The new face of Zero

Over the past few years, enterprises have invested in making their datacentres more efficient and optimising them through server consolidation. This works almost as an antidote to the earlier server sprawl.

The fundamental behind implementing virtualisation is that it optimises the servers hardware resources, thereby decreasing costs related to maintenance, utility power, support and additional hardware servers. Virtualisation has changed the way an IT infrastructure works; there have been profound benefits to all the organisations from SMEs to enterprises. Virtualisation as a model has now matured enough for all organisations to reap the benefits.

Enterprises have achieved the goal of optimising their datacentre-level hardware by way of server consolidation or rather server virtualisation, but what about desktops? It has been a daunting task to manage thousands of desktops with all the ideal system hardware and wastage of utility power!

So, is there a way to optimise desktops too? Yes, there sure is, and that is why Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is so popular these days. Now one could comfortably say that virtualisation as a model is spreading its footprint from servers to desktops.

But, desktop PC management is an overly complex job. IT departments have to deal with a countless number of desktops to deploy, maintain, patch, update and track. Licensing and endpoint security is also a major concern. More often than not, each employee PC is unique with customised experiences that complicate the centralised management of each resource. In a nutshell, IT departments struggle to optimally manage the huge number of desktops deployed across the enterprise.

The Zero effect

The Zero Client model addresses the complexities of a growing enterprise with ease. It expands a desktop PC environment from a single physical machine to a multi-client/server computing model. This means, a users desktop is hosted remotely and accessed via a Zero Client device over the network. A user no longer has a physical PC on the desk. The Zero Client access devices do not use PC-based processors or chipsets and do not run a local operating system. All the primary functionality is integrated into a single chip that has an optimal set of resources for working with the Zero Client virtualisation software and extension protocol. This System-on-Chip (SoC) contains patented technologies to deliver unmatched performance from a very low-power device. The device also contains a DRAM used to perform a local screen display.

We evaluated a Thin Client model and Zero Client model. Our organisation implemented the Zero Client solution in two phases.

Phase 1: We started with a desktop with a Core 2 Duo/4 GB RAM configuration with a Windows 7 OS and all the standard enterprise applications. This desktop acted as the HOST system and we connected five Zero Client devices to this model. We got five virtual desktops ready and from day one we began to realise the benefits.

Phase 2: Once we had more requirements for desktops for new hires and desktop updates, we deployed a VM Hypervisor on the server hardware and created four Windows 7 VMs which gave us the capacity to connect up to 40 Zero Client devices. This model was scalable with each Windows 7 VM that could allow adding at least 10 Zero Client devices.

Tech Specs: A Zero Client device consists of a SoC (System-on-Chip) with a VGA port, USB ports, Ethernet port, mic & speaker ports.

Business Benefits

The Zero Client access device costs less than half the price of entry-level PCs and the on-going savings are even higher. With no moving parts or local storage systems, repairs are very rare and maintenance costs are kept in check because you only have to maintain and upgrade the shared PCs or Virtual PC. Also, whenever an enterprise has to upgrade to the latest PC technology, the Zero Client users will automatically enjoy an increase in performance. The Zero Client access device is the size of a small handbook, consumes less than 5 watts of power, generates a negligible amount of heat, makes no noise and produces less e-waste.

Large scale implementations in India

The Zero Client solution has been successfully deployed across the globe and in India and includes some of the prestigious projects mentioned below:
1. AP School project 5000 schools using 50,000 units of Zero Client devices.
2. Employee State Insurance Corporation Across India 31,000 Units of Zero Client.
3. Maharashtra Knowledge Corp Ltd (MKCL) 1000 centres use 10,000 units of Zero Client.

Nike Laufschuhe und Bekleidung online kaufen