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Home Solutions Thin Computing Thin computing
Thin computing PDF Print E-mail

Typically, only one to five percent of a PC processor's power is used at any one time. By using thin-client products as well as PCs you can cut your computing costs up to tenfold by sharing this untapped PC power across many more users. When thin-client hardware is connected to virtual PC installations running on a single centralised server even more efficient harnessing of the excess capacity is achieved.

With thin computing you can -

  • Reduce PC acquisition costs dramatically
  • Simplify support and maintenance
  • Cut electrical usage by as much as 80%
  • Secure company data and assets away from the users
  • Provide simple backup and recovery procedures

At Infonetwork we have devised a simple, robust method of linking a number of products together to deliver an extremely efficient multi-user computing solution using relatively modest hardware. Our method involves adding a multi-user environment to a standard Microsoft Windows XP, VISTA or Windows 7 installation enabling multiple users to concurrently connect to the PC-server, each with their own user environment but sharing key applications and data. With this solution, you can add users to an existing PC- server for as a little as one-quarter the cost of adding an individual PCs to a network. The Windows XP, VISTA, Windows7 multi-user environment can comfortably cater for 10 medium intensity concurrent users. For larger, high intensity installations we utilise Microsoft server products with Microsoft Terminal Services.
PCs are getting more and more powerful every month at less and less cost, but the software applications you use generally don't change at anything like this rate. What this means is new computers have an increasing capacity to do more work and you are probably missing out on harnessing this.
Taking this to the next logical step utilising software virtulisation technology, we can multiply the cost-saving benefits of thin-computing with the cost-saving benefits of hosting the PC-servers as virtual servers on a single hardware platform. Hence we can service up to 50 medium intensity users, each with their own familiar Windows XP, VISTA or Windows7 environments on a single computer.
With all our solutions we utilise industry standard Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to link the thin-client to the servers.This means you can choose from many different suppliers for your thin-client hardware or even use an old Windows PC with an RDP client software implemented either via MS Windows or Linux.

How does it work?

Each user accesses the host server-PC, typically running Windows XP, VISTA or Windows7 via a small access terminal, called a thin-client that is the size of a small book. The software allows an administrator to restrict employee ability to connect remote devices like flash drives. For even greater efficiency, a standard server using Windows 2008 can be used in place of the PC server. A PC-server can support up to 10 simultaneous users adequately, but this is not a maximum limit!



The thin-clients connect to the server using standard RDP protrocol and the multi-user add-on for the server divides the server's resources into independent sessions that give each user their own rich PC experience. It software functions as a data manager and the RDP protocol transmits and handles the desktop display and remote activities from the terminal's keyboard, mouse, and other interfaces (including printers and USB memory drives for remote data I/O). 

The RDP protocol is readily usable over the Internet, and providing your office router has the appropriate firewall settings, can enable remote users at branch offices or travelling staff to connect to their office-based computer from anywhere Internet is available.  This is a much simpler model than using laptop computers or VPNs for remote staff.

Intertested?

We provide a number of unique services to provide, install and support access terminal systems. Check our Training Rooms and Public Access products or contact us for further information.