Re-using old PCs as thin clients for VMWare View

[DLW13]

Hi,

 

I have been given the task of finding ways of using VMWare View and virtual Windows 7 images in some of our computer suites. There are 3 suites consisting of between 20-30 PCs with Win XP installed. Ideally we would like to keep the PCs but use them as thin clients, rather than spending money on Wyse terminals or something similar.

 

Firstly, what would be the best method for doing this? Which method would provide quickest boot time and connection to the virtual desktop?

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

[chazzy2501]

I seen companies selling usb sticks with virtual thin clients for old PCs but can't find them now. They cost about £23 each.

 

edit: found one: http://www.tdist.com/index.php/products/vdi-blaster/

Edited April 5, 2011 by chazzy2501

[DLW13]

Good idea... But, the USB sticks would probably be stolen over time... Would it be possible to PXE boot to a server with VM Ware client installed, then connect to the virtual desktop from there?

[chazzy2501]

Soz, the software does come on a usb stick and you can run it without installing it (for testing) but the £23 is for licesing per machine.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Soz, the software does come on a usb stick and you can run it without installing it (for testing) but the £23 is for licesing per machine.

 

With the right cable you could also install the USB sticks inside the computer's case (connected directly to the motherboard's USB header). It might be handy if the hard drives start going pop.

[Cools]

PXE Boot thinstation...

Job Done..

 

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

[Axel]

Can you not just install the Viewer client onto your existing XP PC's and point it at the Viewer broker...

 

All the above are assuming you don't/can't use the existing operating system on your PCs...

 

How do you currently connect to your virtual Win7 machines....?

[FN-GM]

PXE Boot thinstation...

Job Done..

 

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

 

another vote from me.

 

It has VMware view on there i think.

[DLW13]

I will check that out, I've no experience working with Linux though.. Time to get reading!!!

[FN-GM]

I will check that out, I've no experience working with Linux though.. Time to get reading!!!

 

Nor have i, when you get going its dead easy.

 

This guide will help - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/thin-client-virtual-machines/70852-thinstation-problem-getting-global-configuration.html#post632197

[Cools]

it's very simple..

 

have a look at for things you my ask..

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/thin-client-virtual-machines/2038-thinstation.html

[andrew-virtusolve]

We would recommend Thin Station, and almost any linux over the link below, but it is interesting and may be a more legitimate path when it's released - we are on the beta and it works well:

 

Windows Thin PC by Microsoft | Windows Enterprise

[Cools]

the "Windows Thin PC by Microsoft | Windows Enterprise " looks good get windows 7 on a pc and it only takes up 270 mb ram.. and i have 4gb to play with.. of it does not have all the nice gui but who needs it..

and it runs fast and loads fast.. might have to start installing some software on it..

 

theres nothing thinclient about it.. just windows 7 thined down to XP speeds and ram.. install is still big..

 

might be good to keep the life of the PC's going for a extra yr and gives you the space to move to windows 7 on some of the older pcs.....

need to test on my very old end PC's now....

[DLW13]

Just thinking, as you all know, PCs can boot to Win PE, is it possible to install VMware View on a Win PE???

[glennda]

Just thinking, as you all know, PCs can boot to Win PE, is it possible to install VMware View on a Win PE???

 

Don't know give it a go and find out!

 

I'll have a play Bart PE as I don't have a win pe iso and can't be bother to create one!

 

I know with Bart PE you can do standard RDP Sessions Etc

[_Adam_]

We set up some OPACs for catalogue searches on old PCs with a light weight linux, works great. Not only is it fast all round but so locked down anything a student tries with just restarts the browser. So I will join the above linux camp as the best option, there's also an open source client "VMware View Open Client".

 

I agree linux can seem daunting if you have not touched it before (or any UNIX/BSD), but consider a trusted student who has an interest in it to help you.