Thin Client Installation at Gateway Community College, New Haven, CT

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Thin Client Installation at

Gateway Community

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∗ _{Go to:}

∗ _{bit.ly/nercomp_desktop13}

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∗ _{Gateway moved to a new facility in Sept. 2012.} ∗ _{Previous facilities were outdated.}

∗ _{New facility projected to have far more}

student traffic.

∗ _{Used repurposed and rebuilt computers in key}

public areas- Library and Student Services.

∗ _{New equipment needed for these areas.}

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∗ Infrastructure was built from the ground up due to new campus construction.

∗ VDI server cluster- 4 Dell Power Edge 620’s, each

using RAID 50, with 2-73 GB hard drives and 96 GB of RAM.

∗ N+1 configuration- estimated to support up to 210 clients.

∗ Allows for significant growth in deployed clients.

∗ Associated storage- Dell EqualLogic 6100, provides 13TB of storage, using 2 more PowerEdge 620’s as a front end.

Hardware Selection and

Development

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∗ _{Recommendation of VMWare View 5 as}

virtualization environment.

∗ _{Standardization of software platform across}

multiple colleges in an affiliated system.

∗ _{Integrated solution from a single vendor}

provided cost savings.

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∗ _{Samsung NC 190 all in one.}

∗ _{Previous excellent experience with Samsung}

hardware.

∗ _{Sturdy and utilitarian.} ∗ _{Clean looking.}

∗ _{A bit heavy for our mounting monitor arms.}

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∗ _{Server cluster install started in June 2012.} ∗ _{Network and switch configuration delays}

stalled this segment.

∗ _{Database corruption and SSL certificate issues}

were problematic.

∗ _{Reinstallation of software in July 2012.}

∗ _{Then installed the Teradici console for thin}

client management.

∗ _{Started to create pools and thin client images.}

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∗ _{Virtual Center installed on a dedicated server-}

best practices advise this on installations of 5 or more hosts.

∗ _{Allows us to grow the installation without}

having to rebuild the cluster.

∗ _{Vcenter allows us to provision a new VM from}

our template.

∗ _{Reduces deployment time from days to just}

an hour or two.

∗ _{Enables extensive proactive monitoring.}

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∗ _{VM Ware HA (High Availability)}

∗ _{Provides high availability throughout the}

cluster.

∗ _{Set up as fully automated.}

∗ _{Sends alerts on relevant actions.}

∗ _{Works directly with DRS to assist in load}

balancing.

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∗ _{Vmotion gives us the ability to migrate a VM}

from one host to another in real time.

∗ _{Transparent to the user.}

∗ _{Helps with proactive maintenance.}

∗ _{Can be used to augment automated load}

balancing of VM Ware HA.

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∗ _{Storage Vmotion works similarly to V Motion,}

but with the associated storage.

∗ _{Clients that are on storage that develops}

faults or failures are moved to another part of the cluster.

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∗ _{VM Ware DRS (Distributed Resource}

Scheduler)

∗ _{Also automated.}

∗ _{Performs a VM’s initial placement in the}

cluster.

∗ _{Optimizes VM locations in the cluster.} ∗ _{Protects against server failure.}

∗ _{When DRS is used in conjunction with HA,}

VM’s residing on a failed host will restart automatically on another host.

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∗ _{VM Ware Update Manager creates a snapshot}

that can be used as a rollback in the event of a failed patch.

∗ _{Works with Windows and Linux based VM’s} ∗ _{Proactively patches some 3}rd_party

applications- MS, Adobe, Mozilla.

∗ _{Also patches offline VM’s.}

Installations- VM Ware Update

Manager

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Installations- VM Ware Update

Manager

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Installations- VM Ware Update

Manager

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∗ _{Host server network hardware configuration-}

6 physical NIC’s configured for duplex.

∗ _{Two NIC’s bound together for access to}

cluster SAN.

∗ _{Provides 2 GB of throughput per bound NIC.} ∗ _{Enables load balancing and fault tolerance.}

Installations- Physical Network

Access

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∗ _{Client pools are needed to provision custom}

images.

∗ _{Geographic and role based.}

∗ _{We used approximately 10 different pools-}

Library classroom, Library Public area, Student Services departments, Student Self-Help area and Internet Café.

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∗ _{Database corruption caused numerous issues.} ∗ _{Printing issues hampered student use.}

∗ _{Integration with new network technologies-}

Cisco ISE, Infoblox, 4500 series switches.

∗ _{Issues with USB ports and devices not being}

recognized.

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∗ _{Tutorial websites don’t function as intended.} ∗ _{Students can’t view optical media.}

∗ _{Student expectation of versatility with regard}

to software.

∗ _{Have sporadic problems losing their domain}

trust relationship.

∗ _{Antivirus software was problematic due to}

accumulation of DAT’s.

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∗ _{Training, Training, Training!}

∗ _{Technical team must be hands on to get the}

feel of the VDI system.

∗ _{Network infrastructure must be rock solid.} ∗ _{Start small, then grow your deployments.} ∗ _{Manage user expectations.}

∗ _{ROI is long term, not short term.}

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∗ _{Go to:}

∗ _{bit.ly/nercomp_desktop13}