openthinclient
| openthinclient
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 Administration with the openthinclient manager |
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| Basic data
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| developer | openthinclient gmbh |
| Current version | 2019.1.3 (January 20, 2020) |
| operating system | platform independent |
| programming language | Java , Python |
| category | Thin client |
| License | GNU General Public License ( Free Software ) |
| German speaking | Yes |
| http://openthinclient.org/ | |
openthinclient is a special computer program , a free thin client solution, which consists of a thin client operating system (openthinclient OS), central management software (openthinclient manager) and a Java-based server component (openthinclient server).
The openthinclient manager was initially based on an extensive Java web start application and from version 2019.1 can be fully executed in the browser as Html5 .
The essential feature is that the thin clients land their operating system via PXE over the network.
It can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet and is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GNU-GPLv2). It is developed for environments in which a medium to large number of thin clients must be managed efficiently.
Up to an installation size of 49 ThinClients, the openthinclient software with central management can be freely used with its full range of functions.
Central properties
openthinclient has three key features that distinguish it from most other solutions:
- The most significant difference is their centralized approach that reduces administrative work to a minimum. The ThinClient only needs a PXE-capable network adapter, but no local mass storage device such as flash memory or hard disk . All configuration data is kept in the LDAP database, which is integrated in the openthinclient server, or in an Active Directory .
- The openthinclient server is written in Java and can therefore run on all systems on which Oracle Java is available.
- The openthinclient manager only needs a web browser to run it.
- The solution is available as open source software.
ThinClient operating system
The openthinclient ThinClient operating system was initially based on an adapted Ubuntu - Linux distribution that was optimized for devices without hard drives . In the course of time, various drivers had to be backported and further applications and libraries had to be added to the distribution, for example to support the Intel Atom processors that have been on the market since 2008 . In 2013 the decision was made to rebuild the openthinclient OS as a completely new Linux distribution on the current Debian Wheezy basis. Further innovations on more recent Debian versions are made (see versions).
Regardless of the openthinclient OS version, the basic functions remain the same: The boot process and the configuration of the thin clients are carried out using protocols based on industry standards such as LDAP , DHCP , PXE , TFTP and NFS .
Management GUI
openthinclient provides an extensive graphical user interface that allows all aspects of the thin clients to be managed. openthinclient differs from other solutions in the following ways:
- Use of protocols and technologies based on industry standards
- Integrates seamlessly into existing system management solutions such as LDAP or Microsoft ADS
- It offers a powerful management GUI that supports a large number of thin client hardware and is executable in the browser
- No specialized thin client hardware is required. Due to the PXE support, the devices are run without flash drives or similar. booted into thin client mode
- Various typical thin client applications such as web browser, ICA client, RDP client, etc. Ä. exist as ready-made packages.
Server component
The openthinclient server provides all services that are required for booting via the network. The openthinclient server service runs under Java (Spring Boot) and can therefore be installed on any host operating system.
Versions
| date | version | Project name | comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 23, 2007 | 0.2.0 | - | openthinclient is Open Source based on the ThinClient operating system Ubuntu 6.06, with Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice and rdesktop |
| October 26, 2009 | 0.4.5 | - | New features: Citrix ICA and PN agent, VMware View, connection of OpenLDAP |
| December 19, 2010 | 1.0.0 | - | Comprehensive update with various backports and new program versions |
| October 28, 2011 | 1.0.0-9 | Minerva | Current "stable" version with various updates and bug fixes, plus FreeRDP; Kernel 2.6.28 |
| 3rd October 2013 | 1.1.0-01 | Ceres | Newer X.Org server and updated network card drivers |
| January 25, 2014 | 2.0 | Consus | Completely revised operating system based on Debian Wheezy; Kernel 3.12 |
| 4th November 2015 | 2.1-10 | Pales | improved hardware support |
| 5th November 2018 | 2018.1 | 2018.1 | self-sufficient local boot, updates of the client applications |
| 18th September 2019 | 2019.1.1 | 2019.1 | Base Debian Stretch, openthinclient manager completely as in the browser (Html5) |
Licensing, sales and support
The solution can be downloaded free of charge from the openthinclient gmbh webshop. Free support is provided on the openthinclient Wiki page.
The openthinclient-Manager can be used freely up to an installation size of 49 created ThinClients. There are no restrictions on the scope of functions. This makes this software solution interesting for many clubs or charitable organizations. But also professional customers in the field of production, industry or hospitals have the opportunity to extensively test the solution with up to 49 pilot users.
For installations of 50 or more thin clients and for professional use, a license must be purchased. This is to be paid monthly as software rental to openthinclient gmbh. The user license also includes support with guaranteed response times ( SLA ) for the end customer .
In addition to the software, openthinclient gmbh also sells ThinClient hardware, which is fanless and energy-saving and rounds off the overall solution.