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Delivering the Classroom PC with Portal-Sphere® Servers
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Deployment with VMware® and/or Virtual PC
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Delivery of a multiple PC experience with Portal-Sphere® Servers is a hybrid approach, using SBC’s with 3 to 6 (or more) Virtual Machines per blade and a thin client at the desktop. This approach yields significant advantages in asset acquisition, deployment and support in addition to an extended life cycle. More specifically:
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Advantages:
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Flexibility in re-allocation of computing resources based on utilization requirements
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Complete image of each user’s desktop PC is retained on NAS or SAN
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Individual login to W2003 server pulls the login-associated PC image from storage
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Recovery of a “crashed” PC is to reload the image
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Consistent ability to review and manage PC content through automated routines
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Ability to both install and verify software installations consistently from a single point
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Diagnostics and management from a single point
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Reduced interruptions at the desktop for support issues
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Meet increased desktop demand by adding Virtual PC’s rather than hardware
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Deliver a 100-seat experience with 25 SBC’s
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Design expansion into extended-life infrastructure
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Add Virtual PC’s as required.
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Processor upgrades over time increase VM capacity without alteration to the infrastructure
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Windows or Linux at the desktop… based on user logon ID
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If some SBC’s are configured with Virtual PC instead of VMware®, then the options include MAC OS
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Easily add classroom management systems such as Netsupport School
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Disadvantages:
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More software layers to manage
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Additional software licenses
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Reduced I/O flexibility at the desktop (which can be an advantage in some situations)
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