Sun Java Desktop System 2.0 Optimization for Sun Ray Server Software 3.0
Brian Nitz, April, 2005
1 Introduction
This document describes the installation procedures and configuration changes recommended to optimize Sun Java Desktop System 2.0 for multiuser environments with Sun Ray Server Software 3.0.
2 Special Java Desktop System Installation Instructions to Support Sun Ray Server Software 3.0
The following additional installation steps for Java Desktop System 2.0 (JDS 2.0) are necessary to prepare for the installation of Sun Ray Server Software 3.0 (SRSS 3.0).
2.1 When the installer presents the
boot options
screen, typeacpi=off
as a kernel boot parameter.2.2 When the installer presents the
installation selection
screen, select New Installation and click O.K.Note: This will overwrite any existing operating system on the computer you are installing to.
2.3 Select the default installation for your locale and select O.K.
2.4 Select Software option in Installation Settings.
2.5 Select Add-on Packages and add the following packages:
- Ice WM Desktop
- Development Tools
2.6 Select Package Groups, select Development -> Libraries -> Perl and add the following package from the right panel:
perl-XML-Parser2.7 Again from Package Groups, select Productivity -> Archiving. Select the following package from the right panel:
pax2.8 Again from Package Groups, select Productivity -> Networking. Select the following packages from the right panel:
dhcp-base dhcp-server tftp telnet (optional) telnet-server (optional)2.9 Again from Package Groups, select System. Select the following package from the right panel:
openmotif2.10 Click Accept and continue installing Java Desktop System normally. The remaining packages will be installed later from the SRSS 3.0 tar file.
3 Obtain and Expand the Sun Ray Server Software 3.0 (SRSS 3.0) Install Image
You can download the Sun Ray Server Software 3 from Sun's download center.
4 Install the
pdksh
Package From the SRSS 3.0 Supplemental Directoryrpm -i srss_3.0/Supplemental/JDS/Packages/pdksh-5.2.14-531.i586.rpm5 Run the Sun Ray Software Installer
cd srss_3.0 ../utinstallTake all defaults until you get to the
Java location
prompt.
The SRSS 3.0
utinstall
prompt says:Enter Java v1.4 (or later) location [/usr/j2se]:Enter the location of your Java runtime environment. For Java Desktop System 2.0, this should be/usr/java/j2redefault
. When prompted to continue, enterY
to continue installation.
Reboot.
6 Run Java Desktop System Online Update
After Sun Ray Software and JDS are installed, run Java Desktop Online Update to download and install the latest patches.
7 Configure Java Desktop System for Use in a Sun Ray Environment
A number of Java Desktop System configuration options are available that can improve performance in a multiuser Sun Ray environment. Most of these parameters can be configured with the
gconftool-2
configuration utility. The-direct
and-config-source
options ofgconftool-2
can be used to set mandatory or default values for these preferences. Thejds-srss-optimize
utility script provides a convenient way to set these parameters. Thejds-srss-optimize
shell script is available for download, as well as the Readme file for that shell script.7.1 Optimizations to the Nautilus File Manager
The default behavior of the Java Desktop System file manager, Nautilus, is not optimized for large-scale multiuser systems. For example, Nautilus counts the number of items and creates thumb-nail icons for items in folders. Fortunately, these Nautilus options are configurable. This section explains Nautilus configuration options useful in a Sun Ray environment.
7.1.1 Nautilus folder features such as directory item counts, text in icons, or image icons can be enabled optionally for all folders, for local folders only, or never. These example
gconftool-2
commands enable each feature for local files only.7.1.1.1 Show icon text for text files:
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_icon_text local_only7.1.1.2 Show directory item counts:
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_directory_item_counts local_only7.1.1.3 Show image thumbnails:
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_image_thumbnails local_only7.1.1.4 Preview as sound:
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /apps/nautilus/preferences/preview_sound local_only7.1.2 Nautilus background
The default detailed Nautilus background image and gradient can cause unnecessary network traffic when the screen is refreshed.
7.1.2.1 Change the background to a blank screen:
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /desktop/gnome/background/picture_options none7.1.2.2 Turn off the background screen gradient:
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /desktop/gnome/background/color_shading_type solid7.2 Themes
The bitmap detail and gradients in the default blueprint theme may make it slightly slower than a flatter theme. Themes can be set from Launch->Preferences->Display->Theme or with
gconftool-2
as in this example:gconftool-2 -type string --set \ /apps/metacity/general/theme Simple7.3 Other desktop effects and options
7.3.1 Wireframe mode
gconftool-2 --type bool --set \ /apps/metacity/general/reduced_resources true7.3.2 Logout effect
gconftool-2 --type string --set \ /apps/gnome-session/options/logout_effect black7.3.3 Display icons in menus
/usr/bin/gconftool-2 --type bool --set \ /desktop/gnome/interface/menus_have_icons false7.4 The
jds_srss_optimize
utility scriptThe
jds_srss_optimize
utility script is a convenient way to set Java Desktop System options to values more appropriate for Sun Ray environments. Here are two examples of the usage of this script:../jds-srss-optimize -mandatory -global -thin_client ../jds-srss-optimize -nautilus_file_off7.5 Configuring gdm for faster hot desking in Sun Ray environment
The default gnome desktop manager (gdm) background has a nice shaded gradient pattern that may slow down screen refreshes during hot-desking in some environments. In order to improve hot desking, you can set gdm to a simpler background by following these steps:
- Log in as root.
- Open a terminal and run
gdmconfig
.- Select the General tab.
- Set the login banner for Local to Standard instead of Graphic. Log out.
- Reboot.
8 Using APOC to Configure Java Desktop System for Sun Ray Environment
APOC provides centralized management of Java Desktop System configuration parameters using policies and LDAP registered policy groups. (APOC [A Point Of Control] is the internal code name for the Sun Java Desktop System Configuration Manager.) This section explains how to use a sample policy group to set desktop configuration parameters to values optimized for Sun Ray environments.
8.1 Download the SunRayUsers.zip policy and install it on a file system mounted on your APOC server.
8.2 Log in to the APOC manager by browsing to
https://<apochost>:6789/apoc
.8.3 Select the
Policy Repository
link in theHosts
tab page.8.4 Import the
SunRayUsers
policy group.8.5 This will create a global policy group that can then be assigned to users or groups of users (organizations or roles) to provide them with forced values that are appropriate for the Sun Ray environment.
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