Re: [school-discuss] Knoppix vs. Freeduc vs. ???

[ian <ian.lynch2@ntlworld.com>]

On Thu, 2003-05-29 at 00:08, Harry McGregor wrote:

> Another option (better), would be to not use knoppix, but setup a good,
> dual athlon linux terminal server (about $1200US), and make the 20
> pentium class system pure Xterms, less hardware to fail.


You don't need a dual processor server. A gig of RAM and a 2.4 gig
processor will be more than enough for a thin client terminal server for
20 machines. We have installed several in schools and test show even
with 20 concurrent  users of OpenOffice Draw a 1 gig P3 can cope. We try
to keep costs down so we have tested assumptions about conventional
server wisdom and a lot seems to be based on selling more expensive kit
and packing as much into one server as possible because of the effects
of software licensing costs in the non-free software world. More RAM is
more important but a gig is sufficient and there are stability issues
with more than a gig with some apps and some Linux kernels. So safest
and best value to use what is basically a standard machine with a Gig of
RAM. Your main issue will be in setting up thin client provision without
technical help but in principle the thin client route will get the best
out of your older pentiums.

-- 
ian <ian.lynch2@ntlworld.com>