The Future of Desktop Virtualization

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The NComputing solution separates a desktop PC environment from a physical machine to create a client-server computing model. That is, a user’s desktop is hosted remotely and accessed via a access device over the network. A user no longer has a physical PC. The following is a brief overview of the NComputing offering.

vSpace Desktop Virtualization Software
The NComputing vSpace desktop virtualization software enables organizations to optimize virtual desktop deployments by providing multiple end-users simultaneous access to a single operating system instance of either Windows or Linux

Access Devices
The NComputing access devices are inexpensive, small, low-power, reliable, durable boxes. On one side they plug into the users’ peripherals (such as the keyboard, monitor and mouse). On the other side, they connect, either directly or via Ethernet, to a centralized server that hosts each virtual desktop. The following is a brief overview of our Ethernet connect and direct connect access devices.

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VDI Express deployments are simple, fast and affordable. No VDI management infrastructure is required. Rapidly deploy virtual desktops without taking on significant investment and project risk.

Integration with VMware
Enterprises can take advantage of the combined power of NComputing zero-client access devices with VMWare virtualization management infrastructure including VMware View and Manage.

Integration with Citrix
Enterprises can reduce operational expenses associated with Citrix Server Farms and by eliminating maintenance costs associated with deploying Citrix client applications to every desktop PC.

Desktop Virtualization for Small & Medium Business
Your IT budget is stretched thin and you struggle to cut support costs. NComputing can help. Here's how: today's PCs are so powerful that the vast majority of applications only use a small fraction of a PC's capacity. Our virtualization software and hardware tap the unused capacity and share it among other users. Hardware costs are slashed by 75%, maintenance by 75% and electric consumption by 90%.

Challenge
You have a small team with big dreams. NComputing can help. Our desktop virtualization products help you slash hardware costs by 75%, maintenance by 75% and electric consumption by 90%.

Solution
NComputing separates a desktop PC environment from a physical machine to a consolidated client-server computing model. That is, a users desktop is hosted remotely and accessed via a thin client device over the Internet. A user no longer has a physical PC.[/B]

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Source: Desktop Virtualization and Thin Clients - Low Cost and Virtual Computing - NComputing
 
I just picked up some units of NComputing L230s for testing from a friend. If you're in the thin client business, any idea what would be the ideal configuration of the host PC for , say, 10~15 L230s? I'm planning to either go the thin client or the atom way for my school's computer classes.
 
No I am not into Thin Client Business, I am a Microsoft Certified IT Professional in Windows 2008 Server Administration

I am implementing this for a client in USA next week, for 300 NComputing Devices.

Try to go for 2 x Quad/Dual Core Xeon Processors with alteast 24GB RAM.

This NComputing Device is pretty cheap around $150 & $200 So you can spend the rest of your budget on building a high end Server.

Motheboard: Intel S5520SC (Supports 2 Processors & 48-GB DDR3 RAM) = Rs.26750/-

Processor: Intel Xeon E5620 2.4 GHz 12MB L3 Cache = Rs.23750/-

Memory: Kingston 4GB DDR3 1333MHz (ECC + Parity) = Rs. 8700/- each

This was the price i inquired a few weeks back, might have decreased by a little now.

OR buy 2 I7 With workstation board, Install Citrix Xen Server & create a NLB between the two systems & install Virtual Machines & VSpace
 
^^Actually I had initially mentioned that I had a Q9450 spare which I was planning for the setup but deleted that as I thought it was over kill for a low cost 10~15 PC setup :P! Btw, how did you come up with the 24GB RAM thing ? Asking cos the software solution (vSpace) implemented by NComputing is limited to an x86/32 bit OS and hence 3GB of RAM, according to their site. Where would the remaining 21GB of RAM be used?

2 i7s+ workstation board+high end PSU+24 GB DDR3 RAM+ high end cabby+ n number of thin clients/LCDs for a 10~15 client setup in a school classroom scenario? In comparison to low cost atom based setups? Seriously?
 
^It would also depend on what you are trying to run. I have read some one who ran this Vspace on a p4 2.4 GHz with 2GB ram for 12 users but for MS Office only.

I thought you were opting for Intel Atom based system over Ncomputing Device, not using it to create the Vspace server.

An Atom would be too low of a config for this. its better if you stick with the QuadCore.

This is how you should calculate the size of RAM required + Processor Speed.

Fire up an application say Word, go into task manager and monitor its memory usage & cpu usage for a few minutes, then multiply that with 12 = X amount of memory + X amount of processing power

Now this is only for Word same way calculate for other applications like internet explorer/ mozilla don't forget that explorer.exe will also count.

You should first Utilize what you have & try to make that work with the environment. then opt for buying other things.
 
No, I'm not thinking of an Atom set up for running the server :crazeyes:!

I'm actually debating whether to go for 10 atom based systems or setup one server and get 10 L230s. Cost wise, the thin client setup would save me some money, only if I don't need the mega setup of i7s you suggested earlier. The 2.4 Pentium story does gladden my heart, though :)!

And the calculation thing on the RAM required, does it really make any sense considering the 32 bit limitations of NComputing software? Are you saying I can utilize more than 3Gb on the server?

I think I better start my own testing of the L230s I've got...
 
In our company we are successfully using NComputing setups for our e-learning partners. In our case our server config is Core 2 Duo proccy with 2GB RAM. 5 clients connect via the NComputing boxes. The applications accessed by the clients are IE and the MS Office Suite. Even video playback is decent. What the OP suggested is too much of an overkill.

If we had another NComputing PCI card, we get another 5 clients with no visible effect on the server's performance.

Since you mentioned that you are wanting to do this for a school environment, it is more than sufficient. :)
 
Desktop virtualization is useful only for companies with only one large site. The setup has to be local at every site otherwise the bandwidth cost and latency break the concept. Not to mention the cost of setting this up at all the sites, no substantial cost benefits of consolidation.
 
stormblast said:
i had 1 query about this. how does the licencing work out for this?
Click to expand...

Licensing has to be done for the clients too. We have purchased 5000 CALs of Windows XP for the same.

Renegade said:
Desktop virtualization is useful only for companies with only one large site. The setup has to be local at every site otherwise the bandwidth cost and latency break the concept. Not to mention the cost of setting this up at all the sites, no substantial cost benefits of consolidation.
Click to expand...

I think you are referring to a desktop virtualzation for an enterprise. Here, we are talking about a school lab type of environment.
In our case it is feasible since it is only used for e-learning. All teaching is imparted via modules that run in IE. The entire cost of the setup which includes

1 Server machine

1 Ncomputing kit i.e. 5 thin clients

5 sets of LCD monitors, keyboards and mice

is around 60k. So that comes to approx 10k per machine. The main advantage here obviously is the reduced power consumption and hardware maintenance cost. There are disadvantages too but for a school type setup, this is more than sufficient.
 
I am not referring to your scenario. That post was from my perspective alone based on the PoC that we had run. My only 'against' parameter is bandwidth and latency. If it is not a factor for you then it is useful for you. That is what I mentioned.
 
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