ThinCan
Encyclopedia
ThinCan is the name for a thin client
manufactured by Estonian electronic design start-up Artec Group. The ThinCan remained relatively unknown outside Estonia until 2006, when a recent ThinCan iteration was selected as the hardware base for the Linutop
, a network appliance that greatly stimulated the market for lightweight computing platforms. The ThinCan was also commercialized by SmartLink under the Revnetek brand name.
Aesthetically, the original ThinCan was an exercise in futuristic looks, with brushed aluminum end caps and a tubular aluminum shape that featured alternating patterns of decorative serrations along the surface of the tube. The tube came painted in one's choice of several transparent colors (black, dark blue, light blue, purple, red) for an authentic "Jetsons"
feel.
After an early prototype based on a custom x86 core, supporting PS/2 keyboard and mouse, the platform was redesigned around an NSC Geode
SC2200 supporting only USB peripherals. An optional on-board SmartCard reader attached to an internally-mounted USB port made the original ThinCan an instant hit on the local market, due to an Estonian legislation dating from 2001 that mandated the issuance of a national Electronic ID card to all citizens and their use to access many public services.
Still, while the futuristic design received some attention in the IT press, the prohibitive cost of machining an extruded aluminum tube with intricate decorative serrations prevented the manufacturer from achieving commercial success with this early model.
In 2003, the company revised the design towards a simpler cost-effective flat boxy shape for their DBE60 model (initially commercialized as the ThinCan SE). Aside from the addition of a parallel printer port, the DBE60 is functionally identical to the original ThinCan and built around the same NSC Geode SC2200.
In 2005, this design was updated for the AMD Geode LX700-based DBE61 model, with USB 2.0 provided by a CS5536 companion chip. The parallel printer port was then removed, returning the design to an all-USB configuration. Linutop SARL retained this model as a starting point for their Linutop-1 product.
In 2007, the DBE61 design was upgraded with Gigabit Ethernet support. The manufacturer calls this the DBE62.
In 2009, the DBE62 design was reconfigured to use SO DIMM memory and IDE Compact Flash media. The manufacturer calls this the DBE63.
All LX700-based models can natively boot using Coreboot. This started as a Geode GX port developed by AMD for the OLPC prototype, to which Artec added Geode LX support. That code was later adopted and further polished by AMD, after the OLPC switched to the LX700 for its production models. This Coreboot port was used on the SmartLink model and on several custom Artec models configured as network appliances.
Meanwhile, both Artec's PXE
-boot and Linutop's USB-boot DBE61 models, plus all DBE62 and DBE63 models, use a General Software BIOS.
client for Windows Terminal Services.
DBE60 models come with either the same RDP client as the original ThinCan or with Etherboot
support for UNIX terminal services.
DBE61 models come with either a BIOS with PXE support optimized for LTSP
or with a BIOS for USB booting Linutop's own Linux distribution. Meanwhile, SmartLink preloads their DBE61 models with their own versatile firmware called R-BOX that can be user-configured to launch into either an RDP client or into a Web kiosk - both of which are implemented using Free Software components - and which makes use of the Coreboot port.
DBE62 models have a BIOS that first attempts booting from USB and, if no bootable USB media is found, then attempts PXE booting - essentially combining the boot options of Artec's and Linutop's models into a single configuration.
DBE63 models run on Embedded Windows XP and launch into a Web kiosk.
Thin client
A thin client is a computer or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfill its traditional computational roles. This stands in contrast to the traditional fat client, a computer designed to take on these roles by itself...
manufactured by Estonian electronic design start-up Artec Group. The ThinCan remained relatively unknown outside Estonia until 2006, when a recent ThinCan iteration was selected as the hardware base for the Linutop
Linutop
The Linutop is a small, light, environment friendly nettop computer with a metal case, no moving parts, and running the Linutop OS , a customized version of Linux based on the Xubuntu then Ubuntu/GNOME distribution....
, a network appliance that greatly stimulated the market for lightweight computing platforms. The ThinCan was also commercialized by SmartLink under the Revnetek brand name.
Hardware
Functionally, all ThinCan production models offer similar features:- Front panel: 1/8" stereo audio, USB ports.
- Back panel: Ethernet port, VGA output, PSU connector.
Aesthetically, the original ThinCan was an exercise in futuristic looks, with brushed aluminum end caps and a tubular aluminum shape that featured alternating patterns of decorative serrations along the surface of the tube. The tube came painted in one's choice of several transparent colors (black, dark blue, light blue, purple, red) for an authentic "Jetsons"
The Jetsons
The Jetsons is a animated American sitcom that was produced by Hanna-Barbera, originally airing in prime-time from 1962–1963 and again from 1985–1987...
feel.
After an early prototype based on a custom x86 core, supporting PS/2 keyboard and mouse, the platform was redesigned around an NSC Geode
Geode (processor)
Geode is a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market....
SC2200 supporting only USB peripherals. An optional on-board SmartCard reader attached to an internally-mounted USB port made the original ThinCan an instant hit on the local market, due to an Estonian legislation dating from 2001 that mandated the issuance of a national Electronic ID card to all citizens and their use to access many public services.
Still, while the futuristic design received some attention in the IT press, the prohibitive cost of machining an extruded aluminum tube with intricate decorative serrations prevented the manufacturer from achieving commercial success with this early model.
In 2003, the company revised the design towards a simpler cost-effective flat boxy shape for their DBE60 model (initially commercialized as the ThinCan SE). Aside from the addition of a parallel printer port, the DBE60 is functionally identical to the original ThinCan and built around the same NSC Geode SC2200.
In 2005, this design was updated for the AMD Geode LX700-based DBE61 model, with USB 2.0 provided by a CS5536 companion chip. The parallel printer port was then removed, returning the design to an all-USB configuration. Linutop SARL retained this model as a starting point for their Linutop-1 product.
In 2007, the DBE61 design was upgraded with Gigabit Ethernet support. The manufacturer calls this the DBE62.
In 2009, the DBE62 design was reconfigured to use SO DIMM memory and IDE Compact Flash media. The manufacturer calls this the DBE63.
Firmware
SC2200-based models boot using a proprietary loader called Clara that was developed by Artec itself.All LX700-based models can natively boot using Coreboot. This started as a Geode GX port developed by AMD for the OLPC prototype, to which Artec added Geode LX support. That code was later adopted and further polished by AMD, after the OLPC switched to the LX700 for its production models. This Coreboot port was used on the SmartLink model and on several custom Artec models configured as network appliances.
Meanwhile, both Artec's PXE
Preboot Execution Environment
The Preboot eXecution Environment is an environment to boot computers using a network interface independently of data storage devices or installed operating systems.PXE was introduced as part of the Wired for Management framework by Intel and is described in the specification The Preboot...
-boot and Linutop's USB-boot DBE61 models, plus all DBE62 and DBE63 models, use a General Software BIOS.
Operating System
The original ThinCan ran on Windows CE and launched into an RDPRemote Desktop Protocol
Remote Desktop Protocol is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft, which provides a user with a graphical interface to another computer. The protocol is an extension of the ITU-T T.128 application sharing protocol. Clients exist for most versions of Microsoft Windows , Linux, Unix, Mac OS...
client for Windows Terminal Services.
DBE60 models come with either the same RDP client as the original ThinCan or with Etherboot
Network booting
Network booting is the process of booting a computer from a network rather than a local drive. This method of booting can be used by routers, diskless workstations and centrally managed computers such as public computers at libraries and schools...
support for UNIX terminal services.
DBE61 models come with either a BIOS with PXE support optimized for LTSP
Linux Terminal Server Project
Linux Terminal Server Project is a free and open source terminal server for Linux that allows many people to simultaneously use the same computer. Applications run on the server with a terminal known as a thin client handling input and output...
or with a BIOS for USB booting Linutop's own Linux distribution. Meanwhile, SmartLink preloads their DBE61 models with their own versatile firmware called R-BOX that can be user-configured to launch into either an RDP client or into a Web kiosk - both of which are implemented using Free Software components - and which makes use of the Coreboot port.
DBE62 models have a BIOS that first attempts booting from USB and, if no bootable USB media is found, then attempts PXE booting - essentially combining the boot options of Artec's and Linutop's models into a single configuration.
DBE63 models run on Embedded Windows XP and launch into a Web kiosk.
Timeline
- 1999 - prototype based on a custom x86 core.
- 2001 - round model with NSC Geode SC2200.
- 2003 - DBE60 model with NSC Geode SC2200.
- 2005 - DBE61 model with AMD Geode LX700 and CS5536.
- 2007 - DBE62 model with AMD Geode LX700 and CS5536, plus Gigabit Ethernet.
- 2009 - DBE63 model with AMD Geode LX700 and CS5536, plus Gigabit Ethernet.
See also
- GeodeGeode (processor)Geode is a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market....
is the chipset used in the ThinCan. - Coreboot is used to bootstrap recent ThinCan models.
- OLPC is another lightweight computer based on the Geode LX.
- Thin ClientThin clientA thin client is a computer or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfill its traditional computational roles. This stands in contrast to the traditional fat client, a computer designed to take on these roles by itself...
is the design principle behind the ThinCan. - Artec Group