Disclaimer

-- NOTE: This FAQ covers Thinstation ver. 1.0.
I'm working on an update.

What is Thinstation

Thinstation is based on Linux, but users may actually never see Linux at all if you decide to connect directly to a Microsoft Windows server, a Citrix server or a Unix server! The user will feel he/she connects directly to the server. But if you want to, you can have a Linux interface - a blackbox window manager to be exact.

Thinstation also supports a MS Windows-only environment and REQUIRES NO UNIX/Linux KNOWLEDGE (but it doesn't harm :-).

But even with brand new hardware Thinstation is advantageous, saving a lot of administration time (I personally did assamble a new small mini-itx PC from its boxes AND connected to Word on a Windows server within 19 minutes!). You can save money too, as you can just buy entry level or mini-itx computers and still have fast program execution (as your server permits). With a new cpu and psu fanless and diskless mini-itx PC you may have a powerful and completely silent workstation (and cool too, if you have to think about air conditioning expenses).

Thinstation is able to connect to:

• Citrix servers using the ICA protocol (on top of MS Windows Server, SUN Solaris and IBM AIX)
• Microsoft Windows Servers using the RDP protocol by rdesktop (Windows NT4TSE, W2k Server, W2k3 Server, even XP as single user only)
• Tarantella servers
• Unix servers running X
• VNC Servers (actually tightVNC)
• Telnet and SSH (Secure SHell) servers

You just need a decent server for the users. An ordinary quality PC with a ~2 GHz/"2000+" cpu and 1-1.5 GB ram will easily support 20-30 users on a Windows server with MSIE, e-mail and Word/Excel or any similar typical applications. However, it will not work well with Auto-CAD/3D Studio Max or other heavy duty programs.

• Linux kernel 2.4
• XFree86 4.3
• Boot media: etherboot, pxe, CD, hard disk, compact flash
• Small size - typically 5-6 MB
  
• Support of more than 20 locales (national languages)
• DHCP and TFTP (for etherboot and pxe)
  
• Samba and NFS file access
• Supermount (e.g. automatic mount) of client floppies and CD-ROMs
• Sound on clients (if supported by the server) and client connected printers (LPT and USB) - as well as server and network printers
• Ps/2 and USB keyboards and serial, ps/2 and USB mice
• Scroll wheel mice
• Support for syslog server (to monitor the clients)
• Enhanced Shell with command line editing and history
• Telnetd (telnet server) on clients so the admin can log in and check logs in /var/logs and if necessary reboot the workstation remotely. Or kill processes.
• Debug package. This stops the inittab entry from working so you start in a console mode regardless what packages you choose, adds strace which is useful for seeing where a program fails. When in debug mode, you can start the session manually by going start-session 0

Hardware requirements:

• Pentium Classic 100 MHz with 16 MB RAM or better.
• NIC: among others: Realtek 8139, NE2000(isa/PCi), VIA Rhine I/II, SIS 900, 3com 903/59x, Intel eepro100, tulip... (see build.conf for a comprehensive list).
• VGA: VESA. Who needs more for a terminal anyway? OK then - also S3 (incl. virge and savage), ATI (Radeon and earlier), Matrox, Cirrus Logic, i740, i810, NVidia, Trident, Tseng and more (see build.conf for a comprehensive list).

Where does Thinstation come from

Where to get Thinstation and more information

How to install Thinstation

We expect you to be an adminitrator or to have similar knowledge (or plenty of time!).

The prebuilt MS Windows solution allow you to connect Thinstation clients to one or more MS Windows server (NT4TSE, win2k, win2k3) without the need of any unix/Linux knowledge, but still get all the client-server benefits! Read about the prebuilt solution in http://thinstation.sourceforge.net/docs/HowTo.txt by Paolo Salvan.

- network boot with a NIC with a boot ROM:

• Copy thinstation.nbi (from boot-images/etherboot) and thinstation.conf to your TFTPD root directory.
• Edit thinstation.conf to match your terminal's configuration.
• Add <TFTPD root dir>thinstation.nbi as the boot file to your DHCP server's configuration.

- network boot with a NIC w/o a boot ROM using a boot floppy:

• Prepare everything as described above.
• Go to www.rom-o-matic.net and make the bootable floppy as explained at that site.

- network boot with a PXE aware NIC:

• Copy the files and directories in boot-images/pxe, kernel/vmlinuz-<version> (rename it to vmlinuz) , initrd.gz and thinstation.conf to your TFTPD root directory.
• Edit thinstation.conf to match your terminal configuration.
• Add <TFTPD root dir>pxeLinux.0 as the boot file to your DHCP server's configuration.

- boot from local storage media (hard disk, CD, Disk-on-Chip/CF...)

syslinux:

• You'll need the syslinux package (~400 kB).

• Copy the files in boot-images/syslinux, kernel/vmlinuz-<version> (rename it to just vmlinuz) and initrd.gz to the storage media.
• Run syslinux /dev/<device>
• More info on syslinux? http://syslinux.zytor.com/faq.php

  Lars Karlslund has contributed a Thinstation Compact Flash card + syslinux boot HOWTO

  How-to make a bootable Thinstation CD: Since I (Mike) had some trouble using the official TS 1.0 way, I'll present the way CDs are going to be made in 1.1 (it is far better too :-):

• Build the image using the super kernel and nbi. Forget about the cd kernel and iso in build.conf.
• Make the directory boot-images/iso/source and grab the files isoLinux.bin and isoLinux.cfg from here and put them in this new directory. Also grap make_iso and put it in boot-images/iso.
• Make the file make_iso executable (chmod u+x make_iso) and run it.

• The result will be the file boot-images/iso/ts.iso which you can burn as an image with your favorite tool (cdrecord ts.iso under Linux is one suggestion...).

loadlin:

• Copy the files in boot-images/loadlin.exe, kernel/vmlinuz-<version> (rename it to just vmlinuz) and initrd.gz to your DOS (aka FAT) media.
• Run ts.bat
• More on loadlin? http://elserv.ffm.fgan.de/~lermen/
  

- boot from a floppy:

• Format a new floppy: superformat /dev/fd0
• Build a Thinstation image including only the base package.
• Copy the files in boot-images/syslinux, kernel/vmlinuz and initrd.gz to the floppy.
• Run syslinux /dev/fd0

NSP packages:

Configuring Thinstation

And now to Qs and As:

Booting Thinstation:

• Can I have individual configuration files for different clients?
• Can I have individual image files for different clients?
• My NIC does support PXE but PXE boot doesn't work
• My NIC doesn't support PXE and making/buying a boot ROM for it is out of the question. Can't I just boot off a hard disk?
• Can I boot off a CD (KNOPPIX style)?
• Can I boot off a CD if my BIOS/CD doesn't support boot?
• Can I boot off just a floppy?
• Can't I avoid the TFTP server?
• Can't I avoid the DHCP server?

• Which mouse protocol to use?
• How do I get the scroll wheel on my mouse to work?
• How do I get my USB mouse to work?
• My BFG9000-Pro mk. III-c (or whatever) graphics card ain't supported by Thinstation. But XFree86 supports it!
• The Thinstation X server doesn't start - it keeps on trying and trying.
• My keyboard layout isn't supported or is broken

• Can Thinstation be a light Linux workstation - or how do I get root access?
• How do I change the root password - and should I change it?
• Can the clients have a /etc/hosts file the usual unix style?
• How are the clients named networkwise when using DHCP?
• What is the group configs about?
• How do I use a printer connected to a Thinstation client?
• Will Thinstaion have a "real" browser like Mozilla/Firebird or Internet Explorer?

• The X font server doesn't work
• I can't connect to a unix server using X
• Is XDMCP (X server) accessed by "-query" or by "-indirect"?
• Hey! Where is the telnet client in blackbox - no menu entry!?

• Poor colors and no sound connecting to a MS Windows server with RDP (rdesktop)
• Faulty keyboard layout with MS Windows server using RDP (rdesktop)
• Cool! I just run MS Windows on a server and save all the licence money!

• Can I add my own package to Thinstation?
• Do you have more docs on ICA, rdesktop, tarantella, blackbox...

Q: Can I have individual configuration files for different clients?
A: Yes. In your TFTP server's download directory you just create a configuration file named thinstation-<ip address>.conf (e.g. thinstation-192.168.1.2.conf) or thinstation-<MAC address> (e.g. thinstation-12AB34CD56EF.conf). A file just named thinstation.conf will be the default configuration.

If you have made a thinstation.hosts file (which maps MAC addresses to host names) you can name the configuration file thinstation-<host name>.conf (e.g. thinstation-peter.conf). Much easier to remember.
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Q: Can I have individual image files for different clients?
A: Easily - if you boot off a local media, but it is not so easy with network boot. Usually the DHCP server tells the client to ask the TFTP server for one specific image. However, you can let the DHCP server detect the clients MAC address first and then hand out a specific ip address AND a unique image file name to the client. This way you lose some of the flexibility of using DHCP, but you get a more secure network, since you are in control of which NICs are acceptable to get net access. Normally you should be able to make a comprehensive image which covers any clients and then use the conf file to select the needed modules for the individual client. However, please note that you do have a size limit for the image file (8 MB for ver. 0.9x, 16 MB for ver. 1.x).
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Q: Which mouse protocol to use ?
A:For a traditional serial mouse (rhombic 9 pin connector) you probably need the MICROSOFT protocol. Mice with a PS/2 connector (small round one) needs ... PS/2 :-). However, wheel PS/2 and USB mice need the IMPS/2 variant. For unsual mice see www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/XFree86-Second-Mouse.html#PROTOCOL.
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Q: How do I get my USB mouse to work?
A: You will need to use X_MOUSE_DEVICE=/dev/input/mice in thinstation.conf to support a USB mouse, in addition to including the "usb" Thinstation package (for ver. 0.9x) or "usb-hid" (for ver. 1.x) in thinstation.conf.
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Q: The X font server doesn't work
A: Make sure you use the right tcp port on the font server e.g. X_FONT_SERVER=192.168.1.2:7100 (at least Red Hat uses port 7100 but check with your distro) in thinstation.conf.
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Q: I can't connect to a unix server using X
A: Make sure XDMCP is running on the server and accepts connections. There is a good step-by-step procedure at www.redhat.com/mirrors/LDP/HOWTO/XDMCP-HOWTO/procedure.html (not Red Hat specific).
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Q: Is XDMCP (X server) accessed by "-query" or by "-indirect"?
A: If you prefix the server address with an asterisk in thinstation.conf then X will be started using the "-indirect" rather than the "-query" option. For example:
SESSION_0_TYPE="x"
SESSION_0_SERVER=*192.168.1.2
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Q: The Thinstation X server doesn't start - it keeps on trying and trying.
A: First make sure you have setup the mouse correctly. A misconfigured mouse can prevent X from starting! Go figure... Next make sure you have built in the correct driver in the image. Try the VESA driver alternatively (any video card should be VESA compatible). Make sure X_HORIZSYNC and X_VERTREFRESH in thinstation.conf has the correct values. X servers can be very picky about this! If you have trouble finding the right modes, have a look at www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/XFree86-Video-Timings-HOWTO
 
If you have a SIS based video card, you may need some hard work and the help of Thomas Winischhofer to run XFree86 successfully on any Linux distro.
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Q: Poor colors and no sound connecting to a MS Windows server with RDP (rdesktop)
A: At present only 8 bit (256) colors are supported by the rdesktop ver. 1.2 client software. And no sound. When the rdesktop project advances on this, so will Thinstation support. However using ICA you should be fine but a few bucks down....
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Q: Faulty keyboard layout with MS Windows server using RDP (rdesktop)
A: Rdesktop ver. 1.2 has a few problems with some non-US keyboards. Check out the rdesktop CVS to see which has already been fixed.
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Q: Hey! Where is the telnet client in blackbox - no menu entry!?
A: Boot up in blackbox, open a xterm and type telnet <server>. This is fixed in ver.1.0.
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Q: My BFG9000-Pro mk. III-c (or whatever) graphics card ain't supported by Thinstation. But XFree86 supports it!
A: If there is a driver for for your video card and it is for the same XFree86 version as Thinstation use (currently 4.3) and if it is compiled with GCC 2.95 (this is common), then support it yourself :-) Create the directory structure
<base>/packages/xf4-<name>/lib/X11/modules/drivers/
Put the driver itself (<name>.o) there and chmod it into -rwxr-xr-x. Edit build.conf and add xf4-<name> as a module and rebuild. And done!
If there isn't any XFree86 support you still might still try the VESA driver, though.
*

Q: My NIC does support PXE but PXE boot doesn't work
A: If you have an early PXE implementation, it might be buggy. See http://syslinux.zytor.com/faq.php. Version 2.0 or newer is preferable. However, double check your DHCP/TFTPD setup.
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Q: My NIC doesn't support PXE and making/buying a boot ROM for it is out of the question. Can't I just boot off a hard disk?
A: Sure. Make a small DOS (FAT12 or FAT16) partition and use loadlin or syslinux to boot (loadlin is simple, syslinux offers more candy). See How to install Thinstation.
    Sub-Q1: How much disk space do I need then?
    Sub-A1: 8 to 10 mega bytes if you can afford it.
    Sub-Q2: So little!? Couldn't I use a USB keyring or a Compact Flash Card instead?
    Sub-A2:Yes - see Lars Karlslund's contributed Compact Flash card + syslinux boot HOWTO.
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Q: Can I boot off a CD (KNOPPIX style)?
A: Yes. That's what the Thinstation boot CD does! You can use Thinstation without ever touching your PC's harddisk.
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Q: Can I boot off a CD if my BIOS/CD doesn't support boot?
A: Yes, with a little help from a boot floppy: Smart Boot Manager.
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Q: Can I boot off just a floppy?
A: Well, at least you can mimic etherboot with a floppy even if your NIC doesn't have a boot ROM. This mean you can use a floppy to connect to the DHCP and TFTP server and download the rest. Maybe a bit slow during boot, but it works well.

Goto http://www.rom-o-matic.net/ and download an image for your NIC. Follow the instructions on that site to make a net bootable floppy.
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Q: Can't I avoid the TFTP server?
A:If you REALLY don't need any reconfiguration of Thinstation once it is built, you actually can do without if you boot from a local media. Before you build: Thinstation ver. 0.9x: Edit the file packages/base/etc/thinstation-defaults to reflect your needs and append any needed entries from thinstation.conf.Rebuild.

Thinstation ver. 1.x: Edit the file thinstation.defaults and rebuild a new initrd.gz/thinstation.nbi.
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Q: Can't I avoid the DHCP server?
A:Thinstation ver. 0.9x: No.

Thinstation ver. 1.x: Yes. Obviously you must boot from a local media. Setup all the network parameters in thinstation.defaults and (re-) build.
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Q: Cool! I just run MS Windows on a server and save all the licence money!
A: Well, that would be illegal.

• A CAL (Client Access Licence - you get 5 or 10 CALs for "free" with the MS server licence).
• A TS-CAL (Terminal Server CAL.)

So, using Thinstation you save:

• The money for the client operating system itself (you just have to pay for the CAL and the TS-CAL)
• Really a LOT on client administration

Q: Can Thinstation be a light Linux workstation - or how do I get root access?
A:Well, if you really push it, yes you can have a workstation, sort of. At least you can have a stand alone Linux unit. You'll have very few tools and no compilers etc, though. To login in text mode you have to press Ctrl-Alt-F5 (even if you are in rdesktop or ICA mode or what-ever). Login as root. The password is pleasechangeme as default (Change it!!! - see below). If you prefer a X interface, boot up in blackbox and make a telnet to localhost.
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Q: How do I change the root password - and should I change it?
A: YES! You really must change it! Why? Hmmm - only you, me and the rest of the internet know the default root password is pleasechangeme... And you shouldn't trust me :-)

This is how to change it:

Ver. 0.9x: Put the desired password (which DOES contain eight+ characters including BOTH small and capital letters AND digits AND special characters like #¤%&/+(-) - right!?) into the file ROOTPASSWD before you build.

Ver. 1.x: Same rules, but now the password is set directly in build.conf.

Thanks to Benjamin J. Chapman for supplying us with the password program from gnu.org and instructions how to use it.
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Q: Can the clients have a /etc/hosts file the usual unix style?
A: Yes and no. There is no traditional editable hosts file, but you may tweak the Thinstation setup to support the same functionallity. Edit the file packages/base/etc/thinstation.getglobal from:
echo "127.0.0.1 localhost" > /etc/hosts
echo "$NS_CLIENT_ADDR $NS_CLIENT_NAME" >> /etc/hosts
echo "$NS_SERVER_ADDR $NS_SERVER_NAME" >> /etc/hosts

into

echo "127.0.0.1 localhost" > /etc/hosts
echo "$NS_CLIENT_ADDR $NS_CLIENT_NAME" >> /etc/hosts
echo "$NS_SERVER_ADDR $NS_SERVER_NAME" >> /etc/hosts
echo "192.168.1.2 my_server1" >> /etc/hosts
echo "192.168.1.3 my_server2" >> /etc/hosts
(use your own relevant numbers and names). Rebuild and substitute your previous initrd.gz.
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Q: How are the clients named networkwise when using DHCP?
A: As default they are named ts_<MAC address>. "ts_" is defined in thinstation.conf by the DEFAULT_HOSTNAME (ver. 0.9x) or NET_HOSTNAME (ver. 1.x) entry. You may change this, but if you use more than three characters the MAC address will be truncated.

However, you may make the file thinstation.hosts in the root directory (where the kernel and the image is) to link a name with the MAC-address. The syntax is:

# You can have any amount of spaces/tabs between names
# HOST      MAC           GROUPS        COMMENTS
bigboss     000103014152  printer hires # On Miles Desk
daffy       0060082FCBE8                # Daffy's workstation
donald      00A02403B0BE  printer       # Donald's workstation

This will name the clients bigboss, daffy and donald.
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Q: What is the group configs about?
A: Imagine you have a LOT of Thinstations. Some are old Pentium Classics, some are newer and have a printer attached and some have a good VGA and large, new monitors. Instead of making individual config-files for all your Thinstations you can group them with thinstation.hosts and create a thinstation-<group>.conf (e.g thinstation-printer.conf). A thinstation-<group>.conf is just another thinstation.conf with a different name (as is thinstation.defaults). Be careful with all these "thinstation.conf" variants: the latest read will overrule an earlier read. The sequence is:
thinstation.defaults, thinstation-<group1>.conf, thinstation-<group2>.conf... thinstation-<IP address>.conf and finally thinstation-<MAC address>.conf.
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Q: Will Thinstaion have a "real" browser like Mozilla/Firebird or Internet Explorer?
A: Internet Explorer?! Uhm, not soon :-/
And really, the same goes for Mozilla/Firebird/Opera... etc. Thinstation is for older/weaker hardware, not for 3 GHz P4s. A Thinstation browser should not be an alternative to a server side browser. If you want/need a complete browser, you should just login to the server Thinstation needs anyway (ica/rdp/X). A Mozilla/Firebird browser not only claims a lot of RAM, but even worse, it is taxing the CPU badly. Imagine running Mozilla on a Pentium-100 - hopeless. Why not just log-in to your 2-3 GHz server and fire up Mozilla/MSIE in a few seconds?

This said, the next Thinstation will include a light webbrowser for reading documents and maybe reading mails.
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Q:How do I use a printer connected to a Thinstation client?
A: In build.conf enable lp_server. In thinstation.conf add the following lines:

• add a new printer
• select "local" (deselect "autodetect plug & play printer")
• create a new "standard TCP/IP" port
• IP address for this port: insert the address of the thin-client
• port type: "Hewlett Packard Jet Direct" (port 9100).
• select the correct printer driver, and finish...

Q: Do you have more docs on ICA, rdesktop, tarantella, blackbox...
A:We don't really doc the connectivity packages (ica, rdesktop...) since the guys and gals behind them has more knowledge and does it much better than we can do. Search at the parent package's homepage and get better advice.
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Q:My keyboard layout isn't supported or is broken
A:See the keyboard request guide. However, see also Faulty keyboard layout with MS Windows server using RDP (rdesktop)
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Q: Can I add my own package to Thinstation?
A:Yes. It requires some Linux/programming skills, though.
Make a folder in packages and put all your files in there, in a normal layout, ie packages/<your app>/bin and packages/<your app>/lib. Don't use sbin, put everything in bin. Also, don't use var, or usr, these are just symlinks to tmp, everything in temp is created through the etc/init.d/XXXX scripts. Use /etc/init.d/XXXX scripts to do all your initilization as only tmp is writable. All other files are read-only, so anything which needs to be changed, needs to be a symlink to a file in temp. You need to link against glibc 2.1.3 (available precompiled from the thinstation-developer source code).
You'll find ldd very useful to determine dependencies.
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DHCP- and TFTP-Server configuration

DHCP

TFTP

The TFTP server must support the "tsize" option when using PXE boot. The Red Hat 7.3 TFTPD does not support this option. atftp does. Newer Red Hat versions should be ok.

Stolen directly from Paul Whittaker's http://diet-PC.sourceforge.net/setup.html#tftp (May 2003):
--
Now install and activate the TFTP server on your designated boot server. UNIX-like operating systems will come with a TFTP server package (although it may not be installed by default), but you may have to obtain a third party package for other O/Ss. See the Windows 2000 Etherboot HowTo for TFTP options available for Windows platforms. To activate the TFTP server on Red Hat Linux, install the TFTP server RPM, set disable=no in /etc/xinetd.d/tftp and restart xinetd using "sh /etc/initd.d/xinetd restart". Set "umask 022" to ensure world-readability, create your TFTP root directory (usually /tftpboot) if required.
--

The MS Windows servers come with a build-in TFTP server called "Remote Installation Service". However, it needs a domain controller to work, unless you use a hack by Morgan Simonsen (mind you - you still need a valid MS Windows server licens).

An other possibility to get a small and simple combined DHCP and TFTP server for MS Windows is http://tftpd32.jounin.net/ (supports "tsize" for PXE boot). To run it automatically as a service, use FireDaemon (free for non-commercial purposes).
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