Re: [K12OSN] Remote Client for K12LTSP

Donald J Christensen (djc@cisco.com)
Thu, 03 Oct 2002 08:44:33 -0700 

Eric Harrison wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 2 Oct 2002, Warren Gatrel wrote:
> 
> >Is there a remote client that a user could use to pull up a session from a
> >remote location.  I would like to also be able to provide a way users could
> >run a terminal session from home.  Is it possible to do or is it just a shot
> >in the dark...?
> 
> By default, you can use VNC to connect from another desktop.
> 
> TightVNC (www.tightvnc.org) works ok over a DSL line. It's not great, but it
> is usable. I haven't tried it over a modem, but I'd assume that it would
> not be acceptable.
> 
> -Eric

I use VNC in a work setting, not K12LTSP or school, but the principal is
the same.  I have editing sessions opened and other tools, and I can access
them from any computer.  If my DSL line or VPN connection goes down at home,
I reestablish the connection and then connect back to the VNC server.  No
lost work or setup.  I don't have any performance issues, but then I don't
run graphics intensive apps (like a browser), either.

There is one big problem with this approach if you want all students to
use it.  Each VNC server will take a sizeable chunk of memory (how much
depends on the size and bit depth).  So the server might need more memory
to handle it.  Perhaps a separate "VNC server" server would work well.
Also, the clients might boot quicker and perform better (for lower end
clients) if they do not run X, but instead run the full-screen vnc viewer.

It would be interesting for someone in a position to try this to report
back on the results.  Maybe this might work as an alternative configuration
in situations where a significant percentage of users (students and/or
teachers) have broadband connections at home.

-Don

-- 
Don Christensen       Senior Software Development Engineer
djc@cisco.com         Cisco Systems, Santa Cruz, CA
  "It was a new day yesterday, but it's an old day now."



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