[K12OSN] OT: Apple Imac lab

Fri Feb 27 18:31:29 UTC 2009

PowerPC Apple boxes don't use PXE; they use a system more akin to how 
Sun boxes net-boot.  That said, they make fine thin clients assuming 
they've got decent screen resolution.  That'll of course depend on when 
it was made.

Since you're talking about iMacs, that means they all use the newer 
OpenFirmware, like all other "NewWorld" PPC Macs.  You should be able to 
netboot these things just fine.  However, if you run into trouble with 
that, I've done basic Yellow Dog Linux installs with pretty much just 
X11 (no GNOME, KDE, Firefox, or any of that other stuff).  Just enough 
to get X11 to run.  Then you can stick the following in the rc.local file.

  X -query w.x.y.z

where w.x.y.z is your LTSP server.  This alternate strategy works very 
well with anything, regardless of architecture, just so long as you've 
got X11 installed (OpenBSD, FreeBSD, any GNU/Linux, Slowaris, whatever).

So, if it's dirt-cheap, has 10/100 like all iMacs should, and has decent 
screen resolution, then yeah, go for it!

--TP
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David Hopkins wrote:
> Ok, I have been asked to determine if it makes sense to acquire a lab
> of Apple Imac ( www.apple.com/imac/specs ) and then PXE boot them when
> they are not being used for video/audio processing classes. I know I
> could configure them to mount home directories for users but that is
> not what I'm being asked about.  I'd prefer to stay with thin clients
> except as far as I know there aren't any simple, easy-to-use
> video/audio editing packages that 'just work' on thin clients. This is
> for grades 5-8.  Perhaps the ability to run local apps with K12Linux
> solves this?
>
> Sincerely,
> Dave Hopkins
>
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