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ThinLinc 4.7.0 Release Notes

Introduction

Cendio are proud to present ThinLinc 4.7.0, with more than 30 enhancements and fixes. The most prominent changes are:

  • ThinLinc has adopted a different approach to the requirement of a LSB compliant system. LSB specific packages, libraries or commands are no longer required. Instead ThinLinc Setup verifies that the specific standard libraries and commands specified by LSB are present on the system. This change was made as a result of Debian and Ubuntu removing LSB specific tools and packages.
  • The session startup has gotten an overhaul. Sessions are now started via the user's chosen shell, rather than always bash. This means that any custom startup files the user has will now affect ThinLinc sessions. Forceful termination of the session has also been changed to behave more like modern systems expects it to.
  • The Web Access client has gotten a graphical update. The entire browser window can now be used for the session as the control bar can be hidden away.

ThinLinc works on most modern Linux distributions. We recommend that you deploy ThinLinc on one of these tested platforms:

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 7 (x86_64)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 (x86_64)
  • Ubuntu Desktop 16.04 (x86_64)

Please note that ThinLinc is supported on any platform that fulfills our documented requirements. This includes Oracle Linux, Linux Mint, and Debian.

Changes in This Release

In the list below, the bug number is given in parentheses. For more information, visit https://www.cendio.com/bugzilla/.

General

  • OpenSSH has been upgraded to 7.2p2. This disables support for the ciphers blowfish-cbc, cast128-cbc, all arcfour variants and the rijndael-cbc aliases for AES. It also disables MD5-based and truncated HMAC algorithms. (5855)
  • GnuTLS has been updated to version 3.5.1. (5852)
  • OpenSSL has been updated to version 1.0.2h. (5854)

Server

  • Installation no longer relies on LSB specific packages and tools. The required libraries and commands are verified individually, and distribution commands are used for ThinLinc's services. (5828)
  • Systems which lack Python 2 or PyGTK will now receive extra guidance when installing the server. (5742)
  • Sessions are now started via the shell specified for each user. Previous versions would always start the session via bash. (5099)
  • Sessions are now terminated differently. Previous versions would send SIGHUP to the session's process group. The new method sends a SIGTERM to the top session process. This follows the behaviour of modern display managers such as GDM and LightDM and improves compatibility with sessions started via Upstart. (5696)
  • The scripts tl-run-xstartup.d and tl-run-xlogout.d were incorrectly set as executable even though they must be sourced for proper execution. User scripts may need to be modified if they relied on this defect. (5976)
  • Previous versions accidentally required Python 2.5 features. The requirement has now been properly restored to Python 2.4. (5954)
  • Google Chrome or Chromium will no longer cause the session to terminate unexpectedly. (6044)
  • Shadowing a session will no longer disable local devices for regular connections. (6074)

Native Client

  • Debian and Ubuntu should no longer present a warning that the client package is of "bad quality". (5232)

ThinLinc Web Access

  • The Web Access client now has the same performance improvements as the native client for high latency networks. (5814)
  • The interface of the Web Access client has been redesigned and the control bar can now be hidden, allowing more space for the session screen. (5845)
  • Safari 10 is now able to connect to the Web Access client. (6004)

Smart Card Support

  • Improved compatibility with PKCS#11 modules used for authentication. Modules are now only required to implement CKM_RSA_PKCS. (5201)

Corrected Issues

ThinLinc has also been enhanced in many other ways. The complete list of corrected issues is:

1863, 3709, 4715, 4891, 5057, 5099, 5201, 5232, 5584, 5653, 5675,
5688, 5696, 5742, 5772, 5814, 5828, 5829, 5830, 5844, 5845, 5852,
5853, 5854, 5855, 5861, 5862, 5927, 5939, 5946, 5954, 5955, 5957,
5958, 5963, 5974, 5976, 6004, 6044, 6049, 6074, 6080
Debian is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
Google Chrome is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.
Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc.
SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE LLC.
ThinLinc is a registered trademark of Cendio AB.
Ubuntu is a registered trademark of Canonical Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • ThinLinc is packaged in subscriptions with a tiered pricing system. A higher number of subscriptions will give a lower price. The subscriptions can be purchased for different periods, 12, 36 and 60 month. A longer duration will give a greater price. The payment of the subscriptions is done in advance.

    The default rule is that the prices are set in accordance with the number of subscriptions that are purchased at the actual call off. Deviation from this can be eventually agreed if a roll-out plan can be committed in advance.

  • Every valid ThinLinc Subscription Agreement has a specific ID. Contact Cendio at support@cendio.com and refer to your ID, and we will issue new user licenses for you.

  • Contact Cendio support team at support@cendio.com. And refer to your ThinLinc Subscription ID in your support request.

  • We will set up an evaluation account that gives the permission to receive support directly from our technical team. Cendio can also provide trial licenses for more than 10 users. Please contact sales@cendio.com directly.

  • Cendio wants to sponsor organizations where the business aims to make the world better. This means to help people, regions etc. that really need help. Please contact us a sales@cendio.com.

  • Cendio offers a non-profit discount for organizations that fall under the definitions that can be found at the https://www.cendio.com/thinlinc/shop/non-profit-organization/. Please contact us at sales@cendio.com for pricing. 

  • Cendio will, in good time before expiration of the ThinLinc Subscriptions Agreement, send a reminder by email. The renewal process will follow the same routines that are used in a new or additional purchase.

  • Other set-ups are possible for bigger deals. Contact sales@cendio.com.

  • Purchases can be done directly via invoice, web shop or by a reseller. Cendio is a Swedish and EU company with long experience from doing business with foreign organizations. If you have any questions or need support, please contact us at sales@cendio.com

     

  • Best functionality and performance will always be achieved by upgrading to the latest version, both on the server and client-side. A newer version on the client-side will always give a better user experience than a former version. Cendio’s ambition is to keep good compatibility and functionality between the different versions. Historically, good compatibility between versions has been 3-5 years.

  • A ThinLinc set-up consists of a server software, client software and user licenses.

    Server software

    The server software is the heart of ThinLinc installation and handles all sessions, desktop environments and generates the virtual desktop, workspace etc.

    User licenses

    To allow more than 10 sessions to connect access to the server software, user licenses need to be added into the server software. User licenses are bought from Cendio. Please note, when placing user licenses into the ThinLinc server, the counting starts from 0, not 10. In concrete, this means that you need to buy and install the number of user licenses that you need.

    Client software

    The client software is installed on the device that is used to connect to the server and provision the virtual desktop / workspace. If using the web access client, no local installation of client software is needed, the provisioning is generated via the web browser that is installed at the server.

  • It’s up to the licensee to decide who can connect into the server installation. The ThinLinc client software is free of charge and can be downloaded by everyone.

  • The licensing is per organization. There is no limitation on how the ThinLinc user licenses are distributed in the legal organization, as long as the number of consumed licenses don’t exceed the number of paid licenses. It’s allowed to move the user licenses, but not copy.

  • The license use can be seen in the status module, how to manage can be found at https://www.cendio.com/resources/docs/tag/tlwebadm_status.html#tlwebadm-status . ThinLinc will notify you when the limit of licenses has been reached, for detailed information see, https://www.cendio.com/resources/docs/tag/licensehandling.html?highlight=soft

  • Both the ThinLinc server and client software are free to distribute. The user licenses are connected to a purchase and are not allowed to distribute. For more detailed information, see https://www.cendio.com/thinlinc/docs/legal/eula

  • A specific version of ThinLinc is supported 3 years from release date. After 3 years, Cendio can’t guarantee support.

  • The number of user licenses that will be delivered will be in accordance with the number of subscriptions that have been acquired by the customer. The user licenses are perpetual.

  • When adding user licenses into the ThinLinc server, the counting will start from zero. So if you require 200 users, you need to have 200 user licenses

  • You need to buy user licenses and install them in the ThinLinc server. The user licenses are received through buying ThinLinc subscriptions.

  • It’s easy to add new users into a current ThinLinc set-up. By purchasing additional subscriptions into your agreement, so will we issue additional user licenses.

  • Cendio will, after receiving a valid order, distribute user licenses via email for the latest version after a purchase. If the purchase is a renewal and the customers have already received the latest version, no user licenses will be delivered by default, updated licenses will be delivered on request in this case.

  • It’s possible to merge existing agreements. When doing a merge, the period shall be at least 12 months.

  • The default rule is that the prices are set in accordance with the number of subscriptions that are purchased at the actual call off. Deviation from this can be eventually agreed if a roll-out plan can be committed in advance.

  • The client software packages are free of charge.

  • The ThinLinc license is perpetual and will still work after the expiry date of the ThinLinc subscriptions.

     

  • Both as an individual and as an organization, it is not allowed to use the free version of ThinLinc if you have valid user licenses.

  • ThinLinc is free to use for up to 10 concurrent users for both individuals and organizations (on a group basis).

  • ThinLinc Subscriptions give the possibility to run more than 10 concurrent users per ThinLinc installation. It also gives technical support directly from Cendio and the right to get upgrades (new versions) for ThinLinc.

  • ThinLinc Premium Subscription gives prioritized answers, faster response time, and direct access to our qualified technical support via telephone service.

  • The free version of ThinLinc is limited to 10 concurrent users and is supported via the ThinLinc Community. The commercial version of ThinLinc is packaged in a so-called subscription and can be scaled for more than 10 users. The subscriptions also give the right to get professional support in ThinLinc directly from the Cendio technical team.

  • ThinLinc is free to use up to 10 users at the same time per individual or organization worldwide, without any obligations. The usage can be 10 installations with one user per each or one installation with 10 users. What matters is that the 10 users aren’t exceeded.

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