The Progress of Thin Clients
Thin clients have evolved into a remarkably robust, adaptable, and secure
way to access host data.
Before we look at where we are now in terms of thin-client technology, it is useful to look at where we came from.
When thin clients first appeared on the market over 10 years ago, IBM was a great proponent of this technology even though the first units had slow CPUs, limited memory, and Linux-based operating systems. The early Netvista thin clients required a boot server to download the code to the thin client each time the thin client booted up.
In the early days of thin clients, networks were still employing hubs instead of switches. Hubs share all network traffic with all the attached devices; therefore, this type of technology did not work well with the boot-server type of thin clients. The term "boot storm" was associated with this type of implementation. In other words, when many thin clients were started at the same time, the network was unable to handle the traffic caused by downloading the OS to every thin client.
Windows CE
As time went on, new operating systems like Windows CE were developed, and the boot-server type of thin client was phased out. In addition, networks started to use switches, eliminating the need to share bandwidth between devices while being capable of full duplex traffic (sending and receiving at the same time). Small in size, Windows CE could fit on the Disk-On-Chip (DOC) mounted inside the thin client as well as provide a place to embed applications.
Windows CE, however, had its own challenges; stability proved an issue for these early versions, especially when it came to embedded applications. In addition, the Windows server platforms (NT Terminal Server and Windows 2000 Server) and the early version of Citrix were not delivering what people expected from a server platform for hosted applications. Even with Windows 2000, the server's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) offered only 256 colors, limited compression, and no encryption. The early version of Citrix did offer compression and enhanced color support; however, bidirectional sound only recently became available.
Thin Clients Today
Over the last few years, the average CPU speed has gone from below 200 Mhz to over 500 Mhz. With a faster CPU, running Linux or embedded Windows XP (XPe) has become much more feasible. These operating systems are better-suited to running local applications; in addition, many provide full-function browsers with Java Virtual Machine (JVM) capability, email, enhanced terminal emulation (the ability to hot-key between applications and window one application on another), and much more of the functionality that users are used to seeing on the PC.
Windows 2003 for thin clients now has high-color support, sound delivered to the desktop, data compression, and better printing support. Citrix has also updated its product to provide better security, better compression, bidirectional sound, security enhancements such as smart card and biometric device support, and published applications (the ability to launch single applications from the server on the thin client without having to give the user access to the complete server-based desktop).
Consultants have been saying for a long time that thin clients are the future, although, for good reason, the market has been slow to take up this new direction. Today, thin client technology has finally caught up with the vision; most intelligent thin clients can work nearly like a PC, giving the user all of the desired flexibility and performance while providing the data processing department with its control and security benefits.
A few years ago, most companies had two or three models of thin clients, but today there are many models to choose from with varying CPU speeds, memory capacities, storage capacities, and operating systems.
Customized Thin Clients
Customization of thin clients is gaining importance with both Linux and XPe
models because customers have their own ideas of what is needed on a machine.
Thin-client manufacturers that can respond quickly to customization requests are
gathering momentum in what is becoming a huge market.
Sophisticated Printer Support
As a company requires printing of more complex types of data, such as barcodes, it is critical that the chosen thin-client technology can handle necessary printers and data streams. For example, as companies convert their older twinax-based workstations (with passthrough enabled for locally attached printers), it is being discovered that the generic emulations supplied by many thin-client companies just can't cope with the printer data. With twinax connected devices, the data sent from the iSeries has encoding that tells the terminal to pass data directly to the printer without conversion. But on Ethernet-connected devices, the only way to accomplish this in a standardized way is to use a technology called Host Print Transform (HPT). With HPT, the host system knows what the target printer is and therefore puts needed escape (ESC) codes within the data itself. All of this works fine until a print job uses special codes to handle more complex types of printing, such as barcodes, which require a more sophisticated printer session on the thin client.
Tablet Thin Clients
A new thin-client device that is proving to be beneficial to many companies is a wireless tablet that takes the place of a hand-held barcode scanner with small display screens.
In a warehouse environment, since inventory control software normally comes from an iSeries, a fixed terminal from which data is entered and checked is usually placed somewhere in the warehouse. However, many companies that need untethered data I/O devices are modifying their inventory programs to allow inventory data I/O via special hand-held scanners that display a few small lines of text. Some thin-client manufacturers now sell wireless thin-client tablet displays so that existing full-screen inventory programs can be used directly on the tablet anywhere in the facility, which eliminates the need to modify the inventory program. The tablet can be carried by the user with a neck strap or mounted on a forklift or on the wall. Versions of the thin-client tablet can even be purchased with General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) support that will work
anywhere there is cell coverage.
All-in-One Thin Clients
Another growing trend is the use of "all-in-one" thin clients. These thin clients have the thin-client technology contained inside an LCD flat-panel monitor. The benefit here is to minimize the amount of desk space used and remove the clutter of additional wiring. The apex of this is a wireless all-in-one unit with a touch screen. This type of unit is often utilized in point-of-sale applications to replace PCs with touch screens.
Biometric Security Features
The ability to secure access to thin clients with a biometric device is beginning to appear in thin-client applications. A biometric device is a fingerprint reader that is either a direct-attached device or a device that connects via the mouse, keyboard, or monitor. When prompted, the user places his or her index finger on the reader and the device verifies identity by comparing the fingerprint with those already recorded. For instance, when utilized with Citrix systems, the output from the biometric device would be linked to a Citrix logon. Once a user is verified by a biometric device, the thin client can start various programs based on who the user is and how the software is programmed. For example, in hospital settings, the applications that each person uses can automatically move along with the user as the user moves around the facility. Biometric authentication saves time, provides an additional layer of security, and eliminates the need for users to remember their passwords.
A New World of Thin Clients
The demand for thin-client technology is increasing while smaller, faster, more portable, more secure, and more adaptable thin-client products keep appearing on the market. This trend bodes well for the future of thin clients as the technology begins to fulfill the vision that was put forth when these devices first appeared on the market.
BOSaNOVA, Inc. is a leading developer of enterprise-class thin client and network appliance solutions for Linux, XP, and CE.Net.
Author:
Martin Pladgeman is President of
BOSaNOVA, Inc.,
a leading developer of security solutions, enterprise-class thin clients and
iSeries connectivity solutions. BOSaNOVA thin clients provides a choice between CE.Net, LINUX, and XP Embedded and offers a host of unique features.
For more information please contact us at 800-866-6267 or info@bosanova.net
