PXES is a Linux-based thin client distribution designed for micro use.
If you're on the lookout for a micro Linux thin client distribution, then you should definitely consider the PXES project. The software is capable of booting a real thin client or even converting any compliant hardware into a versatile thin client in just a matter of minutes. With this software, you can access any XDM server presenting the graphical login screen or any Microsoft Terminal Server through the RDP protocol.
To configure the clients, PXES comes with an easy-to-use graphical configuration tool. This tool allows you to specify clients parameters or the server to access. The best part? The software can recover hardware that otherwise wouldn't be much use running a current desktop OS or office package. PXES boots from the network with PXE (Intel Pre-Execution Environment specifications). This means that neither boot diskette nor boot eprom is needed. The linux kernel and an initial root filesystem are transmitted over the network (the compressed size as of version 0.4 is about 4M).
The software supports an impressive range of servers and protocols. These include Unix/Linux supporting XDM, Microsoft Terminal Server using RDP, Citrix using ICA, VNC using TightVNC, LOCAL local graphical session with simple desktop, LTSP or K12LTSP, IBM Host using 3270 or 5250 emulation (soon), Telnet emulating ANSI terminal, SSH, Tarantella using proprietary protocol, NoMachine using NX, and Thinlinc.
PXES also supports a variety of boot methods such as PXE network card included in most modern PC hardware, Etherboot to boot from diskette or EPROM, CD-ROM, Hard disk, DOC DiskOnChip and DOM DiskOnModule, and USB Storage. If you're using Hard Disk, DOC, DOM or other flash memory installation, you may also use PXES HD/DOM Installer, which is part of Enterprise Edition.
As it pertains to hardware requirements, PXES requires an x86 architecture processor (i486, i586, i686, VIA C3, Geode, Vortex86, Transmeta Crusoe, etc.), PCI recommended for BUS (although ISA works), 32 Mb recommended RAM (16 Mb minimum), and a NIC compliant with the supported network card list. PXES even supports various video card lists.
PXES also supports local devices such as the diskette, hard disk, CD-ROM, parallel printers, serial printers, and USB printers, serial devices (bar code reader, etc.), audio, and flash memory / USB storage.
Supported operating systems include Linux, Solaris, AIX, SCO, BSD, HP-UX, Microsoft Windows NT4, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 2003, and Microsoft Windows XP.
In this release, users can expect support for different boot loaders and GRUB on ISO images, as well as a correction made in the kernel and image path in isolinux. The software also contains a message telling the user to run "pxesconfig --updatefstab" and automated owner and permission changing on specific files, which means that the whole pxes-base tree can be checked out as a normal user.
To configure the clients, PXES comes with an easy-to-use graphical configuration tool. This tool allows you to specify clients parameters or the server to access. The best part? The software can recover hardware that otherwise wouldn't be much use running a current desktop OS or office package. PXES boots from the network with PXE (Intel Pre-Execution Environment specifications). This means that neither boot diskette nor boot eprom is needed. The linux kernel and an initial root filesystem are transmitted over the network (the compressed size as of version 0.4 is about 4M).
The software supports an impressive range of servers and protocols. These include Unix/Linux supporting XDM, Microsoft Terminal Server using RDP, Citrix using ICA, VNC using TightVNC, LOCAL local graphical session with simple desktop, LTSP or K12LTSP, IBM Host using 3270 or 5250 emulation (soon), Telnet emulating ANSI terminal, SSH, Tarantella using proprietary protocol, NoMachine using NX, and Thinlinc.
PXES also supports a variety of boot methods such as PXE network card included in most modern PC hardware, Etherboot to boot from diskette or EPROM, CD-ROM, Hard disk, DOC DiskOnChip and DOM DiskOnModule, and USB Storage. If you're using Hard Disk, DOC, DOM or other flash memory installation, you may also use PXES HD/DOM Installer, which is part of Enterprise Edition.
As it pertains to hardware requirements, PXES requires an x86 architecture processor (i486, i586, i686, VIA C3, Geode, Vortex86, Transmeta Crusoe, etc.), PCI recommended for BUS (although ISA works), 32 Mb recommended RAM (16 Mb minimum), and a NIC compliant with the supported network card list. PXES even supports various video card lists.
PXES also supports local devices such as the diskette, hard disk, CD-ROM, parallel printers, serial printers, and USB printers, serial devices (bar code reader, etc.), audio, and flash memory / USB storage.
Supported operating systems include Linux, Solaris, AIX, SCO, BSD, HP-UX, Microsoft Windows NT4, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 2003, and Microsoft Windows XP.
In this release, users can expect support for different boot loaders and GRUB on ISO images, as well as a correction made in the kernel and image path in isolinux. The software also contains a message telling the user to run "pxesconfig --updatefstab" and automated owner and permission changing on specific files, which means that the whole pxes-base tree can be checked out as a normal user.
What's New
Version 1.1: N/A