UW Parkside

1
UW Parkside ITMC-Management of Lab Computers
Panel Discussion April 20, 2009
Mike Schopp schopp_at_uwp.edu Bob
Czarny czarny_at_uwp.edu
2
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel
Discussion
Agenda
FLX Computing Overview
Deployments
Architecture
Lessons Learned/Known Issues
3
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel Discussion

• What is FLX computing?
• Its On-Demand Desktop Streaming where operating
  systems, applications and data are streamed to
  diskless desktops from a shared, standards-based
  server. Its designed for desk-based workers, such
  as those in education computer labs.

4
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel Discussion

• Advantages of FLX computing
• Faculty and students receive a consistent user
  experience on all computers.
• Centralized IT management without compromising
  end-user productivity.
• Virus resistance, making malware less of a
  concern because each re-boot restores the
  original image.
• Support the initiative to consolidate lab
  resources.
• A boot menu can be designed allowing the
  selection of multiple images.
• IT response time is decreased for faculty
  requests for new applications and updates.
• Eliminates almost all desk-side administration
  visits because software and data reside in the
  data center.

5
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel Discussion
Agenda
FLX Computing Overview
Deployments
Architecture
Lessons Learned/Known Issues
6
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel Discussion

• Deployments

• Characteristics of Deployment Candidates
• Stable application base updates handled between
  semesters
• Areas not deployed
• Research Labs Require on the fly application
  updates

7
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel
Discussion
Agenda
FLX Computing Overview
Deployments
Architecture
Lessons Learned/Known Issues
8
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel Discussion

• Architecture
• Hardware
• 1 Server Per 100 Clients
• Gigabit Backbone
• Dell Optiplex 755/760 FLX Clients
• Software
• Cache Design
• Image Storage
• High Availability
• No service interruption
• Automatic load redirection
• Different experience for different disk modes
• Server Side Cache
• Client Side Cache

9
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel
Discussion
Agenda
FLX Computing Overview
Deployments
Architecture
Lessons Learned/Known Issues
10
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel
Discussion

• Issues
• Required consistency of peripheral location and
  revision level
• Loss of machine password in A.D.
• Menu operation

11
ITMC-Management of Lab Computers Panel
Discussion

• References
• http//www.dell.com/flexiblecomputing
• http//support.citrix.com/product/provsvr/psv4.5/
  tab-topic