I'm continuing to research a preferred thin client solution for Linux. After not being completely satisfied with Edubuntu and drakTermServ, I tried installing LTSP on Mandriva.

LTSP does not currently have a package that is made specifically for Mandriva, but it was simple enough to follow the Mandriva-specific steps outlined on the LTSP site.

Part of the package includes a tool called ltspadmin, which eased the necessary configuration. It runs in a text console rather than graphically, but I found it to be a more useful tool than the graphical drakTermServ tool available from Mandriva.

The setup process did have some hiccups. I had trouble getting my would-be thin client to boot directly from the network using PXE.

(If you don't know what PXE means, think PiXiE, then think of how magical pixies are, and think of how hard magic is, and how magical it is for an computer to boot over a network. No wonder it doesn't always work. )

I eventually worked around the issue by burning a boot CD from Rom-O-Matic, which
was easy enough.

In the end, I did get my proof-of-concept thin client running, and felt like I had a sense of what would be involved in extending the functionality of the system.

Overall, I was pleased with the experience because whenever I ran into a challenge, I found great documentation on the LTSP wiki, and plenty of Google references from others who had asked the same questions I w
as researching.

I'm confident now in proceeding with LTSP as a recommended Linux thin client solution. It's clear it's a polished project with a vibrant community around it. If there is something it doesn't do or do well now, chances are that someone is already working on it.