So...

[David Trask]

Edubuntu Devel Group <edubuntu-devel at lists.ubuntu.com> writes:
>LTSP has
>something called LOCAL_APPS, though I'm not sure exactly what that does.

Pretty much means what it says....by enabling local apps you are
essentially using the workstations or terminals resources such as CPU and
RAM to run the application.  There are many benefits to this as well as
some drawbacks....  Benefits include less load on the server, ability to
run video intensive apps such as Celestia, runaway apps don't affect
anyone else....and sound is easier to work with....drawbacks include
authentication (NIS seems to be the method of choice at the moment),
launch speed as the app needs to mount over NFS, greater workstation
demand (you need more RAM..etc), and you lose the benefit of multiple
instances of an app running on a server (shared code segments) as each app
is running on the workstations own CPU instead of the server.   Hope this
helps!  :-)

David N. Trask
Technology Teacher/Director
Vassalboro Community School
dtrask at vcsvikings.org
(207)923-3100