Home Page Home Page
 Home | Linux Administration | Corporate Services | Resources | About Us Support Center
Monthly Server Management One-time Server Services Other Services
Network Administration Network Monitoring Network Security High Availability Load Balancing Data Backup and Recovery
Linux HOWTOs Linux Guides Linux Articles New RFCs Vulnerability list Linux Journal
Testimonials Partners Careers Contact Us Site Map
Thin Client: New User Guide: Hardware and Documentation Next Previous Contents

2. Hardware and Documentation

2.1 Hardware

When you start, you will need at least this

  • a computer to act as Server,
  • a client computer, I unplugged the power to the hard disk and disabled the drive in the bios to emulate a diskless machine
  • compatible network cards
  • connection between computers, I used twisted pair ethernet with RJ45 terminators
    • For two computers a cross-over cable is sufficient, and saves another power point, the first computer shop I went to gave me blank stares, idiots !
    • For two or more clients, you need a hub, a kit with a 10 mb 4 port hub ,2 cards sells for under A$150, you can probably do better, I've had some success with $5 second hand cards, 3m cables for $6, a new hub for $40, a found monitor and a $60 pentium 75

2.2 Documentation

You may like to familiarise yourself with the linux documentation, specifically you can read (skim) for an overview the following :

  • /usr/doc/HOWTO/mini/Diskless - a similar howto tackling this problem
  • Networking Overview HOWTO - Networking capabilities of the Linux
  • Ethernet HOWTO - Information on Ethernet hardware compatibility
  • NET-3 HOWTO - How to configure TCP/IP networking under Linux.

Also you probably have in the /usr/doc/LDP/ directory

  • The System Administrators' Guide
  • The Network Administrators' Guide
  • Linux Installation and Getting Started

The obligitory link

One last thing

  • my network server is snoball , my client is elite and my (local)domain is gundog.net Replace with your computers names where applicable


Next Previous Contents