Linux thin client to rdp into terminal server

[atamakosi]

I just need a bit of reassurance i'm not banging my head against the wall for naught.

 

I've got a bunch of aging dinosaurs around campus that teachers still want to make use of. Creating a linux thin client to just rdp into our win 2k8 terminal server (50 CALS) is my first thought. I don't mind if it boots off pxe or hard disk but we already have a WDS server running for imaging our windows machines so I'd rather not mess with the tftp (a la thinstation) and bork the whole system. Ideally, if i can get the most minimal of OS install set up and a gui for students to log directly into the TS would be great.

 

So far I've imaged a machine using debian netinstall and then used apt to get xserver, gdm, rdesktop and have come out with a fairly large system (1.1gb) from 180mb netinstall base. I can restart and get a log in screen from gdm but it isn't configured for rdp and can't figure out for the life of my what my next step is. adding the TS to the xdcmp doesn't seem to have any results either. Would i need to configure another server for the thin client to connect to the TS?

 

Has anyone had any success with creating an easy to deploy/easy to use thin client for remoting in to a Windows Terminal Server?

[FN-GM]

I am look at a Windows Thin PC deployment to do this. There are some blogs about it here:

 

Windows Thin PC - Blogs - EduGeek.net

Remote Desktop for Thin Client… Part 2! - Blogs - EduGeek.net

 

The good thing is that Thin PC is free with software assurance.

[atamakosi]

I'm looking into it right now. might work out even better if i can put it into my wds images and install off pxe. only item i can't find is the Shelly software he uses to override explorer with mstsc.

[FN-GM]

How did you get on with this @atamakosi ?

[atamakosi]

How did you get on with this @atamakosi ?

 

Fairly well, i think. I had some bumps but i've kept my notes here. I've gotten everything I've wanted from a thin client booting to our terminal services. No ability for students to close the connection on logout, no more than a single credentials check, fast boot over network. Fairly happy but I'll be wary of doing a system update next time. had to wipe my ubuntu server cause of a corrupt dhcp upgrade. in the end i learned i could have gotten on without it anyway haha. live and learn.

Edited June 18, 2012 by atamakosi