Thin client OS suggestions

spud17

I'm looking a simple OS for an HP t5700 thin client, 1GHz and 256MB ram.
It has 256MB flash storage, but I can up that to a max of 4GB by using a cf card.

The main stumbling block is, there are no ps/2 connections, only usb 1.0, so have to use usb keyboard/mouse.

I've tried SliTaz, Puppy, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu server etc, old and new versions, but they stall because, I'm guessing, the usb drivers don't load early enough, and so you can't make your e.g. keyboard selections.

DSL runs from a 'live' cd, but I end up in a loop when I try to install.

Embedded FreeNAS runs perfectly.

XP, Win2K and Ubuntu 7.04 all install, but are painfully slow.
It took around 3 hrs to install XP pro sp3.

So while I'm ok installing/using Linux, I'm not really into complicated command line type stuff beloved of the true Linux geek.

RussJK

What's it for? I've no suggestions for the keyboard issues.


NimbleX (min 128mb RAM)
http://www.nimblex.net/

Xpud (min 256mb RAM; more of a media/browser OS)
http://www.xpud.org/

Austrumi needs 512mb RAM.


There's LiMP, but I've not had luck with it..

Ylmf needs 4gb space for the OS.

BlueC

Seems odd, I'd expect at least some of those distros to work, loads of computers have no PS/2 ports. Tried enabling USB legacy mode in the BIOS? Or otherwise tweaking the BIOS, especially the USB settings?

paddyrg

ChromeOS? It is designed for browser-only client work.

I'm unsure about the USB thing though, I only use a USB mouse/keyb and they get loaded up just fine in various flavours of Linux, so the problem may be elsewhere?

jaydeeuk1

Why you not using embedded XP? I'm using several T5700 with various spec. Takes 10mins to install, and is really quick. Does vlc, web browsing, etc

gaming_guy

....................

spud17

Thanks all,

@Russ, I'd just like to get a usable general purpose /browsing system installed, then see where I can go.

@BlueC, there's very little to be done in the BIOS, there's a setting each for usb keyboard and mouse, I've tried all the possible combinations of enabled/disabled. I was hoping that by disabling, it would force the drivers to install from the disk.

@paddyrg, do you mean Chromium? I'll have a look, but fear that it won't run on old hardware. Agree it's strange that some run and others refuse, especially Puppy refusing.

@jaydeeuk1, I've been using XPe SP2, but was looking to try something different.
Have you managed to get around the 1Gb partition limit?
I actually had 3x t5700's, one had an accident, my mistake.
One has a problem with the BIOS, in that it has a corruption which means it's lost its UUID in system information (shows as 32x Fs). This gives a message that it does not have a valid license when I try to install XPe. Googling suggests that it needs to be returned to HP to be reset(?). But this won't affect any other OS.

@gaming-guy, thanks, that is certainly worth investigating.

paddyrg

ChromeOS (or the compile-it-yourself ChromiumOS) is designed to be just a container for a browser

http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os

But you may be right with the hardware requirements, who can tell? Just to check, the USB keyb/mouse - they're not running through a hub are they? Could it be an unsupported USB hub?

spud17

paddyrg wrote: »

Just to check, the USB keyb/mouse - they're not running through a hub are they? Could it be an unsupported USB hub?

No, they're plugged straight into the T5700.

I generally use Puppy to try a PC, this is the first time it's not run.

Looks like I've got a busy weekend along with Glasto, work tomorrow and a Grand Prix.

spud17

Just an update, it's not going well.

Admittedly I've been running these by using Unetbootin, quicker than keep burning cds.

NimbleX, it counted down to zero and re-started then repeated the countdown ad infinitum.

Xpud, loaded ok, but didn't seem to have a driver for the network port.

Thinstation was the nippiest to get up and running, but does what it says on the tin, I need to investigate more, but it seem to be a means to connect to a server. Nothing wrong there but I was looking for a more general purpose type OS.

Tinycore looked promising but had to try several options, will have another go some time.

antiX also gave 'dropping to basic shell' messages.

Not yet tried Austrumi or ChromeOS.

RussJK

spud17 wrote: »

Xpud, loaded ok, but didn't seem to have a driver for the network port.

Have you tried with the extra drivers pack:
http://www.xpud.org/download.en.html#tab-4