The Concept of Thin Clients

Home , Thin client

A1. Typically, thin Clients are low powered computers that (strictly speaking) do not have a hard disk drive. If there is no hard disk drive, there is no operating system installed also.

Q2. If there is no hard disk drive and no operating system, how does it work? How does it boot up? A2. All Thin Clients boot up directly from a server which is running the operating system (Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server or even Linux). Thin Clients may boot either directly from the server via PXE boot and then connect to it or boot up from locally installed mini disk running Windows XP embedded (Win XPe), Windows CE embedded (Win CEe) or Linux embedded (Le) and then connect to the server. Once connected to the server, the user gets the log in screen of the operating system running on the server. Please bear in mind that booting from a server and connecting to a server are two different processes, since you can have more than one server - one simply for booting up and the second or even a third or more for connecting to (where the applications are installed and processing takes place) depending upon architecture. If required, an enterprise can also go in for a hybrid architecture consisting of both Windows and Linux Terminal servers.

Q3. Where are the various applications installed and user data stored? A3. All applications are installed on the connecting server and every user has his own "My Documents" folder created where his profile, documents, etc. are stored.

Q4. If all files and documents of all users are stored on the same server on the same storage device, can one user not access or read the files of another user? A4. As stated above, every user has his own "My Documents" folder created. No user can access or even get into another user's "My Documents" folder unless specifically permitted to do so. This, of course, will require an NTFS file storge system and not the FAT32.

Q5. What kind of applications and software can one install and run in a Thin Client environment? A5. All programs of everyday life can be used with Thin Clients...to name a few MS Office; various various browsers for surfing; e-mail clients like Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, etc.; ERP packages - including SAP; Coreldraw, Adobe Photoshop, Pagemaker, Tally, MS SQL based packages, chatting (using keyboard) programs and even open source and customized packages.

Q6. Which software packages cannot be used? A6. Heavy graphical games, animation packages like Maya and such others that require a very fast screen refresh cannot be used.

Q7. How many Thin Clients can be run on a single server? A7. This depends upon the server hardware configuration and the programs/applications that are installed on that particular server. Typically, a small office with 10 Thin Clients can be well served by a P-IV machine with 1GB of RAM. Increase the RAM to 2GB and the users to 20 to 25 without any problem. For users on an enterprise level, a Xeon based server with dual or more processors, a minimum of 4GB RAM and redundancy on storage devices by way of RAID, network adaptors and power supply unit is recommended. Load balancing technology with additional servers prevents any single server from reaching critical levels. These are of course, broad guidelines. Actual server hardware and architecture will most definitely vary from case to case.

Q8. Won't running so many Thin Clients on one server slow it down or kill it altogether? A8. No. This will not happen since the server hardware is sized taking into account the number of Thin Clients that are to be run and the software/applications to be installed on it. Besides, all processing is taking place electronically without any moving parts except the hard disk drive. Load balancing technology is employed to prevent server crashes. Q9. Can one install a printer on a Thin Client node? A9. Yes. Most printers can be installed on a Thin Client node either on a parallel port or USB port. The printer is physically installed on the Thin Client node but in configured on the server as a local printer printing to a TCP/IP port. In case of embedded systems, the printer in configured locally on the Thin Client itself.

Q10. What devices can a Thin Client access locally? A10. Most devices like local hard disk drives, pen drives, floppy disk drives and optical drives can be accessed by the Thin Client without any problem. For other devices like scanners, multi function devices and CD/DVD writer, if required on a Thin Client, our embedded systems are recommended, one that is running Win XPe.

Q11. Will 'Touch Screens' work with Thin Clients? A11. Yes, very much with our Win XPe range.

Q12. What about Thin Clients and Citrix? A12. Citrix metaframe server installed on the Remote Server will enable the Thin Clients to work across a relatively slow WAN link also by using the ICA protocol instead of Remote Desktop (RDP).

Q13. What about DOS? Can I run DOS progams on my Thin Clients? A13. Most definitely, yes!! You can run DOS programs in FULL SCREEN.

Q14. Can I have a hard disk on my Thin Client? A14. Of course!!! Though not required, but if you do have or want a hard disk, you have a dual boot system, whereby you can work either on the server or on the local hard disk.

= thin client benefits

Thin Client solutions - Thin Clients | Diskless PCs | Thin Clients Why Thin Clients are better than normal desktop PCs (Fat Clients)?

Lower blocking of working capital in fixed assets: Since Thin Clients are units with lower processing capabilities, their cost is much lower than the cost of a regular desktop at any point of time. A typical desktop with a Core 2 Duo processor could cost as much as Rs. 25,000/- whereas a Thin Client would cost about Rs. 14,000/-. Thats translates to about 44% lower than a desktop.

Instant savings due to lower expenditure on the base operating system: A Windows XPP license costs about Rs. 7,500/- whereas a Windows 2003 server costs Rs. 30,000/-. 4 licenses of Windows XPP equal one license of Windows 2003 Server. Thereafter, Windows XPP still costs Rs. 7,500/-, while Thin Clients only require CALs and TS-CALs which amount to Rs. 4,200/- approximately per user/device, not considering that along with Windows 2003 Server, 5 copies of CALs are free.

Savings in time and resources: All applications, programs and software including anti virus need to be installed only once i.e. on the server (instead of so many PCs individually) and all user access the same. An organization can have hundreds of Thin Clients up and running in a matter of few hours (assuming the networking is in place). This results in substantial time savings of the I.T. personnel which can be put to more productive purposes.

Low downtime and high productivity: A frequent complaint of computer users is that their hard disk drive has crashed or the operating system has corrupted files an consequently is not booting up. With Thin Clients users cannot install, uninstall or delete any system, software or files other than those in their own "My Documents" folder. Only the Administrator can do so. As a result, there is near zero down time and high levels of productivity.

Increased profits through cash savings: Since there is no hard disk drive and operating system on the Thin Clients, there is nothing to maintain. At an average of Rs. 2,000/- per PC towards Annual Maintenance Contract, for a medium sized organization with an installation of 50 units, the resultant savings are Rs. 100,000/- per year.

More cash savings - low cost of hardware: - There is no need to upgrade old PC systems to the currently available high configuration systems. Either simply convert these old PCs to Thin Clients at a maximum cost of Rs. 2,000/- or go for new Thin Clients that cost less than of half of a normal desktop PC. - No need to install UPS on all client machines. Simply install one on the server.

Still more savings (in future also): In future there is no need to install or even upgrade to new PCs...simply upgrade the server and all client machines get upgraded automatically. This results in substantial cost savings to an organization as replacing old PCs with new ones or even upgrading to new ones can be a costly exercise amounting to more than Rs. 20,000/- per unit.

Incidental savings in unnoticed areas: A normal desktop PC consumes 250-400 watts of energy while a new thin client node, only 40 watts. Substantial savings in electricity bills. Close to Rs. 600/- per month per unit. It pays for itself in under a year, thereafter actually saving money to the organization and increasing the profits. Tight security: Until the server is switched on, no user can access any files, even from his own "My documents" folder. It will be trying to access information from a PC that is off. Even a pen drive will not work, which otherwise renders a desktop PC extremely vulnerable to data theft.

Mobility: With a normal desktop PC, a user cannot access it if he is away from his workstation. In case of Thin Clients a user is not restricted to being at his designated workstation. He can make any workstation his own. For instance, if a user's workstation is on floor 1 and he has to go to floor 3, all he needs to do is imply sit down at any workstation there and log in using his user name and password and his entire session and screen gets logged out from the workstation on floor 1 and transferred to that particular workstation on floor 3 with the cursor and mouse exactly where he left it.

No loss of data: In case of power failure, all desktop PCs lose data (unless expenditure has been incurred for a UPS on each PC individually). In case of thin clients, if the client machines switch off, there is no such problem. The server switches over to the single UPS and the data can be safely backed up or saved. When power is restored, the user returns to the same spot he was working on without any loss of data.

Other benefits: - Centralized operations and controls. - No need to take up backup from many different PCs. Simply take backup from one place i.e. the server.

projects completed

Thin Client solutions - Thin Client Cards | Diskless PCs | Thin Clients Some of our prestigious projects

o Uttam Galva Steel Ltd.

o BIIT Computer Center

o CSI Group

o Hindi Balika Vidyapeeth

o Bhaktivedanta Hospital

o Vivek Maternity & Nursing Home

o Transpower Electronics India Pvt. Ltd.

testimonials

Thin Client solutions - Thin Clients | Diskless PCs | Thin Client Cards What our customers say about us

We have installed the Thin Clients in November 2006 and now more that one year has passed and we have not faced any problems so far. We have rather saved money on the following fronts:

I. Purchase of new systems (reduced to half the cost)

II. AMC contract (reduced by 60%)

III. Software licenses (saved almost 40%)

IV. System up gradation as per the industry norms (no nodes up gradation required, only the server to be upgraded, that too if required)

Other benefits which we got are as follows:

I. Monitoring of users' work

II. Centralize storage of data

III. Easy and cheap back up solution from 3rd party owing to centralized data

IV. User wise restrictions for application and data access

V. Same system speed for all the users

We strongly recommend the network user to go for "Thin PC" if you are interested to save the fixed and recurring cost of your organization.

Nambiar Manoj Kumar .S. Unni (Manager IT & MIS)

------

It has been more than one month since we have started using Thin Client System provided by M/s Seal Technologies. We are happy with the services provided by them and recommend this technology for people having multiple computers.

Chirag A.S.

------testimonials

Thin Client solutions - Thin Clients | Diskless PCs | Thin Client Cards What our customers say about us

We have installed the Thin Clients in November 2006 and now more that one year has passed and we have not faced any problems so far. We have rather saved money on the following fronts:

I. Purchase of new systems (reduced to half the cost)

II. AMC contract (reduced by 60%)

III. Software licenses (saved almost 40%)

IV. System up gradation as per the industry norms (no nodes up gradation required, only the server to be upgraded, that too if required)

Other benefits which we got are as follows:

I. Monitoring of users' work

II. Centralize storage of data

III. Easy and cheap back up solution from 3rd party owing to centralized data

IV. User wise restrictions for application and data access

V. Same system speed for all the users

We strongly recommend the network user to go for "Thin PC" if you are interested to save the fixed and recurring cost of your organization.

Nambiar Manoj Kumar .S. Unni (Manager IT & MIS)

------

Chirag A.S.

------solutions thin clients | thin client cards | servers What we can do to help you

Are you looking for a complete end to end solution to deploy and manage your Thin Client environment? Then you have come to the right place.

We can can effectively guide you on server sizing, base operating system requirements and the type of thin clients that will meet your needs not only today but will well serve your organization for years to come.

Chose from branded servers or integrated ones, from PXE boot thin clients to Windows embedded to Linux, from Windows as base operating system to Linux.

We can advise you on the right product that will leave your mind to do what it does best - managing and expanding your business. We can set up and define policies that meet your needs department wise or even user wise, minimizing hands on control while maximizing security.

services

Thin Client solutions | Thin Client Cards | Disk less Work Stations

Other Services provided by us Linux Environment:

o Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP): We, assisted by our capable team are well placed to deploy and maintain LTSP terminal servers. Use LTSP terminal servers to beat the licensing costs and virus problems. Coupled along with our hardware, this solution works hard to provide the complete environment as may be required by any enterprise level organization to effectively run their business.

o Linux Desktops: Deploy Linux Desktops with a choice between Debian, Fedora Core/Red Hat, Ubuntu, SUSE or Mandrake to choose OSS over proprietary operating systems and slash your computing costs and get freedom from frequent down times and virus related issues. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU WILL NOT BE USING OR WORKING ON A PIRATED OPERATING SYSTEM.

Windows Environment:

o Windows Servers: We have experienced personnel who are qualified Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) with sufficient theoretical knowledge along with hands on experience in deploying and maintaining Server class operating systems with in depth knowledge of group policies.

o Desktop Operating Systems: Deploy Windows XP or Vista and get the best support and maintenance, have easy availability of various devices and drivers.

o Citrix Applications: Do you want to maintain a single server at a remote location and want to be able to access all applicatons over the internet, if on a low bandwidth connection? Seal Technologies Co can efficiently and effectively deploy Citrix Metaframe servers. All applications will be accessed as though they are on a local drive.

Home About us Thin Client concepts Thin Client benefits Projects completed Testimonials Products

Solutions Services Knowledge center

Downloads Careers