Hi:

I would like to talk with anyone who has experience working with Linux Terminal Server.

I am thinking of using it in a school setting but need to know much more.

Thanks for your thoughts!

I haven't ever used it in a production environment but am hoping to do so. What do you want to know?

Hi David:

I am still in the early stages of investigating a terminal server but these are some questions that I have.

Are there applications/evironments that a terminal servers work best in. For example, office applications.

Since this would be used in a school, could you set up user accounts for each student on the terminal server?

Does this need to be a more robust machine than a standard server?

Do all applications work well on a terminal server or must they be specially written or adapted?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Well generally all applications work really well about the only problem is setting up sound can be hard. The graphics are send through the network, so as u can imagine playing games is much slower and graphics and cad programs take longer to draw. also there is no direct render etc.


But the best thing is to try your self. fire up 2 linux boxes and ssh into one, with the other.
Then start an X application like mozilla or open office.

And the server, well generally it needs to be fast, how many students are u planing on logging on at once? Also the network needs to be at very least 100mbit. memory is not as big of an issue since most lib's are shared but one would expect 512mb. But lets say a 1gig machine with 256mb ram will manage 10 clients using mozilla.

Also having network cards with built in PXE makes remote booting as easy as setting the option in the bios. So if u can install nic's with a onboard pxe it will make the job that much nicer. But u can still boot from floppy or small hdd at worst.

I use it in an office environement - works great I use it without sound and without really graphics intensive stuff - video playback, 3d screensavers etc...

Network and server are key, system management (especially with network booting) is where u really save.

Thank you for your replies Mr. happy and leckie!

I had not thought about sound, but It may not be too big an issue in this setting. No gaming will be going on - hopefully.

The school currently has students with a maximum population of about 225. At any one time, only about 30 students will be logged on.

Initially, I need to run OpenOffice, email, internet browsing, etc. Later I will add various educational programs.

Leckie, you said the network must be at least 100Mbit, so I presume this means wireless is out?

wireless is generally a bad idea. but this depends on how your connected. where u need the bandwidth is on the connection to the server. for instance, the server needs to send and recieve a 100mbit to handle all the requests. so in actuality, you could have your server connected via wired card to a wireless router, and than have all ur wireless cards interface into the router. you can hook in any wired systems into the router. this should work for you, if you have problems let us know.

side question, how do you get X11 Forwarding to work? anyone got it to work in windows? i have to Linux machines, one running redhat one running debian and i configed both of them but neither can get X11 forwarding from the other. the config files are all made but i still cant get them to connect, any ideas?

wireless is ok BUT network booting is not an option. This means if u decide to have a few machines connected wirelessly u will have to boot them from local media. Or u can connect them to an access point via ethernet, but at $200 each not very cheap. Also if u do want to use 100% wireless via local boot you can but u will have to split your network up into 3 non over lapping segments, which will give u 162mbit of wireless speed.




AfterBurn what do u mean by X forward, if u just want to ssh from red->deb and start an X app, then just type it's name and it should start, if X forwarding is not enabled in ssh try typing `export DISPLAY=ipofother:0.0` on the client. But Xaccess might be blocking external ip's, if so check /etc/ssh/sshd_config for Xforwarding.


but u may want to start X with the other machines display manager. Well this is fun, the problem is dm is configured to only run on the local machine so there are a few files u have to edit, /etc/X11/fs/config, /etc/X11/xdm/Xaccess, and kdm/kdmrc(location depends on distro).
you should probably read a howto about this.