ThinLinc advanced Linux Terminal Server for corporate, small and home businesses

Many businesses adopt thin client computing, minimizing the costs associated with the deployment of classical client server solutions (PCs on for the desktop and servers for data and application storage). The costs associated with maintaining the traditional client server setup and configuration of each individual PC and the servers are very high, especially for the lower IT budgets (if any) of small companies. To the contrary, cheaper thin clients on the desktop require no maintenance and no continuous configuration after the easy initial setup is performed. The maintenance and configuration costs on the server side is similar to the classical client server solutions. IDG and other research companies reported  50 to 60% desktop cost savings over the lifespan of a typical desktop PC, if thin client computing is being deployed. In short, thin clients are low powered, energy saving, quiet, small form factor desktop devices, linking the end user to a terminal server over an internal (LAN) or external (Internet) network connection. All user applications are stored, configured, and executed on the server. Each thin client device only sends input signals (mouse gestures, keyboard inputs etc.) to the application on the server, and receives video display data back from the server to display the desktop and application changes. The result is a PC like desktop and application feeling, combined with the benefits of a centralized server based computing experience. Thin clients can be located anywhere in the world, as long as they can access their server(s) over a high speed Internet and/or LAN connection. Thin client connections (sessions) are encrypted and therefore secure to avoid digital data theft. Where companies had to upkeep tens, hundreds, or thousands of end user PCs before, they now only have to manage their servers instead. The thin clients are configured only once during initial installation, usually not to be touched again until they need to be replaced – sometimes 10+ years later.

I will soon publish an in depth article about thin client computing technology, for readers interested to learn more about this subject.

The Cendio ThinLinc Linux Terminal Server

There are many thin client terminal server solutions available: Windows Terminal Server, Citrix, NoMachine NX and many more. The most cost effective commercial solution I had to deal with in my career so far is the Cendio ThinLinc Advanced Terminal Server. Its cost free 10 user small business solution is particularly interesting to small and home businesses with up to 10 concurrent users.

The ThinLinc Terminal Server solution enables server based computing, allowing to virtualize desktops and applications to a Thin Client desktop. ThinLinc provides several industry-leading technologies and innovations, developed to improve performance, increase security, and drive down the cost of delivering Linux and Windows-based applications or desktops, concurrently if needed, to the thin client. ThinLinc is the only solution that integrates such a comprehensive set of features, enabling it becoming a strategic part of any application or desktop delivery structure. ThinLinc thin client solutions are based on the functions of the ThinLinc Terminal Server, with the addition of cutting-edge features and packaged industry know-how. This gives Cendio's customers the tools and processes needed to set them apart from the competition, delivering fast payback of the investment made to deploy the solution.

The ThinLinc Linux Terminal Server utilizes server based computing paradigms, greatly reducing the need for overall system maintenance. It provides great scalability and it is possible to install, remove and upgrade software on active systems. A typical small business installation can easily be managed by any small business associate, assigned the task playing IT administrator on the side.

ThinLinc and Thin Client computing in general can be an essential part of a company's Green IT solution and strategy, not only saving the environment (lower carbon footprint) but also reducing an organization's operational costs.

ThinLinc supports third party technologies, such as Novell eDirectory, MS Active Directory, MS Windows Terminal Server, LDAP, One Time Passwords (single sign on), VDI Connection Broker, and Remote 3D Graphics.

Installation and Configuration

By reading this article the big question for any business owner has to be how complicated is this to install and configure. The answer is: Very simple! After the Linux Desktop Server is installed (I recommend Ubuntu or Novel/Suse Linux) install the ThinLinc server CD which takes about 10 minutes. Install the ThinLinc client on a PC driven by Linux, Windows, or Mac OS X, or install a thin client with a pre-installed ThinLinc client (ex. SmartFLeX Technology NETiON or FLEXiON SmartClients). Configure your ThinLinc client to connect to the server and click connect. That is all there is to it.

Above scenario exactly describes how my company's IT infrastructure was set up, and it is working extremely well.

Key Benefits

• Lower Total Cost of Ownership by reducing power consumption of corporate desktops by up to 60% when combined with Thin Client Hardware.
• Enabling the efficient consolidation of application workload, first in the data center through application virtualization, and then across server hardware within the data center through system virtualization and provisioning.
• Reducing the organization's carbon footprint by offering employees the ability to work from home instead of driving to work every day.
• Mobile use regardless of workplace equipment and geographical location.
• Enabling users accessing the latest applications, by running applications on centralized servers instead of installing, maintaining and running them on each end user device.
• Reducing network complexity, operational costs and energy consumption by replacing aging load balancers and other traffic management devices.
• Inclusion of the VDI Connection Broker allows to utilize Desktop Virtualization or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), providing a user experience similar to that of a standard desktop PC, using Thin Client Technology.
• Advanced Client Graphics Support is now part of the ThinLinc solution. All client side graphic updates are abstracted on the server side, thus providing great performance, independent of application type or toolkit. This allows for excellent multimedia performance, capable of encoding streaming video in or close to real time (depending on network performance).

Key Applications

• Virtualization of Linux, Unix, and Windows desktops and applications
• Mix applications from Linux/Open Source, Unix, Windows, and VMware on the same Desktop
• Migrating from Windows, step by step, to a Linux Desktop environment
• Software as a Service (outsourced IT solutions, see www.sft-bizon.com or Google apps, and others for additional information)
• Terminal Server solution for Linux based POS solutions
• Schools (Computer labs, libraries, general office)
• Professional Corporate Offices
• Small Business Computing
• Home (Business) Computing

License Costs

• 1 Server installation (max.)/per company/home with up to 10 concurrent users, no support: $0.00 per user. This is a full license without any technical limitations or restrictions in the server or client software.
• Installations with more than 10 concurrent users pay $75.00 per user beginning with the first user. This price includes 12 month standard installation and configuration support services.
• Educational installations with more than 10 concurrent users pay $38.00 per user beginning with the first user. This price includes 12 month standard installation and configuration support services.
• Corporate licenses (300+ licenses) are available, but need to be negotiated for each individual project.
• Cendio ThinLinc Advanced Linux Terminal Server is represented in US and Canada by SmartFLeX Technology. SmartFLeX Technology is one the most experienced Thin Client solution vendors in US and Canada, especially supporting small and mid size businesses for over 15 years. For more information please visit www.smartflextech.com and www.sft-bizcon.com.

(Windows Terminal Server, Citrix and NoMachine NX, NETiON, FLEXiON and SmartClient are registered or unregistered trademarks of their respective companies)