Zero Clients: Re-inventing Desktops
In recent years, desktop computing has come full circle and we are once again looking at ways to run slim and secure at the desktops. Virtualization technologies such as VMware and Citrix have paved the way significantly.
Over the last year, I have been immersed in converting old stand-alone thin clients over to VMware View connected thin clients. This has worked relatively well but there have still been a few issues that have caused gray hairs to pop out of my beard. We still receive Helpdesk calls that say, “I don’t know which desktop I’m looking at – my thin client desktop or my VM desktop.” We still have occasional disconnects, some of which are related to terminal services time-outs. My biggest hurdle has been changing our support staff’s mind-set so that they understand and comprehend how a VMware delivered desktop works.
It was with all of this in mind that I began exploring alternatives. It didn’t take long for the “Zero-Client” to immerge as a viable replacement for thin clients and PC’s. I have tried out two models and I like them both but have scratched one from my list:
Samsung NC190/240 – This is an all-in-one solution that basically embeds a zero client into a nifty 19″ monitor. The PCoIP chip worked to perfection and I really loved the fact that it was an all-in-one unit. It could be added onto as the monitor itself supported multiple monitors, had USB ports, as well as audio ports, and carried a 3 year warranty to boot. It was scratched from my list for the one and only flaw I could find. There was no way to lock or hide the management menu from users – meaning that users could tweak away and “break” stuff. If this one flaw is not an issue for you, then I would recommend this solution for your review. Here’s the link: http://www.samsung.com/us/function/search/espsearchResult.do?keywords=zero+client&input_keyword=zero+client
Wyse P20 – This solution is probably what I will settle on. It’s not an all-in-one solution, but it does provide the ability to lock down the config menu and it’s made specifically for VMware View. With View’s redirection, I had a USB printer, Scanner, USB hub, speakers, and two USB drives connected to this guy in addition to the mouse and keyboard. Everything worked flawlessly. This solution definitely has my attention. I suggest you check it out: http://www.wyse.com/products/hardware/zeroclients/P20/index.asp
Provide robust desktop experience while securing the enterprise…hmmm…sounds like a worthwhile investment for some serious research…
Until Next Time
Techmill
I’m curious what type of scanner you were utilizing with the Wyse P20 unit (or Samsung, for that matter), and did it work well. So far, I’m unable to get a scanner to function properly with the zero client (although I can using the VMView client on a full PC).
I was using a Fujitsu fi6130. I had to mess around with it to get it to work. Here’s what I did:
1.) Connected scanner to P20 via USB
2.) Connected to my View session (Windows XP SP3) Also note that I used PCoIP and not RDP
3.) Used the blue bar at the top of my session to select my scanner for redirection
4.) I used Windows XP’s built in scanning features to scan from my Fujitsu
I haven’t loaded up our hospital’s proprietary scanning apps yet. That test will be upcoming though. But, it worked well with PCoIP and Windows XP’s built-in stuff.
Thanks for reading and hope this helps you out. Let me know if I can be of further service!
Techmill