Good points Jason. Unfortunately while we have not 100% ruled out PCs, they are still rather unlikely. Also a few things I would like to clear up regarding our particular environment....
> -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Bechtel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 5:07 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Ltsp-discuss] True thin clients in biz environment? > > Tommy, > > It sounds to me like you consider "true" thin clients to > only be expensive proprietary hardware solutions. I think > that this is a mistake. For the same reason that your > proprietary WinTerm boxes are now useless under a new > operating environment, No. The WinTerms are not useless, but rather reaching their expected life span... The only reason they would be useless under a new operating environment is because I am looking into LTSP. That is a completely separate issue... your Neoware boxes will soon be > unable to adapt to your ever-changing network. What's wrong > with PCs? Generally speaking, there is nothing wrong with PCs. However, some of our offices are under such physical space constraints you would laugh. Thin clients are popular in these areas and flat screens will shortly be rolled out. PCs are also more susceptible to component failure due to their moving parts. I understand that a PC utilizing LTS does not require a HDD, yet fans are still required... And, yes, fans do fail and cause damage: I've seen enough. Nothing says that PCs have to boot from a slow, > clunky, failure-prone floppy. The only thing you need are > some network-bootable NICs in some vanilla PCs and there's > the cheapest, most versatile, most upgradeable *true* thin > client you can find. Just because it doesn't have the chic > form factor, doesn't make it any "fatter" on cost or > performance... Do these vanilla PCs come with a reputation and a warranty? (I have to justify these purchases to a city council) > > The open PC architecture is your friend. Every component is > replaceable. Video not the best? Buy 40+ video cards at > $40 each instead of 40+ new thin clients at $400 each. The open PC architecture IS my friend in most environments, yes. Not this one. As the only IT personnel, I don't have time to sit down, trouble shoot it, order the replacement part, crack the case, etc. Something wrong with the thin client? Return the whole thing and let them deal with everything... Use a backup unit during any repair time until the working unit is returned. Just > like proprietary software, proprietary hardware can only > limit you and lock you into a solution. Proprietary, Proprietary... That is the way of Citrix, my friend. When anyone decides to embark in this direction, it is a major commitment. Unfortunately, I did not design the existing infrastructure; I only hope to improve it. Another issue is that I don't have enough support to ENTIRELY rework the infrastructure (i.e. the clients). There is a possibility that once I am able to prove LTS's power, then the upper management may approve utilizing PCs. However, until that point, I am forced to continue in this direction. Jason, I thank you for you input. I hope I didn't come across blunt as I did not intend to. Tell ya what, if you know of any PCs with a decent reputation (preferably a brand), <$350/unit, 300Mhz, 64MB RAM, 100Mbps NIC, a small foot print and works with LTS, please let me know! I would be very interested... Thanks > > Jason > > PS: Please, no HTML email to the list. > > > > From: Tommy Eaton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 07:37:55 -0400 > > Subject: [Ltsp-discuss] True thin clients in biz > environment? > > > > Hi, > > > > I have recently decided to replace our current 40+ user > network with LTSP. > > We are using Citrix, Exchange, and Winnt 4.0 TSE. > However, it order to > > accomplish this, I need to find a thin client that I can > make boot to the > > LTSP, otherwise we are stuck in M$ land. Most of our > existing thin clients > > are old WYSE WinTerms that I hope to replace with a new > product line. I > > have been looking at Neoware's (www.neoware.com > <http://www.neoware.com/> ) > > Capio 508, but have been unable to get it to go. My > question is this: > > > > Are any of you currently in an organization that is > utilizing LTSP? If so, > > what are you using for thin clients? How are you > accomplishing your setup? > > > > Using PCs that boot to the floppy is not an option. We > must purchase the > > true diskless (yet still have the option to add drives > at will) thin client > > hardware. Thanks in advance. > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss > For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net _____________________________________________________________________ Ltsp-discuss mailing list. To un-subscribe, or change prefs, goto: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ltsp-discuss For additional LTSP help, try #ltsp channel on irc.openprojects.net
