Multistation OS

[Wade Smart]

Rashkae wrote:
> Wade Smart 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:
>>>
>>> The Linux Desktop Multiplier, powered by Userful, allows up to 10 
>>> thick-client user stations to connect to a single SUSE Linux Enterprise 
>>> Desktop computer. User stations consist of only a monitor, USB keyboard 
>>> and mouse.
>>>
>>> But, this is kinda contradictory, by definition a 'thick client' is a 
>>> full desktop system (more or less, including notebooks, etc).  But if a 
>>> 'user station' doesn't have a MB/CPU combo (all inclusive), then this is 
>>> nothing more than another type of thin client setup.
>>>
>>> Personally, you'd almost be better off just running remote X sessions on 
>>> each system (use XFCE or something) to provide a 'full desktop'.  That 
>>> works pretty much the same way this setup works.
>>>
>>> Either way you look at it, it's a remote desktop design.  Each 'station' 
>>> must get it's desktop from central location and it doesn't matter if the 
>>> 'station' is a full client or a thin one.
>>>
>>>
>>> My $0.02 anyway.
>> 20081027 0818 GMT-6
>>
>> Ah, ok. The school was contacted about this setup and they asked me if I 
>> knew anything about it. Im "not" suggesting they do it - I was just 
>> wanting clarity on the setup.
>>
>> So one computer per 10 students - the resources of the pc are shared 
>> between them all. Even a quad core with 4gb of ram system could end up 
>> feeling slow.
>>
> 
> Not unless you're photoshoping posters.
> 
> For all the power they give modern desktops, even el cheapos, it's
> amazing how much of it is spent idle doing nothing, with only occasional
>  bursts of activity.  And Linux is very good at multi-tasking those
> bursts smoothly, even if there's a bit of contention.
> 

20081027 1027 GMT-6

So if these machines are used for basic internet browsing, and some 
paper writing -- then this would be a good thing. A few monitors, 
keyboards, mice, and a single pc.

Wade