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Greater effi ciency and security at lower operating costs – server-based computing is continuing to increase in signifi cance. As general end-user devices, thin clients are an attractive alternative to PC-based environments. With a broad spectrum of available software clients, tools and protocols, thin clients can be easily and fl exibly deployed in a future-ready manner.
Client/Server Network vs.
Server-based Computing and VDI
In conventional client/server networks, the operating systems, applications and security software are all installed locally on every single client. The server is where the various data and fi les are located, which users access locally from their clients (usually a PC or notebook). Users edit the fi les and close them when they are done. This means that the fi les concerned are then saved on the server, but it also means that these fi les can also be saved on the local hard drives (see Fig. 1). As a result, many important fi les are distributed on different storage devices throughout the entire network, making it diffi cult to effi ciently secure them all. In addition, all the local applications running on every PC client have to be continuously updated and maintained, causing high administrative workloads.
In contrast, server-based computing (SBC) operates far more securely and effi ciently. With SBC, not only the data but all the applications themselves are located only on the central server, from where they are provisioned. This means that the actual computing power has moved from the end devices to the central server (see Fig. 2). In essence, the server farm in the data center is used as a huge PC on which all users can work with the same programs at the same time or access virtual machines. The applications or virtual desktops there are accessed by means of thin clients, which have no hard drives of their own, making it impossible to store fi les locally. With SBC or VDI, system administrators no longer have to maintain individual applications at each workstation; instead, all workstations can be managed in a standardized way on the central terminal server, thus saving a lot of time.
Centralization – A Proven Method
SBC architecture is reminiscent of the days of large central mainframe computers and their satellite terminals. Yet unlike their text-based predecessors, thin clients have a graphical user interface (GUI) and an operational „look and feel“ essentially the same as that of a PC desktop. So as far as the users themselves are concerned, conversion to SBC hardly changes a thing. They can continue to use the same programs on a familiar desktop. As a result, user acceptance is very high and extensive training unnecessary. To make centralized provisioning of applications and working with this system as easy and convenient as possible, Citrix® and Microsoft® offer special SBC solutions. The terminal
services integrated in Microsoft® Windows ServerTM as well as
Citrix® XenAppTM each have their own specifi c communications
system. The communication between thin clients and servers takes place via specifi c protocols. Citrix environments use the ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) protocols, while pure Windows® environments use the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).
Unix or Linux-based architectures generally rely on Standard X11, which is often augmented by the performance-enhancing protocol extension NoMachine NX. In fact, those thin clients that can use all three protocols and their respective extensions are considered to be especially future-ready because they can then be deployed in a platform-independent manner.
File Server
Clients
Resources are controlled by the file server in a client/server network.
Clients
FIG. 1: IN A CLIENT SERVER NETWORK APPLICATIONS ARE LO-CATED ON INDIVIDUAL PCS. DATA CAN BE STORED LOCALLY OR CENTRALLY.
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IGEL Management
of all hardware and session settings
Transmission
Network
Screen contents, individual apps and mouse/keyboard commands are transmitted over any kind of network.
Server-based
applications
provisioned by:
Microsoft® Terminal Services Citrix XenApp Linux, NoMachine NX etc.Virtual Desktops:
VMware View Citrix XenDesktop Microsoft® VDI suiteRed Hat EV, etc.
Web-based apps:
Internet Java .NET, etc.
Direct access to:
VoIP SAP Multimedia etc.
Display
IGEL Universal Desktops
and converted PCs and TCs
IGEL offers a variety of hardware solu-tions; its UD2, UD3 and UD5 thin cli-ent models and the UD9 (all-in-one) are shown here.
Processing
Servers
The applications are installed and run on a central server, in a server farm or in a cloud environment.
PDF JPG XLS DOC
Examples of file formats:
IGEL Universal Management Server and database (Windows and Linux)
IGEL Universal Management Console (Java and Web)
A Great Improvement in Security,
Ergonomics and Effi ciency
Server-based computing transfers not only the applications but also the security functions as well as storage and backup systems from the desktop to the server room. For this reason, thin clients also only require narrow transmission bandwidths. In fact, communication between databases and a desktop requires only a few data packets. The actual computing process takes place on the server, with only control and command data such as keyboard commands, mouse clicks and associated screen contents being transmitted over the network. Even viruses or worms are suddenly rendered harmless. That is because, unlike with PCs,
they cannot constantly end up infecting workstations since thin clients by their very nature have no local storage devices and the write-protected internal operating system cannot be harmed by aggressive computer malware. Implementing security measures can thus be focused at the server level. Furthermore, thin clients also bring with them some real ergonomic advantages. Their compact design saves valuable space. For instance, they can be mounted vertically in a special device base positioned on a desk to reduce their footprint, on the underside of a desk or even on the backside of the monitor itself. Moreover, their signifi cantly lower power consumption produces less heat output.
FIG. 2: IN SERVER-BASED COMPUTING, THE DATA AND APPLICATIONS ARE ALL LOCATED ON THE CENTRAL TERMINAL SERVER; LOCAL STORAGE OF DATA ON CLIENTS IS NOT PERMITTED.
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As a result, they do not need their own individual cooling fans. The devices operate silently, thus improving employee working conditions. Not having cooling fans, hard drives and other mechanical components makes thin clients very reliable. In fact, they usually have a service lifecycle twice as long as PCs: Instead of three to four years of service, thin clients usually last six to eight years. At the same time, they consume at least 50% less power than a PC does1 (see Fig. 3).
Total Operating Costs Reduced
by up to 70%:
An economic analysis1 by the Fraunhofer Institute for
Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) has revealed that server-based computing with thin clients can reduce overall operating costs by up to 70 % compared to a conventional client/server network (see Fig. 4). The thin clients themselves represent a major part of these savings, for they simplify support and management of the entire network. Instead of requiring costly and time-consuming service calls for on-site PC maintenance such as local installation of security patches and program updates, thin clients can be managed from a central location or any other desired point in the network with the help of intelligent software and deployment tools. A good example of a management solution that is very intuitive to use and offers comprehensive coverage is the Universal Management Suite (UMS) from IGEL Technology. The UMS control console is based on the platform-independent Java programming language, allowing it to run on any server system. This powerful console allows system managers to remotely
access any individual thin client or whole groups of them within the network. The central feature of the IGEL UMS is a database in which all confi guration and system parameters are stored. By means of the UMS console, the network manager can confi gure new thin clients based on their intended uses and user profi les. Once made, these settings are then sent to the clients concerned over a transmission line encrypted with SSL (Secure Socket Layer). What is more, the number and locations of all the thin clients concerned is immaterial. It also does not matter whether the thin clients happen to be switched on at the time or not. That is because once a newly confi gured thin client is switched on, it simply retrieves the settings stored in the database of the UMS server based on its IP or MAC address and is thus immediately ready for use with the correct confi guration.
Centralized Management and Fast Rollouts
This capability for centralized management greatly simplifi es daily system management work. For instance, the updating of thin client fi rmware can be scheduled to occur at the best time, such as overnight, in order to conserve network bandwidth. This is particularly benefi cial whenever the network concerned extends across several buildings or locations. WAN (Wide Area Network) management tasks can also be carried out by wire or wirelessly from the central data center. In this case, a virtual private network (VPN) is usually set up to ensure that these data transmissions are kept secure. Since thin clients can be preconfi gured for use at their respective workstations, rollouts can be accomplished much faster. Such advance preparation allows hundreds of thin clients to be quickly placed in service within a few days. Even defective devices can be very easily replaced.
1 http://www.igel.com/us/company/white-paper-studies.html
COMPARED TO PCS, LEAN THIN CLIENTS NEED MUCH LESS SPACE; THEIR POWER CONSUMPTION IS AT MOST HALF AS MUCH
FIG. 4: OVERALL COST COMPARISON: PC VERSUS THIN CLIENT
UNMANAGED PC MANAGED PC THIN CLIENT
Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) / IGEL Technology: PC vs. Thin Client – Economic Feasibility Study (http://it.umsicht.fraunhofer.de/PCvsTC/ index_en.html) 5.000.00 € 4.500.00 € 4.000.00 € 3.500.00 € 3.000.00 € 2.500.00 € 2.000.00 € 1.500.00 € 1.000.00 € 500.00 € 0.00 €
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In fact, end users can even hook up the new devices themselves. Replacement devices require no extensive setup process; instead, they automatically obtain all necessary confi guration data when fi rst started. This means that replacing a thin client is essentially no more diffi cult than replacing a monitor.
Firmware Provides Many Extras
What makes IGEL Universal Desktops even more attractive beyond these effi ciency factors is their great deployment fl exibility. This high fl exibility is made possible by the thin client fi rmware with its integrated software clients, tools and protocols, which provide many helpful extra functions. This extensive fi rmware no longer just contains the communications protocols required to access terminal servers. In fact, it also includes frequently used applications such as a web browser including a run-time environment (Java or .NET), a media player and plug-ins such as Adobe Reader®. Running these small but frequently used
applications locally reduces the load on the server systems. The fi rmware also contains terminal emulations that allow access to older, legacy host systems and a graphical user interface for directly accessing SAP host systems. It‘s these additional fi rmware features that make modern thin clients so fl exible.
Virtual Desktops and Thin Clients
Here are some other examples of how thin client software offers a great potential for consolidating operations: A print server function that allows a thin client to replace a physical print server, a SIP client for IP telephony by means of a thin client and USB headset (softphone) as well as software clients for accessing connection brokers. These brokers assign thin clients specifi c virtual desktops that are provisioned by means of desktop virtualization solutions such as VMware View™, Citrix XenDesktop™ and the Microsoft® VDI Suite. Virtual desktops also allow applications that
are not terminal-server capable (usually older programs) or those that are very graphics-intensive or resource-hungry, such as CAD programs or image-processing software, to be made available by thin client. This is accomplished by simulating the PC hardware on the server. It is then run there along with locally installed software to create a virtual desktop. Thin client users can then access their virtual PC by means of RDP or ICA.
Secure User Authentication with
Smartcards
The features of thin client fi rmware are key factors when it comes to security. For instance, VPN clients ensure secure data transmissions. In addition, exceptionally secure authentication solutions that can be effi ciently implemented by means of smartcards prevent unauthorized access to confi dential data. IGEL Universal Desktops offer this option as a standard feature. Some IGEL devices are even available with an optional on-board smartcard reader already integrated in their housings. Smartcards permit the implementation of highly secure authentifi cation solutions, yet they also allow fl exible workstation use by employees. For example, this can be accomplished with Gemalto Smartcard and Citrix® Hot Desktop or with an internally developed
special solution. To increase both employee productivity and fl exibility, the fi rmware supplied with IGEL Universal Desktops also includes single sign-on (SSO), which requires only one logon to access all applications to be used, and session roaming, which allows an existing work session to be readily resumed at another workstation.
A Future-Proof Investment for
Any Company Size
With its comprehensive range of fi rmware and the broad range of deployment options that this permits, thin client computing offers a high degree of inherent future-readiness. Easy, convenient and effi cient management, low operating costs and high levels of security are some of the major reasons why thin client computing is enjoying great acceptance in all business sectors. Compared to conventional client/server networks, thin client computing eliminates the weak points that used to plague workstation infrastructures. These features make it an extremely economical, ecologically sound and attractive functional alternative to conventional PC-based network architectures, and that goes for companies of any size. An investment in a basic server-based computing infrastructure can be worthwhile starting with only seven thin clients; in fact, it can already pay for itself during the third year of operation.
IGEL is a registered trademark of IGEL Technology GmbH. All hardware and software names are registered trademarks of the respective manufacturers. Errors and omissions excepted. Subject to change without notice. [email protected] I www.igel.com
Germany (HQ) IGEL Technology GmbH Hanna-Kunath-Str. 31 D-28199 Bremen I Deutschland Phone +49 (0) 421 52094-0 Fax +49 (0) 421 52094 1499 United Kingdom IGEL Technology Ltd Merlin House I Brunel Road Theale I Reading I Berkshire RG7 4AB I United Kingdom Phone +44 (0) 118 340 3400 Fax +44 (0) 118 340 3411
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Care of: C. Melchers GmbH & Co. Singapore Branch 101 Thomson Road # 24-01/05 United Square Singapore 307591 Phone +65 6259 9288 Fax +65 6259 9111 Hong Kong IGEL Technology Care of: Melchers (H.K.) Ltd. 1210 Shun Tak Centre I West Tower 168-200 Connaught Road C. Hong Kong I China Phone +852 2546 9069 Fax +852 2559 6552
©12/2011 IGEL Technology 99-US-37-1
aWhether it is server-based computing, virtual desktops or cloud computing – IGEL’s Universal Desktops work well together with the greatest variety of centralized IT infrastructures. In particular, their powerful hardware and excellent graphics performance, along with continuously developed firmware, provide future-readiness that safeguards this major investment. Thanks to different device designs, operating systems, alternative firmware features (tools, clients and protocols) and a wide range of hardware options, the selection of a suitable model can be tailored to meet the exact needs of the installation and ensure cost efficiency. Other but no less important considerations are that IGEL Universal Desktops use minimal energy, have long service lives and come standard with the IGEL Universal Management Suite, a proprietary remote management solution.
