Thin client notebooks

[JamesMason]

As I’ve read so many posts on here about issues with wireless notebooks swamping AP’s and being unreliable not to mention a faff to manage software wise I decided during a recent trial to try Citrix.

We bought some XP Home netbooks and then used Citrix to deliver a desktop over wireless, these have worked flawlessly and I’ve hardly had to visit them.

I'm just wondering if I can justify the extra cost to SLT as we roll out more notebooks.

Does anyone here use Citrix for this?
Do you think I can justify the extra initial cost?

Cheers for any input.

[Ric_]

SNAP! Been doing this for 3 years with 30 laptops in our science department... it works well. Of course I use thin clients elsewhere so the Citrix isn't just for that.

Also remember that you can use remote access to justify your XenApp licensing costs.

[apaton]

I would look at Sun Rays, SGD and netbooks.

1) A true Sun Ray Laptop from Tadpole/Gobi (Cost more that a basic laptop )

2) Use a basic laptop/windows netbook you can load the SunRay PC Client.

3) Use a basic laptop/any netbook (java) and use SGD browser based client.

Any of the options would work and costs might be attractive over Citrix.
*Still need to host windows session on VDI/TS solution, the above just covers the client access.

[JamesMason]

Yes the remote access side of things will help smooth the expense over. It's difficult to quantify the expense of managing windows notebooks on wireless, I’ve spoken to a few schools and they seem to have no end of problems with slow or no access when they're all in use at the same time which would be common in this area.

I think in light of this we'll push on with the thin client idea.


@ apaton: we already have a Citrix farm in place.

Thanks.

[apaton]

@ apaton: we already have a Citrix farm in place.

Thanks.

Sun Ray also works with Citrix no problems, just use the Solaris x86 or Linux ICA client so above still applies, except for the use of SGD.

Netbook runs Sun Ray Client -> Sun Ray Server with ICA Client -> Citrix Farm. EASY
Then a user can move to Sun Ray Desk top client and get the same session!!

Andy

[Ric_]

Sun Ray Server with ICA Client -> Citrix Farm. EASY

This is how I run my Sun Rays... simples!

For the OP's purposes, it isn't really necessary though.

[googlemad]

I would be interested to know if anyone has used the Tadpole thin client laptops and has managed to get the 'tap to click' function to work, because we haven't! (The option is there and set to enabled but does nothing, which is really annoying when you take it for granted!)

[JamesMason]

Guys could you please elaborate on how the sun setup would benefit me here would it save money or provide extra functionality?

Ric_ why do you use sun global desktop and Citrix, I was under the impression that they were competing services. Can you buy wireless Sun devices instead of netbooks/notebooks running Windows/Linux?

Thanks.

[Bezwick]

I have converted several old "laptops for teachers" laptops to wireless thin clients. All of them came with XP home license so just use that along with steadystate and they work like a charm. Even the old Toshiba Sat Pro A10's fly along (although i did need to spend £5 on these for an internal wireless card).
So if you are short of cash you could always buy a few cheap second hand laptops and convert them.

[Ric_]

@JamesMason: In this instance, stick with your Citrix... there is no benefit.

I do not use SGD (I use Citrix Secure Gateway instead)... I simply have a room full of Sun Ray clients because they are very cost effective and look nice!

[Axel]

Ric,

Could you give some indication of the cost of your Sunray deployment - including the extra server(s) required (do you have a redundant hot swap server?)

I can believe the extra server possibly provides added functionality, but overall on a £ per seat basis is it really cheaper than standard thin clients...?

[linescanner]

Ric,

Could you give some indication of the cost of your Sunray deployment - including the extra server(s) required (do you have a redundant hot swap server?)

I can believe the extra server possibly provides added functionality, but overall on a £ per seat basis is it really cheaper than standard thin clients...?

This is an Apples and Pears question. Sun Ray is NOT thin client, it is so much more (or less...depending on which way you look). Yes there is the extra layer required in the Solaris/Linux servers that adds initial cost over Thin Clients. But this is where the power of Sun Ray lies, it gives you really fine grained control etc.

You can do thin client cheap as chips, but if you want to take it to the next level, which most schools will need to then you have to look at the more complex systems....Citrix, Sun Ray etc.

[linescanner]

@JamesMason: In this instance, stick with your Citrix... there is no benefit.

I do not use SGD (I use Citrix Secure Gateway instead)... I simply have a room full of Sun Ray clients because they are very cost effective and look nice!

Agree with Ric. Stick with it unless there is a real pressing reason to move away.