Important Point Considerations in Choosing a Zero / Thin Client Environment or Solution

Important Point Considerations in Choosing a Zero / Thin Client Environment or Solution

The key points for considering zero clients are:

1. USB Peripherals Support
2. High-quality end-user experience
3. Security and compliance
4. Low cost of operation
5. Licensing Costing
6. Rapid deployment and Management

When choosing a Thin Client Solution, Company or Organizations are faced with a number of concerns.

• Will the end users be satisfied with their experience in the virtual environment?
• Will sensitive information be secure?
• Is the solution cost effective?
• How much maintenance is required?
• Several solutions on the market promise the best performance, but at what cost?
• Can end users leverage the tools they need to stay connected and be productive?

This document will discusses about these concerns and looks at some of the key considerations in determining if a vCloudPoint Zero Client environment which is right for any company or organization. The specification used here for the Thin Client Solution is vCloudPoint Thin Client S100 and V1 with vMatrix Server Manager along with the Dynamic Desktop Protocol (DDP) Protocol. In this article, vCloudPoint Zero Clients are discussed as the preferred client to meet many needs.

Zero Clients Explained

Before you make a decision whether zero clients are appropriate for your company or organization. We should have some understanding of the thin client technology. The technology behind zero client devices is associated with the architecture of Terminal Server, Server Based Computing, Remote Desktop Services, where thin client solution can be manageable and data are centralized in the data centre.

While implementing thin client solution, each user must have his own client, in order to display the remote session, which is stored in the Server. Zero clients are one type of client. They come in different form factors and contain no local storage, no operating system, no CPU, and no moving parts. Instead, zero clients contain a chip that performs the decoding of protocol at the hardware level, designed specifically for rendering pixels onto the user’s display. Each user has a zero client, a display monitor, and human interface devices (HID) such as a keyboard and a mouse. Due to the absence of moving parts or other components, zero clients use just a fraction of the energy consumed by traditional PCs. Zero clients are the easiest to configure, manage, and deploy. Zero clients are available in a variety of formats, such as zero devices, integrated monitors, and laptops.

Figure 1 shows how a typical zero client solution might appear.

Zero Clients are available in a variety of formats. Zero clients can be contrasted with thin clients and thick clients. Thin clients are similar to zero clients, but they contain a local operating system, CPU, flash memory, and local storage. Thick clients are essentially traditional PCs or laptops, with a software client installed specifically for displaying the desktop. Although thin and thick clients are more costly option, require the most maintenance, and are the highest energy consumers.

vCloudPoint is OEM which build their own hardware for their own zero clients. There are other provider who buy hardware from X vendor and then build the thin client. The vCloudPoint ecosystem includes products such as S100 and V1. The vCloudPoint as integrate Dynamic Desktop Protocol (DDP) protocol which use into vMatrix Server Manager and Zero Clients hardware

vCloudPoint: The Best Choice for a Thin Client Solution

The Dynamic Desktop Protocol (DDP) protocol technology developed by vCloudPoint is the innovative remote-display protocol used in vMatrix Server Manager with Zero Thin Client S100 and V1.

The vCloudPoint device is a compact, mobile-phone size, network access device that connects the end user monitor, input devices and other USB peripherals to the desktop sessions running on a shared computer and effectively allows multiple users to simultaneously share its untapped resources while still providing users with better PC experience. The vCloudPoint device are referred as a zero client, as in contrast to thin client and PC, it does not contains any moving parts but only the necessary hardware & firmware to initialize a conversation with the network, and display session as output. It centralizes all software, processing and management to just what is running on the host, leaving little more than a keyboard, mouse and monitor at a user’s desk. As a result, it does not requires any management software, no local driver to install, no patch management, and no local operating system updates. The device consumes only 5 watts of the power and is tamper resistant and completely incapable of storing any data locally, providing a more secure thin client.

vMatrix Server Manager

vMatrix Server Manager running on the host computer, enhances the overall functionality and usability of the sharing system by offering flexible OS support, secure desktop roaming, centralized management and broad peripheral support. IT Administrators can configure, monitor and manage the thin client and users centrally and simply at the server side through the front-end console.

The functions performed by vMatrix Server Manager include:

1)    Remotely Manage the device, updating firmware and all setting

2)    Wake-on-LAN (WoL): Allows you to ON and Off the Device on LAN

3)    IP Virtualization: - vCloudPoint’s IP Virtualization works with both Windows Server & Client systems, and requires no complex configurations.

4)    Giving the administrator complete visibility into the OS, CPU, memory, storage, networking and other critical elements of the host computer

5)    Creating and managing user accounts & password

6)    Authorizing users to access specific desktop session

7)    Discovering vCloudPoint zero clients and USB peripherals

8)    Monitoring and controlling end user desktops

9)    Configuring user USB, audio, resolution, video, etc.

10) Broadcasting the administrator’s desktop to the end users

11) Controlling privacy and visibility of disk partitions to users

12) Providing a communication path for administrators & users through the integrated messaging application

13) Keeping down user and administration behaviour

Support of USB Peripherals

Peripheral support on Windows Remote Desktop or any thin Client Solution is commonly known to be weak. Endpoint embedded operating systems often require customized client drivers, greatly reducing the range of peripherals that are natively compatible and driving up deployment timelines and ongoing support costs. Even for those supported peripherals, they still have various issues such as device often not detected by the system if users didn’t strictly plug them in as required, a printer copy generated on each time the printer is plugged into the system, and many more.

vCloudPoint zero clients use its transparent USB technology that peripherals never require specialized client drivers to work – just a native Windows driver is required. vCloudPoint zero clients support a wide range of USB devices including memory device, headphone, printer (both single and multiple functional), scanner, touch screen, U key, card reader, and USB converters. These USB devices are compatible and reliable with all Windows systems that whenever and however you attach them to the zero clients, they are fully functional.

Also using vMatrix Server Manager IT Manager can define enable / disable or USB via Classes. It can provide option to enable for only Printers whether is will disable the USB Pen Drives.

High-Quality End-User Experience

An important consideration in selecting a Thin Client Solution is the experience of the end user. Thin Client end users seek a seamless experience, one in which there is no delay in data retrieval or image rendering. Users are also concerned with the quality of the media rendered, which could be text, images, audio, or other streaming media.

Media Rendering

Within a thin client solution, there are two types of media rendering available: host rendering and client rendering. Each method enables end users to have a good experience in most thin client environments. The key difference is which one can provide the best end-user experience for variable network conditions. This difference determines which approach is more suitable for your environment. When using host rendering, the first step in the process is to encode or compress the information to be transmitted. With zero clients, this step takes place in the data center, where compute-intensive resources are readily available. The advantage of host rendering in this case is that the data is highly compressed before it is sent to the endpoint, or client.

Encoding Algorithms

vCloudPoint employs a variety of encoding algorithms, or codecs, for the multiple types of information to be displayed. Different imaging algorithms are applied, depending on the type of information being encoded. For example, the algorithm used for text is different from the algorithm used for streaming video, photos, graphics, or icons. Each data format is unique, and has specific characteristics that determine how the image is perceived by the end user. The use of multiple codecs within the PCoIP protocol allows each type of content to be handled in the most appropriate and efficient way, thereby optimizing use of available network bandwidth. The PCoIP processor in zero client devices takes the information sent down from the server and translates it into pixels to be displayed on the monitor. Zero clients transmit information from devices such as a keyboard and a mouse up to the server over a separate prioritized channel to further improve response time for end-user interactions.

Image Compression

Image compression can take two forms:

Lossless and Lossy compression are terms that describe whether or not, in the compression of a file, all original data can be recovered when the file is uncompressed. With lossless compression, every single bit of data that was originally in the file remains after the file is uncompressed. All of the information is completely restored. This is generally the technique of choice for text or spreadsheet files, where losing words or financial data could pose a problem. The Graphics Interchange File (GIF) is an image format used on the Web that provides lossless compression.

On the other hand, Lossy compression reduces a file by permanently eliminating certain information, especially redundant information. When the file is uncompressed, only a part of the original information is still there. Lossy compression is generally used for video and sound, where a certain amount of information loss. Lossy image-rendering technologies can build only lossy images that do not contain all the information from the original file. This is because sending the entirety of the data to the endpoint is bandwidth- and performance-prohibitive.

With vCloudPoint Zero Clients, users do not have to sacrifice image quality for high performance and low network bandwidth usage.

Security and Compliance

Security remains the top concern for many organizations when deploying a Thin Client or Server Based Computing environment. The heightened need for security has been demonstrated numerous times with the theft of laptops and USB devices containing customer account information or other sensitive data. The risk of confidential information getting into the wrong hands has never been higher.

How do vCloudPoint zero clients help with these concerns? vCloudPoint Zero clients provide maximum security and centralized control in a server Thin Client or Server Based Computing environment. Absolutely no data is stored on the endpoint. With vCloudPoint Zero Clients, only the display of graphical information is transmitted to the end user, and it is encrypted before it is sent. Sensitive Corporate data remains protected in the data center.

vCloudPoint Zero clients provide an ultra-secure environment with client-host-rendering. All data remains locked down in the data center, centrally protected and managed. All media is client-rendered and encoded, then delivered to these stateless, decode-only devices. vCloudPoint Zero Clients have no operating system, hard drive, or local memory. This eliminates the risk of data theft or damage to data from viruses or malware, as well as data loss from hardware failure.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) / Cost of Operation (COO)

In addition to high-quality image rendering and secure data, implementing zero clients solution allows enterprises to lower their total cost of ownership (TCO). The lack of moving parts within zero clients ensures that the devices last longer and are more reliable than traditional desktop computers. These small devices require minimal maintenance, take up far less space than desktop computer, cost less than PCs or laptops, and consume only a % Watts energy required to operate.

Traditional desktop PCs require a significant amount of maintenance. Hardware breaks down and must be replaced / refresh after 3-5 yeas. Applications require updating. Maintaining PCs can place an undue burden on IT administrators. If a user has a problem in OS, maintenance must be done and take hours. In an infrastructure that relies on full laptop and desktop support, company / organizations can spend Rs. 2, 00,000 or more per year on maintaining devices.

vCloudPoint Zero clients, which require no or zero maintenance, free IT workers for other necessary tasks. Most IT Managers / CTO will agree that zero management for endpoint client is the most efficient, easiest, lowest-cost implementation for Server based Computing or Desktops.

Maintenance is just one concern for IT Managers. Other concerns are energy consumption and the space footprint. Traditional PCs consume a great deal of electricity, up to 250 watts of power each hour. Desktops also take up a large portion of the user’s physical space, minimizing the available work area. In comparison, vCloudPoint Zero Clients consume only 5 Watts of power per hour. This is comparable to the power by a small bulb. These small size zero clients frees up physical space for users.

Licenses

Ant Thin Client environment requoted, Management Console or Connection License to connect the Server. vMatrix Server Manager comes with Perpetual License and you do not have worry or pay for any License to Connect or Manage the vCloudPoint Thin Client. It also supports Windows 2012 / 2016 and 2019 Server without any cost to it. vMatrix Server Manager can be download and comes free along with vCloudPoint Thin Client which give you the Perpetual License (that means) they is no charge you for using vMatrix Server Manager or connecting vCloudPoint Zero Client. Hardware comes with 3 Years Replacement Warranty as well as Software support and after that you are free to use vMatrix Server Manager without any cost or subscriptions cost to it

Rapid Deployment

Another advantage of vCloudPoint Zero Clients is rapid deployment. vCloudPoint Thin Clients are essentially plug-and-play devices. Out of the box, they only require few minutes to setup and seconds to start / boot. After a display and human interface devices such as a keyboard and mouse are connected, the zero client is ready to connect. These device can be manage / all setting can be done centrally.

vCloudPoint Thin Client Supports Wake-on-LAN (WoL) Wake-on-Lan is an Ethernet that allows a computer to be turned ON or awakened by a network message.

IP Virtualization Solution

vCloudPoint can be configured for any specific use. There might be some case or scenario where user required unique IP Address to access specific software / application from zero client. For example, there is an environment where online exam to be conduct where every user required unique IP Address, a vMatrix Server Manager software could provide IP Address to each user with DHCP or Static IP Address to specific User. These features. In addition, zero clients do fit the needs of Unique IP Address.

IT administrators can select the endpoint devices and provide the IP Address to particular user based on each device’s. While thin clients offer flexibility, vCloudPoint zero clients offer strong security, consistent performance, and ease of management.

Real-Time Audio-Video

vCloudPoint Zero clients are capable of supporting real-time audio devices like headsets and microphones with applications running inside remote session / desktops. However, the ability to utilize webcams and rich video applications such as Skype, Google Hangout, and WebEx from within remote session requires Real-Time Audio-Video (RTAV) support, which is available on vMatrix Server Manager Software and Zero Clients on Windows.

Multimedia Redirection

Multimedia redirection (MMR) provides a better user experience for video viewing, particularly for users who browser online Video. MMR redirects the media stream to the client endpoint for media processing and rendering. This local multimedia decoding requires the S100 or V1 Zero Client and at least the vMatrix Server Manager 2.0.X. If this feature is important for your organization, Please ask for POC / Demo.

Conclusion

The decision for Thin Client Solution or Server Based Computing is a simple one. It represents a departure from the PC-centric mind-set and a move toward a more user-centric model. Many different variables must be considered. When customers choose a Thin Client Solution, they must consider the use cases their employees have not only today, but also a few years in the future. Like New Windows OS support in future, Multimedia (Audio and Video), USB Peripherals Supports, Licensing cost for Thin Client Software.

The solution and examples presented illustrate that choosing a vCloudPoint Zero Client environment will reap many benefits. vCloudPoint Zero Clients require very little ongoing maintenance, and provide the highest security. A zero client environment delivers a Server Based Computing and desktop session solution that has excellent client-host-rendering capabilities, and provides a consistent user experience across the broadest set of USB Peripherals Supports.

It is the combination of vCloudPoint Zero Client and vMatrix features—no maintenance, security, rapid deployment, and lowest TCO.

vCloudPoint Thin Clients provide a highly secure, powerful, low-maintenance, high-quality end-user experience needs. Centrally managed and protected within the environment. The security and efficiency of zero clients makes them an ideal choice for Thin Client Solution or Remote Desktop or Server Based Computing solutions.

Below Link for IP Reference

1) About vCloudPoint Thin Client Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9T3Bt-OdDo

2) 30 Users Running Online Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEUMQNjQwa4&t=1s

3) IP virtualization from vCloudPoint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2HRTqb3MyY

Important Point Considerations in Choosing a Zero / Thin Client Environment or Solution

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