ACTPL believe that customer satisfaction is of the most paramount importance and we take every care for the same, whether in troubleshooting the problems faced by our customers or any trivial issue, which is not under our horizon. This section is specially created for the users so that they can find the most common issues faced by the customers and their simple solutions. This will save a lot of time on your part.

• Will I have to install an Operating System & other softwares on clients?
  • All users will access the same Operating System i.e. the OS on the server, hence no separate OS license required for clients. This will result in heavy saving on OS & Software licenses.

• What are some other advantages of using Smart Station Thin Client?
  • Simple and quick booting process on Smart Station client machines. Daily time saving for many users. (No machine downtime due to the maintenance problems)
  • Easy management and deployment of OS.
  • Installation and maintenance of new application becomes very easy (to be done at only one place i.e. on the server).
  • Hardware lock for Application if any, will be needed only at the Server.
  • No different settings required for the same application.
  • Uniform environment amongst different client machines.
  • Simplified maintenance of database.
    
    
• How does Smart Station Thin Client help in data management and security?
  • Data back up also centralized for the whole enterprise. As well as back up on the local machine (node) is also possible.
  • No problem of OS maintenance on different PCs. No more corrupted or missing system files, system hang-ups, version conflicts etc.
  • No virus protection required on different machines.
  • The concept of Diskless PC results in better management control on staff. Their activities can also be monitored from server.
  • No one would try experimenting with unauthorized, unwanted, stray pirated software just out of curiosity as is usually done.
  • Automatic discipline by user. No facility available to play games on client PC unless allowed by the server.

• What about hardware maintenance and its cost?
  • Hardware upgrade of client PCs becomes redundant and not needed at all. Upgrade only Server PC when needed. (Single Point Up-gradation)
  • No loss of data due to power failure on client PC. Only server power has to be kept up. No UPS needed for client PC. Only Server has to be supported by UPS.
  • In case of break down of different client PC, no application would suffer as every client can be easily replaced with any other PC in minutes literally.
  • All hard disks cost and cost of maintenance of your PC will be saved. Major work done in AMC is maintenance of Hard disks and OS. All these are avoided. Hence you don’t need the AMC. Problems with motherboard, RAM, Monitor, KB and Mouse are also very limited.
    
    
• Which mouse protocol to use?
  • For a traditional serial mouse (rhombic 9 pin connector) you probably need the MICROSOFT protocol. Mice with a PS/2 connector (small round one) need ... PS/2 :-). However, wheel PS/2 and USB mice need the IMPS/2 variant.
    
    
• How do I get the scroll wheel on my mouse to work?
  • Assuming the server and the server software application supports the scroll wheel, all you have to do is to change one line in the smartstation.conf-MAC address
    From: X_MOUSE_PROTOCOL="PS/2"
    To: X_MOUSE_PROTOCOL="IMPS/2"
    Remember to hard reboot your Smart-station afterwards.
    
    
• How do I get my USB mouse to work?
  • You will need to use X_MOUSE_DEVICE=/dev/input/mice in smartstation.conf-MAC address to support a USB mouse.
    
    
• I just run MS Windows on a server and save all the licence money!
  • Well, that would be illegal.
    In order to connect with terminal services to your Windows server from Smart-station, each client must have:
    i) CAL (Client Access Licence - you get 5 or 10 CALs for "free" with the MS server licence).
    ii) TS-CAL (Terminal Server CAL.)
    (note the difference between CAL and TS-CAL. A TS-CAL is more expensive than a CAL). Please read here for a more detailed and authoritative answer: www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/pricing/tsfaq.asp
    So, using Smart-station you save:
    The money for the client operating system itself (you just have to pay for the CAL and the TS-CAL)
    Really a LOT on client administration.
    
    
• How do I use a printer connected to a Smartstation client?
  • In build.conf enable lp_server. In smartstation.conf-MAC address add the following lines:
    PRINTER_0_NAME=parallel
    PRINTER_0_DEVICE=/dev/printers/0
    PRINTER_0_TYPE=P
  • This will share the Smart Station client's parallel port on the network.
    To use this printer from your server, add a new printer on the server associated with a network port on the client. To do this on a Win2000/Win2003 server:
    - add a new printer
    - select "local" (deselect "autodetect plug & play printer")
    - create a new "standard TCP/IP" port
    - IP address for this port: insert the address of the thin-client
    - port type: "Hewlett Packard Jet Direct" (port 9100).
    - select the correct printer driver, and finish...