[plug] LTSP + Multiple XF86 users

[Chris Caston]

Hello,

I came across the following page:

http://cambuca.ldhs.cetuc.puc-rio.br/multiuser/

By Miguel Freitas

And become interested in the idea of trying this out but also setting up
LTSP clients to allow multiple users on each machine.
This would allow an environment with a very low setup cost and TCO as
well as centralised administration.

Anyway I'm a little tired at the moment so I'll just cut 'n paste what I
sent to Miguel:

"Okay. I'll let you know if I find anything useful.

This may sound crazy but do you think it would be possible for a LTSP
client to have multiple video cards, input devices and XF86 users?

This could potentially create a managed corporate environment with very
low setup costs and TCO. Each LTSP client could host roughly 5 users
(limited by the number of pci slots + video cards) but to add more users
to any particular segment you just add another LTSP client. 

Each LTSP client feeds off an LTSP server which could also be setup as a
Mosix cluster to share the processing load.

Users would be able to log on almost instantly (no waiting while Linux
boots) and administrators would be able to control all the software from
the LTSP server. 

Adding more users to each LTSP client would be very cheap as you only
need usb keyboard, mouse and monitor.

I drew up a diagram in Kivio if you want to check it out.

Things like the floppy drive and cdburners could be shared from the LTSP
server or some kinda file share/NAS box or they could have a ext USB one
if they really need it.
"

There would also be no FAN noise!

He said it would probably work but I'm interested in trying it out
myself.

I put up a kivio digram on my webspace:

http://www.arach.net.au/~pcaston/ltspdream.flw

What do you think?

It would be great for allowing underfunded schools to put about 5 Linux
machines in every classroom quite cheaply.

regards,

Chris Caston