update - plasmanetix booting using microsoft dhcp

We've been busy looking into systems for a major oil producer.

They needed to be able to boot linux using diskless technology.

Their technology was microsoft DHCP.

We enabled diskless booting of plasmanetix using 2 additional processes - tftp and nfs.

If anyone is interested in finding out more or implementing this type of solution, please contact me.

Mark N Hopgood
mark at hopgood dot eu

Using Plasmanetix and Hopnetix as the ultimate thin client.

Hopnetix has the following advantages over using traditional thin clients:

1. there is no local operating system (OS) to install - less cost at purchase
2. there is no local OS to maintain or update - less cost at run time
3. the image is managed by a central server - no update time
4. there is no need for hard disk or flash memory - lower cost at purchase and greater mean time before failure (MTBF)

Hopnetix offers the greenest and ultimate thin client. Traditional thin clients require additional components.

click here for a study into thin client use in schools
http://partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh&rid=13802

The hardware for a hopnetix thin client costs from £170.

Hopnetix can be used as a thin client for the following remote technologies:

a. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
b. Windows Terminal Services
c. Citrix Metaframe (ICA client)
d. Sun Secure Global Desktop
e. VNC

please feel free to contact me to discuss
mark dot hopgood at plasmanet-uk.com

Hopnetix USB launched - no need to install or maintain a PC again!

Move over Vista, this OS can be installed in seconds and needs no disk space.

This is the second most green computing platform in the world. Why the second most? Well Plasmanetix is still the first, needing just a motherboard and RAM. This version (Hopnetix USB) is on a 1GB USB drive, so it doesn't need any servers to boot from or a local hard disk.

Hopnetix USB - linux platform on USB memory stick / pendrive can be used for the following purposes.

1. thin client - citrix metaframe (ICA) client
2. Plasmanetix - network digital signage
3. Signage on a Stick - stand alone digital signage
4. Sun secure global desktop client
5. Unix boot (KNOPPIX) from USB
6. RDP - remote desktop / terminal services client
7. Open office / Samba client

The best USB pendrive for this is the dane - elec at amazon
Click here to launch the amazon.com product page for dane-elec zlight

for more details contact me:

mark dot hopgood at plasmanet-uk.com

I've build hopnetix and plasmanetix, which are operating systems and applications for diskless PCs and digital signage respectively.

Hopnetix further reduces the amount of energy needed to own a PC and of course reduces the carbon footprint further because redundant components (cd-rom and hard disk) do not need to be manufactured.
Hopnetix is based on free software, so the cost of implementation is reduced. Hopnetix includes operating system, web browser, email and business tools such as word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation. Hopnetix is based on the free Linux operating system Debian, Knoppix live CD and PXE boot technologies.
In addition, Hopnet, a diskless version of Windows XP is available which allows you to run windows on a diskless computer. This option ensures the most continuity when using a diskless system and is a premium priced product.
Both options are ideal matches for your campaign and hardware for both the cost conscious and business
user. The Hopnet, and PlasmaNetix solution is already in use by BP in 4 international locations, Coca-cola
in 4 international locations and Kuwait chamber of commerce.

to start a discussion, please contact me - mark [dot] hopgood [at] plasmanet-uk.com

low carbon pc systems - ideal for use with plasmanetix

I've just received a great email from tranquil PC, creators of the low power PCs which can run with plasmanetix.

Here's some info:

tranquil pc
http://www.zerocarbonfootprint.co.uk/

carbon free pc
http://www.zerocarbonfootprint.co.uk/others.html

carbon trust
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/default.ct

via pc - carbon free processor
http://www.viapc-1.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=435&Itemid=2

reduce your carbon footprint
http://www.oracle-base.com/blog/2006/06/02/reduce-your-carbon-footprint/

reducing the pc carbon footprint

Background
I've been working with diskless computing for the past 2 years, where my company, PlasmaNet UK Ltd has put PC systems in for the likes of BP and Coca-Cola. Hundreds of player PCs showing real time data have been deployed. I initially looked at diskless technology for running windows XP, however the cost of purchasing the software to achieve diskless computing was more expensive than the hard disk in the first place. Since then, several initiatives have emerged, coining the phrases 'green', 'carbon neutral' and 'carbon footprint'. My feeling was that in order to make a so called 'green' initiative work, it would have to offer the following benefits.

1. be financially cheaper to deploy
2. reduce ongoing energy costs
3. be simpler to deploy
4. use less resources - the true cost to the earth

Enter PlasmaNetix and HopNetitx - a change to make a true difference to the carbon footprint

In 2004 a 'Live' CD was launched (KNOPPIX) which allowed a user to run their desktop without a hard disk. Everything was on a single CD-ROM and the PC became immune to viruses because nothing was changed or stored on the computer. Every time you booted the pc with the live CD, it was exactly the same. This meant that the user could not 'break' their PC. Like hundreds of thousands of KNOPPIX users I burned about 5 cd-roms (not very carbon friendly) and tried the system.

Cut to 2007 and the latest edition of Live CD offered a complete suite of desktop applications, email, web browser, office productivity, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics and database. The problem was that it still ran of a CD. In addition, a large part of the community were trying to get it to boot over the network, 'Live netboot'

Enter PlasmaNetix
I used my experience in network booting XP to create PlasmaNetix which is an network environment where PCs can be started (booted) using a network, but without the need for a CD-ROM or Hard Disk. By Using PlasmaNetix, you can easily acheive the following carbon friendly benefits.

1. reduced cost of initial purchase of PC hardware and greatly reduced (near zero) cost of software and ongoing licences
2. reduced ongoing energy costs (not having to run hard disks an cd-roms in the client PC)
3. deploy new machines in minutes
4. reduce manufacturing requirement (no hard disks need to be created)

In addition, there is less heat generated by the PC which means smaller, slower, quieter fans and reduced air conditioning bills.