Thin is in for SMEs

SME IT: OPERATING SYSTEMS

Go for alternative computing solution that reduce maintenance costs.

It's important for the systems (read IT) department to devise a strategy to make applications available to users in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Buying servers are an important decision in this context and given the constraints that SMEs face, it's important to consider what works best for them.

At the outset, in the world of client/server architecture, you need to decide if it will be the client (a personal computer or workstation) or the server (central souped up computer that serves personal computers with applications, et al) that handles the bulk of the workload.

If it's the client that will bear the brunt, you will require a thick client architecture. Thick and thin are used to refer to the hardware (e.g., how a PC communicates with the server). The terms are also used to describe applications.

A thin client, on the other hand, is designed to be small so that bulk of the data processing occurs on the server (it saves hardware costs). Applications can be installed on terminal servers and accessed by users through a thin client that uses very little in the way of system resources on the client machine.

Put simply, a thin client is a personal computer that lacks a hard drive. In its place, flash memory containing an operating system (OS) such as Windows XPe (XP Embedded) or Linux is used to boot up the client. These devices connect over a network to a server where all processing and storage takes place. Thin clients typically only contain what is necessary to connect to a network and start up a dedicated web browser.

A thin client's simplicity extends to its installation, which can typically be done in about 10 minutes. With storage and applications stored on the host server, scalability is not an issue. In short, for SMEs, thin clients do not require the large amounts of space required by traditional PCs.

Thin clients provide an alternative computing solution that reduce maintenance costs, minimise application updates, and offer a higher level of security than other desk-based products. Some of the biggest benefits of thin client solutions, says Hewlett Packard, are seen in overall cost savings and increased productivity.

According to Zona Research, thin client total cost of ownership savings amount to 80 per cent less maintenance per year, 25 per cent capital cost savings, 34 per cent less maintenance, 23 per cent less to operate and 25 per cent productivity increase.

Other benefits include greater control over data -- when you use thin clients, you control software, applications and files centrally on the servers. Users get the same applications and data performance whether they access information remotely or at the office.

They are easy to deploy -- thin clients can be set up right from the box in under 10 minutes and offer greater security because thin clients work through a server-based network, applications and data are maintained centrally which gives you a higher level of security.

Unlike a traditional desktop or notebook, no user information is stored locally on a thin client, which makes them unattractive targets for theft. Thin client computing solutions are an ideal choice for any company that is facing increased regulatory compliance laws such as HIPPA and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX).

Thin clients also offer improved reliability because thin clients have no moving parts, they are ideal for environments that are dusty or otherwise unsuitable for traditional computer solutions. They can be mounted behind a flat panel monitor, inside a locked cabinet. All this makes them a cheaper and attractive option.

The writer is in-charge of 'ICE World' at Business Standard