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On Saturday 01 January 2005 10:59 pm, Craig White wrote:
> On Sat, 2005-01-01 at 21:58 -0700, Alan Dayley wrote:
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> > A non-profit agency has recieved a donation of older computers. 
> > Something along the lines of 200 MHz for the processor.  I don't know all
> > the details of the five systems yet but they all have CD-ROM drive, a few
> > GB hard drive and a decent monitor.  The key here is that I don't know
> > the amount of RAM in them yet so I am planning (hoping) for at least
> > 128MB.  They were all running Windows 98 before being wiped clean prior
> > to donation.

Checked out the computers today.  They are 133MHz with 8MB of RAM!  Originally 
the programs used on them were all DOS apps.  Any sort of stand-alone 
"modern" OS on these boxes is out the window (Heh!).

> You dismiss the best idea out of hand as being too expensive but you
> cannot overlook practicality and usefulness of a well conceived solution
> that undoubtedly will cost less in the long run and probably short run
> too.
>
> LTSP is the way to go - no question about it. A system with the right
> hardware for the server could probably be done on the cheap.

LTSP is the only way to make use of these boxes, as Craig said.  So, I have a 
couple of final questions from the understanding that they will be running as 
terminals:

1. Do we need to find more RAM to use them as terminals?  In other words, is 
8MB local RAM too little even for a Linux terminal?

2. We'll need to get a box for a server.  What is the minimum server speed and 
RAM needed to run 3-4 terminals?  I plan on using K12LTSP as the distro 
(http://www.k12ltps.org).  I hoped to get one of those $200-ish boxes with 
extra RAM to use as the server.  Keep in mind that these terminals will be 
used for basic word processing and web surfing.

They have the network infrastructure to support the wiring.  We will have to 
get 100MB PCI netword cards for each terminal box and another switch to have 
the terminals and server on their own subnet.  A total budget of around $350 
for a server, switch and NICs is painful but probably acceptable to them.  
Cheaper than buying 3 or 4 stand-alone computers.

I'll keep reading up on this but if anyone has any input or comments, I'll 
gladly take them.

Alan


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