[K12OSN] Full system file access from terminals??

[Les Mikesell]

xmechanic wrote:
> Hi,
> I run a small computer service that services a local K-12 school 
> district and I've been experimenting with K12OS with the hopes of making 
> a valid presentation to the school to get them interested in moving to a 
> thin client type environment.  I first downloaded version 6.0 and 
> installed it on a test machine here with dual NICs, and no matter how I 
> configured it, I could never get my client(s) to boot. The server would 
> hand off the IP address to the terminal from DHCP, and then it would 
> hang while trying to load the kernel. I checked my /etc/dhcpd.conf, 
> ltsp.conf, /etc/exports, and everything else I could think of, to no 
> avail. I finally started checking forums and found that several people 
> have had client boot problems with 6.0. So I downloaded and installed 
> Ver. 5.0 and copied over the sample /etc/dhcpd.conf file and voila! The 
> terminal(s) boot perfectly. Now for problem "B". It seems the terminal 
> users have access to the servers complete file system! According to my 
> /etc/exports file, this shouldn't be so. I think somehow the terminal is 
> loading the server system rather than the filesystem exported from 
> /opt/ltsp/i386. What tipped me off was the fact that when I log off a 
> user on the terminal, I get an x-server error on the server screen and 
> have to hit Ctrl-alt-F7 to get my screen back. Anyone have any ideas? I 
> really like this system now that the terminals actually boot from it. A 
> 733mhz. Dell desktop with 256mb of RAM takes about 35 seconds to go from 
> power off to a login screen and another 12 seconds to the desktop. That 
> would certainly be quicker with a real boot ROM instead of a boot 
> floppy. If I can get the exports thing worked out and get it to boot 
> from the correct filesystem, I'll be a happy camper. Any and all input 
> greatly appreciated.  I've been about 4 days on this now and I'm running 
> out of ideas. :-p

I think you've missed the 'thin' terminal concept entirely.  The only 
thing running on them is an X session for the screen and keyboard.  The 
window manager/desktop and all applications run on the server, sharing 
the fast server CPU and file system.  You aren't just booting from the 
server - everything runs there.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com