Transcript Saving Money by Recycling Existing Computers with LTSP

Saving Money by Recycling Existing
Computers with LTSP
Peter Billson
Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP.org)
Linux User Group in Princeton LUG/IP
July 16, 2003
What is the LTSP ?
The Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) is
the component of Linux that allows
inexpensive thin client computers to be
connected to a server, spreading the power
of the server to many desktops.
History of the project
LTSP was started in 1999 to fill a need for a
customer in the USA.
The customer needed an inexpensive reliable
method of giving 35 users access to a server
based application.
Customer Requirements
●
Connectivity to existing business applications
●
Word Processing
●
Spread sheets
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Email
●
Web browsing
●
Easy to maintain
●
Low Cost
Possible Solutions
1.
Traditional PC with Microsoft Windows
2.
Windows Based Terminal (WBT)
3.
Full PC based on Linux
4.
Thin client based on Linux
#1 Traditional Windows PC
●
Too expensive to deploy. Each workstation would cost $1,350
US.
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Expensive to maintain. 35 workstations would require at least 1
full-time sysadmin.
●
License management problems
●
Proprietary solution depending on vendor.
●
Virus and Security problems
●
Future software upgrades mean hardware upgrades to ALL
desktops.
#2 Windows Based Terminal
●
Based on Microsoft Windows
●
Proprietary Solution depending on vendor
●
Expensive Per-User licensing
●
Virus and Security problems
#3 Full PC based on Linux
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Lower initial cost than option 1 or 2
●
Too much hardware at each desktop. No need
for the Harddrive, CDRom or Floppy.
●
Expensive to maintain. A hardware failure
would result in downtime for the user.
#4 Thin client based on Linux
●
No moving parts
●
Loads the operating system from the server
●
No local storage. Means all data and
configuration information is stored (and backed
up) on the server.
●
Significantly lower cost.
Our Choice....
#4 - Linux based thin clients
Only 1 Problem !
There was no place to purchase a
Linux based thin client solution.
Solution:
Build our own Linux based thin client
solution...
The birth of the LTSP
Apple MAC
Windows PC
Thin client
Thin client
Thin client
LTSP Server
MS Windows
Server
Internet
Application
Server
Firewall
MS Windows
Server
Apple MAC
Windows PC
Windows PC
Thin client
Thin client
Thin client
Thin client
Thin client
Proxy Server /
Content Filter
LTSP Server
Features of LTSP
●
Ability to run any Linux program
●
Graphical user interface using the X Windows System
●
StarOffice / OpenOffice for Wordprocessing and Spreadsheets
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Mozilla / Netscape / Opera / Konquerer for web browsing
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Graphical Email Clients such as Evolution and Kmail
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Access to MS Windows systems via Rdesktop and Citrix ICA
client.
More Features
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Support for Redhat, SuSE, Mandrake, Debian and many other
Linux distributions.
●
LTSP is very well supported.
●
Installed at over 100,000 sites (estimated)
●
LTSP is FREE (Licensed under the GPL)
So... How do you save money?
Many older computers are no longer capable of running the latest
version of Microsoft Windows, so Microsoft is not only forcing you to
upgrade the software, but they are also forcing you to upgrade the
hardware as well.
Fortunately, it is very easy to convert those older computers to LTSP
workstations by removing the hard disk, CD-Rom and floppy drive,
and adding a bootable network card or a bootrom to the existing
network card.
A 90Mhz Pentium with at least 16MB of ram makes a great LTSP
workstation.
How much can you save?
Cost Comparison for 35 Desktops
50000
Windows
45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
LTSP w/New
20000
15000
10000
LTSP
5000
0
$47,250
$21,500
$5,750
How much can you save?
Cost Comparison for 140 Desktops
200000
Windows
175000
150000
125000
100000
LTSP w/New
75000
50000
25000
LTSP w/Used
0
$189,000
$74,000
$11,000
Where to go for More Info:
●
www.LTSP.org
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www.K12LTSP.org
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www.DisklessWorkstations.com
Demonstration
Thank You
Questions?