twenty-six | tools
Can ‘Thin’ Bring Fat Rewards?
What value can a business extract from the processing is performed at the server, TC
terminals do not need the raw processing
implementation of thin client and hosted virtual grunt of today’s PCs. In effect, they are
running little more than media players and
desktop technologies? Can they really deliver? connectivity suites, thereby lowering the
processing requirements, and consequently
Words: Rob Addy the cost, of each unit.
Improved supportability of the
T
he concepts that underlie thin-client are significant. Organisations that have already environment –with the hardware element
(TC) or hosted virtual desktop (HVD) migrated to low energy flat panels, etc, will find of the support equation largely eliminated,
technologies are not new. Since the the savings marginal at best. as is the ability of users to hurt themselves
advent of the first dumb terminal Securing the environment more effectively so readily (most HVD environments have
connected to the monolithic mainframe, the – many TC terminals have no CD drives or significant restrictions regarding the level of
core principles have been practised and found USB ports, thereby eliminating many of the user configuration permitted, etc), then many
to be solid. most common routes of access for malware of the common causes of support issues and
During the 1990s, the ‘network computer’ and virus infections. factors that prolong the diagnostic process are
was touted as the antithesis of the PC Reducing the volume of distributed data reduced, making them easier to support than
workstation by the anti-Microsoft lobby, who – undoubtedly, one of the key advantages of traditional distributed clients.
were keen to break the stranglehold they had TC and HVD solutions. As all data is resident
over the distributed workstation market. This within the data centre, there is less likelihood More readily supportable
attempt failed not because the thin-client of it finding its way into the public domain, if
environments require
plan was flawed, but because the network users lose devices in taxis and on trains!
infrastructure necessary to support such a Eliminating the need for desk-side
fewer full time equivalents
model was not sufficiently widespread or support – thin client solutions are very much
to service them and,
robust at the time. appliances that either work or not. Today’s IT
Twenty years on and the global literate user population is more than capable
as labour costs are the
communications landscape has changed of plugging in three cables and pressing the bulk of support-related
beyond all recognition. Gone are the 28 kbps ‘On’ switch (given appropriate guidance and
spending, reducing
modems and 9.6 kbps GPS mobile networks encouragement from the service desk). Where
of the turn of the century, to be replaced by hardware issues are identified, then it is very
support headcount will
multi-megabit per second ADSL connections, much a ‘rip and replace’ model, whereby a
dramatically cut the
3G networks and always-on WiFi zones. Such new terminal is taken from the local store
overall cost of support
connectivity options make thin-client and cupboard or sent by courier overnight.
HVD-based solutions a realistic proposition Lower ongoing client hardware costs –
provision
that deserves to be considered. because the bulk
of the Reductions in ongoing
Shedding The Pounds support costs –
Proponents of thin-client architectures often more readily
cite many advantages, including: supportable
Extending the life of existing environments
hardware – adding a require
software client for a HVD fewer
solution to an existing full time
PC or converting it, equivalents to
using a PC to TC PCI support them.
card, could extend the Labour costs are the
useful life of today’s bulk of support-related
ageing desktop estate spending and so therefore
by as much as 18-24 reducing support
months.
Reducing total power
consumption – assuming one is
moving from an inefficient X86 and CRT
based infrastructure, then the power savings
august.september | 2009 www.supportworld.co.uk
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