[UgaBYTES] Ncomputing technology may help lower costs of business

[Cleopa Timon Otieno]

Analysts contend that if the cost of computing were to drop significantly,
another one billion users around the world would join the information
economy.

Using the latest computing technology in performing different chores is
necessary as notes Ms Ebby Kosgei, a sales administrator at Smoothtel. She
says it makes work easier, improves on quality delivery and saves time.

A centrally managed solution has now been developed that would be easy to
use and maintain by all staff.

The NComputing solution is based on a simple fact: today’s PCs are so
powerful that only a small fraction of their computing capacity is required
for the vast majority of applications.

"NComputing taps the unused capacity by enabling up to 30 simultaneous users
to run their own applications from a shared PC at a cost of as low as $70
per additional user," she says. Technology comes at a cost. For companies
that use a large number of machines, scarcity of resources may make it
impossible to maintain all the machines all at once even for a minor hitch.

The maintenance costs may be driven even higher depending on the individual
computer consumption of electricity. In key organisations, for instance
hospitals, surgical and operation units rely on computing. A simple
technical problem like fan failure would require expensive and
time-consuming maintenance and more importantly, long downtime while the PCs
are being fixed.


*How it works*

Each user’s monitor, keyboard and peripherals connect to a small NComputing
access device (virtual PC) that then connects to the shared PC. The virtual
PC is inexpensive and highly reliable because it has no CPU, memory or
moving parts.

NComputing virtualisation software shares the overabundant processing power
of the PC and transmits the signals between the virtual PC and the shared
PC. The solution is easy to deploy and maintain.

NComputing systems are compatible with Windows, Linux and standard PC
applications. As a major leap forward in green computing, NComputing virtual
PCs draw from one to five watts of power for each user versus 115 watts for
a typical PC—a 90 per cent reduction in energy consumption.

Customers tend to need either flexible long-distance networking, or high-end
multimedia performance. NComputing offers products tuned to each market. The
L-series uses standard Ethernet networking infrastructure, such as routers,
switches and wide-area networks (so that users can be located many miles
away from the PC) to connect to the shared PC.

The X-series is ideal for workgroup clusters; it requires the users to be
within 30 feet of the PC, but delivers the ultimate multimedia experience.

"The X300 Access Terminal Kit can help educators cut computing costs by
allowing them to share one shared PC with three additional users, or up to
seven users with two kits.


*computer capacity*

The kit’s PCI card, access terminals, and software harness excess computing
capacity.

"The kit connects users directly to the shared PC via standard cable,
includes terminal services software for Windows and Linux and supports
standard applications, including multimedia" she explains adding that each
user has a standard monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers.

The L-series uses standard Ethernet infrastructure and has effectively no
distance limitations. A standard PC can support 10 users with a desktop
operating system OS, 30 with a server OS, and hundreds with a virtualised
server. The L-series delivers web multimedia and costs about $200 per user.

The X-series provides ultimate multimedia performance. It uses
direct-connect cables (up to 10 meters long) between the shared PC and the
users.

An X-series kit includes a PCI card that installs into a slot in the shared
PC and 3 or 5 access devices (depending on the model). With two kits in one
PC, you get up to 11 users on one PC. X-series kits costs about US$70 per
user. The vSpace virtualisation software is included.



-- 
Cleopa Timon Otieno
www.ugunja.org , www.kenyatelecentres.org
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