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[[Category:Ubuntu]][[Category:Linux]]
= What are "Thin Clients" ? =
'''Diskless-clients''' are just one method of connecting computers together to form a network (lab).
Workstations are referred to as '''diskless-clients''' or "'''thin-clients'''" since most of the processing is performed by the server, and routine tasks (like accepting input from mouse & keyboard and displaying graphics on monitor) are performed just in the thin client's internal memory (RAM).
A newer configuration option is to configure a lab to use '''diskless fat-clients'''. This allows the processing power to be distributed to the workstations (within their internal memory or RAM).
'''Advantages of Using Diskless Workstations:'''
* '''Save money''' on hardware (use older machines as workstations, purchase one powerful central server)
* '''LTSP is distributed under GPL''' (Gnu Public License) and will always be '''free'''
* '''Ease of upgrading or installing software''' on central server instead of creating and installing images on multiple machines...
* Thin client workstations are '''reliable''' (I have seen this with my own eyes)
* '''Reduced vulnerability from viruses'''
= What is LTSP? =
'''LTSP''' stands for ('''<u>L</u>'''inux <u>'''T'''</u>erminal <u>'''S'''</u>erver <u>'''P'''</u>roject). Here is a link to their website: [http://ltsp.org/ ltsp.org]
'''LTSP''' is a free application to connect older (legacy) machines to act as "workstations" which are connected to a central computer...
The technology was developped by '''Jim MacQuillan''', who is the inventor and current project leader of LTSP. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Jim when he accepted my invitation to speak at '''Seneca's Open Source Symposium''' several years ago (Know referred to as FSOSS).
I still maintain that the LTSP irc is one of the most '''user-friendly''' IRC channels on the Internet...
= Seneca College's Involvement in LTSP =
Since 1998 one of my colleagues at Seneca College, '''<font color="#000000"><font>''John Selmys''</font></font><font color="#000000"><font></font></font>''', experimented with a technique to cost-effectively connect old "junky" computers that did not have a hard disk drive to a more powerful computer server. When that computer department moved in 2005, it was discovered that those "ancient" machines were still being used by students to work on their assignments / perform homework...