[OPLINTECH] OPLINTECH Digest, Vol 53, Issue 3

Fri Mar 5 11:49:03 EST 2010

In regards to the Linux dual terminal one tower computing you might try 
Userfuls free dual user multiplier product. Supposedly worked the same 
as their 10-user version. Here is the link: 
http://www2.userful.com/products/downloads/free-2-user

Richard Shively
IT/Webmaster
Greenville Public Library
520 Sycamore, Greenville Oh. 45331
937-548-3915

oplintech-request at oplin.org wrote:
> Send OPLINTECH mailing list submissions to
> 	oplintech at oplin.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> 	http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> 	oplintech-request at oplin.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> 	oplintech-owner at oplin.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of OPLINTECH digest..."
>   
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: NComputing (Robert Ball)
>   
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject:
> Re: [OPLINTECH] NComputing
> From:
> "Robert Ball" <rball at worthingtonlibraries.org>
> Date:
> Thu, 4 Mar 2010 09:48:49 -0500
> To:
> "OPLIN TECH" <oplintech at oplin.org>
>
> To:
> "OPLIN TECH" <oplintech at oplin.org>
>
>
> We had several problems with these devices in our environment and I would not recommend them.
>
> We started out testing a L230 Product in our Windows XP environment.  We first ran into the issue that Envisionware doesn't support Ncomputing (something about each device not having a unique identifier on the network).  So, we thought we could use it for out Web Catalog access stations.  
>
> There are several problems we ran into. First, Ncomputing has issues with the Windows Scripting Engine.  If you use login scripts or any sort of scripting (we use a script to keep IE open and maximized on these computers) forget it.  The scripts are not allowed to run simultaneously.  Second, the Ncomputing technology is broken every few months by Windows Update.  This has something to do with the fact that Ncomputing isn't really sanctioned by Microsoft as far as licensing is concerned.  This means, if Ncomputing breaks with WU, you need to wait for a patch, and then run the update on all of your Ncomputing Management Consoles. Third, Our setup tended to freeze up quite often (and we were just running our catalog).  As it turns out, to get around the scripting engine issue, we ran our Ncomputing devices on separate virtual machines (Officially unsupported by Ncomputing but there are plenty of guides online how to do it).  Whenever the VM's rebooted, the Ncomputing devices dropped the connection, attempted to reconnect, and failed (because the virtual machine hadn't finished rebooting).  So that would leave us with machines with black screens in the morning.  Also, the Ncomputing device had horrible refresh rates, lagged quite often.  The screen responsiveness was really slow (even though it was going over a local 100Mb Full Duplex switch).
>
> After having so much trouble on the Windows end, we decided to try it with Linux (as advertised with Ncomputing).  The Linux part of Ncomputing is a Closed Beta (You have to request an invitation) and currently requires a kludge to get it working.  (Also, as of writing Ncomputing linux only officially supports SUSE 7).  It appears as if the Ncomputing company has abandoned the development efforts in Linux and have devoted all of their developers to fixing the problems Windows Update throws at them.  
>
> I got the NComputing devices working on SUSE 11, but they were incredibly inefficient.  (I couldn't figure out that the NComputing aspect of the software was doing with all of my CPU cycles!).  You wouldn't think that running VNC and redirecting audio with take upwards of 50% of your CPU when the device is just idling on a blank screen.
>
> The professionalism and the responsiveness to user feedback is at a minimum with NComputing.  Also, the Management Console and Client have grammatical mistakes.  
>
> Of course, none of this review has anything to do with the "X" series of Ncomputing devices, but those are expensive.
>
> Pros:
>
> Uses a lot less electricity.
>
> Let me know if I can answer any more questions about the L Series of NComputing devices.
>
> Rob Ball
> Network Support Specialist
>
> Find yourself here. 
> www.worthingtonlibraries.org
>
>
>
> Nothwest Library
> 2280 Hard Road 
> Columbus, OH 43235
> 614.807-2669
> 614.205.8298 : mobile
>
> 2007 National Library of the Year   |   www.worthingtonlibraries.org/libraryoftheyear
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org] 
> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 11:14 AM
> To: OPLIN TECH
> Subject: [OPLINTECH] NComputing
>
> Is anyone using NComputing?  If so, how are you utilizing it and how do 
> you like it?  Any major drawbacks/problems you have found?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mindy Holmes
> Mason Public Library
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at oplin.org
> http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> Search: http://oplin.org/techsearch
>
>   
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at oplin.org
> http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
>   
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: shivelri.vcf
Type: text/x-vcard
Size: 286 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mail.oplin.org/pipermail/oplintech/attachments/20100305/b6a638cb/shivelri.bin