up vote 1 down vote favorite
1
share [g+] share [fb]

I am not sure if this belongs on serverfault or superuser so I apologize if this is the incorrect place.

We want to have a single server for a number of users to be using simultaneously. Each user would have their own monitor, keyboard, mouse. They would be using this exclusively for web browsing.

I found UserFul for the software to be able to split it up to 10 users.

However I haven't been able to find a motherboard with 10PCI or similar slots to be able to attach 10 monitors. I assume after finding such a motherboard I would then require a case that could hold said motherboard.

I am looking for a motherboard with the highest number of PCI slots (up to 10)

I am looking for any other software options for this

If the motherboard is not a standard size I would also like to be pointed towards a case.

link|improve this question
100% accept rate
1  
I never understood this multi-use case. Just the cost of an extra GPU and the special motherboard to support it along with the licensing costs would be around the cost of a simple PC (excluding monitor and input devices) or a netbook? Adding modern thin clients into the mix would add licensing costs but remove the management overhead? I just don't get it, but then again, I'm weird ^^ – Oskar Duveborn Jan 5 '10 at 23:54
HP 9000-series have up to 64 PCI: h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/… - better start saving your pennies and keeping an eye on eBay – Mark Henderson♦ Jan 6 '10 at 0:32
Agreed with @Oskar, surely 10 budget machines works out cheaper and easier than this, especially give the low system requirements. Hell, go buy 10 ex-govt or whatever computers at auction that are 2 yrs old at a fraction of the cost. – micmcg Jan 6 '10 at 2:20
Be rest assured that we have exhausted the option of using thin-line or budget systems. Thank you all for your help! – user30875 Jan 6 '10 at 5:26
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

These are links from my bookmarks:

(Though, I would also look into a thin-client environment if I were you... but that's not what you asked for ;) )

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

Most video cards have two VGA/DVI outputs these days. Matrox makes some serious multi head video cards that are worth taking a look at. They even have a card that has 8 (yes 8) monitor outputs.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

Rather than going with some kind of custom hardware (e.g., the Userful hardware or a massive motherboard), you might try going thinclient. Here are some opensource thin clients:

http://openthinclient.org/home
http://www.thinstation.org/

  1. Hit the used computer store (Weird Stuff?) to get older, low power, computers
  2. Get an Ethernet up with at least one a Gigabit Ethernet link (they're like, $50 now?)
  3. Install open thinclient on your server and clients
  4. Off to the races, with only Cat 5 cable and power cords to deal with.
link|improve this answer
I wholeheartedly agree with the thin client solution but considering that this is just for web browsing even the GB network is overkill. Another thin client to check out is thinstation.org – John Gardeniers Jan 6 '10 at 3:34
Can you even get a switch/hub without GigE these days? – pcapademic Jan 7 '10 at 5:09
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.