Steve Marfisi
2016-09-20 13:29:58 UTC
Regarding Fat Clients...
For us in Ontario, Canada, we can obtain PCs for free from Computers for Schools (CFS) . Given that most arrive with 2 GB RAM (some with 1 gb) - they are ideal for use with LTSP. They are powerful enough, and almost in all cases perform just fine. Setup on client side is merely setting up PXE boot first in BIOS boot order....and have yet to see in the last 5 years a PC that does not run well or that is not supported by LTSP. Most of the CFS PCs these days are Dells or HPs, and all work great for this.
We found the combination of Centrify Express (most of our clients have an AD server in the school) and LTSP PNP to work reliably, and work the first time with near zero configuration after installation. With AD authentication, the students have one set of credentials whether using Windows or LTSP, as most of our schools work with both.
To be clear, there is no OS running on the PC's disk, unless we have dual use Windows / LTSP systems. Our LTSP clients network boots are all server based.
So why fat clients?
1. same hardware can do Windows and LTSP, if needed
2. ready supply of free PCs - this does not seem to be the case for thin client hardware
3. I believe - but am not sure - that the fat clients help in off-loading processes that may run on the server. We easily have 60+ PCs running off an 8 GB RAM LTSP server (VM) with no performance issues.
Steve Marfisi
Fossie Consulting
For us in Ontario, Canada, we can obtain PCs for free from Computers for Schools (CFS) . Given that most arrive with 2 GB RAM (some with 1 gb) - they are ideal for use with LTSP. They are powerful enough, and almost in all cases perform just fine. Setup on client side is merely setting up PXE boot first in BIOS boot order....and have yet to see in the last 5 years a PC that does not run well or that is not supported by LTSP. Most of the CFS PCs these days are Dells or HPs, and all work great for this.
We found the combination of Centrify Express (most of our clients have an AD server in the school) and LTSP PNP to work reliably, and work the first time with near zero configuration after installation. With AD authentication, the students have one set of credentials whether using Windows or LTSP, as most of our schools work with both.
To be clear, there is no OS running on the PC's disk, unless we have dual use Windows / LTSP systems. Our LTSP clients network boots are all server based.
So why fat clients?
1. same hardware can do Windows and LTSP, if needed
2. ready supply of free PCs - this does not seem to be the case for thin client hardware
3. I believe - but am not sure - that the fat clients help in off-loading processes that may run on the server. We easily have 60+ PCs running off an 8 GB RAM LTSP server (VM) with no performance issues.
Steve Marfisi
Fossie Consulting