Sharing a Single PC with Multiple Users / Office Setup

[astronac]

Hello techies,
I am a small business owner from Mumbai, India. I recently got an inquiry for an office setup. The Client has requested a setup where there is one PC/Server and 8 thin clients for the staff are connected to it. The usage is basic, office applications, web use & Autocad just for viewing files nothing heavy. Each of the 8 users must have a dual monitor config. So I was thinking of going for NComputing thin clients, but their dual monitor license thingy is expensive here and needs a special USB adapter which is not available in this country. So I need an alternative solution for this. I request anyone reading this to provide me with potential solutions/options. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. It means a lot! I can elaborate this further if needed.

 

P.S. If possible, please chart a good server/pc config stating the components which would cater the coming 4-5 years.

 

Thank you all!

[Electronics Wizardy]

Normally thinclients cost more unless you have a very large setup. Here is much cheaper to just have multiple desktop pcs. For thin clients the software costs really start to builtd up.

[Ckdota]

I was gonna quote myself when I explained multiseat enviornments to another user but your requirement on dual monitor fucks things up a lot.

 

IO passthrough will be an immense challenge with 8 clients most importantly the video. To passthrough 16 different video outputs (1 for each display) requires a grid card which costs over 2000 bucks. Now factor in getting 8 unique sets of USB hubs, keyboards, mice, audio adapters and you are looking at a bowl of spaghetti.

 

My personal recomendation is this:

 

1: Virtualize all 8 hosts in ESXI/Proxmox.

 

2: Get a cheap but reliable business laptop (T60 at the minimum but t420 or latitude equivalent are recommended)

 

3: Install your favorite linux distro and a package called NoMachine

 

4: Nomachine should stretch the desktop across the 2 monitors by default. You may want to get docking stations for those laptops so the laptop can stay folded and away.

 

If you can get rid of that dual monitor requirement it gets super cheap and easy a bunch of VMs and a bunch of steam links set up to go to the desktop instead of big picture mode.

 

 

[brob]

For 8 stations, I wouldn't go with thin clients. Use an i3 server and eight i3/r3 workstations with small ssd.