Max Hertzberg

Max works for Seeds for Change: http://seedsforchange.org.uk/linux and http://seedsforchange.org.uk

Profile

Max provides support and training for NGOs? and Social Sector organisations, including capacity building (decision making processes, strategy, visioning, experiential team building etc); IT (Free / Open Source Software - particularly Linux desktop migration) and Co-operative Development (start up support for co-operatives). He works in so many fields in an attempt to avoid being 100% (Free/Open Source Software) geek.

Notes Relating to talk

Seeds for Change Network (SCN) have been using Linx x-terminals since around 2000. They've had positive experiences of using this setup as have other organisations. Reasons SCN decided to go for this included recycling element -- toxic waste from discarded computer parts so they wanted to rescue and reuse computers to cut down on this waste. Fits in with organisations environmental values.

Setup:

1.5 GHz? 4 year old high powered server machine (second hand cost around Ł300) running Linux
7 client PCs? rescued from a skip (Pentium I's) + keyboards and monitors
ethernet cable to connect it all up (cost approx Ł40)

The whole setup cost around Ł35 per user for 7-10 users!

How it works:

Keyboards on client machines used to send information to server machine. server sends information back for display on client machine monitors. Low specification machines will run applications even up to date ones fine, because all the processing is done on the high powered server. client machines only send keystrokes and display information sent back from server. No hard disk drives in any of the client machines (so no noise from hard disks spinning). No fans needed (Pentium I machines just have heat sink so no noise from fans either). Only the server machine needs to be backed up (as there is no data or programs held on client machines). Upgrades are a lot easier as they only need to be done on the server machine so system is pretty low maintenance. There is no appreciable loss of performance even though the client machines and server are pretty old. No. of users that this setup will work for will depend on what applications are being run and how many client machines are accessing the server at the same time. For basic ecvery day use applications e.g word processing, email, browsing this setup should work for at least 10 users with no significant performance issues. For running more processor intensive applications like video editing performance could be an issue.

Technical hints

A server with 800 MHz? to 1.5 GHz? shold be adequate.
Have a 100 Mbit connection from the server to the hub - client machines to hub 10 Mbit connection should be adequate
Stick as much memory as possible in the Server machine
2-4 Mb graphics cards on client machines recommended
see seeds for change website for more info http://seedsforchange.org.uk/linux

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