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How To Install LTSP in Ubuntu Linux

LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project) is a software package that adds thin-client support to Linux servers.

Home: http://www.ltsp.org/

The following procedure describes How To install the LTSP software package in Ubuntu Linux (8.04 LTS).

1. Fresh Install Using the Ubuntu alternate CD

See: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuLTSP/LTSPQuickInstall

1. Make sure that your server has 2 network cards installed and working under Ubuntu;
2. Insert the Ubuntu alternate CD and (re)boot fom this CD;
3. Once you boot up the CD, hit F4. The "Modes" menu will pop up. Select "Install an LTSP Server". Move on with the install.

Once the installer is done and has rebooted into your new system you will be able to boot your first Thin Client right away.

2. Install over an existent Ubuntu Desktop

1. Make sure that your server has 2 network cards installed and working;
2. Configure one card to have the static IP 192.168.0.1. Make sure that it is up and running. It will serve the thin client's boot image;
3. Configure the other card to be in a range different from 192.168.0.x. Make sure that it is able to connect to the Internet;
4. sudo apt-get install ltsp-server-standalone
5. sudo ltsp-build-client --arch i386
6. Check if the LTSP network paramaters fit your organization needs:

  • sudo gedit /etc/ltsp/dhcpd.conf # do check the domain-name
  • sudo invoke-rc.d dhcp3-server restart # if you made changes, restart the DHCP server

7. If needed Install User Security and Policy editors:

  • sudo apt-get install pessulus sabayon
  • Check: System->Administration->Lockdown Editor # This is the Pessulus application
  • Check: System->Administration->User Profile Editorr # This is the Sabayon application
  • Check: System->Administration->Authorizations

Note: if you need to use another IP instead of the 192.168.0.1 stated above, you must edit the IP ranges inside the file /etc/ltsp/dhcpd.conf to match the new IP and then restart the dhcp server.

3. Update the LTSP clients

  • sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/apt/
  • sudo chroot /opt/ltsp/i386
    • mount -t proc proc /proc
    • apt-get update && apt-get upgrade
    • update-initramfs -k all -c # make the initramfs pick up the new scripts
    • umount /proc
    • CTRL-D to exit chroot
  • sudo ltsp-update-kernels # if the kernels have been upgraded
  • sudo ltsp-update-sshkeys # If network IP numbering changed after you have done the initial setup
  • sudo ltsp-update-image --arch i386

4. Problems

4.1. Booting 32 bit clients from a LTSP AMD64 server

See: LTSP AMD64 and 32 bit clients: <http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=213043>

  • sudo rm -rf /opt/ltsp /var/lib/tftpboot/ltsp/amd64
  • sudo sed -e '/^2000/s/amd64/i386/g' /etc/inetd.conf # make sure port 2000 serves an i386.img
  • sudo ltsp-build-client --arch i386
  • sudo ltsp-update-kernels # if the kernels have been upgraded
  • sudo ltsp-update-sshkeys # If network IP numbering changed after you have done the initial setup
  • sudo ltsp-update-image --arch i386

4.2. Workstation isn't authorized to connect to server

If you get error "This workstation isn't authorized to connect to server" on client, please run:

  • sudo ltsp-update-sshkeys && sudo ltsp-update-image --arch i386

See explanation on: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ltsp/+bug/144296

5. Use a CDROM, a pen drive or whatever drive on the thin client

To use the CDROM, a pen drive or whatever drive on the thin client you must:

1. sudo apt-get install ltspfs (Not needed anymore: it is now part of the ltsp-server-standalone package)

2. add the users you want to have access to those drives to the fuse group:

  • sudo usermod -G fuse -a $USER

3. reboot the thin client and you should now be able to use the thin client's local drives.

6. Customize LTSP clients

ATENTION: The config file: /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/lts.conf is deprecated, use the following instead:

  • sudo gedit /var/lib/tftpboot/ltsp/i386/lts.conf

7. Install x11vnc on Ltsp Clients

See: https://wiki.edubuntu.org/InstallX11VncOnLtspClients

  • Install:
    • sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/apt/sources.list
    • sudo chroot /opt/ltsp/i386
    • apt-get update
    • apt-get install x11vnc

  • Setting x11vnc to run on the thin clients:
    • (...)

8. Reference