Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

1

Alan Darnell

University of Alberta

Libraries

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

2

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

“Fat” “Lean” “Thin”classic desktopcomputing model

Java NC model “pre-PC” computingmodel

general purpose O/Sand locally-installedapplications

Java Virtual Machinewith applicationsdownload fromserver

general purpose O/Ssupporting multipleuser sessions withremote displaycapabilities

significant hardwarerequirements withshort replacementcycles

network computerswith mid-rangehardwarerequirements

high-end serverhardware combinedwith low-costterminals or terminalemulation on legacyPCs

poor or non-existentsecurity

data and sessionstate reside onserver

applications, dataand session statereside on server

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

3

Thin-Client Model

Login Server

Application Server

PDC / BDC

File and Print Services

Windows TerminalWindows Terminal Windows Terminal

Login Server

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

4

Family Tree

WinFrame

NT 3.51 - Intel

Wincenter

NT 3.51

X Protoc

ol

NTrigueNT 3.51

MultiWin -

Hydra

ICA - Picasso

MetaFrame

NT 4.0 - Intel

Windows NT -

Terminal Server Edition

Intel and Alpha

Wincenter Connect

for MetaFram

eNT 4.0

T.Share

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

5

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

WTS and MetaFrame Compared• Management tools• Display Protocol• Client software• Web Integration• Terminal Support

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

6

Management Tools

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

• Shared set of tools in WinFrame 1.7 and WTS– monitor connections; User Manager extensions;auto logins;

idle timeouts; reconnecting sessions

• New NT 4.0 style options for polices and profiles in

WTS / MetaFrame

• Separate policies and profiles for WTS logins and

network logins

• Application compatibility scripts

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

7

WTS - Terminal Server Admin

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

8

WinFrame - WinStation Admin

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

9

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Display ProtocolsMetaFrame

Independent Computing Architecture

• Proprietary protocol developed by Citrix

• Local drive and device mapping• Audio streaming• Shadowing sessions• IPX, NetBEUI support• 256 colour support in user

defined resolutions up to 1280 x 1024

WTSRemote Desktop

Protocol• Based on T.Share (ITU T.120

conferencing protocol)• T.Share used in NetMeeting• RDP supports subset of

T.Share functions • Limited to TCP/IP

connections• 256 colour support up to 1600

x 1200

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

10

Client SoftwareWTS

• Win32, Win16, WinCEThin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

MetaFrame• Win32, Win16, WinCE• DOS• Mac• Unix (Solaris, Linux,

HP, SCO, DEC)• Plug-in (Win16 and 32)• Active-X Control• Java (JDK 1.0 and 1.1)

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

11

Web Integration

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

12

Windows Terminals• Windows CE• Intel “Lean Client”

Specification• Sound, high-end video,

10/100Mbps Ethernet• Serial, Parallel, USB ports• RDP and ICA support• No floppy drive• Boot from network or

flash memory

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

NCD ThinSTAR 300

• Local emulators (TN3270, VT220)

• Pricing under $1000 CDN• Manufactured by

Boundless, Wyse, NCD, Neoware, Tektronix

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

13

Windows Terminals

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

VXL EaziTC

IGEL “Instant TC” Flash Linux Card

• Upgrade for legacy PCs• Integrated ICA client• Not yet licensed for

RDP• Pricing under $500

CDN• Wireless tablets• High-cost ICA devices

for “roaming” users

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

14

Windows Terminals

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

RDP ICA

X

BoundlessWYSENCD

NeowareTektronix

IGELVXL

Cruise

IBM

Tektronix Thinstream

Boundless Viewpoint TC

NCD Thinstar

IBM Network Station

Neoware Neostation

Wyse Winterm

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

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Comparison Summary

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

16

Implementation Considerations

• Performance

• Security

• Licensing

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

17

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Server Configuration

• PentiumPro or PII processors• WTS supports 4-way SMP

systems “out of the box”• 32MB base memory with 4-

12MB per user session• RAID disk configuration

(striping or striping with parity)

• 100Mbps NIC

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

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Bandwidth Requirements

• Single client uses approximately 12kbps of bandwidth

• Compression• Queuing• Client-side Caching of bitmaps

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

19

Benchmarking

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Processor Speed Memory No. of LightUsers

No. ofHeavyUsers

PII x 1 300 MHz 256MB 35 10

PII x 2 300 MHz 512MB 80 30

P-Pro x 2 200 MHz 512MB 60 23

P-Pro x 4 200 MHz 1GB 155 45

From Compaq benchmark study of WTS.

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

20

Benchmarking Navigator 3.01

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Number ofStations

SimultaneousStartup Time

Time for FirstStation to Start

Time to StartOne AdditionalStation

1 12 sec 12 sec5 30 sec 12 sec10 90 sec 14 sec15 120 sec 15 sec20 150 sec 16 sec25 180 sec 17 sec30 240 sec 180 sec 18 sec

PII x 2 @ 300MHz with 512MB RAM

WinFrame 1.7 and 30 486/33’s running DOS ICA client

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

21

Security• Encryption of data stream

– WTS supports 3 levels • Low = 40 bit client to server• Medium = 40 bit two-way• High = 128 bit-two way

• Authentication dialogs encrypted• NTFS-based file system security with ZAK utilities

to lock down read-write permissions• All objects in NT Server are assigned access

rights

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

22

Licensing• Windows NT Server Terminal Server Edition

– Retail: $880 / MOLP-E: $160

• Client Access Licenses (Per Seat)– Retail: $50 / MOLP-E: $8 CDN

• NT Workstation 4.0 License (or upgrade license from Win 3.11, WFW, Win95/98 ) – Retail: $300 / MOLP-E: $80

• MetaFrame - $4,995 US for 15 users

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications

Thin-Client

Computing

forWindows

23

Applications

• Extends life of legacy hardware• Kiosk applications• Web delivery of Windows applications• Access to Windows applications from non-

Windows platforms• Task-oriented workers (Circulation,

Cataloguing)• Remote computing

Thin-Client Computing Defined

WTS and MetaFrame Compared

Implementation Considerations

Applications