ICT Info

What is Thin Client Technology?

Thin client computing is simply where all applications and data are hosted centrally on a server. These are accessed using a simple graphics based terminal - referred to as a thin client.

This is different from 'client-server' architecture where some of the data and applications reside on PCs spread throughout the network. With thin client, no applications or data are resident on the desktop, and so it is "thin" when compared to the traditional PC.

Thin clients allow schools to get the most out of a server based computing architecture by giving users easy and affordable access to their server based applications and data.

Thin client architecture runs applications on a central server hosting the Terminal Server operating system, Microsoft Windows 2003. Windows based terminals are used to access applications and data on the server (as shown below).

The Benefits of thin clients over PCs to your school include:-

• Reduced costs
  • Vastly reduced total cost of ownership with far less support and upgrade costs.
  • Lower initial purchase price compared with PCs.
  • Network bandwidth efficient for lower communications costs.
  • Thin clients typically consume 80% less power than their PC counterparts.
  • Very little processing is performed at the desktop therefore old PCs can be used as thin clients and be given a new lease of life.
• More reliable with negligible downtime
  • No local applications to crash.
  • No local data to get corrupted.
  • If a communications failure should occur between the thin client and the terminal server, the user's application continues running and can be returned to later with no loss of data.
  • Terminals have no moving parts making them far more reliable than PCs.
• More efficient IT management
  • Central management of IT resources, with faster and easier rollouts of new applications and software.
  • All data is saved on the server, so only the server requires backup.
  • Additional user systems can be added very quickly as there is no operating system or applications to be loaded.
  • Reduced downtime. If there is a problem with a thin client, it takes a matter of minutes to remedy, with no on-site technical presence needed.
• Increased security
  • All data held centrally and not on desktop.
  • Impossible to infect desktop with viruses.
  • No use to the average thief, so lower insurance premiums.
• Space saving
  • Compact footprint so more users can be accommodated.
• Quieter teaching environment
  • Thin clients have lower power consumption and no fan noise unlike PCs.