[Ilugc] scopes of using thin client
- From: knura@xxxxxxxxx (Arun Khan)
- Date: Fri Mar 20 01:02:14 2009
Hi Senthil,
Great initiative on your part. Wish you success in the project.
You can take two approaches, both will require a "desktop" installation
to act as a server for the thin clients.
See my response below.
On Friday 20 Mar 2009, senthilraja P wrote:
i have 4 older system (200 to 500 mhz) with me, and would like to use
that as thin client for the computer center that i propose to set in
my village. I am planning to use Ubuntu Server for this.
There is no need to install Ubuntu Server, instead you need a "central
desktop server". Install Ubuntu desktop with all the possible
applications that you think will be useful. This will act as
the "desktop server" for your thin clients.
I am doing
this in my village, to set it as a small village information center
(with internet), and also as a center for teaching basics of open
source to the school students. (few college going students are also
there).
Fantastic.
Since i dont have experience in setting up think client, i would like
to know, if we can run GUI applications in the thin client, or
whether we can use only command line interface. Is it possible to
run Mozilla browser? If so,can we install Ubuntu Desktop in those
thin clients?
There is no need for a Ubuntu desktop on the thin client - the desktop
on the thin client is a remote display of the desktop running on
the "desktop server" with the Ubuntu desktop.
The two approaches for thin clients:
a) The thin client boots off of the network card - PXE boot. The
Ubuntu "desktop server" is also configured to respond to thin clients
and bring up the desktop on thin client display. For more info see the
LTSP website www.ltsp.org. Ubuntu has the LTSP packages. I have not
had much success with this method but IIRC, some members on this list
have implemented such a solution.
b) The thin client has a small Linux installation loaded on a compact
flash or usb disk or cdrom. The client boots off this image with the
necessary network, X display software. It can then remote a display
from the "desktop server" via X, TightVNC etc. Read more at
http://www.thinstation.org.
Figure cost (include time to deploy) v/s functionality and choose.
I am doing this as pilot project with hardwardes available with me..
Based on the outcome, i am planning to setup such a lab in the
primary goverrnment school in my village.
Please keep us posted with your progress.
HTH
--
Arun Khan
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