Looks like a great project! Congrats. Here's to low powered thin-client networks and full functionality off the grid.
Cheers, Jordan/Lns Bjorn Helgaas wrote: > Interesting application of LTSP: > > http://gnuveau.net/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi > > From the overview: > > > The SolarNetOne ICT terminal network was conceived and designed to solve the > challenging problem of how to provide Internet access and services to rural > and developing areas where there is no existing power or communications > infrastructure. This problem is solved by combining several powerful > technologies: Photovoltaic solar electrical systems, GNU/Linux, 802.11a/b/g > packet radio, commonly known as “wifi,” Power over Ethernet, and the MIT X11 > windowing system. It has been described as an “ISP in a box,” for reasons > detailed below. > > SERVER > > The SolarNetOne system incorporates a powerful server in a small form factor > that acts as the core of the communications system. It provides mid to long > range wireless internet coverage up to a 2 mile radius through its integrated > high power 802.11a/b/g wireless access point and high gain omni-directional > antenna. This configuration can be used to provide full internet access, > including Voice over IP telephone service, to the immediate coverage area, > which can be extended to longer ranges through the use of wireless repeater > devices. Also integrated into the server is the capability for full > end-to-end internet communications by means of its HTTP (web), SMTP (email), > DNS (domain name system), and SSH (secure shell) server software. > > Additional internet services can easily be added to the network by use of the > APT (advanced package tool) repositories of GNU/Linux software available > worldwide. This is an integral part of the underlying Ubuntu operating > system. APT automates the often difficult task of installing and updating > software, making system administration tasks of installation and maintenance > easy, particularly when critical updates effecting network security are > concerned. The server itself can also be used as a network console for > administration or day-to-day operator use through its integrated monitor, > keyboard, and mouse. > > TERMINALS > > Another key feature of the SolarNetOne system is its network attached > terminals, which provide traditional desktop services one would normally > associate with using a computer, with several powerful, attractive, and > popular desktop environments to choose from. It comes pre-installed with web > browsing, email, office, multimedia, software development and web development > applications, as well as a choice of over 15000 other applications to suit > most any computing need that are free for download through the APT system. > The terminals themselves connect to the system’s Ethernet hub, which provides > both network connection and electrical power to the terminals and their LCD > monitors over a single CAT6 Ethernet wire. This eliminates wire clutter and > the need for extra power wiring costs. They operate as “thin clients” with > the majority of the workload being handled by the server’s higher capacity > processors, enabling superior performance per over than a standalone PC > architecture and significantly lower maintenance workload than a similar > solution of several personal computers. > > Also available is full sound support through integrated audio jacks, 104 key > keyboard, laser scroll mouse and the ability to plug USB memory sticks into > the terminals, allowing users to take their data with them round out the > terminal’s ability to provide a complete and rich user experience. > SolarNetOne comes standard with 5 terminals, and can expand to as many as 48 > terminals per server node. As an option in areas where allowed by law, an ATA > phone adapter provides Voice over IP telephone service through a standard > telephone handset. > > POWER SYSTEM > > The entire SolarNetOne system is powered by 12VDC electrical current supplied > through the system’s elegant solar power generation and storage subsystem. > Using an array of photovoltaic solar panels, an advanced charge controller, > ample battery storage, and a design focusing on safety, the power subsystem > provides for all of the electrical needs associated with 24/7 server > operation and 8 hours per day of terminal access. Integrated circuit breakers > on every segment of the power sub-system provide the safest possible > implementation. In addition to its excellent performance, the use of solar > power means no fuel costs, no polluting emissions, and a long lifespan of up > to 20 years of use at listed power ratings with proper maintenance. > > USER APPLICATIONS > > The SolarNetOne system comes pre-installed with a wide variety of user > applications. For the user, these include: > > Mozilla Firefox suite for web browsing and email > Evolution for email and calendering > OpenOffice? for office applications > GIMP and InkScape? for bitmap and vector graphics, respectively > Xmms, Xine, and Mplayer for multimedia playback > X-chat and Gaim for chat/instant messaging > Xaos fractal explorer > Bluefish html editor > and, a wide variety of games, and a choice of Enlightenment 17, Gnome, and > Fluxbox desktops environments. > > Security and feature updates to these packages are available, as well as > access to over 15000 other pre-compiled software packages in the Ubuntu > repositories available via the integrated APT packaging system. Ubuntu comes > GUI tools like the Synaptic Package Manager to add or remove applications, as > well as the underlying apt-get, apt-cache, and apt-file command line tools, > which Synaptic makes use of. The system also includes python, perl, and shell > interpreters, as well as gcc and its family of compilers, libraries, > debuggers and linkers for C and C++ development. > > CONCLUSION > > The SolarNetOne integrated communications system provides modern, efficient, > powerful and easily maintainable internet services and access infrastructure > specifically designed to overcome the challenges inherent in off-grid and > remote location scenarios. By combining several cutting edge technologies, > the SolarNetOne system stands head and shoulders above other methods of > addressing the aforementioned problems of providing internet services and > connectivity in some of the most challenging circumstances. Designed for > safety, longevity, elegance, and ecological friendliness, the SolarNetOne > system can effectively solve the problems facing anyone seeking to deploy > internet communications to developing areas for many years to come. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge > Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes > Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world > http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ > _____________________________________________________________________ > 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 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ _____________________________________________________________________ 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
