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Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) is an add-on package for Linux that allows many people to simultaneously use the same computer. Applications run on the server with a terminal known as a thin client handling input and output. These thin clients are also known as X terminals. Generally, they are low-powered, lack a hard disk and are quieter than desktop computers. This is because they do not have any moving parts.
This technology is becoming popular in schools as it allows the school to provide pupils access to computers without purchasing or upgrading expensive desktop machines. If the school does not have enough computers, new thin client machines are less costly than standard computers. If the school does have enough computers but they are a few years old, they may be able to extend the useful life of obsolescent computers by converting them into thin clients, since even a relatively slow CPU can deliver excellent performance as a thin client. Some examples of distributions using LTSP are K12LTSP, Skolelinux, AbulÉdu, Edubuntu, The Cutter project and Deworks.
In addition to the possibility of getting more performance for less money by getting one high-end server and turning their existing computers into thin clients, an educational institution may also gain more control over how their students are using computing resources by switching to a thin client configuration.
The founder and project leader of LTSP is Jim McQuillan.
How It Works
The LTSP server runs servers for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). A chroot environment is set up with a very minimal Linux operating system and the X window system (X), which is configured to connect back to the server's instance of X. When an LTSP client boots, it requests an IP address and boot information from DHCP. It then loads the chroot environment from the server, boots, starts X and displays an X login screen. This login screen and all other X applications run on the server. However, the minimal Linux operating system on the thin client that runs on client allows the client to use local devices for graphics, sound and storage. Although a user's home directory resides on the server, with proper configuration the user can mount local optical storage, hard drives, floppy disks and USB storage.
Massive deployment with MILLE-Xterm
The MILLE Project is funded by Canadian public agencies and school districts in the province of Quebec. MILLE means Modèle d'Infrastructure Logiciel Libre en Éducation (Free Software Infrastructure Model for Education) and is targeted at educational institutions. It is composed of four subprojects: a portal (based on uportal), an open-source middleware stack, a CD with free software for Windows/Mac and, finally, MILLE-XTERM.
The base kernel of MILLE-XTERM is LTSP.
The MILLE-XTERM provides a scalable infrastructure for massive X-Terminal deployment.
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