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Companyhistory
and facts
openthinclient – Reliable in Operation. Today and in the Future.
openthinclient is a complete thin client solution – consisting of a thin client operating system, a centralized management server, and matching hardware. Through PXE boot (network boot) and a web-based management console, x86-compatible devices can be quickly and easily deployed as VDI endpoints and centrally managed.
openthinclient is fully open source and can be tested and used in production for free with a limited number of clients. The management server runs on Windows or Linux. 🔧 View source code on GitHub
openthinclient GmbH supports B2B customers in healthcare, industry, and public administration with:
✅ Maintenance contracts and guaranteed response times
✅ Assistance with installation and operation
✅ Custom adaptations and extensions
In addition, we offer powerful thin client hardware for a wide range of applications – everything from a single source.
1999
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The entry into the ThinClient business
Levigo (at that time still cogito informationssysteme gmbh) is intensively involved in server-based computing and becomes active in the market for Linux-based ThinClients. Levigo sells the IBM devices and takes over their setup at the customers.
2002
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Start of development of own ThinClient software
IBM unexpectedly withdraws from the thin client market. Instead of the promised investment protection, customers are left with a gap. Levigo takes advantage of this market gap and develops its own platform-independent ThinClient Manager. With Linux, Levigo opts for a non-proprietary operating system for the ThinClients.
2004
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Manager with web start interface
A completely revised ThinClient Manager interface is launched.
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2008
Business Model Support
As a commercial variant, Levigo Systems offers a tested version of the ThinClient Software Suite including support. ThinClient hardware models optimized for use are available in various versions.
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Presentation of the solution to a wide public
Since SYSTEMS 2007, the openthinclient software suite has been available as OpenSource at openthinclient.org. The software is published under the GNU General Public License GPL v2. Initially the software was completely OpenSource and was royalty free and can be used without runtime restrictions. Over time, professional applications were added, which could be purchased in the form of a license. Since 2019, all functions have been unlocked and can be used free of charge up to an installation size of 49 ThinClients. From 50 ThinClients, a monthly license fee for use and support with service level agreement must be paid.
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2007
We become OpenSource
Levigo Systems makes the now powerful ThinClient software suite consisting of ThinClient OS, ThinClient Manager and ThinClient Server available open source at openthinclient.org.
2009
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Foundation of openthinclient gmbh
On April 1, openthinclient gmbh, in which the Levigo group of companies holds a stake, is founded. The new openthinclient® brand consists of powerful openthinclient hardware, the Linux-based openthinclient OS, the openthinclient server and openthinclient manager, and openthinclient support. The company is located in the center of Stuttgart.
2010
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Stand at the IT fair CeBIT
openthinclient gmbh is exhibitor at the IT fair CeBIT in Hannover. Many interested visitors from all over the world come to the booth, so openthinclient decides to expand the business to international markets.
2011
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Besides the software now also hardware
In addition to the software, openthinclient gmbh offers powerful ThinClient hardware for various applications: small, silent and energy-saving as an office workstation, with various expansion interfaces. Since 2017, also in industrial-grade housing for production environments and as an all-in-one device with touch function integrated in the screen.
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2012
Exhibitor at the Linux Days
openthinclient gmbh moves its headquarters to Heilbronner Straße in Stuttgart. Furthermore, an office is opened in Dresden. openthinclient gmbh is exhibitor at the Linux-Tag in Chemnitz. Numerous contacts, especially to software developers, give openthinclient new impulses for current and future requirements. One gets to know many interested people from the new federal states.
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openthinclient software consists of 3 modules
The openthinclient software consists of 3 building blocks: The openthinclient-OS, a Linux operating system for ThinClients that was initially based on Ubuntu and has been based on Debian since the end of 2013. The OS supports a boot process over the network (PXE) as well as a local installation on flash or USB stick. Another component is the openthinclient server, a platform-independent boot and administration server that provides all services and functions. Third component is the openthinclient manager, a graphical user interface for central administration of the ThinClients, the applications, settings and groupings. In previous years, the openthinclient manager was launched as a webstart application. Since 2019, the management is possible via a browser (Html5).
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2011
We win Innovation Award IT
Managing Director Alexander Stecher speaks on the stage of the OpenSource Park at CeBIT in Hanover.openthinclient receives the Innovation Award IT in the category OpenSource from the Initiative Mittelstand. https://www.imittelstand.de/innovationspreis/2011/kategoriesieger/open-source.html
2013
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Update to Debian
The openthinclient gmbh develops and releases a completely new ThinClient operating system based on the current Debian Wheezy.
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Service
openthinclient supports customers during installation and configuration. Furthermore, services are offered in the form of customer-specific adaptations and extensions.
2018/2019
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Medical IT Fair
openthinclient would like to present new developments to an expert audience. At conhIT or DMEA we will show the hospital workstation with digital dictation device and signature pads.
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2021
new version 2021
There are new essential functions or changes e.g.
- UEFI HTTP boot support
- Show online status in Manager
- Linux-Kernel 5.10
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2020
new version 2020
There are new essential functions or changes e.g.
- UEFI HTTP boot support
- only 64 bit architecture
- Teams and zoom plugins or apps
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2019
new version 2019
The license model will be changed, which means that a user license is required for 50 ThinClients or more. In addition, the previous Webstart Manager is no longer available. Furthermore, all configurations are now done through the browser-based manager. Additionally, all applications are now unlocked. The ThinClient OS has been updated to Debian 9.
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OS-on-a-Stick
Aufgrund der Coronakrise mussten wir reagieren und erweiterten damit das Portfolio. Doch neben dem schnellen und einfachen Einsatz im Homeoffice kann das neue OS-on-a-Stick noch mehr. Ergänzend zur Serverboot-Variante mit zentralem Management, haben wir nun eine Lösung, die an einzelnen Arbeitsplätzen ein ThinClient-Betriebssystem startet. Damit können Sie Ihr Büro auf einem USB-Stick mit ins Homeoffice nehmen, oder in den Urlaub nach Honolulu...
2022
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"Linux on a leash" at the Chemnitz Linux Days
openthinclient gmbh is repeatedly exhibitor at the Linux Days in Chemnitz. This time we are also represented with a presentation which was well attended. The topic was How to start a system via network - without any data medium? Using the startup process of the openthinclient OS we explain how this works. We shed light on the different PXE bootloaders, the loading process of the kernel and the ramdisk. The essence of a busybox had to be fathomed and a self-written init-script had to be understood.
2023
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Revised license model
In 2023, we revised our licensing model to make it clearer and more practical. In the free Community Edition, the number of ThinClients that can be used at no cost was adjusted to 24 devices. This limit is based on our many years of experience and is intended to provide both sufficient testing opportunities for evaluations and a realistic usage scope for smaller companies – completely free of charge. For larger installations and enterprise customers, our Business licensing models with professional support, SLAs, and various customizations remain available.
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2025
Version 2025 & Partnerprogramm in Überarbeitung
In 2025, we released a new version of openthinclient that brings numerous improvements and new features. The goal of the update is to enhance performance, improve user-friendliness, and ensure compatibility with current hardware. The key innovations include:
- Upgrade to a new Debian version
- Support for modern hardware generations
- New control functions for ThinClients
- Revised layout & new desktop type
- Latest versions of FreeRDP and the Citrix Workspace App
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2024
"wiki" becomes "docs"
As part of a comprehensive overhaul, we have replaced our previous "Wiki" with a new documentation site: docs.openthinclient.com. It is more structured, clearer, and more user-friendly – both for beginners and experienced administrators or IT managers. Our goal is to make it even easier to get started with our software and to simplify the daily work with openthinclient.