Almost Free Computers or Using Thin Clients With Debian Linux.

So you want to set up a small network for a business or just for home. Think about thin clients. Using thin clients has always been an important thing with me.Though they are mini subsets of full computers they save money in electricity and require less support. Most thin clients work by depending on a computer server to dish them content. Usually this is done using software known as terminal server clients.   Normally most people use LTSP (linux terminal server project) to set up thin clients with linux. That does take a bit of setup. I will show an easier way.  This set up will be for Debian linux. If you have another version of linux besides Debian, the setup will need to be done differently. Debian linux is probably one of the most universal linux distros around. If you want to get Debian linux go to www.debian.org. My original experiment was with a Pentium 4 computer though lesser or even more powerful machines as servers might work.A virtual machine should work like a charm.  Whats Next?


Note: You can also install xrdp so that mswindows machines (or other rdp clients) can connect to the server.  Wrote this instructable before Ipads and Android tablets were common. You can get rdp clients for Android and the Ipad so you do not have to work with that old equipment. A more preferable solution.

Step 1: What's Needed? (part 1)

You will need a full desktop computer (a laptop could be used) to act as the server already running Debian Linux. If you have a spare computer that you do not mind losing what is on the hard drive, you could install linux on it and go from there.  You need a computer network to connect the thin clients and the server (usually a network switch and cabling). You need some thin clients that support the rdp protocol. Not all thin clients do. I have some thin clients that expect to load the software to run them selves from the server when you turn them on.  So if you plan to purchase thin clients you need to know these things. You will want some that have the needed software already built in. Purchasing used thin clients from the net can be a real minefield of problems.  I know I bought some units of one kind and ended up with 4 good ones out of the six I bought. Sellers tend to sell them with parts missing. But I bought them so cheap I can not complain. The Compaq Evo series is what we use most. We also use some Neoware units. Both companies were bought by HP.. The Wyse unit pictured is based on the Compaq EVO series.

Note: if you have an Android or Ipad tablets with an rdp application, skip over to step3.

Step 2: What's Needed? (part 2)

You will obviously need some (vga) monitors, keyboards and mice. You have to be careful here because some thin clients will only use usb mice and usb keyboards. Then there are some that only take ps2 keyboards and mice. Just a word of a caution. you will need a switch to support all the connections  and corresponding cable. You should be able to get the cables pre-made in various lengths. We make our own cables. Standard network cables should be cat5 with rj-45 ends and not telephone cable. Your computer dealer can easily help you here. Actually a hub is pictured and not a switch, but for the small network it should be fine.  Also the keyboard on the left has a usb connector and the one on the right has a ps2 type connector just so you know the difference.

Step 3: Use a Handheld Too

Most of your newer internet tablets and touch pads now come with or you can get an rdp client. I also have xrdp on other systems. Even the Raspberry pi supports xrdp.

Note: all touchpad use was done with a Google Nexus 7.

Step 4: Setting Up the Server.

You need to have a root password or sudo password. When you set up the system, those details were entered then. You will probably want to set up users (aka logins) and passwords for all the people that might want to use your network (via system>administration>users and groups). I did a screenshot from ubuntu, but they should be similar. Then you need to add the software. Using the package manager (via system>administration>synaptic package manager) should be easy. You need to search for xrdp. Click on the box to set it for installation and then agree to any other software it wants to load. Then viola your done.

Command line install on debian based distros.

$ sudo apt-get install xrdp

Step 5: Thin Client Setup.

At this point connect all the cables up. You will need thin clients that get their ip (internet protocol address from the network which is usually the default. See the thin client manual if not.  Your router usually provides these addresses automatically. You need to have a router to protect your network anyway, so get one if you do not have one.  Next you will need to get the ipaddress of the server. This will let the thin clients know where to connect to.  Using the terminal (via Applications>Accesories>Terminal)

$ su -
Password:
root@theserver:~# ifconfig
eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:00:00:00:00:00 
          inet addr:192.168.1.110  Bcast:192.168.1.255  Mask:255.255.255.0 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
          inet6 addr: fe80::218:e7ff:fe18:3939/64 Scope:Link
          UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
          RX packets:326951 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:211798 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
          RX bytes:417920634 (417.9 MB)  TX bytes:25377722 (25.3 MB)
          Interrupt:21 Base address:0x6000

lo        Link encap:Local Loopback 
          inet addr:127.0.0.1  Mask:255.0.0.0
          inet6 addr: ::1/128 Scope:Host
          UP LOOPBACK RUNNING  MTU:16436  Metric:1
          RX packets:5 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
          TX packets:5 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
          collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
          RX bytes:319 (319.0 B)  TX bytes:319 (319.0 B)

root@theserver:~# exit
$_

In this case the ip address is inet addr:192.168.1.110. From here when you set up the rdp client on your thin client. (Consult the thin client manual for details.) You can use this address as the host. Then fire up your thin clients and go to the terminal server client software and enter in the data. and connect. You have to do this step with each thin client.

Step 6: Logging In

Time to log in with the usernames and passwords you set up earlier. You did write them down did you not.

Step 7: You Are There.

You are there probably using a Microsoft based thin client to logon a linux system. Awesome. Sound will probably not work since the software is still being improved. You should be able to use most office type apps and the internet. You are now in Linux XWindows. You can't beat free! Good luck.

Note if you are running Microsoft MSWindows or Apple OSX with an rdp client they should easily connect also depending on the server's amount of ram memory.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Step 8: After Thought.....

That just gave me a great idea for a (lcd + thin client) project to use as a picture frame, a wall mounted kitchen computer, and or a garage computer that will not be bothered by dust.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=0&prodSeriesId=96470&prodNameId=100771&swEnvOID=1058&swLang=13&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=PSG_I16129-38624

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/site/search/r4_0/jsp/search.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=0&prodSeriesId=96470&tx=t20%20firmware

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/site/search/r4_0/jsp/search.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=0&prodSeriesId=96470&tx=t30%20firmware