Archive for the ‘3rd Party Hardware support in IGEL UD LX/OS’ Category

Hardware support: D-Link DWA-125 WiFi Dongle and IGEL Linux V5

Friday, March 28th, 2014

Hello Folks,

today we tested the D-Link DWA-125 USB WiFi dongle with the IGEL Linux V5 (Version 5.02.100).

d_link_dwa_125

 

The device workes fine and we were not able to find any issues.

Hardware Specs:

Product: D-Link 125
Model: EWA125EU A2G
Hardware Revision: A2
Firmware: 1.40
Chipset: Ralink RT3070

Warning: There are other revisions available (incl. different chipsets) and this test was only done with revision A2 just bought in a retail store! See also: https://wikidevi.com/wiki/D-Link_DWA-125_rev_A3

Cheers

Michael

Migrated with UDC2: Acer Aspire V5 – 131

Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

Hello Folks,

i got the results for one of the first Universal Desktop Converter 2 (Universal Desktop V2 5.01.110)  migrations, thanks to Kent for providing these results!

 

Acer Aspire V5 - 131

Acer Aspire V5 – 131

 

Ethernet 1000/100/10: Working

WiFi: Not working, using an Dlnk DWA131 USB.

Touchpad: working

USB Ports: Working

Audio: Working

Webcam: Not tested

SD Card Reader: Not available

Smart Card Reader: Not available

Fingerprint Reader: Not available

GFX Card: 1366 x 768 are working fine.

 

Cheers

Michael

Solution: Updated Apple device driver package for the IGEL Linux x86 (LX/OS) and information related to the new IOS 7

Thursday, September 19th, 2013

Hello Folks,

i’ve updated the two driver packages which can be downloaded here:

1) Apple device driver + local aTunes (iTunes alternative for Linux) + mplayer for the media playback      Download

2) Apple device driver only      Download

The updated packages are now able to detect an Apple Device without any User interaction, to enable this feature hide all three sessions in System->Firmware Customization->Custom Application. Then browse to Custom commands->Desktop commands->Custom Command Desktop Final and remove # from the line #setsid /config/sessions/applelauncher0 and reboot the device. After the reboot the device will check for an Apple Device every 5 seconds (can be modified thru the sleep commands). So you have three way how to mount a Apple device.

One small Tip: If you want to make only the DCIM folder available to transfer pictures in an ICA or RDP session you can browse in the IGEL setup in the session configuration to the ICA or RDP Global configuration and change in Mapping->Drive Mappings the path from /media/apple to /media/apple/DCIM.

If you already using one of these packages you only have to replace the UMS Profile and not the binaries.

Important Note: The new Apple IOS 7 is working with this package but it seams to be that the IPad together with IOS 7 get to less voltage from the client. If you got other results please inform me!

(Thanks to a User for this quick update, i only got an IPad with IOS 7 for my tests and not an IPhone!)

Update: It seams to  be that IOS7 produces some “hick ups”, as soon there is a fixed version available i will update this package.

 

Cheers

Michael

P.S.: This is the last release created in the manual way, all future releases will be created with DATI and can be edited/modified with DATI by your own, also this will be a sample how you can work with DATI for a IGEL Linux software integration.

Solution: Improved Apple device support for IGEL Linux (x86)

Friday, September 13th, 2013

Hi Folks,

like promised here is the improved Apple device Support for the x86 based IGEL Linux.

There are now two custom Partition packs available:

1) Apple device driver + local aTunes (iTunes alternative for Linux) + mplayer for the media playback      Download

2) Apple device driver only      Download

Both packs are coming now with an improved mount script that shows status messages to the User, also a unmount session is now available.

Apple device support for IGEL Linux (x86)

Apple device Support for IGEL Linux (x86)

New: A automount Option/Session is available, once this is started the script will run until a Apple device was mounted successfully.

 

Have fun!

 

Cheers

Michael

Solution: cloud-client.info introduces first Apple device support for Linux based Thin Clients

Friday, August 30th, 2013

Hi folks,

so often i’ve been asked to use Apple devices like the Iphone, Ipad or Ipod with an (IGEL) Linux based thin client without using (expensive) USB redirection solutions…

Here is our first custom partition sample introducing Apple device support for all Universal Desktop LX/OS (x86) based devices!

atunes

Apple devices can be used local, in Microsoft Remote Desktop sevices or Citrix sessions and more. The pack includes also a local running Application (Atunes) which works quite similar to Itunes. Itunes will not recognize the device in a terminal server session but you can use file based Itunes alternatives and access the Apple device file system to copy pictures or what ever!

This solution is tested with various Apple devices (Iphone 4, Iphone 5, Ipod 7gen and Ipad 3)but please note: No one will support it. 😉 A jailbreak is not required… 😀

To read more or download the solution klick here: Apple device support

The package is modular designed, so you can seperate not required functions like aTunes….

Have fun and a nice Weekend!

Michael

 

P.S.: Regarding the fact that i don’t own any Apple device i want to thank all guys that borrow me a device without being afraid that i damage any device during my test’s… 😀

UD3 and UD5 Dual Core and a nice hidden hardware extension feature…

Monday, June 24th, 2013

Hello Folks,

very often Hardware Vendors announce features… If they have it or not.

IGEL is different, they build in a new feature and do not mention it anywhere incl. the hardware documentation!

If you open a UD5 and/or a UD3 and you look under/at the place where the smart card reader is mounted you will see a small slot where something can be mounted. You will not find it in “any” documentation, manual or product description but what is it? Quite simple:

It’s a not restricted (UD5=Half Size/UD3=Full Size) Mini PCI Express Slot (very common in Laptops/Ultrabooks)

Why is this intresting? This provides a new way to extend the device and there are a couple of extensions possible:

WiFi Card (you need seperate Antennas which can be mounted outside the metal case)
WiFi / Bluetooth combinations for Windows based Thin Clients (external Antennas required)
Storage Controllers
LTE/UMTS Moduls
Internal SSD HDD (yes, without an extra controller) and more…

When i first saw this slot i was not sure if this one is locked thru the (UEFI) BIOS and no one could provide me any details: so i ordered some Mini PCI Express Cards for my tests.

Until now i’ve tested a WIFI Modul from Atheros (B/G/N) and a WIFI/Bluetooth Modul coming from Ralink: Both worked without any issue and can be fully used. Remember, the IGEL Linux can not handle Bluetooth but Windows will do.

Advantage:

Very good way to extend the device without any external hardware.

Disadvantage:

I’ve no idea if this will have some impact on the warranty for the UD3.
Not mentioned in any documentation.. So it might be not supported in general.
Not in the manuals also mean: maybe gone with future board revisions.

Important: It’s a half size Mini PCI Express Slot, full size do not fit without an extra adapter! Do not use Wireless Cards without an antenna (pigtail) or an antenna mounted in the metal case, this mostly destroys the Radio component at the modul after some time. Needed Antennas can be ordered very cheap at EBay or good IT Shops. Test always in advance!

I did not test internal Mini PCI Express SSD’s, they are high expensive and this was to much for a “just for fun” test.

There will be some pictures available in the next days.

Cheers

Michael

Tip: Solving audio issues with IGEL Universal Desktop OS (UDC) migrated devices

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

Hello Folks,

sometimes if you migrate a Laptop or PC with the IGEL Universal Desktop OS it can happen that audio playback doesn’t work. Very often users assume that the audio device is not supported: this is mostly wrong!

During my last test nearly always the audio device was not set right or better: the wrong device was selected. This can happen if you’re migrating a device with more then one audio output device, as sample the most Laptop’s are coming with a HDMI port and a onboard sound card providing two Audio devices at all. In my test’s nearly always the HDMI Output was selected by the Universal Desktop OS as default and i only need to change this one time in the Sound Mixer/Sound Preference configuration (audio tool in the local taskbar if the taskbar is not hidden thru the configuration) to solve the issue. Just change the Output device/channel to the device you want to use and check the audio output again. That’s it…. 😉

Cheers
Michael

Tip: Building a roaming WiFi solution with Thin Clients

Monday, December 17th, 2012

Hi Folks,

sometimes user try to setup a roaming solution together with Thin Clients and discover different connection issues and the roaming in general works bad.

Reasons for roaming issues:

– The WiFi Adapter is not designed for a roaming enterprise solution – This happens very often and mostly WiFi devices are designed for a stationary or home/office use where roaming is not required by default. This includes also the WiFi Adapter used in the IGEL extension food and nearly every WiFi Adapter sold at retail market’s.

– To small Antenna’s, a USB WiFi dongle comes with a 2 up to 5 cm (1 or 2 inch) antenna and this is in general no deal for a roaming WiFi connection. If you compare this to a Laptop antenna, which is very often 15cm or more included into the display part of an “enterprise” Laptop, it has no Chance to provide a good result. Retail home use Laptop’s do also mostly not provide a large antenna, this can be compared quite easy… Use a 600$ home and a 1300$ enterprise Laptop and compare the WiFi signal quality, in 80% of all test scenario’s you will see a big difference here and the enterprise Laptop provide a much better signal quality.

– Antenna is covered by parts of the device case and/or the signal is blocked in the direction to the Access Point.

How to solve this?

Simple: Forget WiFi network card’s or USB Adapter’s and take a new approach to setup a roaming solution: Use an Ethernet to WiFi bridge. This way is more expensive then a funny USB WiFi gimmick solution, but it will work and you have a lot of different solutions available depending on the scenario.

Benefit: The thin client/end device don’t has to deal with the WiFi connection at all, these device also do have more seperate antenna’s and very often more then one connection interface/circuit to provide permanent connection stability. It’s driver independent and it will work with Windows CE, Linux and Windows based end user devices out of the box thru the ethernet port.

Usage: Industrial WiFi requirements, Thin Client and WiFi device are mounted on a cart, truck, construction vehicle or similar. This solutions is not or only limited useable for regular Office walk thru designs.

Devices:

Netgear WiFi Bridge N900

From the lower price segment these devices will work good for small/medium environment’s: Netgear WiFi Bridge N900, Price ~100 US$, two antennas (picture) or Cisco Small Business – WET200 Bridge, Price ~130 US$ with two antennas. For outdoor solutions and high end requirements (large range/two or more connection circuits) the price range can go up to 1000 US$ or more. In any way: All devices that can be used as a WiFi Bridge (mostly all Access Points/Routers) can be used for this trick and they provide much better results then any WiFi USB dongle will do.

Update: I’ve been asked for an high end outdoor solution device, look @ Funkwerk/Bintec (www.teldat.de) for Bridge devices, the biggest devices can handle up to a 5km (4 Miles) distance and they always come with multiple circuits and antennas like the W1002n (up to 1000m range). But please: These devices are mostly not designed for indoor use and are very expensive (between 400 and 3000 US$)! So for industrial use in construction areas, mines or similar it might be ok but for the use in a habitation or indoor: Forget it please!!!

Cheers
Michael

P.S.: Like everytime no guarantee from my side and you need to test this! This article is also only for mobile clients moving around in a building or area a lot!

P.S.2: This will only provide a little help against radio interference, check this out too if the issue is not solved by an Ethernet to WiFi bridge! I’ve got an old  USB Bluetooth dongle that kills any WiFi (B/G/N=2.4 GHz) connection in a 5m (15 feet) area as example…. 🙂

New fiber card tested: Intel® 82572EI

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

Today I got my hands on the Intel® 82572EI fiber card (PCIe 4x) and got it working on the 4.09.200 without any additional configuration.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/network-adapters/gigabit-network-adapters/pro-1000-pf.html

Intel 82582EI

Sebastian

Tested: XBOX 360 Live Vision Webcam together with IGEL Universal Desktop LX / OS

Monday, July 16th, 2012

xbox.jpg

Today i tested the XBOX 360 Live Vision Webcam together with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS.

The camera worked without any issue in a Citrix Session with HDX Realtime and local with a installed Skype Client thru custom partition.

Cheers
Michael

P.S.: Regarding the results of today’s test series i was not able to discover a webcam that doesn’t work… 🙂

Tested: Microsoft Cinema HD Webcam together with IGEL Universal Desktop LX / OS

Monday, July 16th, 2012

cinemahd.jpg

Today i tested the Microsoft Cinema HD  together with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS.

The camera worked with a small issue in a Citrix Session with HDX Realtime and local without any issue with a installed Skype Client thru custom partition.
To get Microsoft WebCam to work with HDX Realtime and Linux i need to make a small modification to my Citrix webinterface site, see also here: https://blog.cloud-client.info/2012/07/13/using-xenapp-65-or-xendesktop-56-together-with-microsoft-lync-and-igel-linux-based-thin-clients/

Cheers
Michael

Tested: Hercules Webcam Dualpix Emotion 720HD together with IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS

Monday, July 16th, 2012

hercules.jpg

Today i tested the Hercules Webcam Dualpix Emotion 720HD together with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS.

The camera worked without any issue in a Citrix Session with HDX Realtime and local with a installed Skype Client thru custom partition.

Cheers
Michael

Tested: Logitech C210 Webcam with IGEL Universal Desktop LX / OS

Monday, July 16th, 2012

c210.png

Today i tested the Logitech C210 Webcam together with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS.

The camera worked without any issue in a Citrix Session with HDX Realtime and local with a installed Skype Client thru custom partition.

Cheers
Michael

Tested: Sitecom WL-113 WiFi Adapter with IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS

Monday, July 16th, 2012

sitecom.jpg

Today i’ve tested an older Sitecom WL-113 WiFi USB Adapter together with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS and it works without any issues for me.

The Sitecom WL-113 was available a long time, so if you still have some of these devices you should be able to use it together with your IGEL Linux based devices. The information’s on the device are not much and i was not able to figure out if alway’s the same design/chipset is used, but it worth to try it.

The Sitecom WL-113 is using the ZyDAS ZD1211 chipset which is not mentioned official by IGEL, so similar devices can be also compatible to the IGEL Linux.

Cheers
Michael

Tested: Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter with IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

Today i tested the Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter (Ralink RT2573) with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX and OS system. In both cases the adapter works perfect for me, of course i can’t guarentee this at all.

Belkin Wireless G USB Network Adapter

I’ve tested the Version: Belkin F5D7050 (http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=179211) together with WPA2 /WPA.

Cheers
Michael

Webcam test in the IGEL Linux

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

If you want to check if a webcam works in general in the IGEL Linux, create a terminal session and start the session. Log in as root and type in/execute ls /dev/video* , the result should look like /dev/video0.

If you got no result the webcam will not work, if you got /dev/video0 type in: gst-launch-0.10 v4l2src device=/dev/video0 ! ‘video/x-raw-yuv,width=640,height=480,framerate=30/1’ ! xvimagesink and execute the command. If you have /dev/video1 or similar just change the command parameter to the right value. After the command is executed you should see the video picture from your webcam. Please note: this don’t mean the camera will work with Citrix, VMWare or whatever. This still needs to be tested but it’s a good indicator if the camera will work in general. If this fails, you can still try/use USB redirection of course.

Cheers
Michael

Webcam support in IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Hello folks,

here you can find a short list which webcams might work with the IGEL Universal Desktop LX/OS for Citrix HDX Realtime redirection. The list is only a “tip” to reduce tests and it’s without any guarantee!

Please test in adavance: http://www.ideasonboard.org/uvc/

Cheers

Michael

Supported WiFi devices IGEL Universal Desktop LX / OS (UDC) Version 4.08.500

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Hello Folks,

very often people ask what WiFi devices are supported; iam sorry to say: there is no list currently.

But we can provide you a list of supported chipset’s, please note: this is no guarentee at all, very often vendors add custom features/design’s to the chipsset and this means: it can work.

• Ralink RT73

• Ralink RT3090

• Atheros AR5212A

• VIA VT6656

• Ralink RT2870

•ATH9k (List of supported chipsets: http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/ath9k#supported_chipsets)

• iwlwifi http://intellinuxwireless.org/

• iwl2945

I recommend the ATH9k which works great together with the Universal Desktop OS and my Asus EeePC 1011 PX (Dual core Atom incl. Dual Screen support, http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_PC/Eee_PC_1011PX/ ), i got some small issues here during the installation with the network card but finally it works great (still without network card, but hey.. It’s a netbook and i don’t care as long the WiFi works; the rest of the hardware incl. webcam works fine).

Cheers

Michael