Linux Thin CLient w/ rdesktop

Situation:

  • Got a bunch of old Dell GX60’s laying around and want to convert/turn them into thin clients and boot off the NIC to the Windows Terminal Server.

Project:

  • find a small Linux distribution w/ rdesktop that can boot up and into the Windows Terminal Server automatically.

Progress:

  • Tried installing ubuntu LTSP from ubuntu alternative 8.10 [link]. Everything works right out of the box. However, the performance was way too slow on the GX60 with 1GB of ram.
  • Tried K12Linux LTSP for Fedora [link]. Created a live USB and after a few configuration changes. I was able to boot to the live USB server. However, the login screen login and the label “username:” would not display.
  • Currently creating a Live USB for puppy linux [link]… Hopefully that works!!

** Updated on 2/27/2009 **

  • Got a copy of xbuntu alternate [link]. Did a normal installation.
  • Installed openbox wm [link] and tried to remove as much xubuntu pre-installed apps since I don’t need them at all.
  • Few helpful openbox sites [link1] [link2] [link3] [link4] [link5]
  • Installed rdesktop, feh (for setting background), setup auto-login from xubuntu, set openbox as the default wm.
  • move a copy of autostart.sh menu.xml rc.xml from /etc/xdg/openbox/ to ~/.config/openbox/
  • autostart.sh:
    . $GLOBALAUTOSTART
#rdesktop
/usr/bin/rdesktop -f -N -a 16 -k en-us yourserver
    Just the codes above should connect rdesktop to your server after boot up

** Updated on 3/16/2009 **

  • Found #!CrunchBang based of Ubuntu but uses pcmanfm for File Manager & Openbox as Windows Manager.
  • Installed #! and rdesktop on a 20GB HDD. Removed a few unnecessary apps, since the main purpose of this PC is for connecting to Windows Terminal Server.
  • Created a rdesktop script under /usr/bin/ and added the script into autostart.sh
  • autostart.sh:
    To Be Added....
    Just the codes above should connect rdesktop to your server after boot up

** Updated on 4/13/2009 **

  • The Thin Clients I set out to create all end up having a HDD in them running #!crunchbang distribution.
  • I created a script that will launch after the auto-login and connects to the Windows 2008 Terminal Server.

** Any help with thin client booting to a Windows Terminal Server would greatly be appreicated **

~ by aric on March 16, 2009.

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7 Responses to “Linux Thin CLient w/ rdesktop”

  1. I did it using thinstation distribution and windows 2003 dhcp/bootp server. Works quite well but there are problems when computer goes to sleep – people don’t know how to turn it off or on.
    Now I installed Fedora on quicker machines with shortcuts to do some work(connect to TS), browse the web or turn it off.
    I am currently testing small distros to put on computers.

    Aleksy said this on April 8, 2009 at 20:48 | Reply

  2. These thinclients are connecting to Windows 2008 Terminal Server. I have everything setup to auto-start rdesktop after auto-login. My script runs maximized so the user don’t see the linux desktop. Also there are no icons on the desktop. All work is done once user logins to the terminal server.

    To-Do:
    Sound
    USB drive

    aric said this on April 9, 2009 at 01:41 | Reply

  3. Adding -r option to rdesktop command worked for me with usb drive. It also supports sound. Users need to log off and log back on if they change usb stick.
    I deployed thinstation on one server today and it also offers sound redirection. I haven’t done it as there is no need for sound. The good thing is that you can boot it from the server and no hard drive is required in a computer.
    There needs to be a PXE enabled card though but I think Optiplexes should have it as we use them and they all do.

    Aleksy said this on April 9, 2009 at 23:17 | Reply

  4. Will you be posting a burnable ISO once you complete your project? I am very interested in the results of your efforts, but my knowledge of Linux is pretty limited.

    Thanks!

    Vincent Evans said this on April 13, 2009 at 23:00 | Reply

    • Vincent: I will probably not be posting a burnable ISO anytime soon. However, if you have a spare PC laying around, I would recommend you to download #!crunchbang distribution yourself and have a good at it. I am here to assist or you can always join the #!crunchbang IRC channel and ask questions there.

      aric said this on April 14, 2009 at 01:30 | Reply

  5. Have you looked at the Kiwi build tool for the OpenSUSE project (opensuse.org). Kiwi has the ability to create a number of different builds and I believe thin client and VMware-based machines are among the choices.

    Good luck.

    Jose Betancourt

    Jose Betancourt said this on June 2, 2009 at 16:39 | Reply

  6. I did a minimal install of Debian following this guide:
    http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/432

    Then set it to autologin using this guide:
    http://www.debianadmin.com/how-to-auto-login-and-startx-without-a-display-manager-in-debian.html

    Next, I need to get rdesktop going on start. Almost there.

    Michael said this on October 14, 2009 at 08:15 | Reply

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