Web based functional equivalent: Provide a platform independent application 

interface that is browser based. See 3.2.3,  Web applications  on page 32.

4.4.1  Moving back to client/server computing

When planning for a Linux based client migration, it is possible that you may find 

compelling reasons to consider moving to a client/server computing architecture 

for certain application services, as part of the migration. This consideration 

becomes especially evident when the Linux migration coincides with an 

application migration to a Web services based model (for example, moving from 

a PC based application to an equivalent Web portal based solution).

Thus we need to consider patterns for logical segmentation of workstation types, 

as discussed in the following section.

4.4.2  Logical segmentation   Thin, slim, or fat

Generally speaking, a major shift from an existing client computing environment 

(Windows) to Linux can also trigger an expansion in workstation types that are 

used by the organization. 

For the purpose of this logical segmentation discussion, we define three major 

 types  of workstations, as follows:

Thin: Always connected; no local applications besides a displaying 

component, which could be either a Web browser or any other client 

component of a terminal services environment.

Slim: Intermittently connected; some applications running locally (that is, not 

requiring synchronous server connectivity). This could be any type of 

implementation of such components ranging from self written client/server to 

Eclipse based Java components in a portal based solution.

Fat: Off line capable; most applications are locally installed and run locally on 

the client.

Within a client/server environment, Figure 4 5 on page 65 shows the progression 

from thin to fat, where the important difference is in how many layers of the 

application logic are hosted locally on the client.

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Linux Client Migration Cookbook   A Practical Planning and Implementation Guide for Migrating to Desktop Linux