[K12OSN] thin client laptops/Asus EEE

Wed Apr 2 17:05:05 UTC 2008

Will Hatch wrote:
> Our school is at a juncture where we have to decide between upgrading the electrical system so it can handle a permanent computer lab, or go with laptops of some kind that run off of a cart.  The principle wants to go with the laptops because of cost.  I priced out a couple different models of Dell, that would run Windows XP, and would coexist with our Windows 2003 server.  But the cost is still more than we probably want to spend.  Wireless is a must.  
>
> I set up a k12ltsp network a few years back with good success.  But I used desktop hardware and ethernet.  I am wondering how wireless works with k12ltsp, and if there is a recommended make/model of inexpensive laptop that will do the job.  Has anybody successfully set this up with the Asus EEE?  Thanks for any help/suggestions.
>
> -Will
>
>   

For LTSP of nearly any sort, you really want 100Mbps, Full Duplex,
point-to-point (i. e., switched), to each station.  Wireless is a shared
medium, and even at the fastest speeds, it's not full duplex.  The
802.11n spec, which is said to operate--theoretically--at 248Mbps max,
has an actual throughput of about 75-100Mbps.  And yes, that's shared. 
Your 802.11g devices might see 40Mbps.

Essentially, you'd be putting yourself on a 40-100Mbps half-duplex hub. 
Not good for LTSP.  It will feel about as sluggish as Windows Vista on a
486-33 would.  Seriously, don't do it.  Your users will immediately
demand Windows PC's, incorrectly blaming Linux for the shortcomings of
wireless.

If wireless is a must, then go with inexpensive Linux thick clients and
stick wireless PCI cards in them (Ralink and Realtek wireless are both
very Linux-friendly).  There are a couple of good options here:

1.)  The Everex gPC (that's the famous "Green PC").  It's $199. 
Available at (at least) Newegg, TigerDirect, and even Wal-Mart Online. 
Comes with gOS Linux, but should be just fine with any other distro.

2.)  ZaReason; they've got a $249 Ubuntu desktop that looks pretty
doggone slick.  They're at http://www.zareason.com.  They'll put any
other Free distro on there if you want something besides Ubuntu.

--TP
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