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Re: [PLUG] Thin client/terminal suggestions
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The term Thin clients is misused a lot.
Thin clients where originally Diskless clients, but now many of them run
not only an OS locally, but a complete OS like Windows LE.
A diskless client is just a dumb terminal, so the Kenel version on the
client doesn't matter much
however nComputing seems to be also doing some kind of virtualization on
the server side. I don't
know why you would need this with Linux servers or Windows Server 2003
with remote terminal
server licenses. Maybe it was trying to share a Windows PC ( not a server )
Ubuntu now has a quick LTSP install option, which supports man yLTSP or
PXE boot devices
and they list them at http://wiki.ltsp.org/twiki/bin/view/Ltsp/Clients
The Ubuntu solution fixes some of the security issues with Running LTSP
over X ( I think they now tunnel
it over SSH to the client )
For a commercial solution, there is NoMachine, which has better support
for slow links and
probably better support for locally attached printers, sound, etc. and
likely more management
and security options.
>I don't want to run 7.10, and the windows apps may not be multi-user.
>The latter can't be predicted and may, at the government's whim, change.
Again, if your using LTSP / NX server the client solution is just a
terminal, so your APP servers can be anything
as they just attach to any server using X or RDP
For windows, running multiple apps inside Win2003/8 server with terminal
services would be no different than
running several physical Windows boxes, so even if your application uses
a database it would have to support
multiple instances to work on multiple computers across the network, and
running in Win2003 server should be
no different.
So my suggestion is to run away from unconventional solutions like
nComputing, and use a standard 'thin client'
solution which should work with almost any application. But you will
need ( a LTSP/NX server, Ubuntu App server,
and Win2003 server ) and any LTSP or PXE client boxes that you choose.
Just check support for locally attached
devices, and avoid any multimedia apps, and make sure you have a good
100MB or pref 1GB network and switch.
There is also VMware VDI ( Virtual Desktop ) solution which builds upon
a VMware VI/3 ESX / SAN architecture,
giving each user a custom Virtual Machine.
http://www.msterminalservices.org/articles/Virtual-Desktop-Infrastructure-Overview.html
This is likely way over your budget for a not-profit.
Lee
Art Alexion wrote:
I work for the umbrella organization for a number of small to medium
non-profits. One, for which I am responsible, needs to replace about a
dozen very old computers with a minimal budget.
A colleague has used nComputing terminals to save costs, and make
remote administration easier. nComputing supports XP, win server 2003
and Ubuntu.
I'd really like to move them to Ubuntu, but I have some concerns.
* kernel support is stalled at Ubuntu 7.10. This release is no longer
supported by Ubuntu. Kernel updates seem to break nComputing.
* this is a mental health center. Funding sources are moving away from
funding patients, and toward funding specifically provided services.
Sometimes this involves the county providing the providing the program
with custom software to track the particular services. Inevitably,
this is windows software.
My idea is to set up two servers, an Ubuntu server to provide the
desktops, and a windows server to run any required windows apps. That
presents two other problems, though.
I don't want to run 7.10, and the windows apps may not be multi-user.
The latter can't be predicted and may, at the government's whim, change.
I'll apreciate any thoughts on other linux friendly alternatives to
nComputing.
--
Art Alexion
Sent unsigned from an iPod. That's the reason for the top posting as
well.
___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
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--
Lee Marzke, lee@marzke.net http://marzke.net/lee/
IT Consultant, VMware, VCenter, SAN storage, infrastructure, SW CM
+1 800-393-5217 office +1 484-348-2230 fax
+1 610-564-4932 cell sip://8003935217@4aero.com VOIP
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___________________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org
Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
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