ThinLinc 4.2.0 Release Notes

Introduction

Please note this version contains important security enhancements. We recommend that you either upgrade to this release, or installs the corresponding "hotfix" packages for older versions.

A new ThinLinc release is finally here, version 4.2.0. It includes more than 120 enhancements. The most prominent features are:

  • Support for Ubuntu 14.04 and Unity 3D.
  • A Linux client for ARM platforms has been added.
  • Major improvements to the HTML5 client.

Changes in This Release

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

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 SP3 (R) (64-bit)
    • Ubuntu Desktop (R) 14.04 (64-bit)
    • Oracle Solaris (R) 10
  • [SECURITY] A security vulnerability with the server side support for "Local Drive Redirection" has been discovered. Due to a race condition, in earlier versions it was possible for a user with ThinLinc access to mount file systems outside their designated area. This has been corrected. Hotfix packages for older releases are available from https://www.cendio.com/downloads/updates/b4972. (4972)
  • The "Unity 3D" desktop can now be used. A profile for this desktop has been added. (4483)
  • A profile for the "Cinnamon" desktop has been added. (4502)
  • A profile for the "Gnome 3 Classic" desktop has been added. (4659)
  • Support for the "firewalld" framework has been added. This improves compatibility with distributions such as "Fedora". (4311)
  • The default PATH now includes "sbin" directories. (5074)
  • The "GNOME 2" and "GNOME 3" session profiles have been merged into a single profile. (5100)

General

  • An Italian translation has been added. (5017)
  • The TLCOS (ThinLinc Client Operating System), deprecated in 4.1.0, has been removed. Various other alternatives are available. This includes Thinstation, Universal Desktop Converter from IGEL Technology, eLux RP from Unicon Software, and Wyse PC Extender. (4626)
  • The profile selector is now able to display the introduction text even if only one single profile is available. (3249)
  • The deprecated "/vsmagent/secure_mode" parameter has been removed. (4399)

Native Client

  • A Linux client for ARM platforms has been added. This client works on "hard-float" systems such as Fedora 20, Debian 7.0, and Ubuntu 12.10 or later. Note that many ARM based thin terminals still uses "soft-float". (4756)
  • The "Work area" option did not work correctly in certain environments such as 64-bit systems with XFCE. This has been corrected. (4652)
  • The Native Client Verification Applet in earlier ThinLinc releases does not run on recent versions of the Oracle Java platform, due to security policy changes. The applet has been updated to follow the new Java requirements. (4896)
  • The Native Client Verification Applet, when running on Linux, incorrectly claimed that the client was installed. This has been fixed. (4904)

HTML5 Client

  • The HTML5 client, provided by the ThinLinc Web Access component, was included as a "Technology Preview" feature in earlier versions. It has now been promoted to a stable and supported feature. (4615)
  • Several problems with keyboard input in various browsers has been fixed. (4865)
  • With earlier versions, authentication could incorrectly fail on busy systems. (4895)

Smart Card Support

  • The smart card redirection (PC/SC tunnel) has been improved and now features better compatibility. In particular, it is now compatible with "SuisseID". (4100, 4785)

Local Drive Redirection

  • The OS X client now supports local drive redirection. (2180)

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

  • Built-in support for VMware-based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) has been removed. For customers requiring VDI deployments, several alternatives exists, including running the VMware "Horizon View Client for Linux" in ThinLinc. (4352)

Administration

  • [SECURITY] Previous versions of ThinLinc generated weak passwords for the Web Administration Interface. This has been corrected. Hotfix packages for older releases are available from https://www.cendio.com/downloads/updates/b4918. (4918)
  • The Web Administration Interface contains additional session information such as "Session Created" and "Session Connection". (4655)

Windows (R) Integration

  • RDP printing with Windows Server 2008 R2 should now work correctly. (4352)

Corrected Issues

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

1689, 1757, 1801, 2180, 2533, 2575, 2833, 2835, 2954, 3249, 3716,
3880, 3999, 4015, 4069, 4075, 4100, 4311, 4319, 4352, 4357, 4362,
4390, 4399, 4472, 4483, 4502, 4531, 4554, 4580, 4596, 4615, 4626,
4636, 4652, 4655, 4659, 4673, 4679, 4682, 4721, 4756, 4780, 4785,
4796, 4798, 4824, 4826, 4830, 4835, 4836, 4837, 4840, 4847, 4854,
4857, 4862, 4864, 4865, 4866, 4873, 4881, 4886, 4894, 4895, 4896,
4897, 4902, 4903, 4904, 4906, 4910, 4911, 4915, 4916, 4918, 4919,
4920, 4921, 4925, 4930, 4933, 4938, 4940, 4941, 4944, 4946, 4947,
4953, 4966, 4967, 4969, 4972, 4973, 4976, 4985, 4987, 4991, 4993,
4998, 5005, 5011, 5013, 5017, 5018, 5023, 5027, 5030, 5034, 5038,
5039, 5041, 5050, 5054, 5056, 5062, 5065, 5074, 5077, 5078, 5082,
5088, 5100, 5103, 5104, 5121
ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited.
Debian (R) is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc.
eLux (R) is a registered trademark of UniCon Software GmbH.
Fedora (R) is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc.
Java is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.
Linux (R) is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Mac OS X is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
Red Hat (R) is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc.
Solaris (R) is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.
SuisseID is a registered trademark of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.
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.
VMware (R) is a trademark of VMware, Inc.
Wyse is a registered trademark of Wyse Technology 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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