Thin Client Pilot Project UTFAB : ACNS / LTS Prepared by Jason Huitt February 2, 2010

What : Purpose Pilot the use of Thin Client computers in the CSU Library Electronic Information Center Compare functionality of thin clients versus that of full-fledged desktop workstation Evaluate suitability of Windows-based Remote Desktop and Remote Application Services Assess potential for use in other applications – Classroom workstations, Kiosks, End-User PCs

Proposal : Server $9,000 : HP BL460C G6 Blade Server – Hosted by ACNS in Engineering E7 – Dual Quad-Core Nehalem Processors Xeon X GHz, 8MB Cache, 95 Watts, 1333MHz bus – 48GB of RAM – Fully redundant hardware – Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 – 50% co-sponsorship from ACNS for server hardware and associated blade chassis

Proposal : Thin Clients $7,000 : Various Thin Clients – Dell Optiplex FX160 - $ Dual core Atom 330, 2GB RAM, 2GB NVRAM, XP embedded – HP t $199 VIA Eden, 512MB RAM, 128 NVRAM, HP ThinConnect – HP t5630w - $494 VIA Eden, 1GB RAM, 2GB NVRAM Windows Embedded Standard 2009 – Wyse V10L - $325 – VIA Eden, 256MB RAM, 128MB NVRAM, Wyse Thin OS – Wyse V90L - $ VIA Eden, 512MB RAM / 512MB NVRAM, XP Embedded

Why : Thin Clients Potentially cost effective at purchase – Average cost per thin client in pilot: $420 – Cost per PC in Library FY10 Request: $650 Long-lasting equipment – Average life span of thin client: 8+ years – Warranty coverage for Library PC: 3-4 years The Green Factor - over 1.5 kWh/PC/day power savings PC + 19” LCDTC + 19” LCD Client – In Use80 W15 W LCD – In Use27 W per day2568 Wh1008 Wh

Why : Proven Technology College of Engineering Corporate World Remote Desktops – College of Business CSU Libraries circa

Why : Microsoft CSU Library already has the client access licenses to deploy Remote Desktop Services Significant improvements in Server 2008 R2 ACNS / LTS have Windows knowledge in-house Alternatives (Citrix, VMware) are quite expensive Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Pilot speaking…

How : Methodology Select and purchase Thin Clients Deploy Remote Desktop Services on 2008 R2 Test performance of Thin Clients Present initial results to UTFAB members Deploy Thin Clients randomly throughout lab Include shortcut to feedback form on desktop Assess feedback, performance and future directions with ACNS / LTS and with UTFAB Return residual project funds to UTFAB

Potential Savings Model : Long Term Freeze new PC purchases – Stop purchasing warranty extensions – Continue to purchase PCs for special workstations Maintain PC workstations with spare parts Replace failed workstations with Thin Clients – Remaining PC workstations can become Thins Purchase additional servers as necessary

If the pilot proves successful… Library FY10 PC allocation: $30,500 Library FY10 Warranty allocation: $5,060 Library FY10 PC Total: $35,560 Library FYxx Thin Clients (20?): $8,400 – Based on average cost of thins from pilot, $420 Library FYxx Servers (2?): $18,000 Library FYxx PC Total: $26,400

Other Potential Applications Checkout Laptops? Remote Desktop sessions for students (future) PCs in the Classrooms Lab workstations across campus Kiosks Staff and Faculty PCs (maybe?) Jason’s Workstation?

Questions to be Answered Will the “right” thin client be cheap enough? How many users can each RDS server handle? How to authentication scenarios look? Will the browsing experience on a thin client be rich enough to satisfy Web 2.0? – What if the browser is on the thin itself? Centralized file storage? Roaming Profiles? “Will it float?”

Questions (from you) to be Answered Fire away! Thanks for considering this project! We look forward to working with you to evaluate this proof-of-concept.