Better than thin: Linux 'trim' clients

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APC administrator29 June 2006, 1:59 AM

Although the thin client paradigm is a subject of considerable scorn in many computing circles, does Linux make it possible? The Victorian Department of Justice seem to think so. The key is in the fact that Linux can deliver a 'trim' client rather than an anorexic 'thin' client.

Australian company Cybersource, who specialise in providing Linux based solutions to enterprise, has recently deployed 120 TrimClient systems for the Victorian Department of Justice.

Ron Fabre, products manager at Cybersource explained the decision to ITWire:

"The Department of Justice had very high levels of security requirements for this rollout.

"In essence, they wanted to prevent the users from making any changes whatsoever to the system or applications, no addition of new software or drivers, no internet access, and complete safety from all forms of malware, worms, viruses and keyloggers...

"Their in-depth risk analysis led them to understand that our TrimClient solution was the best option for giving their users a fully-featured desktop experience, but within a totally managed, zero-administration and locked-down environment."

In the past, "thin client" was a term which described a system with minimal resources being used to access a more powerful server. This server would perform system intensive tasks, thus eliminating the need for powerful client machines.

It was a good idea which never really gained enough momentum to take off in the wider computing world. Also, most home users prefer to have a machine they can do the odd system-intensive task on, such as compressing a DVD for backup or playing games.

TrimClient desktop machines are different. They use Linux to ensure that any task a user needs to perform can be done without excessive system overhead, meaning that the machines themselves don't need to have particularly powerful hardware to operate.

Anybody who has experimented with configuring light-weight Linux on an old Pentium II can attest to the fact that it pumps considerably more performance out of the machine than Windows XP can. And it can do so while providing a better security model and a more powerful administration model for the IT department who will be looking after it.

Of course, the needs of the DoJ are fairly different to those of many other organisations who would be looking for a similar solution, especially in that they require their users be prevented from accessing the internet, which would be considered insanity in most offices. Still, the rollout demonstrates that Australian government departments are beginning to take Linux seriously as a viable desktop alternative.