[AuckLUG] Linux Terminal Servers

Thu May 1 21:02:35 NZST 2008

Thanks Graham & all,

So Im there this afternoon and he decided that he wanted OOo right there and
then.

Ive since learned that the Terminal Server was running on only 1GB Ram,
trying to hold a current 7 users and he wants to add another 3-5 :(

60MB for each OOo running, and they each have the latest Firefox 3 Beta 5
open (Using the web-based CRM) and it quickly slowed to a crawl.

Blowed if I know how Tiger Networks can give him a Terminal Server for 7
users on only 1GB Ram :(

Anyway, turns out Ive been given the go-ahead for Laptops instead, the $700
ones from DSE, quite likely all going to be Ubuntu-ized and all Wireless, so
Im going to have some fun with that.

Apparently I'll get a bit of a play with the Thinclients etc anyways, so
I'll see about setting up my own Terminal Server test-lab anyway!

Thankyou all for the advice, really appreciate it. Graham, I'll pass on your
details to them too.

Cheers

Chill.

On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 6:29 PM, Graham Lauder <yorick_ at openoffice.org>
wrote:

> 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.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AuckLUG mailing list
> > AuckLUG at linux.net.nz
> > http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aucklug
>
>
>
> --
> Graham Lauder,
> OpenOffice.org MarCon (Marketing Contact) NZ
> http://marketing.openoffice.org/contacts.html
>
> INGOTs Moderator New Zealand
> www.theingots.org.nz
>
> GET DRESSED : GET OOOGEAR
> Gear for the well dressed OOo Advocate
> www.ooogear.co.nz
>
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