Sudev Barar wrote: > On 29/03/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> 1. Can the Celeron - with a RAM and HD upgrade perform as an LTSP server >> - and what would be the ideal RAM size. >> >> > > Yes. For 2/5 clients 1gb > It depends highly on the Desktop you're using. With lightweight desktops like XFCE you can pass with less memory on the server. > >> 2. Can the 486's become thin clients - how can i utilise, effectively, >> their existing HD's. >> >> > > 486's are really not adequate. You will need minimum of 32MB RAM > (which may cost not be available) and you will have to set up swap on > server of at least 64MB through lts.conf file. For all practical > purposes they are adequate only for shell and not GUI. > As you mentioned some one is coming with parts from Delhi, he can pick > up second hand P-1/2's easily and they would make perfect clients. Do > not use the HD's. Take them out and maybe add to the server. If they > are of adequate capacity may be make a RAID1 array on server. > Another idea is to use the hard disks as local swap space, instead of putting them on server and useing network swap which is (almost always) slower. > >> 3. For such old machines - the 486's - which boot system would be ideal >> - ethernet, pxe, rpl or any other. >> >> > > Eherboot would be answer. Look at downloading relevant images from > rom-o-matic site. > Fully agree :) > >> I would like them to boot without needing a floppy or cd - mainly >> because the floppy drive is unreliable. >> >> > > Fully with you. > Even if it is not reliable, it usually suffices with it being useable. > >> 4. What network cards would i need to buy for the clients and the >> server. *This is really urgent as i need to ask someone to buy the stuff >> and send it across as a friend is travelling to this place for delhi) >> >> > > Compex 8139's PCI cards are available <Rs500 in Nehru Place, Delhi, > and you need to add boot ROM to the socket on cards. ROM's are also > available in the same market. In case you need ROM's contact me off > list I would send them to you. I am in Delhi. > BUT you need to be sure that the BIOS of the 486/Pentium computer supports booting from network card. Please double-check that before buying the netword cards or the bootROMs. > >> Which is preferable PCI or ISA >> >> > > PCI. Assuming there is PCI slot in those 486's > ISA is useable too, but I agree that PCI is always better. > >> will the server autodetect the pci cards - and do i need to buy an >> special pci cards (pxe enabled or such) >> >> > > Server - You mean client? Nothing special. A ethernet card with boot > ROM boots up first unless you have set up BIOS in some special way. > I repeat, if BIOS support NIC booting. > >> 5. Since i am familiar with Ubuntu is it advisable to stick to Ubuntu's >> LTSP- (my place has only dial up and that too unreliable so apt get is >> difficult) but I have the entire Ubuntu 6.06 repository with me - would >> this be adequate to configure Ubuntu LTSP >> >> I did read the Ubuntu issues section on ltsp.org - is Muekow preferable ? >> >> > > No. Do not use Muekow for now, I would advise stick with LTSP4 from > ltsp.org and use ltspadmin package. If you do not mind a little bitof > learning I would recommend K12LTSP - which is based on Fedora but with > CD's set to almost automatically install ltsp and also some > educational software. I can send CD's if bandwidth is limitation. > I agree that Muekow (which is the seed of LTSP 5) is not fully mature yet. Use LTSP 4.2 and the Ubuntu ltspadmin package but remember that ltspadmin downloads the entire LTSP environment from own servers, so it will be a bit hard over your dialup line. You can predownload and set up a "proxy" or such and tell ltspadmin to use it. > >> 6. How far can the clients be from the Server. >> >> > > You will need a switch (a hub would add to your woes) and then each > client can be upto 100 meters away (cable length) without trouble. > > That said 486's would be slow and I would strongly suggest minimum of > P-1's as clients. HTH. > >
As far as cable allows is not the best if you are using network swap and remote X altogether. Best if you constrain to 25 meters from switch both for terminals and server. Noel Torres er Envite ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys-and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _____________________________________________________________________ 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.freenode.net
