Thinstation on Wireless Laptops?

[FN-GM]

Hi,

 

We have some wireless laptops that are pretty slow. They work and are in good condition. As i am now sold on Thinstation i thought i could try and use this on these laptops.

 

Has anyone managed to set this up to connect over WIFI please? We are using WPA security. Obviously i cant PXE boot so will have to install it locally. I would like them to get the config from the TFTP server so when i make changes they are rolled out to all clients.

 

Please can people share experiences and tips please?

 

Thanks

[tumbleweed]

Might be worth looking at GPXE, if it supports your wifi cards.

[FN-GM]

Does anyone else have any input please?

[FN-GM]

Might be worth looking at GPXE, if it supports your wifi cards.

 

Had a dabble with GPXE and my network card isnt supported.

 

Anyone else please?

[localzuk]

I know this isn't a direct answer to your question - but does your place have software assurance (ie. via a schools agreement or the like)? If it does, how about using Win FLP? Microsoft Volume Licensing - Microsoft Software Assurance Benefits - Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

 

You have access to it via the licensing website.

[joe90bass]

@localzuk I'd not heard of that, thanks, may be useful for extending the life of our laptops! We should be able to get this when we switch to ESS in July and have the desktop pack.

[localzuk]

@localzuk I'd not heard of that, thanks, may be useful for extending the life of our laptops! We should be able to get this when we switch to ESS in July and have the desktop pack.

 

Yup, it will be accessible to you under EES as it includes Software Assurance.

[JasonM]

Hi,

 

We have some wireless laptops that are pretty slow. They work and are in good condition. As i am now sold on Thinstation i thought i could try and use this on these laptops.

 

Has anyone managed to set this up to connect over WIFI please? We are using WPA security. Obviously i cant PXE boot so will have to install it locally. I would like them to get the config from the TFTP server so when i make changes they are rolled out to all clients.

 

Please can people share experiences and tips please?

 

Thanks

 

Hi,

 

I am one of the TS developers (have been since about 2005).

 

A couple of points to consider:

 

Wireless is pretty simple to do with WPA/WPA2 on TS (I wouldn't touch WEP though for obvious security reasons).

 

If the laptops have Intel Centrino ABG wireless cards, I would first replace them with an Atheros card (from about £6 on ebay and usually just one or two screws to remove from the underside of the laptop and a PCI or MINI-PCI card to swap out).

 

The Intel ABG cards require additional drives and a software daemon running in the background to function correctly.

 

Most Atheros cards work nicely with the MadWifi module in TS (so don't forget to include it).

 

My biggest concern with this (although I have done this for schools before) is that:

 

a) It is a wireless solution?

And any additional latency and contention that you introduce into your network will be noticed by students in terms of screen refreshes and updates and students copying large files via USB redirection which could imapct others on the same access point.

 

b) You have to store your WPA/WPA2 key inside the image (as you cant get it off the network untill you are on the network). This makes it easier to find/steal and also means you can't change it on the Access Points without re-imaging each device.

 

Installing locally to the laptop is no problem (I wrote the TS HDD installer with TechFan a few years back).

 

Just give us a shout if you need any more help.

 

JasonM

[FN-GM]

Hi Jason, 2 posts both replies for me

 

A) Dont worry we have that covered we have a few laptop trolleys alreay setup.

 

B) Shouldnt be to much of a problem

 

The cards are RT73 Wireless cards, myself i have never heard of them. The machines are Vye Mini-VS37. They are not old machines, they where given to us for free but they are rubbish. They would make ideal wireless thinclients.