ThinLinc 3.4.0 Release Notes

Introduction

A new ThinLinc release is finally here, version 3.4.0. It includes more than 110 enhancements, including a brand new installer, which should make the installation a breeze on most distributions.

Changes in This Release

In the list below, the enhancement number is given in parentheses.

Server

  • ThinLinc works on most modern Linux distributions and Oracle Solaris (R). We recommend that you deploy ThinLinc on one of these tested platforms:
    • Red Hat (R) Enterprise Linux Server 6 (64-bit)
    • SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP2 (R) (64-bit)
    • Ubuntu Desktop (R) 12.04 (64-bit)
    • Oracle Solaris (R) 10
  • This release features a brand new installer system based on GTK+. A command line mode is also provided. As before, the installer has two parts: The optional package installer and the setup program (tl-setup). The functionality of the setup program has been extended to assist with installation of required dependencies, including SSH server and LSB support. (3057, 4186, 4190, 4206)
  • If the installer is started as an ordinary user, it can re-launch itself through "sudo". (4191)
  • The setup program can automatically adjust the firewall configuration on the recommended platforms. (4184)
  • The server is distributed in the DEB package format, in addition to RPM. (4046)
  • The server no longer supports clients older than version 2.0.0. Please note that this also means that all ThinLinc users must be able to execute "/usr/bin/thinlinc-login". (2797)
  • The default public name of an agent will now automatically notice changes to the machine's IP or hostname, without having to restart "vsmagent". One benefit of this it better interaction with NetworkManager. (3138)
  • Changing the agents public name no longer requires terminating all sessions on that agent. (3419)
  • Fontpath configuration has been removed from the setup. A default fontpath is provided, which should work on all major platforms. The Xserver also works without core fonts now. (3785, 4230)
  • In some cases, the X server in the previous version could terminate during session resize. (4136)
  • Resizing a session from the client failed on recent Ubuntu versions, this has been corrected. (4216)
  • In rare cases, graphical artefacts could be displayed on solid colored areas. (4107)
  • The server did not correctly handle users with IDs larger than 31 bits (2147483647). This has been corrected. (4148)
  • The ThinLinc services now verifies that ThinLinc has been properly setup before trying to start. (4150)
  • Session verification could sometimes fail on systems with both IPv4 and IPv6 enabled. This has been corrected. (4177)
  • The profile chooser includes an entry for "Unity 2D". (4226)
  • The default system language is used in ThinLinc session on Debian based systems, such as Ubuntu. (4258)
  • The correct SELinux context is now set on automatically created home directories. (4157)

General

  • The server and client software is no longer distributed as "ISO" CD images. Instead, they are distributed as two ZIP files ("bundles"). This means that the installation can be launched from the desktop on all major platforms. (2710)

Client

  • The client no longer supports servers older than version 2.0.0. Please note that this also means that all ThinLinc users must be able to execute "/usr/bin/thinlinc-login". (4159)
  • The UNIX client now integrates better with modern Linux desktops, and the Windows client works better with the Windows 7 taskbar. (2805)

Smart Card Support

  • This release features a re-implementation of the smart card authentication support for the Linux client. This new implementation is smaller and much faster, typically twice as fast. Additionally, the client will not ask for a passphrase until it has determined that the server will accept the card. (3430)

Administration

  • The Web Administration is now faster. (3506)
  • Compatibility with browsers such as Internet Explorer 9 has been improved. (4223)

Desktop Customizer

  • The Desktop Customizer now supports the KDE4 and XFCE desktop environments. (4178)

Novell Integration

  • tl-ldap-certalias failed with all LDAP servers that supports paged queries and serves more than 1000 users. This has been corrected. (4174)

Windows (R) Integration

  • The performance of the Windows Terminal Server Load Agent has been improved. (3864, 4220)
  • The Windows Terminal Server Load Agent failed to list user sessions in some cases, this has been corrected. (4240)

Documentation

  • The documentation has been cleaned up and is about 20 percent shorter. In particular, we have removed documentation which overlapped with the Linux platform documentation. (2551, 2886, 3891, 4165)
  • Documentation for installing the client on HP ThinPro terminals has been added. (3470)

Corrected Issues

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

 381, 1889, 2365, 2398, 2551, 2579, 2613, 2710, 2797, 2805, 2886,
3057, 3138, 3238, 3323, 3419, 3430, 3470, 3506, 3574, 3596, 3623,
3626, 3690, 3703, 3754, 3755, 3785, 3811, 3818, 3845, 3864, 3869,
3891, 3917, 3919, 3996, 4044, 4046, 4059, 4080, 4084, 4087, 4088,
4089, 4107, 4110, 4113, 4130, 4131, 4133, 4136, 4137, 4148, 4150,
4157, 4158, 4159, 4164, 4165, 4166, 4167, 4168, 4169, 4170, 4173,
4174, 4175, 4176, 4177, 4178, 4180, 4181, 4183, 4184, 4185, 4186,
4187, 4188, 4189, 4190, 4191, 4192, 4193, 4196, 4197, 4200, 4205,
4206, 4209, 4212, 4216, 4218, 4220, 4221, 4223, 4226, 4227, 4230,
4234, 4236, 4237, 4238, 4240, 4244, 4246, 4252, 4258, 4269, 4286,
4291, 4300, 4303, 4307
Debian (R) is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
Linux (R) is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Red Hat (R) is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc.
Solaris (R) is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.
ThinLinc (R) is a registered trademark of Cendio AB.
Ubuntu (R) is a registered trademark of Canonical Ltd.
Windows (R) is a registered trademark of Microsoft, Inc.

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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