-folder)
4 update an install-disk(-folder) with an existing Downloadlist

Depending on your selection, you will be guided to your destination via self-explanatory dialogues. Only option 1 requires you to enter the sudo password in the terminal once under Labdoo.

Selection of the drive for the install disk. Often sda is your own system disk and sdb is the external drive; like in the screenshot. However, this can change depending on the configuration.
Entering the administrator password (sudo)
Should a download list from a previous download be used. Or should a new list be “clicked together” individually for download.
Mark the images to download by language
Selection of images to load in the language folder
Selection of wiki languages for browser-based content
Selection of wiki languages for Kiwix
Display of the selected content for confirmation
Display of the download and progress in the terminal
Display of the download and the download list

After closing the final “READY” dialog, the existing files and folders in the target folder or disk are displayed in the terminal. This is used to check the contents of the target folder or disk.

Pressing “Enter” in the terminal ends the script and the working folder is cleaned up.
While the script is running, it is possible to mount or unmount disks or shares using a file manager. It is not necessary to end the script.

If an external disk has been formatted, it must be removed from the device once after the script has ended and then reconnected in order to make it available to the system.

While the script is running, some auxiliary files are created in the working folder (or on the desktop in Labtix) which are deleted during the run. Some dialog windows allow you to abort the script and then delete these files. If the script hangs, for example because the connection to the server is interrupted, you can end it by closing the terminal in which the script is running. Some auxiliary files may be retained. To delete these, call the script again and end the "README" dialog with "Cancel". The work folder is cleaned up.

In rare cases, auxiliary files of the stream editor used sed with the name sed* appear in the working folder. These files cannot be edited, but disappear as soon as you close and reopen the file manager or restart the desktop in Labtix.

If you want to repeat the project, we recommend copying the resulting download list to a suitable location so that it is available at any time and/or can be passed on.

Building a control file (content_list)

The control files are pure text files that can be edited with any editor. Text processing is unsuitable for this!!!

Example EN_BS_80.txt (shortened):

=======================================================================

# Control file for automated post-installation of content, requires Labtix 2.09 or higher
# Control file for automated post-installation of content, requires Labtix 2.09 or higher

####lang_1
EN

# _80 = min. needed disk-size, 80 GB

####wikis_1
en-afristory.tar.gz
en-algebra2go.tar.gz

####kiwix_1
askubuntu.com_en_all_*.zim
ifixit_en_all_*.zim
wikibooks_en_all_maxi_*.zim

# Create new Firefox Tab for users labdoo and student to path labdoo/home/Public/wikis/EN (html file already exists in all Labdoo images)

####homepages_1
file:///home/labdoo/Public/wikis/EN/index-tutorials-en.html|file:///home/labdoo/Public/manuals/index-manuals.html|https://start.ubuntu-mate.org/|file:///home/labdoo/Public/wikis/EN/index-en.html

####lang_2
BS

# adds Bosnian content to an installation

# path /Public/kiwix/wikis

####wikis_2

####kiwix_2
phet_bs_*.zim
wikibooks_bs_all_maxi_*.zim

####homepages_2
file:///home/labdoo/Public/wikis/EN/index-tutorials-en.html|file:///home/labdoo/Public/manuals/index-manuals.html|https://start.ubuntu-mate.org/|file:///home/labdoo/Public/wikis/EN/index-en.html
======================================================================

It is important to adhere to the syntax of the tags (e.g. ####kiwix_2) so that the install scripts can evaluate the control file correctly. If you want to create your own control files, you will find many existing examples in the /install-disk/wiki-archive/content_list folder. These can be adapted to your own projects.