Title Page Previous Next Contents Index | Introduction to 2X ThinClientServer

Introduction to 2X ThinClientServer

What is 2X ThinClientServer?

2X ThinClientServer provides a complete solution for the central deployment, configuration and management of thin clients, and provides load balancing and redundancy of terminal servers.
A small footprint Linux distribution is deployed to thin clients (all popular thin clients are supported) OR to normal PCs, allowing you to convert existing PCs to thin clients. Thin client settings (screen size, which terminal servers to log into, etc.) can be controlled centrally.
2X ThinClientServer is thin client vendor independent: You can use old computers, new low cost computers and dedicated thin client devices from different vendors - and manage all these thin clients through one consistent and open interface.
Rather then have to commit to one particular thin client vendor and be forced to buy all your hardware from that vendor, you can get flexibility to choose what’s best for you and the possibility to re-use your old computer hardware.

Which Edition do I need?

2X ThinClientServer is available in 2 editions. In both editions 10 licenses are available for an unlimited period of time with full functionality.

Enterprise Edition

2X ThinClientServer Enterprise Edition provides a complete feature set for the administrator to provide Thin Clients with connections to the broadest range of Server-based Terminal Services, including:
This edition also includes features such as a fully fledged reporting tool based on both users and clients. The administrator has the ability to do remote shadowing of the Thin Client as well as switching them on and off remotely. To help scale your centralized ThinClientServer deployment, a set of fully redundant ThinClientServers can be installed on the same network. These will be capable of distributing the load of both the ThinClientServer as well as the network bandwidth in your organisation. Should the ThinClientServer/s be unavailable, the Thin Client will be capable of working in offline mode if a cache is available. This feature is only available for licensed customers.
Enterprise Edition License holders also have access to commercial grade support via online support services.

Standard Edition

2X ThinClientServer Standard Edition provides a free alternative to Enterprise Edition, with a reduced feature set.

How it works

In a nutshell, 2X ThinClientServer serves out the 2X ThinClientOS to the thin clients. After the 2X ThinClientOS has booted, it obtains its connection settings from the 2X ThinClientServer. These settings are then used to connect to the terminal server.
The 2X ThinClientOS itself can be retrieved from the TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) server (included with 2X ThinClientServer) via PXE or Etherboot (also supplied on the CD-ROM which does not rely on the network card’s ROM to load the PXE stack), or it can be booted from a storage device (Hard disk, CD-ROM, USB). The exact process by which the thin client boots and presents the desktop to the user is explained in the following steps:

Step 1: Booting the thin client:

  1. The thin client/computer is switched on. Based on the BIOS setting, the thin client/computer now boots either via the hard disk, PXE, Etherboot, USB or CD-ROM.
2XThinClientServer03.jpg
Figure 2: PXE booting
  1. If you have selected PXE booting OR Etherboot, the thin client/computer will obtain the IP address of the TFTP server via DHCP broadcasts. (In most installations the TFTP server will be installed on the same server as 2X ThinClientServer). The thin client will then download the 2X ThinClientOS image from the TFTP server and proceed to boot up the thin client using that Operating System image.
  2. If you chose to boot 2X ThinClientOS from USB, CD-ROM, or hard disk, the operating system will boot up directly from that image without retrieving the image from the TFTP server.

Step 2: 2X ThinClientOS connects to 2X ThinClientServer

  1. After 2X ThinClientOS has booted, it obtains the IP address of 2X ThinClientServer from the network settings returned by the 2X DHCP Helper Service.
2XThinClientServer04.jpg
Figure 3: PXE booting
  1. 2X ThinClientOS now prompts for the username and password. The username is passed to 2X ThinClientServer, which then looks for the user in the 2X ThinClientServer’s built-in database or Active Directory server. It finds the associated user profile and matches this user profile with connection settings for that user in the 2X ThinClientServer database. These connection settings are passed back to 2X ThinClientOS. The applications that are required for that particular user are downloaded on demand and cached locally after the user has logged off successfully. If the ThinClientServer ever goes offline, the cached copy of the ThinClientOS files is used instead.
  2. 2X ThinClientOS now runs the appropriate remote desktop client (RDP, ICA, and NX) with the required settings, including username and password, and connects the user to the correct terminal server.
2XThinClientServer05.jpg
Figure 4: The complete thin-client boot and connection process

2X ThinClientServer components

2X ThinClientServer consists of a number of components:
  1. The 2X ThinClientOS image – the actual Operating System that the thin client will boot. This image is either written to the hard disk or CD-ROM, and booted from there, or it is downloaded via TFTP and booted after download.
  2. The 2X ThinClientServer program, which interacts with the actual thin client.
  3. The 2X DHCP Helper service, which provides additional parameters to thin clients to enable centrally managed thin clients to communicate with 2X ThinClientServer.
  4. A TFTP server – to serve out the 2X ThinClientOS image to the computers booting via Etherboot or PXE
  5. A Management Console – to allow for web based configuration of all the connection settings. This is provided via a web server, namely Apache. Apache is one of the World's most widely used web servers. Originally developed in 1995 by a group that went on to become the Apache Group, the Apache HTTP Server is Open Source Software, and considered by proponents to be fast, scalable and secure.
    1. A MySQL server – this is a light-weight SQL database server that stores all the connection settings for the users.
  6. The PHP environment – PHP hypertext pre-processor is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development.

2X ThinClientServer features

Thin client vendor independent
Use thin clients from different vendors, old/existing computers, or new low cost computers - and manage all these thin clients through one consistent and open interface. Rather than having to commit to one particular thin client vendor from whom to buy all your hardware, you get the freedom to choose and the possibility to re-use your existing computer hardware.
Web-based management interface
Thin client devices and users’ connection settings can be managed centrally via the web management interface. It shows currently active thin clients and user sessions, generates reports, and includes a centralized database of thin client events, for easy troubleshooting.
Easy updates of thin client operating system & software
Updates to 2X ThinClientOS are easily deployed: Just download the latest version from the 2X website and copy it to the Thin Client Server: Thin clients booting from PXE will use the new OS at next boot-up. Thin clients booting from the hard disk or USB disk can be remotely updated via the web-based interface.
Manage user’s connection settings centrally
Centrally configure user’s connection settings such as terminal server name, type (RDP, Citrix ICA or NX), screen resolution and more. There is no need to push out these connection settings to the thin client devices, since they are retrieved when the user logs on.
Supports local media, sound, and printers
Locally connected printers or storage devices are supported seamlessly. Printers will show up in the list of printers on the users’ desktop, and local media will appear in Windows Explorer just like other media. Thin clients will forward sound from the Terminal Server.
How it works
2X ThinClientServer deploys a small footprint Linux-based OS to old PCs, new low cost PCs and to popular thin client devices (HP, Neoware, Wyse, Maxspeed and more). Thin clients always boot the latest version of the OS from the ThinClientServer. Hardware & connection settings (including resolution, logging and more) are retrieved from the server when the client logs on, making thin clients easy to manage.
Connection settings are managed based on username, group or department
Most thin client management software can only configure connection settings based on device. 2X ThinClientServer links connection settings to Active Directory/LDAP usernames, groups or OU’s (organizational units). This reduces the administration involved with adding users and managing roaming users.
Convert old PCs to powerful thin clients
2X ThinClientServer allows you to extend the life span of your current computers by converting them to thin clients. Re-using your old PCs or extending the life span of your current ones adds up to considerable savings over time.
Use low cost thin clients
Because 2X ThinClientServer includes a thin client OS and a centralized management interface for all thin client devices, you can opt for low-cost thin clients without OS & management software. This is the most expensive part of a thin client and can increase the per thin client cost from $200 to $500.
Thin client computing: reduced administration and end user support
Administrators can enjoy greatly reduced support and administration: Thin clients are far easier to manage since the thin client OS is deployed centrally and only includes a remote terminal client. Only the servers need to be managed, meaning that deploying patches, applications and virus updates is far easier. Enforcing desktop settings and backing up user files is easier too. Better security and fault tolerance is achieved by using RAID, load balancing and housing the Terminal Servers in a secure, air-conditioned server room. Helping users is simple too: Just shadow their session in real time and find out exactly what is happening without getting off your chair
Other Features