IT Staff Convention 2008:Thin Computing
From Provider Notes
Thin Computing
Moderator: David Comroe, Wharton
Notes: Kristin Nelson, Information Systems and Computing
Contents |
Possible Discussion Topics
- Thin Client cost vs. management vs. functionality
- Thin laptops for data security
- Different vendors and technologies available
- Thin Applications, i.e. separating the application layer from the OS layer using Microsoft Softgrid, Citrix, or ???
- Virtualized desktops using VMWare's VDI, VMware’s ACE, Citrix, MS Terminal Services
- Different levels of thinness… what advantages/disadvantages to the client running Linux, XP embedded, a full OS? What amount of processing do you want on the client vs. the backend?
- Which environments can take full advantage of thin technologies? Where is it most useful and where is it less advantageous?
What is Thin computing : Thin computing 101
Separating the desktop level from OS from application level
Previously, thin computing meant a small computer with limited functionality. This model is changing.
Products include
- ACE - virtual client to create a virtual desktop similar to Parallels on Mac, can lock it down, manage it. Used successfully at Wharton.
- Citrix - virtual desktop client -
- Dell -
- Blade PC's - very expensive
- Application virtualization - streaming
- Microsoft - Softgrid
- Terminal Services 2008 - Citrix-like
- VMWare -
- Thin laptops - laptop that doesn't have anything on it -- connects to data center -
Vendor Presentation
Vendors attending to assist: Dell, Microsoft, VMWare
DELL - What is Thin
What are you trying to accomplish? Generally two replies: - Why spend money on a PC when a thin solution is cheaper - How do I manage the machines with dwindling staff
Flex computing - Citrix/Artic solution - virtualize hard drive, boot from server, download OS to get the machine up and running.
Scenario - what if a virus hit the desktops? With the flex solution, rebooting the machine gets a clean version of the image. Load the image and write data to a network share.
Microsoft
Softgrid - application virtualizaton - virtualize the application and stream it out to the workstations. Any writes to registry or C: will go the the application virtualized drive. That virtualization belongs to that user until the licensing runs out.
Desktop Optimization Package - CAL needed on top of core CAL
Terminal Services - new change - ability to virtualize the desktop and stream it out to PC
How do you manage / patch the machines - System Center Configuration (the new SMS)
Virtualization is hot in higher education and K-12 to continue use old PC's
VMWare
Desktop Virtualization Fusion & Workstatoin - To be able to launch another opersting system on Mac/Windows
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) -
ACE - product based on Workstation - Assured Computing Environment - secure virtual machine - can put on USB device, iPod, etc. - e.g., contractor is given an ACE image to have the applications they need.
Since 2002, people have been loading workstation images on the VMWare server infrastructure. What this doesn't address is the management of the desktop images.
Connection Broker - based on Active Directory privileges, determine what desktop images the person can connect to. Adding person in AD provisions a desktop image without additional work. Non-persistent pools - image goes back to what it was before by re-logging in.
Can bring images back should there be a failure
Application Virtualization - Thinstall - packaging up the components for the applications into an install. Could be accessed via a link to a network share.
General Discussoin
Who's using what
- Traditional MSI packaging - interested in process for application packaging
- VDI - recently tested against Citrix - very easy to install, deploy desktops
- VMWare now has their own connectoin broker (VM2) - previously used a third party (like Citrix)
- RDP & Terminal Services -
- Wharton computing - setup old machines as email stations for students.
- Using Citrix for classrooms - e.g., streamed citrix to BA's using Vista so they could still use IE6. Also using Citrix to proved access to foreign language version of SW. Also, can run Windows applications on a Macintosh
- Wharton - classroom computing - using Citrix to provide application to faculty and class. Logging in at another room, the application follows the faculty based on login.
Other Discussions
- Pooling - 1-1 relationship with a desktop image, but able to grow / shrink the pool based on the users logging into that pool.
- VMWare ESX environment - adding connection broker and Active Directory infrastrucuter, you're close to being ready to go.
- Large research applications - what infrastructure could handle this load
- With an existing ESX environment, adding the thin computing - security and desktop management are reasons people are looking into the Thin computing.
- Virtualizing the OS but running the applications locally using the desktop hardware. The server is really just being a file server.
- Robustness on the remote booting? PXE boot could cause network to drag. Dell - chip on motherboard to connect. PXE boot over wireless hasn't been perfected. However, doesnt' see too long in the future to boot from the chip with the laptop.
- Application Streaming - How to manage information stored on the desktop.
- Application images can be set to expire so a student using the image won't be able to use it after they leave.
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