This document describes common elements of IBM NetVista Thin Client with TurboLinux for Linux servers and Windows servers.

Tips and Information

NS Boot version should be 01/12/01 - IMPORTANT

IBM NetVista Thin Clients ship from manufacturing with an NS Boot version, also called boot prom, dated 7/17/00. To use IBM NetVista Thin Client with TurboLinux on your thin clients, you will need to upgrade to the 01/12/01 boot prom.
• The boot prom is included in the installation on your server with the following files:

For Model 2200 - bflash.2200

For Model 2800 - bflash.2800

NOTE: If you do not upgrade, your results with the 7/17/00 prom can be unpredictable.

HOW TO UPGRADE:
To upgrade to the 01/12/01 prom use the NSBoot Setup Utility.
1. From the Advanced Configuration screen, select the menu option to "Configure Network Settings."
2. Set all appropriate network environment options for this thin client.
3. Press ENTER to continue to the "Change boot file server settings" screen.
4. Set the first Boot file server IP address to your server IP.
5. Change the boot file server directory and file name by using the PAGE DOWN key to display a blank field and entering "/nstation/linux/bflash.2200" or "/nstation/linux/bflash.2800", using NFS as the protocol.
6. Press ENTER to continue until back at the Advanced Configuration screen, and press F10 to reboot the thin client.

Rebooting will cause your boot version to be updated. Follow the instructions during this process. Do not power off your thin client while the boot version is being updated.

Once the boot prom has been successfully updated, you will need to reset the boot file server directory and file name within the NSBoot Setup Utility.

1. From the Advanced Configuration screen, select the menu option to "Change boot file server settings."
2. Change the boot file server directory and file name by using the PAGE DOWN key to select "nstation/linux/kernel.2200" or "nstation/linux/kernel.2800".
3. Press ENTER to continue, and press F10 to reboot the thin client.

 

IDFBuiler/SDFCreator
IDFBuilder and SDFCreator are 2 applications that help in flash management.  We ship we 3 default IDF's that can be used to create a flash card.

TurboLinux607_2200_Navigator_ICA6_3270.idf
    - contains a 2200 kernel, Netscape Navigator, ICA 6.0 and a 3270 emulator that fits on a 32MB flash card.
TurboLinux607_2800_Navigator_ICA6_3270.idf
    - contains a 2800 kernel, Netscape Navigator, ICA 6.0 and a 3270 emulator that fits on a 32MB flash card.
TurboLinux607_2x00_Communicator_ICA6_3270_48MB.idf
    - contains both 2200 and 2800 kernels, Netscape Communicator, ICA 6.0 and a 3270 emulator that fits on a 48MB flash card

SDFCreator is used to create software packages such as Netscape that you would like to install on a flash card.  IDFBuilder is a tool that is used to create an IDF that includes a SDF that defines what will be placed on the flash card.  These tools only run on server booted clients.  There is online help for the tools where more informatoin can be found on how to use these.

ICA Client

To access this function enter the command "wfcmgr" from a terminal session. This command will present the Remote Application Manager through which ICA client sessions can be opened.

Setting Up a Time Server For Your Thin Clients

A time server may be configured for use by your thin clients using the IBM NetVista Setup Utility. You must be signed on as root user to configure a time server. It can be accessed by selecting Settings->Time Server.

The utility allows you to specify a time server and a time zone. By default, the NTP time server protocol is configured. If you need to use the RDATE time server protocol you may manually configure this protocol using the following steps.

• From within the IBM NetVista Setup Utility, select Settings->Environment Preferences.
• Specify the Environment Variable TIME_SERVER_PROTOCOL and the Value of rdate.
• Save and exit.
• You will need to reboot the thin client for the changes to take effect.

Case sensitivity

Be aware that Windows NTFS file naming is case insensitive whereas Linux file naming is case sensitive. Therefore from a thin client point of view, the creation of the files ProjectExpansion and Projectexpansion are separate files if they reside on a Linux server, whereas these result in the same file if they reside on a Windows server.

Problems under Investigation

Passwd and adduser commands

Using the passwd and adduser commands does not work consistently when booted from an NT server. If you receive a "Critical error - immediate abort" error after attempting to use the passwd command or "adduser: unable to lock password file" message when attempting to use to the adduser command, you may be seeing this problem. Use the KDE User Manager (User Config from the ICE menu or type 'kuser' from an Xterm window), where you can configure users and change user passwords.

If you do receive either of those error messages after using either passwd or adduser, there will be lock files created in your /etc directory. As root, you may delete those files. There are five different potential lock files:

• passwd.lock
• shadow.lock
• pwd.lock
• spwd.*
• pwd.%d.*
• Note: Both the spwd.* and pwd.%d.* files are created with the process id (*) as part of the file name, so you would see names like spwd.317 and pwd.%d.317.

Readme Files, Tutorials and CD Contents

IBM NetVista Thin Client with TurboLinux - for Linux installs
• This install readme includes prerequisites and information about installing on Linux servers.
• Linux location on CD - /Linux/products/nvTCLinux/readme.txt

IBM NetVista Thin Client with TurboLinux - for Windows installs
• This install readme includes prerequisites and information about installing on Windows servers.
• Windows location on the CD - [drive:]\Windows\products\nvTCLinux\readme.txt
• Windows install location - [drive:]\{float}\NetVista_Linux\readme.txt

IBM TurboLinux Thin Client Readme
• (This readme file) Information and tips that are common between the Linux servers and the Windows servers.
• Linux location - /nstation/linux/IBM/ReadmeClient.html
• Windows location - [drive:]\{float}\NetVista_Linux\Linux\IBM\ReadmeClient.html

Contents of IBM NetVista Thin Client with TurboLinux CD's

• IBM NetVista Thin Client with TurboLinux install CD

Installs for both Windows servers and Linux servers are on this CD.
• Turbo Linux Workstation 6.0.7 CD

This CD is requested while installing on a Linux server.
• Turbo Linux Workstation 6.0.7 Source RPM CD
  This CD contains source code for some of the TurboLinux 6.0.7 RPM's.