45 Minutes to a Linux Terminal Server

By Mark Rais, senior editor for reallylinux.com

For an introduction to Terminal Servers, first read: In Business the Desktop is Dying

With a Linux Terminal Server and thin-clients, a business can remove many of the costs
associated with maintenance, support, and licensing of countless desktop PCs. Thanks to the
exceptional efforts of the Linux Terminal Server Project members, such a switch can be both cost
effective and efficient.

This article summarizes how one small business made the switch quickly using the extensive
effort that resulted in the creation of the K-12LTSP prepackaged release. This ready to use
package comes preloaded with every program needed. Most importantly, it can be installed and
used within 45 minutes and makes a terrific prototype server. Now any small business can try out
the power of a Linux Terminal Server with nominal effort.

If you're ready to begin installing a prototype Terminal Server, please skip ahead to Step 2.
Otherwise, read on.

Step 1: What is a Terminal Server and Why Should I Care?

A terminal server is a computer running certain programs that allow other PCs to directly connect
and use its resources and applications.

The server is accessed through a variety of thin-clients, which are inexpensive PCs that have a
network card connection.

For example, an office may have five desktop PCs attached to the network. By connecting them
to a Terminal Server, these PCs no longer need to rely on their own hard disks, memory, CPU
power etc. Instead, they connect to the power and capacity of the single server. This one server
offers each of the thin-clients (terminals) access to necessary applications, the Internet and
Intranet, storage and print devices.

Such a configuration offers the following overt benefits:

 1. Greatly reduces desktop PC support, maintenance, and upgrades
2. Places all configuration and applications in a central server model
3. Greatly reduces software licensing costs
4. Simplifies I.T. operations
5. Operates on older or outdated PCs, as the performance is predicated upon the server
6. Easily integrates with existing servers and infrastructure such as Windows NT Servers
7. Allows the use of Linux and OpenSource software with almost no installation burden

The Perceived Barriers

Ironically, most businesses today already employ a part of this terminal to server model, whether
they want to or not.

Most businesses today, especially those operating Microsoft services and servers, rely heavily on
central servers to perform tasks such as license and desktop PC management, email and data
storage and delivery, and printer sharing. All of these capabilities come from the central servers.

The PC sitting under the desk is nothing more than a place to store licensed applications. Not
even individual user data exists on the hard disks. In most companies the data is stored on a
SAN (storage area network) and only accessed through the desktop PC.

So the Terminal Server offers a major benefit to existing Microsoft based organizations. It allows
you to run applications and maintain those applications and desktops with a single server that
requires NO LICENSING BURDENS. Moreover, the constant upgrading cycles no longer apply.
You can keep the old PCs around for a decade. They don't need to receive upgrades. Instead all
hardware level upgrades occur only on the Terminal Server. In most settings a Linux Terminal
Server costing no more than $2,500 can easily support twenty thin-clients.

If you need more clarity how a Linux Terminal Server can help your business, please read my
article: Linux in Business. If you desire to use a Terminal Server in an educational environment
then please read my article on Linux in the Classroom.

Step 2: Setup Terminal Server Hardware

In the numerous Terminal Server installations I've done, this step usually required less than 45
minutes. In most cases the slowest part of this first step is waiting for the software to install on the
server and reading through my text!

Step A: Choose a Server

Obviously, if you have a nice fat budget, getting a more powerful system will all the more
dramatically increase each individual thin-client session.

However, in a number of cases I installed Linux Terminal Servers for non-profit organizations and
applications where there was no budget. This led me to choose the following high reliability, low
cost setup.

One of my frequently used configurations is as follows:

 Dell PowerEdge SC420
 512MB RAM
 400MHz BUS
 2.2GHz Intel Celeron Processor
 2x 80GB 7200 rmp hard disks
 2x PCI 10/100 Ethernet cards (Linksys etherfast)

It's obviously not a high end server configuration. This is a prototype server I've used countless
times because all of the hardware is fully compatible with Fedora Linux and the total cost of this
server is less than $500.

If you are a government or educational leader, Rais has extra server he may choose to gift to your organization -- if you are
serious about using LTSP. This gift offer is provided exclusively to organizations of Rais' personal choosing, in India, Australia,
and New Zealand. You may wish to contact him. This is not a general offer, and quantities are very limited.

If your budget can handle more, then by all means you'll see even further performance gains.
However, this particular server can support a handful of thin-clients without any fuss. Eight
simultaneous users doing basic things like writing documents with OpenOffice.org Writer get
reasonable performance through this setup.

As a rule of thumb, the Linux Terminal Server (TS) should have:

 64MB of RAM for each thin-client
 250MB of disk space for each user /home directory, plus an additional 6GB for Linux
 100MB or faster Ethernet connectivity

Once you have your server, what ever the brand you prefer, you're ready to move on to the next
step.
Step B: Install the Network Cards
It's true, most every server on the market comes with pre-installed network cards. I caution you
that the most important thing is to ensure the network cards are fully supported by your Linux
flavor. It's also a bonus to find cards that are highly reliable and inexpensive.

In my case it was cheapest, guaranteed compatibility with Fedora Linux, and easiest for me to
use two Linksys Etherfast 10/100 PCI cards purchased seperately. I like these cards and have
installed many of them. They sell for less than $20 in most stores and provide excellent network
connectivity. You can choose whatever you want, just make sure the cards are fully supported by
Linux and that they are reliable.

For a proper installation you need two network cards. The first card is the “external” card that
handles all data being passed to the internet router/gateway. In my case the first ethernet card
(eth0) will support the DSL broadband connectivity for the TS. The second card (eth1) handles
the “internal” network connectivity to the thin-clients.

Step 3: Install Linux Terminal Server Software

As with many aspects of Linux, you will find there are a variety of options for installing your
terminal server. You may choose and install your favorite Linux flavor and then install the LTSP
programs, or you can use a pre-configured LTSP installation.

Ofcourse, no one should simply grab Linux CDs and start installing and integrating within a
business setting. I always recommend integration begin with a prototype server on a business
subnet. You can read more regarding integrating Linux in any business in my article: Moving to
Linux.

I decided to use the K-12LTSP CD set since it is easily installed and comes with everything I
need for a small business setting.

Notice, the K-12 version is actually the packaged release used for schools. There are a lot of
pre-installed software tools and teaching aids you can simply delete later. It uses the Fedora
Core 4 base. For more information about LTSP updates please visit the LTSP.org site.
For a super easy to install prototype, the K12LTSP package is exemplary. This ready made
package comes preloaded and preconfigured with so many software needed in a small business
setting including:

 OpenOffice.org suite with word processor, spreadsheet program, and presentation tool all
compatible with Microsoft Office;
 rdesktop (ability to connect to Microsoft Windows terminal servers);
 SAMBA (ability to do file-sharing with Windows servers);
 and over 60 other programs such as Firefox, Evolution email software etc.

For a business prototype there is currently no easier way to get immediate benefits of a Terminal
Server.

Start the Installation

Start the installation process by choosing the Linux Terminal Server from the K-12LTSP
installation menu.

I recommend you do an automatic installation and partioning rather than use disk druid.

As the installation proceeds, you will be asked to confirm NETWORK DEVICES.

This is a very vital step. Select the devices you will be using. In my case the eth0 will be
connected to broadband and needs to be setup to receive it's IP address via DHCP. The second
device needs to be setup to support the TS and should be given some default IP address. If you
want to know, the LSTP usually sets the server as: 192.168.0.254

You can include this now if you wish, or do it later in the configuration.

You will be given the opportunity to select packages. I strongly recommend you make sure that at
least these packages are included:
 Linux Terminal Server
 Desktop shell (GNOME)
 Office suite (OpenOffice)
 Web browser (Mozilla)
 Email (Evolution)
 Instant Messaging (depends on your business need)
 Sound and video (this allows for video conferencing and voice dictation)

Be sure to check all three boxes under System to include: Administrative Tools, System Tools,
and Printing Support.

It is useful also to check under Server: Server Configuration Tools, Web Server, Mail Server
(unless you plan to utilize an existing Exchange server), and Windows File Server.

As the installation process completes, you can also choose to Install from the Additional CD.
Once done, you're ready to run your first Linux Terminal Server sessions!
Step 4. Activate Your Network Connectivity

Once your TS is up and running, you should ensure that the network cards are properly running.

From the main menu, choose System Settings, then Network. If you've never setup a network
card for Fedora you may benefit by first reading Post Installation Configuration. For now, highlight
the ethernet card that will be used for internal network connectivity to the thin-clients.

Make sure it has the correct configuration. Press the Edit button.

You should ensure the proper IP address (usually 192.168.0.254), and your Subnet mask
(often 255.255.255.0 on most networks) and your Gateway (just use a dummy like
123.123.123.1 if you don't know for now) is included. You MUST obviously adjust these
depending on your business network. Also note the very important first box that should be
checked: Activate device when computer starts.

Once you press OK, you will return to the Network Configuration window. From here choose the
DNS tab and be sure to fill in all the necessary data.

Please make sure you assign a hostname. I've assigned this system the hostname: linuxtsp. You
do not have to include any DNS information if it does not apply to your situation.

Now press the Hosts tab.

Here you will see 256 IP addresses listed. All you need to understand at this point is that your TS
is listed as the last entry usually ending with .254. The top entry alias "ws001" is the name that
will get assigned to the first terminal thin-client that connects to your server. The second alias
"ws002" will get assigned to the second one, and so on.

Press the Device tab again and highlight the ethernet card you will use for internal network
connectivity again. Now press the Activate button to ensure it is activated.

You should see a little window appear and then disappear.

You're now ready to connect thin-clients to the server!

If you had any issues or need more details regarding network card setup in Fedora, please read
this.

Step 5. Create User Accounts on the TS

From the main menu, choose System Settings, then Users and Groups.

Press the Add User button to begin adding new users for the server. Remember that these are
users that will login to the server from their thin-clients. Access restrictions and proper user
password and security procedures should be applied for this step.

Once you've created at least a test user account for yourself, choose File then quit.

Step 6. Connect a Thin-Client to the TS

Now you're ready to connect a terminal to the server. Choose any PC that is within your network
subnet.

Reboot the PC and enter the BIOS setup. With some PCs this requires you to press the F2 key
before Windows or another OS loads up. In some other systems and laptops it is the F12 key that
allows you to choose boot device.
You simply need to get access to the PC prior to it loading an OS and select a Network boot
rather than a hard disk boot. Sometimes you need to also designate the Protocol, which should
be PXE.

Now allow the PC to boot from the Network. If all works correctly, within a few seconds you
should see the PC begin initializing a Linux virtual desktop and then the Fedora login screen.
Now log in using your test account name and password.

You are now in and using the TS as a thin-client. That's all there is to it... Enjoy!

Appendix A. Connecting to the Internet

As you recall, we installed two network cards. One was exclusively to be used for all internal
networking and the second for external networking.

You may connect a DSL or other broadband connection to the second ethernet device. However,
before you do, please keep in mind several things. Depending on your business situation, you
may not have a firewall or other security settings protecting such a connection. It's vital you setup
a firewall. Although the K-12LTSP comes with many pre-configured firewall and security settings,
it is best to get some more insight prior to connecting to an external Internet source. I recommend
you atleast review these two articles:

Setting up a business firewall

Using Linux with DSL
TIP: Never connect any business server to an external Internet source without some form of
security model in place.

Appendix B. Getting Access to other Windows PCs from the TS

You can use the very powerful Windows to Linux networking tool called SAMBA to perform file-
sharing on an existing network.

The details for how to setup and run SAMBA are included in my article: Integrating Linux in a
Windows Network with SAMBA.

Mark Rais, author of Linux for the Rest of Us, dedicates his time and energy
promoting OpenSource technology, especially among the poor and where a
technology divide exists. He serves as senior editor for reallylinux.com and as a
technology consultant to those interested in switching to Linux.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Microsoft, Windows, Microsoft

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