[Updated Mar. 1] — Dutch network computing specialist Athena has updated its OEM-licensable Linux-based thin client operating system. The company claims NLX (New LinuX) 5 to be the first thin client OS based on a 2.6-series Debian kernel.

Athena unveiled NLX 5 at the CeBIT technology show in Hannover, Germany this week.

Athena touts NLX 5 as lowering TCO (total cost of ownership), thanks to “superb efficiency, flexibility, [and] ease of administration.” Additionally, the updated Debian kernel enables support for a broader range of hardware, according to the company.

Availability

Athena says it is now shipping NLX 5 on its own Linux-based thin client devices, and on its “IDE PC” plug-in modules aimed at turning superannuated PC hardware into thin clients. Additionally, the OS is available for licensing by other thin client OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and vendors, along with Athena's TCMS (thin-client management suite).

Founded 17 years ago, Athena claims to be among the top seven thin client providers in the world, citing 2006 IDC market research that found its share of the global thin client market to be four percent. In addition to Linux, Athena sells thin clients and thin client OSes based on Windows CE, XP Embedded, and XP Pro.

Neoware, which claims to be among the world's three largest thin client vendors, and the only vendor in the top three focused on Linux, also updated its Linux thin client OS this month.

Another large thin client vendor, HP, uses Debian Linux as the basis for its thin client OS, offered on devices such as the t5725. Reader Michael Pelham reports the t5725 to be running a 2.6-series kernel.

 
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