web browser only os/thin client

[_techie_]

Hi..

We run Outlook OWA in school for staff, and our LG has requested that our caretakers have access to email.

We would like to provide a very simple interface/computer for them which would require very little maintenance, so I was looking at some sort of simple unix/linux distro which could do this, but allowed some configuration, and just internet access/web-browser only access.

I was looking at a kiosk type software and stumbled across LiveKiosk (TM)

however, this had some limitations, which included not being able to alter the homepage.

Has anyone any experience of setting up something similar?

Thanks,

[Midget]

IIRC you can alter the homepage if you alter the ISO

[CyberNerd]

we use thinstation for this - we built it with firefox2.0.
Students can choose between running a windows desktop citrix session or the browser for VLE/email/web applications. You could easily configure it so that it only runs a browser.

Thinstation PXE boots and runs entirely from RAM without the need for HDD.
:: Thinstation - a light, full-featured Linux thin client OS ::

[_techie_]

any more info about using thinstation/quick start guide would be good, as I am a linux n00b.

I did spend a little time on the thinstation link, but no definitive guides on how to start with thinstation were there, on how to make it use firefox only.

Thanks Cybernerd.

[CyberNerd]

The simplest way to start is probably with TS-O-Matic. basically a website that compiles Thinstation for you.
TBH I don't use it as I build by hand, but you should be able to add the firefox package to it.
IIRC if you build a PXE image you can then use the thinstation.conf.network file (on your tftp server) to specify options (such as a window manager and FF as the default)

:: Thinstation - a light, full-featured Linux thin client OS ::

[strawberry]

Hello Cybernerd, This is exactly what I would like to do but am stuggling. Are there any pointers you could provide?.