Linux Terminal Server Project

What is LTSP   

Who is using LTSP 

LTSP distros K12LTSP, Edubuntu, Skolelinux 

How LTSP works

Overview of concept and Demo

Boot methods (floppy, HD, PXE, Etherboot bootrom, USB)

Boot process  

Connecting clients using XDMCP and GDM  

Current State

Current feature set

Sound Demo

Local Devices (floppy, USB, CDROM) Demo

 Running applications locally (not out-of-the-box)

Scalability

Separate NFS server (mount /home over NFS)

Multiple LTSP servers

Load balancing LTSP servers using DHCP

Subnetting on different physical switches to address bandwidth bottleneck 

NIC bonding and port trunking 

Security

 The lack thereof (X traffic is unencrypted)

Separate NFS /home servers are a security risk

LTSP 5 uses LDM which uses ssh to tunnel X traffic (latency issues) 

System requirement 

•  Server 

  • Dual Opteron / Xeon
    
  • Fast drives SCSI (RAID 1 or 5) : Software RAID or Hardware 3Ware, LSI
    
  • Most important: RAM (Min 100MB/client + 256MB for server) 
  • Non linear. Economies of shared memory. 
  • Gigabit NIC 
  • Switch: Gigabit uplink port
    

• Clients

  • Pentium class
  • PCI  10/100 NIC 
  • 64 - 128 MB
  • PXE boot is nice 

Fl_TeacherTool thin client manager 

• Features

• Broadcast Demo

• Monitor/Control Demo

Advantages

Lower maintenance

Cost savings

Security (Hardware + Data) 

Power savings (Environment)

 Recycling older systems (Environment)

Computers turn into appliances (Plug and Play not Pray)

Disadvantages

Video/Audio editing and local DVD movies

High CPU usage apps (gnuChess, Flash rich sites)

Burning

Run away processes and RAM hogs

OpenGL

LTSP 5 and the future 

Muekow = LTSP 5 

Use distro native packages to make LTSP environ

Send X through an ssh tunnel 

Easier local apps 

FreeNX remote LTSP 

An LTSP variation: Diskless clients

Kamloops Diskless Fat clients

DRBL (Diskless Remote Boot Linux) 

100% Local apps

Lower sys req on server

Bandwidth issues but more functionality. Beryl, Mplayer, Chess work fine.

Q&A Period