SmartSDR (1.8.3) and OpenVPN on an HP Thin Client

KC9NRN

I'm testing a new HP Thin Client t520 and decided to see how it would handle OpenVPN and also SmartSDR 1.8.3 from the office figuring if it works well maybe use one dedicated to the radio at home.

After installing and configuring everything it worked like a charm! I don't know how it would work with a Flex 6700 but using 2 slices from my 6300 worked great!

$395.00 for the thin client new is a bit much but they can be found on eBay cheaper. I'm going to use one from the office during lunch to see how it works over time.

Jim Gilliam

I looked up the HP thin client and all I could glean from HP was how wonderful it was. What does the thin client do?

Jim, K6QE

KC9NRN

Thin Clients are used to connect to a server which provides a desktop like experience using RDP or Terminal Server.

The newer ones are actually pretty quick and can handle somethings on their own since they use Windows embedded operating systems and while they lack hard drives they have enough space to install a few programs.

I use one at home for testing using a Watchguard VPN and RDP. So I got curious about how it could handle something like SmartSDR and it amazed me how well it worked, probably not well suited for guys who have the higher end units like the 6500 or the 6700.

But for station monitoring RX while using the main computer for other duties it does a good job.

Here is the definition:

A thin client is a lightweight computer that is purpose-built for remoting into a server (typically cloud or desktop virtualization environments). It depends heavily on another computer (its server) to fulfill its computational roles.

EA4AYW

Hi Sr.
I installed the Openvpn in a rasberry pi2 and vpn connection serves me right between the office and home, but when I start the smartsdr can not see the flex6500.
nor I get to ping the ip assigned to the router to flex.
however, I created a folder on samba and if I can see from the office, this tells me that the vpn is set correctly and have access from home office.
but I can not see or access the flex.
Please tell me you can as you did.
Thank you.

Peter K1PGV

They lack "hard drives" but not local storage. The most common HP Thin Client configuration has a 128GB internal flash drive (they come with as little as 32GB and as much as 320GB IIRC). I am a big fan of HP Thin Client systems .... I presently have two at home, one is the time server for my home network. What's particularly nice about them is that (a) they're industrial strength, meant to run 24x7 for years at a time, and (b) no noise, beacause they don't use a fan. Having said all that.... They run Windows Embedded ... Which is sort of it's own little universe. HP makes pre-built systems with all the patches periodically available for download. One of my systems is still running XP Embedded. Peter K1PGV