Thin Client: New User Guide

1. Introduction

• Linux allows any reasonably new computer to be used as a server to a thin client, or many thin clients, these thin clients can be inexpensive legacy computers. For a console terminal you need a 386 with 4-8mb of ram, or for an X-Terminal a 486/66 with 8-16mb ram.
• One Option is without a hard drive, it keeps the noise down and simplifies administration as you only have one system to maintain.
• If you have legacy apps, you can have them on a hard drive with it's legacy Operating System
• This howto is aimed at those new to Unix/Linux, it will cover the essential areas you need to be aware of and point you to other documentation in that area you need to be familiar with.
• You will probably use this as an aid to the http://www.slug.org.au/etherboot/ documentation, I include some more examples of config files, and leave many of the other features of etherboot as an exercise for the reader
• If your client is sufficiently powerful only the file system need be shared, applications can run on the client system. (say a 233 32mb ram). Install an application on the server and all clients have access