linux for the small business (i.e. medical office)

[eddie]

Another feature of linux that needs to be pushed for small business. Linux is a multi-user system and is another area where linux can be touted.

Thin client lab: (At the time this picture was taken the server was an 800mhz amd duron cpu clone based machine running k12ltsp on Fedora. Each diskless pxe boot thin client is running a different desktop of gnome, kde3.x, and xfce all from the same server). More thin clients are connected, but not shown. This setup is great for small business and can be easily upgraded to for pos usage for retal stores, student labs at schools, or for a call/support center. With a little horse trading I was able to set up the whole system including the server for under $300. I dare you to do that with Apple or Microsoft.

[spotslayer]

That is pretty cool. What kind of software apps are being used? Is there a backup solution?

David

[eddie]

As for backup solution, you can use any existing linux software: rsync/tar, amanda, or etc. Barring any memory limitations of the server. Since everything is server based, there is no need to back up the thin clients. You only need to back up the server. The second benefit is you only have to install or update software just once on the server. There is no massive disk imaging or sneakerware software updates required. You also only have to do client administration on just one computer The sky is the limit on software. You could even run mythtv diskless thin clients (as frontends) if you had the horsepower on the server end. Larger installs have ltsp clustered with iscsi mirrored storage. If you need standalone boxes, you can easily set up network based linux installs from a local repo or a standard repo. Personally I would prefer diskless iscsi setups instead. DRBL/Clonizilla network version will do the same thing as ltsp.

Ltsp is a great way to leverage old equipment. I originally used p1/2's as thin clients via booting from floppy that emulated pxeboot (etherboot). Basically you can use anything that will pxe/gpxe boot to get access to the server. We are experimenting with gpxe to boot remotely via http into an ltsp server from anywhere on the planet making netbooks more viable. Now I primarily use HP Compaq T20/30 that have the firmware flashed to only pxe boot. There are addons so that anything with a browser, rdp, or vnc can access the ltsp server and it's apps. For example if you have a wince based thin client with browser provided by the firmware, you can access the server. What is also neat is that you can via rdp and vnc access apple and mswindows servers. You could have say windows xp in a virtual machine and any of the thin clients would be able to access the vm as if you were running windoze on that thin client.

You could even run ltsp server as a vm. With one super powerful server you could do all kinds of neat stuff via vm. If it were legal, you could do the same thing with an apple server. I used to run osx server on a apple g3 and all the thin clients could access it via vnc. I wish I kept a screen shot where one of the old p1's had windows xp and apple osx running in virtual xwindows. I have since dumped the apple equipment. Linux has enough good software, there is no need to run any Microsoft software anymore either, though I do use wine a bit.

Knoppix via bootable cd/dvd's and it's variants (i.e. pelican/hpc cluster) have thin client servers built in. We have booted linux onto a whole lab of diskless regular pc's set to pxe boot with just one knoppix cd. A laptop, knoppix cd, and usb memory stick can be a great disaster emergency/recovery system. You can be running up in minutes instead of hours trying to install Apple and or Microsoft os on a bunch of systems. When you live in hurricane country as we do, you definately want to have options.

One last thought, we also have a separate web server that has many online apps from accounting and erp to multimedia programs the thin clients can use (as well as any machine with a web browser). That reduces the need for a hefty ltsp server. It is awesome the amount of web based software that is available. Sourceforge.net is a real fort knox of software. Have your own cloud!

[spotslayer]

WOW!

I was actually wondering what you were using for the backup. I mean like tape or a dedicated computer as the backup host. As far as the software is there any kind of file locking? I have a network in my house but I don't use thin clients or ltsp. I am able to use ssh -C -X to access everything from anywhere on the internet. I am interested in a project like this just as you presented it. A network for a small business. This is very interesting to me. Is it in a medical office? If so are you using gnumed?

David

[eddie]

We use our ltsp for a small private school and on our home network. We tar home directories to dvd at intervals. Plastic media is dirt cheap and not subject to magnetic fields. The basic server was backed up using clonezilla in file segments and then written to dvds. Students are expected to back up their data to usb sticks. We have a simple script for them to use. Most of the business data is on a separate web server which gets tarred and sent to dvd at intervals. ltsp gives you complete control over the clients. You as an admin can even eavesdrop without the user knowing. That is great for keeping an eye on the kids (or employees) without disturbing them. If you wanted to be anal, you could even record keystrokes and the like. You can also control what apps are available and when they are available to certain users. In fact you can disable a thin client at the drop of a hat or limit access by ip as you can with standard linux. I do the ssh thing too, but in a work situation, I would prefer only let trusted admins have that kind of power. Especially if I use a special port to use ssh. An employee does not need to know that info. VPN access is another can of worms.

I have a friend who's sister is a nurse. She has been after me to set up a web based medical data collection system. I have downloaded several open source based packages, but have not set up test server to install and test them. I did also download the packages for the medical system talked about in a recent broadcast. My degree is in bean counting. The health profession would be something new to learn. I will have to admit my ignorance about that particular field.