burngreave.net

I recently participated in a sheffield hacklab workshop on setting up Linux Terminal Server based services at the MATILDA social centre in Sheffield.

We installed SUSE 10.1 Linux on a relatively ancient but serviceable dual processor 1 Ghz PIII 1GB RAM 2x 18GB SCSI HDD server.

SUSE 10.1 installed without a hitch ( as is to be expected from a Linux distro these days.)

The latest version of LTSP, LTSP 4.2 is pretty magnificent. The documentation is well written and easy to follow, and we configure a few simple networking services ( DHCP, TFTP, NFS, XDMCP and etherboot, with the help of http://rom-o-matic.net/ ), and we have a working LTSP server built, and a skipped compaq deskpro 6350 SFF Pentium II PC with 32Mb RAM acting as thin client.

One of the really funky things about the latest LTSP is its support for localdevices using the FUSE modules and the ltspfs File system

All the required support is included in SUSE 10.1 and after following the instructions on the LTSP wiki we could plug in usb memory sticks and cameras and have them appear on the desktop. COOL!

We also got local sound working on the thin clients, with the help of the Gnome Desktop Environment the LTSP Docs we used the Enlightenment Sound Daemon, and again it "just worked".

Altogether a very successful day.

Of course reading this you may be thinking, "why bother, my PC already does these things - plays music, sees my USB devices.. " BUT the LTSP set up allows us to

1. grow our Media lab at costs of junk PC and monitor per seat - not £500 for a basic PC per seat.
2. Manage our media center centrally, - we can install software once and its instantly available at every seat.
3. No expensive licenses to pay
4. Terminals are amazingly quick to boot - 30 seconds from power up to log on screen

Now we need to get the products of the session - a working LTSP setup, and the skills to support and grow more of them - used. Hopefully a DIY media lab in Burngreave soon ?