Free Open Source Thin Client Solution - OpenThinClient : Quick Start

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Quick Start

This guide is intended to combine the installation and configuration so you can boot a thinclient for intial testing right away. It is currently work in progress, so if you get stuck somewhere, please look at the detailed installation or configuration page.

1. Getting Started

Since OpenThinClient is based on SUN JAVA it is largely platform independent.

Installation requirements:

Sun Java 1.6 version (JRE is sufficient)
Minimum 500 MB, recommended 1 GB RAM Linux
Minimum 1 GB, recommended 1,5 GB RAM on Microsoft Windows
Minimum 1 GB, recommended 2 GB of free harddisc space
Several unassigned ports:
TCP: 1098, 1099, 2069, 3873, 4444, 4445, 8009, 8080, (internal webserver), 8083, 10389 (LDAP server)
UDP: 67 (DHCP proxy), 69 (TFTP server), 514 (SYSLOG server), 2069, 4011 (DHCP proxy)
Only one configured NIC besides loopback (multihoming on todo)
Working internet connection
A running DHCP server (Not installed on the same machine as the OpenThinClient Server!)

2. Install Java

Install the matching Sun Java 1.6 version (JRE is sufficient) for your OS:
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp external link

3. Install OpenThinClient

Go to http://openthinclient.org/downloads external link

to download the current OpenThinClient version.

You can start the shiny new installer by double clicking the jar file or executing the following command line as administrator or root user:

java -jar openthinclient-0.4.5.jar

4. Start the OpenThinClient Manager

If you installed OpenthinClient as a Service it should already be running, if not a manual start is required:

Linux: Execute /etc/init.d/openthinclient start as root user.
Windows: Click on the "Start Service" icon in the openthinclient program groups

Open a webbrowser and connect to the server via the URL

http://<SERVERNAME_OR_IP>:8080

Click on the "Start Manager" button.
Confirming the "trust content requester" to start the openThinClient Manager
Click on the "Connect to an existing realm" button to configure the server
The default password is secret and has to be typed.
Choose the "openthinclient" realm and click finish.

5. Boot a new ThinClient over PXE

The easiest way for creating a new ThinClient is to just let it boot and assign it afterwards.

The running openThinClient server "listens" on the network and tracks all PXE-request.

Initiate a network boot of the ThinClient you wish to configure.

Hint: The ThinClient won't boot the openThinClient os right now but the openThinClient server recognizes it's attempt to boot over the network.

Open the "PXE clients" node and you will find a new ThinClient entry.
Right click" on the desired MAC-entry and select "edit" to start the "Convert to Client" wizard. Enter a name (and description).
Assign the ThinClient to a location and hardware type

After finishing the "Convert to Client" wizard the ThinClient will show up at the "Clients" node.

Now start the desired ThinClient (again) to let it boot the openThinClient OS.

6. Create a Test User and assign existing Applications

To create a new "user" right click on the "Users" node and then select "new".
Give the user name, then press next.
Now you can give the user a password.
Then click "finish"

The new user will now be visible in the "Users" node.

Right Click on the User and choose Edit to go to the Applications tab
click on an application to assign it
click finish

7. Login into the OpenThinClient OS

Enter the username and the password for the user you just created at the login screen. After the desktop has loaded you should now see the desktop icon for the assigned application.