[AuckLUG] Linux Terminal Servers

Thu May 1 21:18:58 NZST 2008

Chilling_Silence wrote:
> 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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> AuckLUG mailing list
>> AuckLUG at linux.net.nz
>> http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aucklug
>>
>>     
> _______________________________________________
> AuckLUG mailing list
> AuckLUG at linux.net.nz
> http://www.linux.net.nz/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aucklug
>