Administrator Guide

Central configuration—Automating updates
and configurations
This appendix describes how to set up your environment to provide your thin clients running Dell Wyse ThinLinux with automatic
updates and configurations.
NOTE: Dell thin clients do not require device management software. They are configured to obtain their IP address, as well
as the location of firmware and configuration instructions, from a DHCP server. However, you can use WDM or the Dell
Wyse USB Firmware Tool for a more hands-on management of client configurations and updates.
How INI files are deployed
INI files that are created and maintained by the network administrator, determine how the thin client is configured and updated.
The thin client accesses INI files from the server during the initialization process. Typically, INI files are accessed through FTP,
HTTP, and HTTPS; if no protocol is specified, the default is anonymous FTP.
NOTE:
The INI file processing hierarchy is as follows:
● Scenario 1 — MAC.ini exists. The MAC.ini file is processed and if the Include=WLX.ini statement is included, then the
WLX.ini file is processed.
● Scenario 2 — WLX.ini exists. The WLX.ini file is processed.
● Scenario 3 — No ini files exist. Local configuration is applied.
INI files are employed as follows:
● wlx.ini — This is the global INI file. One wlx.ini file is available to all users. It contains global parameters for all thin clients
accessing the server. If the operating system cannot find wlx.ini, it defaults to wnos.ini.
● MAC.ini — This file can be used for device-specific configuration. If the thin client locates this INI file that is stored in the
same directory as wlx.ini, wlx.ini is not accessed, unless you use the include=wlx.ini parameter.
NOTE:
The placement of the include=wlx.ini parameter within the MAC.ini file dictates which value takes priority for a same
specific parameter that is contained in both the wlx.ini file and the MAC.ini file but is defined differently that is different
values for the same parameter.
For example, if the wlx.ini file has parameterA=valueB, and the MAC.ini file has the same parameterA=valueC, then:
○ If the include=wlx.ini parameter is included in the MAC.ini file before the parameterA=valueC statement, then the
wlx.ini parameterA=valueB is discarded and parameterA=valueC from the MAC.ini file is the final value used.
○ If the include=wlx.ini parameter is included in the MAC.ini file after the parameterA=valueC statement, then the
MAC.ini parameterA=valueC is discarded and parameterA=valueB from the wlx.ini file is the final value used.
When a thin client is initialized, it accesses the global wlx.ini file. For detailed information on constructing and using INI files, see
Dell Wyse ThinLinux INI Reference Guide.
NOTE:
If both PNAgent and a user profile are being used, the username must be defined in the Windows domain that is used. Also
the password must be the same for the domain and the profile.
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