Start Page

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Start Page
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SBC Thin Client Concept

• Workshop Thin Client Essentials

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Pros and Cons of Thin Clients

• Pros
• No management on site needed
• User can not break something
• Secure in means of intruder resistance
• Noise level very low
• Long duration time
• Cons
• Exotic hardware like Scanners complicated to
  bind in user session
• Not as flexible as PCs
• SBC clients have usually only basic functions
• User usually do not like Thin Clients?

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Variants

• No Flash Disk only RAM
• Boot over Network
• Boot image and configuration load at boot
• Management Server becomes critical component

Boot over Network

• Flash Disk and RAM
• Boot from Flash Disk
• Management Server manages changes of
  configuration and flash image
• Management Server could be down

Boot from Flash

• Both variants possible
• Cheap
• Hard Disk can be very noisy
• Hard Disk could be replaced with Flash Disk

Old Pc as TC
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Which Thin Clients are the Best Ones?

• Central Management is a Part of Thin Client
  Package
• No moving Parts
• They have all Interfaces I need
• They have Client I need
• Documentation is complete
• Vendor support is fast and competent
• Energy Efficiency?
• DVI Out?
• Fast Start?
• Nice Design?
• They have Product presentations on nice
  locations?

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Which Operating System?

• Embedded Linux or Windows CE
• Very Thin Clients possible
• Easy to adapt existent Linux software
• SBC software vendor support not really excellent
• Windows CE
• Very Thin Clients possible
• Basic Level SBC Client Features
• Windows XP Embedded
• Windows XP drivers could be installed
• High Hardware demand

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Thin Clients Best Practices

• Do not touch them!
• Centralised management is not a option is a must
• DHCP is your friend
• Divide and conquer
• Take complexity out of IT Infrastructure if
  possible
• Rollout is the end of thin clients project

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Thin Clients System
Server Farm
Thin Clients
ManagementServer
Backend
Web Interface
Infrastructure Services
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Do not Touch!

• Thin Clients are not PC without Hard Disks and
  Fans
• No need for management on site
• Broken TC will be replaced
• Reparations only throught Vendors
• If user has a problem it will be solved throught
  central management

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Centralised Management
Server Farm
Thin Clients
ManagementServer
Backend
Web Interface
Infrastructure Services
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DHCP is Your Friend
Server Farm
Thin Clients
ManagementServer
Backend
Web Interface
DHCP (MAC Address)
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Divide and Conquer
Same Location
Same Printers
Same Exotic Stuff
Same Administrator
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Take Complexity Out

• Thin Clients Environments needs certain amount
  of Standardisation among IT Infrastructure
• All or most User Applications could be deployed
  on you SBC System
• Would be helpful to reduce complexity of Printer
  diversity in your Environment even if you do
  not use TC
• Less as possible different settings among TC
• Less as possible different application
  connections setting

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Rollout is the End
DHCP

• Manager Address
• Group Number
• Etc.

Manager Server

• OS or/and Updates
• Configuration
• Application Direction

Server Farm

• User Application starts

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Printing is not a Problem? Really?

• Normally there are no printer drivers on TC
• Printer configuration on TC means to set
  Interface and name of printer driver on SBC
  Server
• By network printer IP address or network name of
  printer, port or queue and name of printer
  driver on SBC Server are to set
• TC printing depends on SBC Server, SBC Clients
  and Applications on SBC Server
• SBC Clients on TC have slightly different
  features as PC clients
• Universal printer drivers which a based on EMF
  dont work on Embedded Linux and Windows CE
  very well

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Possibility One Printers Connected on TC
Network Printer
Server Farm
Local Printer
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Possibility Two Printers Configured on Server
Network Printer
Print Server
Network Printer Connection throught Print Server
Server Farm
Local Printer
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Possibility Tree Local TC Printer Connected
throught Server
Print Server
Server Farm
Local Printer
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Sign on and Security considerations

• User authorisation can be done on TC if
  supported or on SBC Client user session
• Management software to support security groups
  from AD
• In large organisations local administrators
  should manage only TC from their OU
• Normally is impossible for user to install
  something on TC
• Administrators can change installation only
  through Management Software
• USB Ports on TC are same problem as on PCs when
  they not closed through configuration

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Thank you for staying awake and sober!