Multistation OS

[Rashkae]

Bart Silverstrim wrote:
> Rashkae wrote:
>> Mark Haney wrote:
>>> Wade Smart wrote:
>>>> 20081027 0718 GMT-6
>>>>
>>>> http://www.omni-ts.com/newsroom/linux-for-education.html
>>>> http://www.omni-ts.com/linux-desktop/
>>>>
>>>> A short while back I posted some questions about using Thin Clients at 
>>>> the local school. That fizzled out. I received a email this morning from 
>>>> the school wanting to know if I could setup a multi-station lab like 
>>>> what is in this email.
>>>>
>>>> The second link tells about what they are doing.
>>>>
>>>> This is just what I was talking about - right?
>>>> Just done only in one location and district wide.
>>>>
>>>> Wade
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I fail to see how this is different from a thin-client solution.  At 
>>> least in it's basic elements. You are still using a single machine to 
>>> provide desktops to other systems.  They claim:
>>>
>> This is completely different.  (And maybe better)
>>
>> A traditional thin client solution would still require some kind of
>> computer at each station, even if that 'computer' is simply running some
>> built in X client.
>>
>> This multi-station is just a way of connecting multiple monitors,
>> keyboards and mice to 1 computer.
>>
>>
>> In my experience, given the sheer volume of old discarded computers, a
>> school can much more cheaply build a lab of thin clients consisting
>> mostly of used computers that would otherwise be de-comishioned.
>>
>> The multi-station idea, however, will likely be less expensive on the
>> electricity bill.
> 
> Wasn't there a hardware card that let you do this with cat5 cable from a 
> host PC and some specialized software?
> 
> 

That's what this looks like,, the links in the original message is some
kind of hardware multiplexing of Input/Output.  I don't know if Cat5 is
the medium of choice for the signal, but it makes sense....