Advantages of LTSP
1. Cost
Diskless computers can be built from outdated computers for $0. This is a very interesting way to build a network from computers that others want to discard.
2. Central Management
Central Management alone will save an organization dramatically. You can expect virtually NO WORKSTATION maintenance with LTSP. Without a hard drive there is nothing to maintain except connections for monitor, network, keyboard and mouse. All management is done from the server.
3. Heat Reduction
Computers create heat which leads to more power usage to reduce the heat. Many diskless systems are only using 15 watts of power and producing virtually not heat.
4. Power Reduction – Diskless computers may use as little as 15 watts of power compared to the 450 watts of a typical workstation. When you are looking at 200 computers in a school system is a significant savings.
5. Flexibility – You are not limited to just running diskless computers. You can set up a network that will allow diskless computers, computers with disks and Windows computers connecting via Samba. One server can do it all for you.
Disadvantages of LTSP
1. Single Location of Failure
Since the whole network depends on the server up 24/7 that server must be robust and dependable. If the server is down everyone on the LTSP server is off line. You can create redundancy. It is simple enough to rsync two servers so that you have a clone ready to go if you experience failure. Having run LTSP for 8 years, I have never experienced a downtime longer than an hour.
2. Server Cost
You must invest in a server that is robust, something in the line of dual Xeons with 4-6 GB of RAM if you have upward of 100 diskless computers connected.
