Linux NCD mini-HOWTO
Bart Geens & Kris Buytaert, bart.geens@advalvas.be
v0.99.16, 2001-12-07
This document tries to describe how to hook up a NCD ThinSTAR to your
local network using a Linux box as server.
______________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 What`s this document
1.2 Copyright
1.3 Disclaimer
2. Requirements
2.1 Hardware
2.2 Software
2.2.1 X Server.
2.2.2 DHCP Server (optionally) If you have multiple NCD's, you may wish to distribute the IP Adresses by using a DHCP Server how to obtain and configure a DHCP server can be read in the
3. Other Usefull Documentation
4. Setting up the Serverside
4.1 Setting up the X server
5. Configuring the Thin Client
6. Credits
7. History
______________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction
1.1. What`s this document
We could play around with a NCD ThinSTAR for a while. Although MS NT
Terminal and Citrix Meta- & Winframe are the only supported OS systems
("Powered by Windows CE" is on the cover ...), it works fine with
Linux too. This is how !
The machine we had, was a NCD ThinkSTAR 200. It is powered by a
100MHz MIPS 4300 processor and had the default 8MB of RAM memory. NCD
has a also other products in the ThinSTAR family. These might also
work, but we haven't the opportunity to check those. If you have any
of those, feel free to add any comments. Or send them to us to
experiment.
This HOWTO will present one way to setup your ThinSTAR to be used in a
Linux environment. This isn't much of a big deal, but for what it's
worth I'll descripe the needed steps here.
This MINI Howto is not trying to be the Bible on NC's and Linux, its
trying to be something for you to get started from nowhere.
Contributions to this NC are welcome. In fact this HOWTO is fully
based on the NC-HOWTO by Kris Buytaert in which he describes how to
setup the IBM Network Station.
1.2. Copyright
This HOWTO is copyrighted 1998-2001 by Bart Geens and Kris Buytaert
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover
Texts. A copy of the license is included in the appendix entitled "GNU
Free Documentation License".
1.3. Disclaimer
Use the information in this document at your own risk. I disavow any
potential liability for the contents of this document. Use of the
concepts, examples, and/or other content of this document is entirely
at your own risk.
All copyrights are owned by their owners, unless specifically noted
otherwise. Use of a term in this document should not be regarded as
affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Naming of particular products or brands should not be seen as
endorsements.
You are strongly recommended to take a backup of your system before
major installation and backups at regular intervals.
2. Requirements
2.1. Hardware
An NC, connected to your local Network, most likely by UTP, thus by a
cross-cable or HUB connecting to an X Server. Herafter called the
Linux Box. The NC can be used as an X-terminal, and in this way can be
used to replace an Windows Terminal server or simular application.
The NCD-ThinSTAR 200 is in way related to the IBM Network Station
model 8361-100. Both machines share a lot of components such as some
S3 vga components, IO , network and and normal 72pins (parity ??)
sims. The motherboard is also from the same manufacturer.
The NCD worked quit fine on my network at home, but we had some
trouble to get it running again on an other location. After a while
we found out that the problem where the monitors. The NC does not
seem to support all older monitors, even at low resolutions and
refresh rates.
The Linux box does not require any special tricks: any X-server with
xdm, gdm or something similar will do. We will use xdm.
2.2. Software
2.2.1. X Server.
Any machine running XDM with enough memory, processor power will do.
You don't need to have X configured on the machine itselve, it can
perfectly be a headless server. Basic X Windows install will provide
you with the necessary deamons.
2.2.2. If you have multiple NCD's, you may wish to distribute the IP
Adresses by using a DHCP Server how to obtain and configure a DHCP
server can be read in the DHCP Mini Howto on sunsite DHCP Server
(optionally)
3. Other Usefull Documentation
Mainly the NCD website at http://www.ncd.com.
4. Setting up the Serverside
4.1. Setting up the X server
Next we have to set up the X server. Basically I didn`t need to set
up anything, all of my machines that ran X-Windows were configured to
accept connections. I just started up the NC for the first time and
it showed me all the machines that ran an XDM (cfr running an X
-indirect). So any machine that can run xdm can be used as X Server.
Just make sure XDM is So any machine that can run xdm can be used as X
Server. Just make sure XDM is started.
Everything on the server side should be setup now. Lets try the NC
side.
5. Configuring the Thin Client
Unplug the network cable from the NC. Then boot it up.
It will boot and display that fine NCD ThinSTAR logo but alse the ugly
Windows CE stuff :-)). After the NC has booted, it displays the NCD
ThinSTAR setup wizard (if you already have been using the NC, it will
not show the wizard, but by pressing ALT-CTRL-F2 you can still
reconfigure the system). The first selection is the most important
one: Client selection. Be sure to change this to NCD ThinSTAR X
Client.
Then you have to setup the NC's IP address. We did pick a static IP.
You can also specify a DNS server, but this is not needed. To finish
pick your monitors resolution. The NC should be restarted now.
(Windows CE Remember ;-) )
After a while you will see the NCD ThinSTAR Connection Manager on your
screen. First you can continue configuring your system by pressing
ALT+CTRL+F2. Things to be configured are: keyboard and mouse. This
panel also allows you to reconfigure other parts of your NC. Press OK
to commit changes, and you will return to the NCD ThinSTAR Connection
Manager.
The NCD ThinSTAR Connection Manager gives 2 options: connections and
configure. So lets configure the system first. Pick 'X terminal'
from the menu and press the edit or add button.
The NCD ThinSTAR X Connection Properties allows you to configure the
name, connection options, host and color. We prefer the these
settings: * Connection Option : XDM Query * Host: specify when
connection is made * (other settings are not important) You could also
specify a fixed X server but the broadcast option is easier.
Basicly your done now and you should be able to start a session by
double-clicking the connection you just edited or added. You should
get a list with all the X servers you are using.
6. Credits
A lot of thanks go to Kris Buytaert ,kris.buytaert@advalvas.be for
rereading this howto and findin uot lost of splelling errosr.
7. History
19990812 first draft 19990829 typos fixed 19990901 release
20011206 License Change
