Networking

Thin Servers and Thin Clients

Thin Server
A thin server is a network attached device with just enough hardware/software to meet a specific network need. A thin server might provide network access to a printer, or CD-ROMs, or for network file storage.

It is designed to be quickly and easily attached to the network. Because it exists to perform only one function it does not need to be as fully featured as a conventional NT or Novell server. Typically a thin server has no monitor, keyboard, or mouse. It may be administered by using a web-browser or through a particular program created by its designers.

A thin server commonly has an condensed version of an existing operating system such as DOS, Unix, Mac, or Linux at the core of its function. This is hidden from both administrators and users, leaving just the specific function (CD-ROM server, print server) visible.

Thin Client
A thin client is a network attached terminal. It appears to be a full featured PC, but in fact all aspects of the unit's operating system are running on a terminal server. The real computing power is not in the thin client; it is simply the interface between the user and the network server.

Because the unit doesn't need to function as a full featured PC, thin client units can be physically very compact. Some appear as just a monitor, keyboard and mouse combination that attach directly to the network.

Multiple thin clients can be attached through the network to a terminal server.