# When you say you support GNU/Linux, support it in all of its shapes and forms

*2011-05-18*

> Frustrations with NComputing’s Ubuntu-only GNU/Linux support, an unsuccessful openSUSE setup, and the case for open source thin clients.

To reduce costs and simplify maintenance, we gradually started replacing our employees’ desktop PCs with thin clients. Our supplier of choice was [NComputing](https://www.ncomputing.com/).

So far, so good. The devices work well with our VMware virtualization infrastructure. We can support up to 30 clients on Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 without noticeable lag, even when some are playing videos. Based on my research, this is something NComputing does better than its competitors.

But not everything is rosy. They still don’t support Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 SP1, yet they claim that these devices work with GNU/Linux in general. The only distribution they support is [Ubuntu](https://ubuntu.com/) 10.04 LTS. I mean only Ubuntu, not even Kubuntu 10.04 LTS, and only with kernel 2.6.32 and GDM.

Their GNU/Linux software also has fewer features than its Windows counterpart. For example, if you are disconnected from your session for any reason, you can’t reconnect to it. Instead, a new session starts, and the administrator must log you out of the old one.

But why do we need GNU/Linux support in the first place? We are members of the [Free Technology Academy](http://ftacademy.org/), and we will soon begin offering courses on various aspects of free software.

After some hacking, I managed to install their software on [openSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org/) 11.4 x64. This involved converting the supplied `.deb` packages to RPMs with `alien`, downgrading the kernel to 2.6.32, installing GDM, satisfying dependencies, and applying a few other dirty hacks. The client could see the server, but it hung when I tried to connect.

I’ll post the exact procedure sometime later. Maybe someone can complete the hack?

After a day and a half of trying, I contacted their technical support and provided as much detail as possible. I also asked about their plans for GNU/Linux support and offered to help. Their support is terrible: it’s now day three, and I still haven’t received a reply.

If they can’t help me, I plan to use [LTSP](https://ltsp.org/) with some old PCs as terminals. Maybe I can convince my boss to buy [thin clients](http://www.disklessworkstations.com/) that work with LTSP.

This is another example of how dependent you become on the vendor when you don’t have access to the source code or the device’s hardware specifications. It’s also further proof that open source hardware and software are the better alternative and the way forward.

So, when you say you support GNU/Linux, support it in all its shapes and forms. Remember that Ubuntu is not the only GNU/Linux distribution out there. If you only support Ubuntu, say “We support Ubuntu” rather than claiming to support GNU/Linux in general.