VMware Horizon Community
dschuemann
Contributor
Contributor

VMware View Thin Client

I have a client who wants to use vmware for a thin client project. Is it possible to boot the vmware client via pxe boot or a cd ? These machines will not have hard drives.

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jbruelasdgo
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

yes you can

it will depend on your provisioning software (Wyse has something very useful, do not know if it has to be used with their thin clients)

regards

Jose

Jose B Ruelas http://aservir.wordpress.com
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dschuemann
Contributor
Contributor

I would like to just use a normal computer. No thin client like wyse.

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pcomo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi,

For me you could boot on pxe with your physical machine and after that launch the View Client to access the Virtual Desktops.

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AndreTheGiant
Immortal
Immortal

On physical client which operating system will you use?

If you will use Linux, than you can use existing project like Linux Terminal Server Project (you will need only the PXE boot part).

Andrea

**if you found this or any other answer useful please consider allocating points for helpful or correct answers

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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mpasqual
Contributor
Contributor

I recommend you check out Thinstation:

We use Thinstation to boot off of CD to connect with RDP, but you can also use it to boot of the network using Etherboot/PXE.

Several years ago we used NICs with a built-in RDP connection. The brand we used were Eazi-TC, but I think they went out of business. I didn't see anything similar for quite some time, but lately I've seen a few manufacturers making similar products again. That might be another way to go.

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dschuemann
Contributor
Contributor

How do you connect to the view client then ?

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TAFVMWare
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

In order to connect to a View client (Virtual Desktop) you need to install the View agent on the Virtual desktop. On the Thin Client you'll have the View Broker that will connect you to the Virtual Desktop. The Broker on the TC communicates with the View agent on the VD and the connection is made. There's is also the View Manager server setup portion that defines the type of VDI connection. Once this is done the TC will be able to connect.

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dschuemann
Contributor
Contributor

How do I connect to the broker with the thin client ? Rdp ?

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jbruelasdgo
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

well you could create your own thin client solution (with PXE)

http://anywherets.com

and you can add http://code.google.com/p/vmware-view-open-client/

you would use RDP, but using the open view client (http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/view_open_client.html)

hope it points you in the right direction

regards

Jose Ruelas

Jose B Ruelas http://aservir.wordpress.com
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TAFVMWare
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Use the View client. It is a VDI broker that does the communication between the View Manager server which brokers the connection with the Virtual Desktop.

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continuum
Immortal
Immortal

Is it possible to boot the vmware client via pxe boot or a cd ?

Yes - modified BartPE boots from PXE, iSCSI, USB or CD - allows no user-interaction with host-disks

It launchs the View-client as the only app - when done it shuts down.

We discuss this at sanbarrow-forum right now

a video when booting from iSCSI

___________________________________

description of vmx-parameters:

VMware-liveCD:


________________________________________________
Do you need support with a VMFS recovery problem ? - send a message via skype "sanbarrow"
I do not support Workstation 16 at this time ...

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WyseGuy
Contributor
Contributor

Here is the Wyse software solutuion that will allow for you to re-use your current PC's and make them thin by allowing them to boot via PXE and giving you the benifit of having a sinlge image to manage.

Wyse Streaming Manager

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towlesd
Contributor
Contributor

I also tried to work out a boot CD or PXE boot. even WinPE but found problems with all of them. So far I deployed a basic Windows 7 image on repurposed hardware and Windows Embedded on the 2 GB Dell FX160s.

VMware View 4.5 - Thin Client with PCoIP using Windows 7 (Part 1)

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