Thin client trade-off's

Type

Skolelinux with
thin clients

Skolelinux with half thick clients

Skolelinux with
FreeNX centralised

Windows with
Citrix centralised

Windows with
Citrix locally

Local servers

9 (1

3

3

6

15 (1

Centralised servers

1

1

6 (2

9 (2

2

Bandwidth if centralising the thin client servers

High (low-middle when using locally placed servers)

Low - middle

Low - middle

Low - middle

Low - middle

Pro

Rady for ICT-based exams. Full reuse of old PC's with 133 MHz CPU

Rady for ICT-based exams. Reuse of old PC's with 450 MHz CPU. Better utilisation of the bandwidth. Removes the need for thin client servers

Can reduce the thin client servers to 60%.
Not every user uses the client in the same time.

Can reduce the thin client servers to 60%.
Can use Linux-based Citrix client (TNT)

Can use older PC's with Linux based Citrix clients (TNT)

Con

More servers. Could trigger high expenses when hiring broadband.

Half thick clients should have more CPU than 450 MHz.

Need for two structures for software deplpyment (3
Bandwidth stops ICT-based exams

Need for two structures for software deplpyment (3
Bandwidth stops ICT-based exams

More servers (and even more than Skolelinux with LTSP)

Running programs

Locally

Locally

Locally and centralised

Locally and centralised

Locally

Preconditions:

3 locations. 400 users and 150 terminals at each location.

Notes:

  1. Advantage of the statistical fact that max 60% of the terminals are in use at the same time

  2. A standard LTSP server can serve at least 50, probably 60 thin client. The number of Citrix clients to a standard Intel/AMD server is 30. This is verified with Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer1 in the municipal department of education) in Oslo and other organisations.

  3. It's necessary with locally installed OS to host Citirx or FreeNX (NoMachine). Then we need 1 Linux-server og 2 Windows-servers for software distribution locally. This is verified with Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer in the municipal department of education) in Oslo and other organisations.

The amount of servers


*) Centralized servers with 2-8 Mpbs to a remote location gives strong limitations when using media rich applications, as gimp or OpenOffice Draw. Then locally placed thin client servers are the solution.

The Cost annually

Every report from ICT-operations shows that there is a lot to save on centralised management. The savings are considerable larger with Linux than Windows.


The cost is annually divided on each computer. Foreign exchange from Norwegian kroner to US Dollars (Exchange rate: NOK/USD 0.162464 2004-12-23). Source: Teleplan report (nov. 2003) on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. A Linux report from The municipal department of education in Oslo (dec. 2004).



1Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCSE