10.2. Making Possible the Use of Diskettes with a Thin Client
Get package ltsp_floppy from http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/ltsp unpack it and run the installation script. After that, use a text editor to add this line RCFILE_01 = floppyd to the file /opt/ltsp/i386/etc/lts.conf for each thin client you want to have floppy access, or add it to [Default] if you want all of them to have it. This is an example which gives all thin clients the capability of using the local floppy drive.
[Default]
SERVER = 192.168.0.254
XSERVER = auto
X_MOUSE_PROTOCOL = "PS/2"
X_MOUSE_DEVICE = "/dev/psaux"
X_MOUSE_RESOLUTION = 400
X_MOUSE_BUTTONS = 3
USE_XFS = Y
XkbLayout = no
SEARCH_DOMAIN = intern
X_MOUSE_EMULATE3BTN = Y
LOCAL_APPS = N
RUNLEVEL = 5
RCFILE_01 = floppyd
You need a file in the home directory for each user you want to be able to use
diskettes with a thin client. The file should be named .mtoolsrc. Note the full stop in the file name. The file should contain the line
drive a: file="$DISPLAY" remote 1.44m mformat_onlyIf you want to give all of your users this file without doing a lot of work, I recommend that you follow the following instructions. As root, create the above-mentioned file, and save it in /tmp. Then do the following:
for dir in /skole/tjener/home0/*; do cp /tmp/.mtoolsrc $dir/; chown --reference=$dir $dir/.mtoolsrc; done
When that's done, then all of the folders in /skole/tjener/home0 will have got the file .mtoolsrc, and the ownership of the file will be the same at the one who owns the folder, otherwise the folder would be owned by root.
Remember to make the following changes in the file /etc/devfs/perms; change the line (fra 0660 til 0666)
REGISTER ^floppy/.* PERMISSIONS root.floppy 0660til
REGISTER ^floppy/.* PERMISSIONS root.floppy 0666
I recommend the graphical program MToolsFM, apt-get install mtoolsfm. There are others, such as Konqueror, but they have some small bugs connected with the use of floppy drives with thin clients. The disadvantage with having the file .mtoolsrc in the home directory, is that you can't just get ready access to the floppy drive from the main server or workstations. I only have thin clients so I haven't looked for a solution to this, but it shouldn't be difficult to find one. (See section Section 10.2.2)
10.2.1. Using MToolsFM
You find MToolsFM in the menu under K-menu->Utilities->Debian
This is the picture that you see when you start MToolsFM. Remember to have a diskette in the floppy drive when you start MToolsFM.
MToolsFM has two windows. Usually, one window shows the contents of the diskette(a:), and the other shows the contents of the hard drive. In this example, the window on the left shows the contents of the diskette while the window on the right shows the contents of the hard drive. YOu can choose yourself how you want it to be by using the function to chaange which you find up in the corner.
You mark the file you want to work on by clicking on the filename. When it has been marked, use the buttons to move the files back and forth. You find these buttons in between the two windows. They are labelled "Copy". By right clicking on filename/directoryname you can get other choices.
10.2.2. .mtoolsrcBoth for Thin Client and Workstation
With the Help of a Little Trick
Make sure that all users who are to use diskettes on both thin clients and workstations have this file floppycheck.sh in Autostart-directory, .kde/Autostart, see section Section 10.2 and Section H.4
This file floppycheck.sh should look like
#!/bin/bash
CLIENT=`echo $DISPLAY | tr 0-9 "-" | sed -e s/-.*//`
if [ $CLIENT = "ltsp" ]; then
echo 'drive a: file="$DISPLAY" remote 1.44m mformat_only' >
~/.mtoolsrc
else
echo 'drive a: file="/dev/floppy/0" 1.44m mformat_only' >
~/.mtoolsrc
fi
What this script does is make a new version of .mtoolsrc based on what kind of machine the user is logged onto, thin client or workstation.Remember to make this script executable with the command
chmod 755 .kde/Autostart/floppycheck.sh