How much RAM, CPU, Disk does a thin-client need in order for it to work on a terminal server like Ubuntu or Windows XP? (Network Boot).
52 Answers
It can change, mainly depending on whether you need GUI and whether you need local storage. You can use Etherboot, PXE, or other kind of remote boot to reduce or eliminate the need of local storage.
It also depend on your selection of software for the thin client which in turn depends on the server software and user needs.
If you'll take Thinstation OS for example, here is a quote from their site:
"Thinstation runs on ordinary PC hardware (32/64 bit i686 class). You may either reuse older computers or save a lot of time on workstation administration. Or both! An old Pentium-II with 128 MB RAM or better can be a perfectly useful workstation. And you don't need a hard disk - you can boot off the network and even have a silent workstation. Workstation devices (floppy/HD/CD/USB) and printers (LPT/USB) are supported. "
A quick, rather unscientific look at actual thin clients (well whatever's on deal extreme) and the thin client forum seem to indicate that most of them seem to have between 128 mb to 256 mb of ram, and often low powered arm chips (say 800 mhz processors), or somewhat exotic slow x86 class processors.
Any off the shelf Single Board system (say the raspberry pi or beagleboard) will likely do what you need to run a thin client.
