I am in the process of installing OpenSUSE on my workstation/server and I was planning on trying to setup a couple of “thin clients” to go along with it. I also have a laptop I would like to get setup to add some mobility. I am a somewhat experienced *nix user although this will be my first use of OpenSUSE. Firstly, my question is whether or not OpenSUSE is capable of such and secondly, what software/packages will I need to get that setup on the server? In addition to that, the laptop I would like to use is currently running Windows XP (sp3?) and I was hoping I could “boot” directly into the server with it instead of using some kind of remote desktop client inside of windows. Is that possible and if so, what software would I use? Thank you in advance.
I’m typing this on a LTSP thin client. Have a look at the kiwi-LTSP packages from software.opensuse.org. But I’m using an older LTSP release which works with any Linux distro. You just need tftpd, dhcpd, nfs and to config the window manager a bit.
As for booting Windows diskless, if that’s what you had in mind, that’s in general not possible.
Thanks for the information. I’ll check that package out right now. I think I misspoke when I mentioned my idea with the windows laptop. I’m not planning on booting windows diskless, the idea was more along the lines of setting up a second boot option that would take me into a remote desktop client like software that ran independent of an operating system, so I wouldn’t have to boot into windows and use the extra resources.
There’s a Linux distro called thinstation that boots into a RDP desktop. Other protocols are supported. This is probably what you had in mind.
That’s exactly what I’m looking for, thanks a million! =)
Here’s the link for the Opensuse project: LTSP - openSUSE.
We’re running an educational version at present (and to be honest, I can’t remember the name!!), but we’re thinking about switching to Opensuse in the near future.
(Just because I love Opensuse. :))