Nacho-BSD

[Steve Bergman]

Mike Schwartz (PC Support) wrote:
>> Behalf Of Steve Bergman
>>
>> At any rate, and the real reason for this post, is to suggest CentOS to
>>     
>
>      How would you suggest getting started with CentOS?  (Web sites for
> downloading, support new groups or lists, etc.) 
>
>      Is it suitable for older computers (166Mhz - 350Mhz)?  I have a
> basement full of those machines that I would like to deploy as "dumb
> terminals".
>
>      Which terminal emulators have you found most useful with filePro?
>
>   
Check out:

http://www.centos.org

You can subscribe to the mailing list from there.

You can download the iso's from one of their mirrors, e.g. 
http://mirrors.kernel.org/centos/4.3/os/i386/images/  , (kernel.org is 
screaming fast)  or get the boot.iso (a few meg) from the 
http://mirrors.kernel.org/centos/4.3/os/i386/images/ directory and do an 
internet install. (This is what I usually do, but I have a 9mbit cable 
connection.)

The way I do things is via XDMCP.  I have a kickstart installation image 
which is a minimal CentOS install, customized to bring up a graphical 
login from the server via XDMCP and gdm.  I use gnome-terminal for 
filepro.  I have a custom fptermcap entry for it which works well will 
FP.  I can make both the kickstart image and the fptermcap available to 
you, if you are interested.  I don't have them available on-line now, or 
I would just include a link.

The thin client install requires at least 48MB for the installation.  
However, it can get by with far less memory after it is installed.  The 
line in /etc/inittab that initiates the XDMCP session is hard-coded to a 
particular IP address which you would likely have to change.  But that 
should be about all.

The processors (166Mhz - 350Mhz) should be fine for use as thin client 
terminals.  The thin client install makes conservative guesses about 
hardware, but does assume that the monitor can do 1024x768 non-interlaced.

If you prefer to go the character based route using Linux text consoles, 
I believe you are still going to need 48MB for the installation.  I 
think FP comes with a good linux entry in fptermcap.  However, it seems 
like I have one that I have tweaked to fix some problems.  You would, of 
course, be welcome to that, as well.

-Steve