Any production environment and IT infrastructure include back end services and end user solution to reach the service ,the end user envenom have been terraformed multiple time in the terminology start with Mainframes and dummy terminal then to client-server and at then the VDI solution .
Most of companies still using client-server and have the normal workstation and with VDI adoption every body is looking to minimize the VDI initial cost by utilizing the old PCs and repurpose it into thin clients
There is multiple ways to repurpose PCs into thin clients
First : Windows-based thin client
1- ThinLaunch Thin Desktop
ThinLaunch hangs its hat on the outright simplicity of ThinDesktop, which I must admit caught our eye at BriForum. Upon installation, you tell it what app (presumably a connectivity app like Citrix App Receiver or VMware View client), and it replaces the shell with that executable. If the user logs out or closes the app, they’re automatically logged back in and the app is launched again. Changes to the application configuration are made via the registry, so you can use whatever tool you’re used to using for registry changes (packages, group policies, etc…) to make configuration changes.
ThinDesktop (which is also being sold under the same name by 10Zig, formerly BOSaNOVA) runs on any version of Windows at or above Windows 2000, including Windows XPe and netbooks. The product is available today, and pricing is as low as $26/device, with volume discounts after 10 devices.
You can see the video of ThinLaunch ThinDesktop from the BriForum 2009 Demo Lab floor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91YaC28xkc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0r0uLnVvU
2- View Auto-Connection Utility (free)
The View Auto-Connection Utility allows you to connect the VMware View Client automatically into a View desktop or an application pool when the system starts up. This can be very useful for thin clients or for turning existing Windows endpoints into thin client systems used to automatically connect into a View desktop.
https://labs.vmware.com/flings/view-auto-connection-utility
3- NoTouch Desktop
Turn your old endpoint devices (PCs and laptops) into new, secure and virus proof, centrally manageable thin client devices that can connect to your server-side desktops (e.g. Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop, VMware Horizon View, Quest vWorkspace, Microsoft Remote Desktop / Terminal server infrastructure) or cloud hosted desktops out of the box.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed1Xbuk3mUk&nohtml5=False
4- ThinKiosk
Through our collaboration with the virtualisation community we believe we have ensured that ThinKiosk is quite simply the best value PC to Thin Client converter in the market place. In terms of price, functionality and benefits delivered it cannot be beaten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxvplrn8bYA
Thindesktop (http://www.10zig.com/thindesktop/)
Thin Desktop makes it easy to turn a Windows based PC into a locked down device that restricts the user to run a single application which becomes the entire user interface. The standard Windows desktop and start menu will be prevented from appearing.
5- Using MS GPO :
This is the simplest and cheapest way to use the PCs into thin client, to do SO:
- Install Windows on the old computer and update it to its fullest extent. The house rules, where I work, stipulate antivirus software must be installed on any PC, so do that if necessary. That is all that really needs to be installed. Microsoft Office or other software are not necessary because they will never be used. Joining the computer to a corporate domain is optional as well. We’ll set the machine to auto-login as a local user and start the VMWare view client immediately.
- Install The VMWare View client on the computer.
- Create a new directory ~ C:\CustomShell
- Place the following code below in a file named C:\CustomShell\view.vbs
Set WshShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
WshShell.Run chr(34) & “C:\CustomShell\view.cmd” & chr(34), 0
Set WshShell = Nothing
- Place the below code in a file named C:\CustomShell\view.cmd
@ECHO OFF
:View
”C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware View\Client\bin\wswc.exe” – connectUSBOnStartup true
connectUSBOnInsert true
goto View
- Open regedit.exe and naviagte to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Winlogon and edit the Shell entry and modify from explorer.exe to:
wscript C:\CustomShell\view.vbs
This will replace Windows Explorer as the default shell, with VMWare View. On the next reboot, the only thing that the user will see is the VMWare View application.
- (optional). Create a local or domain user account and give it a strong password. Configure Windows to log in automatically with that user account, from the Users applet in the Control Panel. This step skips the computer’s login prompt and allows the user to proceed directly to the VMWare View login.
Reboot the PC and Windows should log in automatically and show only the VMWare view console. From there, the user can access View with their domain credentials and be shown the resources which have been made available to their account. A somewhat double-login still exists, but that can be changed from the VMWare View console.
Second :Thin Client OS or Slimmed Down OS-based Conversion Products
1- VDI Blaster (License cost 24$ per desktop )
converts PCs into secure, centrally manageable thin client desktops extending investments in PCs. A software tool that helps maximize the useful life of existing computer, VDI Blaster offers the benefits of a thin client, enabling enterprises of all sizes to recognize the value of thin client computing. PCs can easily be converted via USB key or a network install, instantly converting PCs to thin clients.
VDI Blaster can be used without taking the risk of erasing your existing Windows installation. To install VDI Blaster, just execute the installer on the PC you want to repurpose. After installation, the PC reboots by default in thin client mode, running Devon IT’s Terminal Operating System (DeTOS™).
In this mode repurposed PCs can be managed with Devon IT’s Thin Client Management Software. But it is still possible to reboot repurposed PCs in Windows XP mode and uninstall DeTOS to return the PC to its initial configuration (with Windows XP as the only OS).
http://www.devonit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lenovo-VLH_Web.pdf
http://www.devonit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/VDI_Blaster_Web.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf0Ob55b4z4
2- Thinstation (open source )
Thinstation is a basic and small, yet very powerful, Open Source thin client operating system supporting all major connectivity protocols: Citrix ICA, NoMachine NX, 2X ThinClient, Microsoft Windows terminal services (RDP, via RDesktop), VMWare Horizon View, Cendio ThinLinc, Tarantella, X, telnet, tn5250, VMS terminal and SSH (No special configuration of the application servers is needed to use Thinstation).
Thinstation is mainly intended for schoolroom, office, company or department use, but can be used at home (eg. for a silent PC in the bedroom that ‘runs’ XP on your workstation in the back room).
While Thinstation is based on Linux, users may actually never see Linux at all. If you decide to connect directly to a Microsoft Windows, Citrix or Unix server, the user will feel that they are running directly on the server. But, you can also have a local Desktop interface (with a local Browser & other tools).
Thinstation supports a Microsoft Windows-only environment and REQUIRES NO UNIX/Linux KNOWLEDGE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lwOOjdpaig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA2Gap8DFVk
3- Cult
cult is an Open Source software-only network bootable thin client Operating System that provides a complete solution for thin clients, PCs or virtualized hardware
4- Wyse PC Extender
By utilizing Wyse Thin OS on the local PC and to be managed by Dell Wyse Device management(WDM) , Reconfigure select legacy PCs as highly functional thin clients for secure and cost-effective desktop virtualization, this way cost around 50$ per device however its effective way
http://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/wyse-endpoints-and-software/wyse-pc-extender/spd/wyse-pce