ThinLinc

What is ThinLinc?

ThinLinc is a remote desktop server for corporate Linux environments, developed by Cendio AB, that publishes full Linux desktops and applications to users on Windows, macOS, Linux or a browser. The architecture separates the master server (vsmserver), which authenticates users and distributes sessions, the agent servers (vsmagent), where desktops actually run — the same product covers a single host or a load-balanced cluster with fail-over.

All traffic runs through multiplexed SSH tunnels, with graphics delivered by TigerVNC, audio by PulseAudio and file access through a userspace NFS implementation: no file lands on the user device, which only receives the session image. ThinLinc replaces the physical Linux workstation with a centralised desktop and solves two recurring problems in engineering and research — giving remote access to applications that only exist on Linux, and keeping the session alive when the user switches machine or network.

Key ThinLinc features

ThinLinc combines session broker, client and administration in a single product, with no separately sold modules.

• Session broker with load balancing — the master server picks the least loaded agent server in the cluster at every login.
• Session persistence — the session keeps running on the server after disconnection, and the user resumes the same desktop another device.
• ThinLinc Web Access — an HTML5 client based on noVNC that opens the session in Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge, with no local install.
• Session shadowing — administrators follow a user session to provide remote support without interrupting it.
• 3D acceleration with VirtualGL — routes OpenGL calls to the server GPU, enabling remote CAD, CAE and scientific visualisation.
• Peripheral redirection — printer, local drives, serial port, smart card reader over PC/SC, sound and clipboard.
• High availability and clustering — master server fail-over and multiple agent servers remove the single point of failure.
• Web and command-line administration — web configuration interface, ThinLinc Desktop Customizer and CLI tools for automation.

ThinLinc benefits

ThinLinc cuts workstation cost because it concentrates CPU, memory and GPU on shared servers: since processing does not happen at the edge, engineers work an ordinary laptop or an IGEL, HP or Dell thin client. Security improves by design — the desktop never leaves the data centre and transport is SSH, so the user device stores neither source code nor project files.

Distributed teams save time because session persistence removes the need to reopen long simulations: a regression test started at the office keeps running and is resumed home in the same state.

Who ThinLinc is for

ThinLinc is adopted by Linux infrastructure teams, HPC administrators, research IT and platform engineering — typically where the critical application only exists on Linux. Three concrete scenarios: HPC centres publishing the login node and visualisation tools to external researchers; EDA and semiconductor teams giving hundreds of engineers the same development environment (according to a Cendio case study, Seagate keeps more than 500 engineers on this model); and universities replacing computer labs with Linux sessions opened in the browser.

What sets ThinLinc apart

ThinLinc is natively Linux: the session is a real X11 desktop running on the server, with GNOME, KDE, XFCE or MATE, not a compatibility layer over another operating system. Concurrent-user counting also matters: an organisation with 400 engineers across three shifts licenses the simultaneous peak, not the total headcount, with no surcharge per connection type.

The technical base is open and auditable: Cendio maintains the TigerVNC and noVNC projects and contributes to VirtualGL and PulseAudio, the same components the product runs on. Server and client can be downloaded and distributed freely inside the organisation; what you acquire are the user licenses.

System requirements

The ThinLinc server runs on Linux distributions using RPM or DPKG: Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, openSUSE, Ubuntu and Debian are among the platforms named by Cendio. Support for RHEL 7, Debian 9, Ubuntu 18.04 and SLES 12 ended with version 4.19.0. On RHEL 10, AlmaLinux 10 and Rocky 10 the X11 session must be configured manually, because those releases no longer ship the traditional X server — ThinLinc requires X11 and does not support Wayland sessions. Authentication integrates PAM, Active Directory, LDAP, NIS and Kerberos, with password, OTP, public key or smart card; since 4.21.0 Web Access accepts OpenID Connect for SSO with Microsoft Entra ID and Keycloak. The native client is available for Windows, macOS and Linux as RPM, DEB and tar packages on x86-64 and ARM. An image is also published on Azure Marketplace for cloud deployment.

Editions and modules

There is no technical difference between ThinLinc editions: all deliver the same software, and what changes is the right of use and the support level. The free version serves 3 concurrent users by default and reaches 10 with the Community License obtained the ThinLinc Customer Portal, without official support. The Standard edition includes email support with a guaranteed answer within two business days. Premium prioritises tickets, answers within one business day and entitles you to schedule calls with Cendio support engineers. Components such as master server, agent, ThinLinc Web Access and Desktop Customizer are part of the product and are not licensed separately. Releases follow a twice-yearly cadence and each version is supported for three years after launch.

How much does ThinLinc cost?

ThinLinc is licensed per concurrent user — not per named user, not per device and not per server — on a 12, 36 or 60-month subscription. There is no single list value because the investment depends on sizing: the peak of simultaneous sessions, the contract term, the edition chosen between Standard and Premium, the number of separate installations and whether it is a new purchase or a renewal.

Two counting rules change the quote. First, counting starts zero: an environment for 200 simultaneous users requires 200 licenses — free ones do not add to paid ones, and the free version may not be used after a purchase. Second, each license applies to a single server installation, so production and a separate staging environment are licensed independently; automated devices that open a session also count as a concurrent user. Licenses can be reallocated between installations, one at a time, but never copied.

To buy ThinLinc in Brazil, OSB Software maps this scope with you, sends the commercial proposal, issues the Brazilian invoice and delivers the licenses — request a quote to receive the exact figure for your scenario.

Frequently asked questions about ThinLinc

Does ThinLinc work with Wayland? No. The ThinLinc session is X11; on distributions that already dropped the traditional X server, such as RHEL 10 and derivatives, the X11 environment must be installed and configured manually.

Do I need to install a client on user machines? Not necessarily. ThinLinc Web Access opens the session in any modern browser; the native client is optional and adds peripheral redirection and multiple monitors.

Can I increase the number of licenses later? Yes. Additional user licenses can be purchased at any time and agreements can be merged, respecting the 12-month minimum term.

Does the software stop working when the subscription expires? No. The right to use the user licenses is perpetual; access to updates and support expires, with a reinstatement fee for late renewal.

Why buy ThinLinc OSB Software?

OSB Software is an official Cendio AB partner in Brazil and supplies 100% genuine ThinLinc licenses to companies, with Brazilian invoicing, local contracting in Portuguese and full legal compliance — the safe way to buy imported software under a Brazilian corporate entity, with no risk of irregular licensing.

When you buy ThinLinc OSB Software, you get:

• Consultative, specialist support — specialists who size your concurrent-user licensing to your actual operation, avoiding over- or under-buying.
• Fast, secure processes — purchase order to delivery of genuine licenses, traceable at every step.
• Dedicated commercial follow-up — quote to delivery and renewal, with advance notice before your license expires.
• Invoicing that fits your company — Brazilian invoicing and terms adapted to your corporate procurement process.
• Proven track record — thousands of customers served across Brazil.

If you are looking for where to buy ThinLinc in Brazil with legal certainty and properly licensed imported software, request a quote: OSB Software delivers reliable technology, qualified support and a simple, transparent purchase.