How to set up thinclient in Linux

Thin Client How to by Vaibhav Gupta

How to set up Thintux Server
You need to setup dhcp server and copy thintux folder on the server.
Setting up dhcp server
a. Make dhcpd configuration file :-> /etc/dhcpd.conf
b. Starting dhcpd :-> /etc/init.d/dhcpd start

Configuring dhcpd.conf Manually:-
1. Set subnet,netmask,router and range of IPs.
2. Set Thintux session server address, resolution and color depth.
3. Detailed Information man dhcpd, man dhcpd.conf
4. Get Sample Configuration dhcpd.conf (For Linux)<a
href="thintux/dhcpd.conf" >[dhcpd.conf] </a>

Format of dhcp.conf :-
[code]
#global parameters...
subnet 10.105.0.0 netmask 255.255.128.0 {
# subnet-specific parameters...
range 10.105.13.101 10.105.13.210;
option routers 10.105.1.250;
option THINTUX_SESSION_SERVER "10.105.11.23";
option THINTUX_SCREEN_RESOLUTION "800x600";
option THINTUX_SCREEN_COLOR_DEPTH "8";
}
group {
#group-specific parameters...
host abc.iitb.ac.in {
#host-specific parameters...
}
}
[/code]
Configuring using config-dhcpd :-
1. http://config-dhcpd.sourceforge.net/

Start X Display Manager
1. vim /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xdm/xdm-config
2. Comment the last line as below :-
!DisplayManager.requestPort: 0
3. Save and Exit
4. vim /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xdm/Xaccess
5. uncomment the following line (By removing #)
#* #any host can get a login window
6. Save and Exit
7. Start xdm :-> xdm

Help and Debug :-
1. man xdm
2. Error Logs :-> /var/log/xdm-errors
or :-> /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xdm/xdm-errors
3. X -query 10.105.11.23

Check tftp is enable on server
1. vim /etc/xinetd.d/tftp
2. Change the disable option to "no" as Below.
disable = no
3. Save file and exit
4. Restart xinitd

Copy /thintux folder in /tftboot on server
<a href="thintux/thintux.tgz" >[thintux][tgz] </a>

http://thintux.sourceforge.net/

How to setup thinclient
Client already contaning Linux OS
1. Copy "localdsk" as /root/thinlinux on Client <a
href="thintux/localdsk" >[localdsk][x86 boot sector] </a>
2. Modify /etc/lilo.conf
3. Run lilo
4. Restart the PC

Add following Entries to lilo.conf:-

default=thin-linux # Add or Modify this line for default Booting from N/w
image=/root/thinlinux
label=thin-linux
read-only

Client that doesnot contain Linux OS
For all the following steps you have to use Dos Bootable Floopy
containg fdisk, format, syslinux.com and linux image(thintux) [as
downloaded above].

1. Delete all partitions on Hard Drive using fdisk.
2. Execute :-> fdisk /mbr
3. Create 20MB Dos Partion and Make active
4. Reboot
5. Execute:-> Format C:
6. Execute:-> syslinux c:
7. Execute:-> copy linux c: The above file "linux" is same as "localdsk". Only the name is
changed in this case.
8. Remove Floppy and Reboot

For Debugging
1. Use tcpdump as
tcpdump -n port 7100
tcpdump -n port tftp

Links
http://thintux.sourceforge.net
http://www.dhcp.org
http://www.dhcp-handbook.com/dhcp_faq.html
http://syslinux.zytor.com
http://www.vlug.org/vlug/meetings/X-terminal_presentation/overview.html