Thin Clients

[Mike Moran]

Hello all,

As part of a project I'm working on(I'm setting up a small workshop for myself) I wanted to put a computer in the shop.  I don't want to use use a regular PC due to dust/temp/power considerations and have been looking into thin clients.  I have a Sun Ray 1, but I've had some issues with it, so I was looking into more commonly sourced thin clients on eBay.  It seems like buying 1 client is expensive but getting a batch of them tends to really bring down the cost per unit. 

I was wondering if anyone else from the DHMN group would be interested in going in on group buy.  Depending on what we get, they can be pretty hackable, and I know I'm intending on getting at least 2(one for it's intended purpose and one for "modification")

If anyone is interested I'm hoping to purchase a few in the next couple of weeks.

-Mike

[Tim Bertram]

Mike,
Have you considered using a Raspberry Pi as a thin client?
-Tim

[Michael Moran]

Tim,
I actually did consider this, but right now the distributor's site for the Raspberry Pi claims a 12 week back order, and I don't want to wait 3 months.  I haven't really looked at other boards out there, but that's mainly because after case/PS/etc it starts getting too expensive.

-Mike

[Jamie Schrauth]

Someone on craigslist was selling a thin client  (Wyse,  I think) recently with some distro of Linux loaded on it (distro changed when reposted,  last one was either Xubuntu or Lubuntu).

Jamie

[Tim Bertram]

I could be wrong but it looks like newark has 100 units ready to ship
and more on the way.

http://www.newark.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?id=83T1943

Also sony's production facility in the UK is ramping up to produce the
rev2 board with mounting holes. Hopefully should help on lead times
moving forward too.

[Michael Moran]

Tim,
I had been looking at the other distributor on the Raspberry Pi site.  I'll have to look into it further... However, I still have some concern that the Raspberry Pi combination will drive me above the thin client price(assuming a volume of course) - although the Pi would be much more fun to play with.


-Mike

[Ross Larson]

Mike, 

I'm willing to loan you my board if you (eventually) get me a Rev 2 board in return.

Ross

[Brian Dunbar]

On Mon, Sep 10, 2012 at 12:01 PM, Mike Moran <mjm...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> As part of a project I'm working on(I'm setting up a small workshop for
> myself) I wanted to put a computer in the shop. I don't want to use use a
> regular PC due to dust/temp/power considerations

Have you thought about moving the PC out of the shop, connecting with
a long cable run to a keyboard/monitor in the shop?



--
Brian Dunbar

"Display some adaptability"

[Michael Moran]

I hadn't considered it, but due to my house's layout it would end up sitting in the dining room, so there may be some resistance from the wife....  Additionally, I'm trying to go low power, and my only other pc doesn't qualify(power hungry P4).  I do have a laptop that I may do that to as a stopgap, but it isn't ideal long term.


Also, thanks everyone for the ideas, I think I might look into the long cable run, but I'll still be on the lookout for good thin client deals and if anyone is interested, I would still be willing to go in on a group buy.

-Mike

[Tim Bertram]

On a side note those 100 pi units available earlier are now gone.

[GaveUp]

On that note I just received a second today from Newark (ordered last week so they are shipping fast) that I'd be willing to let go of for what I paid, $40.

[Ross Larson]

If you do decide to go the Raspberry Pi route, check out Berry Terminal:  http://www.berryterminal.com/doku.php 

Ross

[Michael Moran]

Hello all,
I'm actually thinking of taking Brian Dunbar's advice and moving the PC out of the shop area.  I did some searching on monoprice, and found some very long active USB cables(which I was unaware existed) that should allow me to run my keyboard and mouse.  I took a look at Plugable's DC-125 - which is essentially a usb hub with a displaylink adapter and usb sound device, but I think I can piecemeal a solution.  All that being said, I'm still going to be looking for a few thin clients to mess with, just maybe not the solution for this issue.

Thanks again everyone  for the suggestions,

-Mike

[Michael Moran]

Ross,

LTSP is actually the technology I'm intending to use for my thin client server.  BerryTerminal is safely bookmarked ;)   Has anyone on the list had any experience deploying/using LTSP?

-Mike

On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 9:12 AM, Ross Larson <zo0...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Mike Putnam]

On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 03:28:05PM -0500, Michael Moran wrote:
> Ross,
>
> LTSP is actually the technology I'm intending to use for my thin client
> server. BerryTerminal is safely bookmarked ;) Has anyone on the list had
> any experience deploying/using LTSP?
>
> -Mike
>

John McMonagle over on the NEWLUG list runs LTSP in production and has
presented on LTSP before.

I heartily recommend an email to new...@newlug.org

Mike

[Ross Larson]

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