[AuckLUG] Linux Terminal Servers

Thu May 1 18:29:00 NZST 2008

On Wednesday 30 April 2008 18:32:57 Chilling_Silence wrote:
> Greetings all,
>

I've been running an LTSP setup in a learning environment for a number of 
years.  Mine is LTSP 4.2 running on OpenSuSE 10.3 and before that it was 
running on SLES 10 (No real reason for the change except 10.3 had more bells 
and whistles.  

Edubuntu has LTSP 5 integration, I've not played with it as yet but Ubuntu 
developers have been putting a lot of effort into it so that it has better 
support for local devices and local apps. 

> Currently Im supporting a small business that does Cleaning in the
> Auckland region.
> They've got  8 thin-clients currently connecting to a Server2003 Terminal
> Server which also hosts Exchange.
>
> They're taking on 5 new office-staff who will need access, not only
> through Terminal Server seat licensing, but Microsoft Office as well. He's
> looking at OpenOffice instead of Office 2003 / 2007 because pretty much
> all the work they're doing is going to be in a web-based CRM package
> (hosted off-site).
>
> The big boss-man has come to me to find him some prices on Microsoft
> licensing and recommend an office alternative. Im tempted to tell him to
> ditch the whole server setup and opt for a Ubuntu Terminal Server (Im not
> wanting to start a distro war, I really dont care about Distro right now
> to be honest).

Heh I'm a SuSE guy and I agree that the Ubuntu setup is probably the best way 
to go.  However (puts OOo MarCon hat on) OOo will work very well on Terminal 
services.  Having said that it works better in an LTSP environment, Citrix 
has a few annoying display issues with OOo.  
If the server is on site with a 100base or better network then LTSP works 
well.  Combine that with KDE Kiosk and you have a killer system.

>
> I dont know enough about the ins & outs of setting up Terminal Services
> but how exactly do the thin-clients boot? They get the OS through PXE? So
> I change the Server and dont have to worry about any "OS" being installed
> on the thin-clients?

Yep PXE boot but etherboot works OK as well.  Common clients like Compaq T20s 
and so forth boot happily off PXE even if they have embedded OS.  I use old 
Compaq SFF desktops with all the guts ripped out as well.  64 megs of RAM  
works great although 128 seems better

>
> Im not going to make any hasty decisions and go formatting his server
> tomorrow on a whim (That'd just be asking for trouble), but if I can
> convince him to wait a week while I do a bit more research on the matter,
> it could prove fruitful for both him and myself. Plus this means I get to
> take home a thin-client box or two and setup a "test" at home, always fun
> to play with new toys! :D
>
> Also, is there anybody else out there who currently supports a Linux
> Terminal Server environment? Have they run into issues of any kind, such
> as format problems with the latest Office 2007 files being sent to them?

2007 (docx) files will not be reliably viewable in OOo until vers 3 comes out.  
Send them back to the originator with instructions how to change (and a copy 
of / link to OOo :) )   All Local and Central Government orgs that I have 
dealings with have mandated the MSO XP/2000 .doc/xls/ppt as the standard even 
if using MSO 2007.  Enterprise should be following suit.  

> Users wanting to do funky things you hadnt initially though of?

That comes down to training.  I show people the funky things that OOo can do 
that beat the hell out of MSO up to and including 2007.   Tell him that staff 
training is available through my company.  (I'm in Auckland the first Mon, 
tues, Wed of each month ring me if you want to touch base)    

>
> Im only asking because I think he could save himself a fair bit in
> software costs here, all his Office workers will be using the Web-based
> CRM package, I believe including all emails. They do a little bit of
> spreadsheet work (read: very little) and I think they also use MYOB (WINE
> anybody?).

There is the option of using an online accounting solution like 
xero.com or accountsonline.co.nz instead of MYOB.  Also there is a linux 
accounting application called Quasar from http://linuxcanada.com.  I'm 
actually  putting the latest Quasar 2.0.4 on SLE10 and Kubuntu Hardy at the 
moment to  evaluate for a client to migrate away from MYOB.  

>
> In a nutshell, Im also just looking for somebody to tell me Im not a total
> idiot for thinking that this could be a viable option. Ive done
> installfests, run Gentoo / Ubuntu at home, converted the odd MS zealot,
> but never done a small-business switch entirely to Linux.
>
> Thoughts / comments / constructive criticism appreciated
>
> Cheers

MYOB will be the critical sticker.  Getting businesses to change accounting 
packages is harder than getting them to change platforms 

>
> Chill.
>
>
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-- 
Graham Lauder,
OpenOffice.org MarCon (Marketing Contact) NZ
http://marketing.openoffice.org/contacts.html

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www.theingots.org.nz

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