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Linux on HP Thin Clients.

Posted by timothy on from the splendiferous dept.

Vidar writes "HP has a line of thin clients, however, only one of these run Linux. But, being generic x86 hardware, you can install Linux on them. And it has been done, running Damn Small Linux from the flash of those devices. The article has a complete walkthrough for the procedure, as well as some toughts on the topic. It can be added that the rdesktop client is quicker than Microsoft's own RDP client. Also, with Linux it is easy to upgrade remotely, or even change to an entirely new protocol. Once one terminal is upgraded, the rest is done with dd and a USB stick!"

3 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. Thin client... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Doesn't this defeat the purpose of a thin client to INSTALL something on it?

    I'm partial to the SunRay approach myself (boo- hiss). Or some kind of net boot approach like PXES or LTSP.

    That way you just tell the thin client where to look and it just pulls the minimum off the network and runs apps on the server.

  2. Not a thin client by Photar · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How exactly is a $600 PC running windows XP a thin client?
    I suppose that makes the Mac Mini or an older iBook a thin client too.

    --
    He who knows not and knows he knows not is a wise man. He who knows not and knows not he knows not is a fool.
  3. Ok, great. Now what? by skwirlmaster · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So you bought a thin client for ~400-500 dollars. You installed linux on it... Great.
    400 could get you a propper PC. and you could put it to better use.
    Personally I would use a thin client as a thin client.
    A ITX system could get you about the same energy savings. So really my question is why that hardware? Was it free?

    --
    My inner self is ineffable, so don't eff with me.