Thin Clients, anybody ?

**MegalosSkylaki** · November 9th, 2002, 03:03 AM

Just came from a Linux Thin Client Org Site...will be China's standard for Olympics. Guess they'll have to pull all the pirated stuff off the shelves. Either that, or sell a lot of it !
* * *

Anyhow,

Been toying with idea of using a Thin Client (TC) to simply extend a Computer from one room to another with cost of CAT cable. May need to do it if I ever get back to CA.

QUESTION: Do the uplink like "fat" computers? I mean Network Comp -to-Switch--to TC ? In a Windows environment ? With FAT 32 ?

QUESTION: Too hard for da Newbie DooG ?

QUESTION: Anybody use them at home ?

FINAL QUESTION: Where the heck do I get some basic for non-IT pro's INFO or Sites as most are sponsered by the Industry Co's , like WYSE, etc. and are written for Industry Pro's.

ThanX,
FAT CLIENT DOOOG

**lynchmob** · November 9th, 2002, 06:54 AM

I've always been kinda interested in thin-client computing just to get some background knowledge about it.Im glad you brought this up.
As I understand it, Citrix Metaframe has been the most-used thin client software under windows.
Linux has tons of stuff on thin client:
http://www.ltsp.org/
Also,I dusted off this old bookmark:
network computers
HTH
lynch

mickwish · November 9th, 2002, 07:02 AM

Here's a fairly newbie based thin-client howto for linux, doog.

http://www.linuxvoodoo.com/howto/HOW...t-HOWTO-1.html

Oldie but a goodie.

HIH

Not sure about windoze thin clients, though. Licensing is the hassle IMO.

Cheers
Mick

**Whir** · November 9th, 2002, 07:43 AM

Citrix is the pits.

**MegalosSkylaki** · November 10th, 2002, 02:43 AM

ThanX for the LINKS, Guys.

ComputerSurplusOutlet is selling a brand-new (?) IBM Netvista 2200 Thin Client for $99.

That's what got me thinking.

I wonder what the "gotcha" is ?

Licencing fees to IBM or SW Co's.?
More memory for Linux--what kinda dimm does it use anyhow?

Nice looking and small, with black KB and Mouse.

http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com...tid=COM-IN2200

DOOOOOOOG

**MDdan** · November 10th, 2002, 03:06 AM

Doog,

I'd just go with an older PC, no reason to buy a thin client. It's not hard to come up with an old pentium, you may even have one laying around.

If you can come up with Windows 2000 Server, it has Terminal Services Built in, which would allow you to do a remote 2000 desktop on your client.

Citrix Metaframe and Terminal Services both work fine, although the Citrix ICA protocol uses less bandwidth than Terminal Services RDP. You can actually do a pretty smooth Citrix Session over a 33.6 dialup link.

If Whir was referring to citrix Winframe (not the latest Metaframe) then I agree, it's a pain.

I think for your needs, that either 2kServer w/ Terminal Services or NT4 Server with TS would work just fine. I haven't played with the Linux Terminal Server project, but it sounds interesting. Citrix basically adds a bunch of nice features to Terminal Services, but if you just want a 2k desktop on an old machine or thin client, Citrix would be a major waste of money. In fact, it's cheaper to just build a cheap PC then pay Citrix License fees.