Problems with Edubuntu thin client setup in school...- solved
 

Hi all,



sometime back I had posted my query regarding thin-clinet set up in
govt school in India using HCL server and winbee O.S. for clients.

We have got it to work using Edubuntu 11.04 which comes with LTSP.



Just wanted to share details so anybody facing similar issues can
benefit from our learnings.



After installation of Edubuntu 11.04 on server we did make changes
to configuration file as per details in my prev. mail (can be found
below).



In client machines while adding new connection thr' Winbee
connection manager window, we had to enable 'DHCP' which was
available on tab called 'update' and enter server IP there. That's
it and it all worked like a charm.



Thanks for your support and comments.



Now we have one small issue. and trying to see if anybody knows
solution for it.

We have one server and 10 thin clients, for each client machine we
created user as user1,user2 and so on. All these users show up at
log-in screen in client machines from where you can click on user
enter password and it will let you log-in. Is there anyway to
restrict login to show only one user per computer?



Much thanks,

Leena





On Monday 20 June 2011 04:34 PM, Leena wrote:


Thanks Jeff,



We have two network interfaces eth0 and 1,



Moreover would like to use Edubuntu 11.04 as it comes with many
educational software. When I tried installing Edubuntu 11.04 it
took lot of time without success.

Server already have Windows 2003 , Red Hat

and while installing Edubuntu, (had to use manual partitioning as
earier EDubuntu 10.04 was there) it got stuck at step where it
kept saying "removing conflicting files ...." and was at that for
40-45 mins. I had to reboot and installed 10.04 then.

Does Ebubuntu 11.04 takes this long for installation and
partitioning? Did I miss anything?



Thanks,

Leena





On Saturday 18 June 2011 04:13 PM, Jeff wrote:


On 18 Jun 2011, at 5:15 AM, Leena wrote:


Hi,



We are trying to setup Edubuntu 10.04 in school
and get image on thin client machines. Edubuntu
installation on server and LTSP installation
goes fine.

When try to connect client machines doesn't go
beyond connection window and shows blank screen.
Details of the setup and hardware and changes we
have done so far are listed below......sorry
it's a long mail.....this issue is very urgent
for us and hoping that someone would have done
similar setup or have come across similar issues
might able to help us....

our customized

questions: After the setup on
server, as for client machines we are unable to
receive response when we ping clients IP from
server (client machine, server and hub are on).Â*How

to check if dhcp is running?







ps -A | grep dhcp






Â*Â*

Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â*on most documentations on net I
have read for thin client setup they change
network/interfaces file and connection to
'STATIC' instead ofÂ*

'dynamic' is it required?



Details:



Hardware

used:Â*

Server-HCL computer-2GB RAM, 160GB Hard disk, two
network cards

Clients: connected to 10 Thin Clients connected to
server on LAN, no Internet connection here. Client
machines has connection window-Winbee connection manager
for login.



What we did so far:Â*

Installed Edubuntu 10.04 on server. After it was over
when the pop-up appears for restart now or continue
testing (to install LTSP).

At that we clicked on 'Continue Testing'- as we wanted
to install LTSP (Linux Terminal Server)

For network connection eth0 was shown as used, so we
selected-eth1 here.Â*







How many network interfaces do you have?



I noticed when I installed 11.04 last week (for the first
time) that it defaulted to eth1. I knew that I only had one
interface, so I set it to eth0 and everything went better
than expected. :)






after LTSP was
configured we did reboot computer, and made couple of
changes to config files as follows


Enabled the XDMCP Server by (using N-XDMCP connection type on clients for connection)
copied usr/share/custom.conf file to /etc/gdm/custom.conf and added below lines below [xdmcp] option.
[xdmcp]
Enable=true
DisplaysPerHost=2

[chooser]

[security]

[debug]
Restart GDM


Then edited our interfaces file:
/etc/network/interfaces to following

auto lo

iface lo inet loopback



auto eth1

iface eth1 inet static

Â* address 192.168.0.254

Â* netmask 255.255.255.0

Â* broadcast 192.168.0.255



and finally the /etc/ltsp/dhcpd.confÂ*Â*Â*Â* dhcpd.conf
file to following

#

# Default LTSP dhcpd.conf config file.

#



authoritative;



subnet 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {

Â*Â*Â* range 192.168.0.20 192.168.0.250;

Â*Â*Â* option domain-name "example.com";

Â*Â*Â* option domain-name-servers 192.168.0.1;

Â*Â*Â* option broadcast-address 192.168.0.255;

Â*Â*Â* option routers 192.168.0.254;

#Â*Â*Â* next-server 192.168.0.1;

#Â*Â*Â* get-lease-hostnames true;

Â*Â*Â* option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;

Â*Â*Â* option root-path "/opt/ltsp/i386";

Â*Â*Â* if substring( option vendor-class-identifier, 0, 9
) = "PXEClient" {

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* filename "ltsp/i386/pxelinux.0";

Â*Â*Â* } else {

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* filename "ltsp/i386/nbi.img";

Â*Â*Â* }

}



rebooted the server.

and in client machines, added connection at 'Winbee
connection Manager'- (HCL client comes with these)

Configuring/Setting

up HCL Winbees-4000BVX Thin Clients
for new OS connection, add connection.on top there are
two options,

1. configuration

Name:connection name here (EDubuntu)

Type:N-XDMCPÂ*
click-ok




Description

→Â*Edubuntu



Mode

→Â*Direct



Server

Name →Â*192.168.0.254



XDMCP on →Â*Second
Console




2. connection:click on setup to add Network to check
ip address for client

save. and reboot clients.



After rebooting client machine, when I select my newly
added 'Edubutu' connection and click 'connect'. It
shows blank screen with white mouse cross mark.



The link here:Â*http://www.edubuntu.org/documentation/ltsp-live-
at the very bottom of page says " you simply have to
set the connected workstations to boot from the
network.Â* by going into BIOS". we haven't done that as
hcl clients has Winbee manager to go thr' connection
process. Not sure if we should have really.



Can anybody give any clues to what might have gone
wrong?Â*



Thanks,




--Â*Leena Mulye

Technical
Project Associate

IT for ChangeÂ*

In special consultative status with
the United Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890.
Fax:+91-80-4146 1055

Have you
heard about the free and open source
softwareÂ*VisitÂ*http://www.public-software.in/

<itfc_logo.png>







--Â*

ubuntu-education mailing list

ubuntu-education@lists.ubuntu.com

Modify settings or unsubscribe at:Â*https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-education











--
Jeff

Brown



Tel:+27-74-101

5170
Fax:+27-86-532

3508
www.wildcoast.co.za














--




--







Leena Mulye

Technical Project Associate

IT for Change

In special consultative status with the United
Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890. Fax:+91-80-4146
1055

Have


you heard about the free and open source
software Visit http://www.public-software.in/














--




--







Leena Mulye

Technical Project Associate

IT for Change

In special consultative status with the United
Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890. Fax:+91-80-4146
1055

Have

you heard about the free and open source software Visit http://www.public-software.in/













--
ubuntu-education mailing list
ubuntu-education@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-education

Problems with Edubuntu thin client setup in school...- solved
 

Hi all,



sometime back I had posted my query regarding thin-clinet set up
in govt school in India using HCL server and winbee O.S. for
clients.

We have got it to work using Edubuntu 11.04 which comes with LTSP.



Just wanted to share details so anybody facing similar issues can
benefit from our learnings.



After installation of Edubuntu 11.04 on server we did make changes
to configuration file as per details in my prev. mail (can be
found below).



In client machines while adding new connection thr' Winbee
connection manager window, we had to enable 'DHCP' which was
available on tab called 'update' and enter server IP there. That's
it and it all worked like a charm.



Thanks for your support and comments.



Now we have one small issue. and trying to see if anybody knows
solution for it.

We have one server and 10 thin clients, for each client machine we
created user as user1,user2 and so on. All these users show up at
log-in screen in client machines from where you can click on user
enter password and it will let you log-in. Is there anyway to
restrict login to show only one user per computer?



Much thanks,

Leena





On Monday 20 June 2011 04:34 PM, Leena wrote:


Thanks Jeff,



We have two network interfaces eth0 and 1,



Moreover would like to use Edubuntu 11.04 as it comes with many
educational software. When I tried installing Edubuntu 11.04 it
took lot of time without success.

Server already have Windows 2003 , Red Hat

and while installing Edubuntu, (had to use manual partitioning
as earier EDubuntu 10.04 was there) it got stuck at step where
it kept saying "removing conflicting files ...." and was at that
for 40-45 mins. I had to reboot and installed 10.04 then.

Does Ebubuntu 11.04 takes this long for installation and
partitioning? Did I miss anything?



Thanks,

Leena





On Saturday 18 June 2011 04:13 PM, Jeff wrote:


On 18 Jun 2011, at 5:15 AM, Leena wrote:


Hi,



We are trying to setup Edubuntu 10.04 in
school and get image on thin client machines.
Edubuntu installation on server and LTSP
installation goes fine.

When try to connect client machines doesn't go
beyond connection window and shows blank
screen. Details of the setup and hardware and
changes we have done so far are listed
below......sorry it's a long mail.....this
issue is very urgent for us and hoping that
someone would have done similar setup or have
come across similar issues might able to help
us....

our customized

questions: After the setup on
server, as for client machines we are unable
to receive response when we ping clients IP
from server (client machine, server and hub
are on).Â*How


to check if dhcp is running?







ps -A | grep dhcp






Â*Â*


Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â*on most documentations on net I
have read for thin client setup they change
network/interfaces file and connection to
'STATIC' instead ofÂ*

'dynamic' is it required?



Details:



Hardware


used:Â*

Server-HCL computer-2GB RAM, 160GB Hard disk, two
network cards

Clients: connected to 10 Thin Clients connected to
server on LAN, no Internet connection here. Client
machines has connection window-Winbee connection
manager for login.



What we did so far:Â*

Installed Edubuntu 10.04 on server. After it was over
when the pop-up appears for restart now or continue
testing (to install LTSP).

At that we clicked on 'Continue Testing'- as we wanted
to install LTSP (Linux Terminal Server)

For network connection eth0 was shown as used, so we
selected-eth1 here.Â*







How many network interfaces do you have?



I noticed when I installed 11.04 last week (for the
first time) that it defaulted to eth1. I knew that I only
had one interface, so I set it to eth0 and everything went
better than expected. :)






after LTSP was
configured we did reboot computer, and made couple of
changes to config files as follows


Enabled the XDMCP Server by (using N-XDMCP connection type on clients for connection)
copied usr/share/custom.conf file to /etc/gdm/custom.conf and added below lines below [xdmcp] option.
[xdmcp]
Enable=true
DisplaysPerHost=2

[chooser]

[security]

[debug]
Restart GDM


Then edited our interfaces file:
/etc/network/interfaces to following

auto lo

iface lo inet loopback



auto eth1

iface eth1 inet static

Â* address 192.168.0.254

Â* netmask 255.255.255.0

Â* broadcast 192.168.0.255



and finally the /etc/ltsp/dhcpd.confÂ*Â*Â*Â*
dhcpd.conf file to following

#

# Default LTSP dhcpd.conf config file.

#



authoritative;



subnet 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {

Â*Â*Â* range 192.168.0.20 192.168.0.250;

Â*Â*Â* option domain-name "example.com";

Â*Â*Â* option domain-name-servers 192.168.0.1;

Â*Â*Â* option broadcast-address 192.168.0.255;

Â*Â*Â* option routers 192.168.0.254;

#Â*Â*Â* next-server 192.168.0.1;

#Â*Â*Â* get-lease-hostnames true;

Â*Â*Â* option subnet-mask 255.255.255.0;

Â*Â*Â* option root-path "/opt/ltsp/i386";

Â*Â*Â* if substring( option vendor-class-identifier, 0,
9 ) = "PXEClient" {

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* filename "ltsp/i386/pxelinux.0";

Â*Â*Â* } else {

Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â*Â* filename "ltsp/i386/nbi.img";

Â*Â*Â* }

}



rebooted the server.

and in client machines, added connection at 'Winbee
connection Manager'- (HCL client comes with these)

Configuring/Setting


up HCL Winbees-4000BVX Thin Clients
for new OS connection, add connection.on top there
are two options,

1. configuration

Name:connection name here (EDubuntu)

Type:N-XDMCPÂ*
click-ok




Description →Â*Edubuntu



Mode →Â*Direct



Server Name →Â*192.168.0.254



XDMCP on →Â*Second
Console




2. connection:click on setup to add Network to check
ip address for client

save. and reboot clients.



After rebooting client machine, when I select my
newly added 'Edubutu' connection and click
'connect'. It shows blank screen with white mouse
cross mark.



The link here:Â*http://www.edubuntu.org/documentation/ltsp-live-
at the very bottom of page says " you simply have to
set the connected workstations to boot from the
network.Â* by going into BIOS". we haven't done that
as hcl clients has Winbee manager to go thr'
connection process. Not sure if we should have
really.



Can anybody give any clues to what might have gone
wrong?Â*



Thanks,




--Â*Leena Mulye

Technical
Project Associate

IT for ChangeÂ*

In special consultative status with
the United Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890.
Fax:+91-80-4146 1055

Have you
heard about the free and open source
softwareÂ*VisitÂ*http://www.public-software.in/

<itfc_logo.png>







--Â*

ubuntu-education mailing list

ubuntu-education@lists.ubuntu.com

Modify settings or unsubscribe at:Â*https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-education











--
Jeff Brown



Tel:+27-74-101 5170
Fax:+27-86-532 3508
www.wildcoast.co.za














--




--







Leena Mulye

Technical Project
Associate

IT for Change

In special consultative status with the United
Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890.
Fax:+91-80-4146 1055

Have you heard about
the free and open source software Visit http://www.public-software.in/














--




--







Leena Mulye

Technical Project Associate

IT for Change

In special consultative status with the United
Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890. Fax:+91-80-4146
1055

Have


you heard about the free and open source
software Visit http://www.public-software.in/














--




--







Leena Mulye

Technical Project Associate

IT for Change

In special consultative status with the United
Nations ECOSOC

www.ITforChange.net

Tel:+91-80-2665 4134, 2653 6890. Fax:+91-80-4146
1055

Have

you heard about the free and open source software Visit http://www.public-software.in/













--
ubuntu-education mailing list
ubuntu-education@lists.ubuntu.com
Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-education