Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 30th Aug 2006 16:51 UTC, submitted by Raphael BE Vincenti
Linux "2X today announced the release of 2X TerminalServer for Linux, an open source terminal server for Linux, which enables users to run a Linux desktop and Linux / Windows applications over any type of connection. "If Linux is going to happen on the desktop, it will require a terminal server approach such as that of 2X Terminal Server for Linux. Only with the more advanced thin client approach, will Linux be able to outdo Windows fat clients in a company's network. 2X is proud to contribute to this by opening the source code of its terminal server software for Linux."
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eudoxos
Member since:
2006-08-30

I think this is PR bogus.

2x thin client is PXES linux distribution ( http://pxes.sf.net ) that the company bought and hired the main and only developer (Diego Torres Milano) a year and some months ago (IIRC). It has been always free (under GPL).

And for the terminal server: as it is based on nx libraries from nomachine.com, which are AFAIK released under GPL by !M, they are legally required to "open the source code". I would guess that someone pointed out that violation (or threatened them with lawsuit) and their PR department cooked up this hypocritical solution. Maybe I'm wrong, though.

MattPie Member since:
2006-04-18

I was going to ask "Is this any different than NoMachine's NX server?" I just installed both, and the setup script looks identical. 2x, in fact, sends you to NoMachine for clients other than Linux.

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ngalea Member since:
2006-08-31

You are completely wrong in your "PR bogus" allegation.

2X Terminal Server is based on Nomachine version 1.5, for which 2X obtained a license against substantial payment. The Nomachine libraries are open source, however the server and the clients are closed source.

Because 2X has a license to Nomachine 1.5, 2X could legally open source the server. The GPL did not apply in any way because we are talking about the NX server here, and not the NX libraries (which remain open source and are available from Nomachine) 2X' intention here is to help Linux based thin client computing gain momentum.

In regards to 2X ThinClientServer - it is not based on PXES. It is true that 2X acquired the PXES project, but only select components were merged into 2X ThinClientServer. 2X ThinClientServer has numerous architectural advantages compared to PXES and therefore it was decided to have 2X ThinClientServer PXES edition supercede PXES. 2X ThinClientServer is not open source and there is no legal requirement to do so either.

Nick Galea
2X Software Ltd.

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eudoxos Member since:
2006-08-30

Nick, thank you for your explanation. I was not aware of those facts and I apologize for having blackened laudable intentions of 2X.

I confused your client with PXES because of the acquisition and merging (as you note above). As for the server, I understood it in such way that you built your own programs linked against GPLed NX libraries. My mistake.

Good luck to your company.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1