Linux Network Desktop Suite
About
Linux Netwowk Desktop Suite provides a desktop enviroment from a network disk. Everything you create, modify, install is kept in the network disk on the special server. You can use the tool in this suite to create a bootable livecd with server configuration even password. Then Boot your livecd on any computer connected to Internet, remote filesystem will map to your local computer and you can use this computer.
How is it work?
Still in heavy development, LNDS has lots of plans to work.
- Init level switch
After complete network configuration, LNDS will switch next boot level to use "networkfs" for ROOT.
- UML(User Mode Linux)
User Mode Kernel can run linux instance inside a linux box with lossless speed.
- Xen
Xen is a new technology, and it seems only new Intel Serials CPU can support this. It cannot use on the other ARCH CPU such as alpha, sparc, PPC.
- VMWare Player or qemu?
Aha, after this, LNDS will become a Emulator. This is not my original intention in spite of this is not a good idea.
Subsystem Plan
For filesystem, first LNDS will test it on nfs, then we will patch kernel to use ftp or other protocols.
For distribution, LNDS will depend on Gentoo distribution.
For desktop enviroment, LNDS will use gnome desktop enviroment.
Suite
LNDS will provide 2 parts of suite, one is for users to create his own livecd with his config, one is for system administrator to setup a filesystem server, it will contain a web interface for users to show some howtos , file managerand configurations.
Fork of PXE?
LNDS is different from any diskless linux box, diskless linux requires PXE, it could not boot behind a router or ADSL line.
How to use it?
- Generate one pair of keys.
- Create a Livecd and put private key into it.
- Select a stage on network disk, put public key there.
- Compile something....
