> I've been in the same situation a short time ago. > Finally I decided to buy a cheap notebook (ASUS AMD 1GHz, 8 Gb RAM) > for 265 Euro, only -- running Gentoo, of course. > I've installed a private wireless network. > So my wife can sit anywhere and she can still connect to our "family > server" if she likes. > > If I had to buy a monitor, graphics card, keyboard and a better > power supply, that would have beeen more expensive. > Furthermore the notebook solution is more flexible.
If we're comparing hardware cost vs. hardware performance and flexibility, the cheap notebook could win. The #1 priority for me is minimizing sys admin duties though. I would need a Gentoo system for duties like router and firewall anyway, and if I build the multiseat capabilities into that same system, I have at least 6 workstations and zero systems to administrate because of them. - Grant >> >> I'd like to have multiple users working from separate monitors, >> >> keyboards, and mice, but all connected to a single Gentoo >> computer. >> >> The main purpose is to minimize sys admin duties but hardware and >> >> power requirements would also be minimized. >> >> >> >> Apparently this is called "multiseat" and native support in Xorg >> might >> >> not be ready for primetime: >> >> >> >> http://wiki.x.org/wiki/Development/Documentation/Multiseat >> >> http://vignatti.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/multiseat-roadmap >> >> >> >> There is a configuration tool for Xorg multiseat called MDM: >> >> >> >> http://wiki.c3sl.ufpr.br/multiseat/index.php/Mdm >> >> >> >> but from what I've read it isn't ideal. Besides Xorg multiseat >> I've >> >> read about LTSP and a few others: >> >> >> >> http://www.ltsp.org >> >> http://www.thinstation.org >> >> http://automseat.sourceforge.net >> >> http://www.openthinclient.org >> >> >> >> There are also a lot of proprietary options. Is LTSP the way to >> go? >> > >> > It may be, but as with all thin client models you would need a >> terminal >> > computer for each user. >> > >> > If you only have one machine and monitors, keyboards and mice for >> each user >> > then you'll need multiple video cards (and a strong power supply) >> for your >> > only PC. In this case something like >> http://automseat.sourceforge.net may be >> > more appropriate. However, I have not used anything like this set >> up to offer >> > an opinion on performance. >> > >> > At work we use thin clients running Debian to serve MSWindows >> server >> desktop >> > and apps to users. This setup uses the Citrix ica protocol, but >> I'm >> thinking >> > that FreeNX coupled with VNC or relevant KDE or Gnome remote >> desktop >> > implementation would probably work nicely and offer LAN and remote >> connection >> > security at the same time. >> > -- >> > Regards, >> > Mick >> >> If I throw out installing a separate OS on a separate machine for >> each >> workstation and all of the proprietary thin-client protocols, I think >> I have 3 options: >> >> 1. Connect monitors, USB keyboards, and USB mice directly to a server >> with multiple video cards. I found a motherboard with 6 PCI-E slots: >> >> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128508 >> >> 6 video cards could be installed for 6 workstations if the server >> goes >> headless, and even more if multi-headed video cards are used. Xorg >> requires some special configuration for this but this discussion from >> 2010 sounds like it's something that is actually done: >> >> http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-836950-start-0.html >> >> These guys got it working in 2006: >> >> http://www.linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html >> >> 2. Set up a separate thin client for each workstation and run LTSP on >> the server. This seems inferior to #1 because it requires setting up >> and maintaining the LTSP server and client configuration, NFS, >> xinetd, >> tftp, dnsmasq, and PXE-boot. Bandwidth would also be limited >> compared >> to #1 and hardware and power requirements would be much greater. >> >> 3. Run a Plugable thin client for each workstation: >> >> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PXPPNA >> >> This likely requires running "Userful Multiseat Linux" on my server >> which is only packaged up for Ubuntu. The Plugable thin client >> connects to the server via USB 2.0 which makes me wonder if it could >> be made to work without Userful Multiseat Linux as a USB video card >> and input devices, but I imagine drivers for the video card and >> bandwidth over USB could be a problem. >> >> I think #1 is the way to go but I'd love to hear anyone else's >> opinion >> on that. Has anyone here ever set up multiseat in Xorg? >> >> - Grant
