The sharp end of the stick – where work gets done
Workstations are the primary tool of the user. The workstation is where a user gets access to the software tools that get work done. The workstation is where the user can sign on and access all the programs needed to perform the job, the portal through which a user can access: Files, programs, browsing the internet, communicating via E-Mail. The workstation is the users virtual workspace.
The workstation is the hardware that gives the user access to the computer operating system and everything a user has been allowed to run. Workstations can be high-end PCs used for running Computer Aided Design and Solids Modeling, or simpler “smart” terminals (thin-clients) that allow the user to access a virtual desktop offered by a terminal server running office applications. In either case, the workstation’s desktop environment should initially be configured to conform to corporate policy and standards.
Show The Drew Way - Save more expensive PCs for needed specialized workstations – try thin clients
Show The Drew Way - Recycle old PCs into "thin-clients" by installing the special Thin-PC version of Windows 7
Save more expensive PCs for needed specialized workstations – try thin clients
Thin Clients, or Windows Terminals, are specialized hardware devices that generally cost much less that full PCs (between $200 and $300) and require very little to configure. These devices generally are a simple motherboard with some built in ROM and enough memory to run a “Remote Desktop” client. There is no hard disk, it generates very little heat and can be quickly configured to connect to a Terminal Server. There is very little to wear out or break in a thin client, but if one becomes inoperative, a user can bring up a spare one and be working within minutes, without loss of any access to desktop functions.
Recycle old PCs into “thin-clients” by installing the special Thin-PC version of Windows 7.
If you have older PCs you can recycle them (if they are still running) into a thin client terminal by using Microsoft’s Thin-PC operating system. This is a scaled down version of Windows 7 optimized for running the Remote Desktop Connection program. It can be installed from a standard initial-image so there is much less configuration than a standard PC. There is no other software to install, since the user gets there desktop from the Terminal Server.
Most workstations (both PCs and Thin Clients) have many functions for authorized users:
- The ability to connect to multiple monitors
- Local speakers
- Allow local USB drive connection (either simple thumb drives or full USB external disks)
- Locally connected printers (although this is not recommended – please see the “Structure | Printers” section for details)
- Local Keyboard and mouse / trackball / touchpad as a Human Interface Devices
- The only caveat is that locally connected scanners do not work for Thin Clients (see preferred method under “Structure | Scanners”)
- Any PC, if need, be can also run the Remote Desktop Connection to standard desktop software offered by the Terminal Server. This means that when you actually need a Workstation PC (for CAD or other highly compute-bound special instances), you only need to install the specialized software on that PC while all the standard applications (office, browsers, special Line-of-Business software) are running from the Terminal Server.
Your mix of PCs and Thin Clients can be determined by consulting with bāsupport, inc.