Company History
and facts
openthinclient – Stable in use. Today and in the future.
openthinclient is a complete thin client solution – consisting of a thin client operating system, a central management server, and appropriate hardware. Via PXE boot (network boot) and a web-based management console, x86-compatible devices can be provisioned and centrally managed quickly and easily as VDI endpoints.
openthinclient is entirely open source and can be tested and used productively free of charge 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 the healthcare, industrial, and public administration sectors with:
✅maintenance agreements and guaranteed response times,
✅Support with installation and operation,
✅as well as individual adaptations and extensions.
Additionally, we offer powerful thin client hardware for a variety of applications – all from a single source.
1999
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Getting started in the Thin Client business
Levigo (then still cogito informationssysteme gmbh) is intensively involved with the topic of Server-Based Computing and enters the market for Linux-based thin clients. Levigo sells IBM devices and handles their setup for customers.
2002
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Beginning development of own thin client software
IBM is unexpectedly withdrawing from the Thin Client market. Instead of the promised investment protection, customers face a gap. Levigo is capitalising on this market opening and developing its own, platform-independent Thin Client Manager. Levigo has opted for a non-proprietary operating system for the Thin Clients: Linux.
2004
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Manager with web start interface
A completely revised interface for ThinClient Manager will be 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 optimised for deployment are available in various designs.
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Introducing the solution to a wide public
Since SYSTEMS 2007, the openthinclient software suite has been available as Open Source at openthinclient.org. The software is published under the GNU General Public License GPL v2. Initially, the software was entirely Open Source and was license-free and could be used without any time 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 for up to 49 ThinClients. From 50 ThinClients onwards, a monthly license fee is payable for use and support with a Service Level Agreement.
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2007
We will go open source
Levigo Systems is making its now powerful ThinClient software suite – consisting of ThinClient OS, ThinClient Manager, and ThinClient Server – available as open source at openthinclient.org.
2009
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Founding of openthinclient GmbH
On April 1st, openthinclient gmbh, in which Levigo Unternehmensgruppe holds a stake, will be founded. The new brand openthinclient® consists of powerful openthinclient hardware, the Linux-based openthinclient OS, the openthinclient Server and openthinclient Manager, as well as openthinclient Support. The company headquarters will be in Stuttgart city centre.
2010
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Exhibitors at the CeBIT IT trade fair
openthinclient GmbH is exhibiting at the CeBIT IT trade fair in Hanover. Many interested visitors from all over the world come to the trade fair stand, prompting openthinclient to resolve to expand its business into international markets.
2011
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In addition to the software, now also hardware
In addition to the software, openthinclient gmbh offers powerful thin client hardware for various applications: small, silent and energy-saving as an office workstation, with various expansion interfaces. Since 2017, it has also been available in an industrial-grade housing for production environments and as an all-in-one device with integrated touchscreen functionality.
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2012
Exhibitors at the Linux Days
openthinclient gmbh is relocating its headquarters to Heilbronner Straße in Stuttgart. Furthermore, an office will be opened in Dresden. openthinclient gmbh is an exhibitor at the Linux-Tag in Chemnitz. Numerous contacts, especially with software developers, give openthinclient new impetus for current and future requirements. Many interested parties from the new federal states are met.
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openthinclient software consists of 3 building blocks
The openthinclient software consists of 3 components: The openthinclient OS, a Linux operating system for thin clients that was initially based on Ubuntu and has been built on Debian since the end of 2013. The OS supports network booting (PXE) as well as local installation on flash or USB stick. Another component is the openthinclient server, a platform-independent boot and management server that provides all services and functions. The third component is the openthinclient manager, a graphical user interface for central management of the thin clients, applications, settings, and groupings. In earlier years, the openthinclient manager was launched as a Web Start application. Since 2019, management via a browser (HTML5) has been possible.
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2011
We are winning the Innovation Award IT
Managing Director Alexander Stecher will be speaking on the Open Source Park stage at CeBIT in Hanover. openthinclient has received the Innovationspreis-IT in the Open Source category from the Initiative Mittelstand. https://www.imittelstand.de/innovationspreis/2011/kategoriesieger/open-source.html
2013
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Update to Debian
openthinclient gmbh develops and releases a completely new thin client operating system based on the current Debian Wheezy.
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Service
openthinclient supports customers with installation and configuration. Furthermore, services are offered in the form of customised modifications and extensions.
2018/2019
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Medical IT Exhibition
openthinclient wants to present new developments to an expert audience. At conhIT or DMEA, we will showcase the hospital workplace with digital dictation devices and signature pads.
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2021
new version 2021
There are new essential features or changes, e.g.
- Support for UEFI-HTTP-Boot
- Online status in Show manager
- Linux kernel 5.10
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2020
new version 2020
There are new essential features or changes, e.g.
- UEFI PXE boot support
- 64-bit architecture only
- Teams and Zoom plugins or apps
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2019
new version 2019
The licensing model is changing, which means from 50 Thin Clients a usage authorisation is required. Furthermore, the previous web start manager will be discontinued. Additionally, all configurations will be carried out via the manager in the browser. From now on, all applications are also unlocked. The ThinClient-OS Updating to Debian 9.
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OS-on-a-Stick
Due to the coronavirus crisis, we had to react and thus expanded the portfolio. But the new OS-on-a-Stick can do more than just be used quickly and easily in the home office. In addition to the server boot variant with central management, we now have a solution that starts a thin client operating system on individual workstations. This allows you to take your office with you on a USB stick to your home office, or on holiday to Honolulu...
2022
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"Linux on a Leash at Chemnitz Linux Days
openthinclient gmbh is a repeat exhibitor at the Chemnitz Linux Days. This time, we were also represented with a very well-attended presentation. The topic was "How does a system actually start via the network – completely without media?" Using the boot process of the openthinclient OS, we explained how this works. We shed light on the various PXE bootloaders, the loading process of the kernel and the ramdisk. The essence of a BusyBox had to be explored, as well as understanding a self-written init script.
2023
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Licensing model revised
In 2023, we revised our licensing model to make it clearer and more practical. In the free Community Version, the number of freely usable ThinClients has been adjusted to 24 devices. This limit is based on our many years of experience and is intended to offer both sufficient testing opportunities for evaluations and a realistic scope of use for smaller companies – completely free of charge. For larger installations and enterprise customers, our Business license models with professional support, SLAs, and various customisations remain available.
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2026
New version 2603 released
With the new version 2603, openthinclient receives a comprehensive update with functional enhancements and a modern technical foundation. The solution is now based on Debian 13 „Trixie“ and brings improvements in management, remote desktop performance, as well as security and user-friendliness. New features such as multiple administrators, ThinClient groups, updated VDI components, and additional applications facilitate management and make deployment in larger environments even more efficient.
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2025
Version 2025 & Partner programme under review
In 2025, we released a new version of openthinclient that brings numerous improvements and new features. The goal of the update is to boost performance, increase user-friendliness, and ensure compatibility with current hardware. Among the most important innovations are:
- Upgrade to a new Debian version
- Support for modern hardware generations
- New control functions for thin clients
- Revised layout & new desktop type
- Current versions of FreeRDP and Citrix Workspace App
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2024
From "wiki" to „docs“
As part of a comprehensive overhaul, we have replaced our previous "wiki" with new documentation docs.openthinclient.com replaced. This has been designed to be more structured, clearer and more user-friendly – for both beginners and experienced administrators or IT managers. With this, we want to make getting started with our software even easier and make daily work with openthinclient even simpler.
2026
Realigning our portfolio
We are adapting our portfolio and will in future clearly distinguish between hardware and software. The right to use our thin client management software (24 months), which was previously included in hardware purchases, will be discontinued and offered separately. At the same time, this results in more attractive terms for you in the hardware sector, as the usage rights previously included are being dropped – and this despite continued price increases and ongoing shortages of important components such as memory and CPUs.
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2025
Version 2025 & Partner programme under review
In 2025, we released a new version of openthinclient that brings numerous improvements and new features. The goal of the update is to boost performance, increase user-friendliness, and ensure compatibility with current hardware. Among the most important innovations are:
- Upgrade to a new Debian version
- Support for modern hardware generations
- New control functions for thin clients
- Revised layout & new desktop type
- Current versions of FreeRDP and Citrix Workspace App
.
2024
From "wiki" to „docs“
As part of a comprehensive overhaul, we have replaced our previous "wiki" with new documentation docs.openthinclient.com replaced. This has been designed to be more structured, clearer and more user-friendly – for both beginners and experienced administrators or IT managers. With this, we want to make getting started with our software even easier and make daily work with openthinclient even simpler.