Thin Client Computing
It has been years that thin-client computing is introduced and around. However, in the real sense, the thin client devices were at their pinnacle in 1991. Thin clients are small computers and are networked with each other. Thin client computing uses centralized servers and this is the way in which they interact with each other for all types of transfers and other activities. This type of computing does not include any kind of CD ROM drives, disk drives, and other types of slots for expansion. Most of the data processing tasks are performed over servers. Very few tasks are performed over the thin client like data input from a keyboard, output from the screen, and the communication that takes place between client and server. Thin client computing is very much beneficial for network administrators as it reduces the expense of disk drives, CD ROM, and other expansion slots. It also reduces the overhead associated with all these data storage devices. Thin client system has also proven itself to be the best alternative for the client-server architecture mainly for the reasons that thin-client computing provides high and improved security and also provides a strong and efficient network. Thin client computing is also very much cost-effective in terms of balancing load, centralized security, and data backups. (Thin clients information on global spec, n.d.)
There are many types of thin client computing like X windows terminals, web farm clients, and Independent computing architecture (ICA) clients. For applications like Critix mainframe and WinFrame Critix thin client is used. The advantage of using Critix thin client is that the graphical user interface of Critix provides support for UNIX, Windows, JAVA, and Macintosh applications. It also supports browser architectures such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Netscape Navigator. (Thin clients information on global spec, n.d.)
Purpose
In the last 20 years, the centralized computing model of the mainframe has been shifted to the distributed model of desktop computing. Because these personal desktops are becoming a need for every member working in the organization; whether it is corporate or academic so the expenditure of buying them and managing them everywhere in the organization is becoming unmanageable. Because of this growing problem, there is a great shift to return to the more centralized computing architecture. This type of architecture or computing strategy is also easy to manage rather than managing individual personal computers. Thin client computing structure or architecture is the picture of that shifting.
The basic goal of thin client computing is to centralize computing resources as much as possible. Apart from adding the centralized resources it also aims to provide the benefits of upgrades at low cost and easier maintenance. In addition to these entire benefits, thin client computing also wants to maintain the same quality of service to the end-user as provided by the workstation. Thin clients are lightweight machines that are basically used for display and input purposes but the reason for which these machines are used instead of full-featured, heavyweight machines. The maintenance expenditure of these machines is also very cost-effective and these machines do not require many upgrades as they are being used only for input and output processes. Thin client computers are very much like mainframe computing but the major difference is that mainframe computing was only able to perform input and output ASCII characters but thin client computing are not dumb terminals. Users today are very much inclined towards graphical user interface so it is necessary for thin-client computing to support graphical user interface in order to meet the requirements of users. (Nieh, 2000).
Components of Thin Client Computing
Thin client computing is powerful, lightweight, and flexible computing architecture. In addition to the hardware of thin clients, this server-based computing architecture requires three basic elements.
Operating System Environment
Thin client computing needs an operating system environment that can support the thin clients. The most common operating systems that are used in this architecture of thin clients include Windows, Citrix, Unix, and Linux.
Technology
This architecture needs IT technology that can have greater and stronger control over the network traffic so that the system can be secured.
Centralized Application and Client Management Soft wares
This type of architecture surely needs an application that can handle the centralized system and hence can maintain efficiency and security. One of the main features of this system is that it is centralized and has got centralized resources so if it does not have any such strong and reliable application for maintaining the centralization then the purpose of this architecture won’t be achieved. Similarly, it also needs software that can be strong enough to maintain all the thin clients over this network. As this network contains a large number of clients so their management should be proper. (Server-based computing, n.d.)
Information System
Information is a concept that has diverse meanings. It has different meanings according to its usage. Its definition in everyday usage is different than its definition in technical use. Generally speaking, the concept of information is the collection of data related to a particular topic or business, or organization. It provides knowledge relating to a certain topic or field. The information is mostly gathered by studying, researching, or experience. This information is then transformed into a type that is asked or understandable by the intended people. The information can contain facts or data in any medium. It can also be known as the result of gathering, manipulation, processing, and organization of data. The concept of information is most closely related to the ideas of constraint, communication, facts, type, instructions, control, understanding, sense, model, perception, or representation. (Information: Definition, n.d.)
Once the data is gathered it is arranged and stored by using the business applications of the computer. A system has to be set up for managing and protecting the information. This system can be known as the information system of the organization or enterprise. This information system comprises a database, few application programs, manual procedures, and some machine procedures. It also uses computer systems to perform the processing and manipulation processes over data. For maintaining the information system for any organization it is necessary that the database should be well maintained. The database should have all the master files as well as transaction files and all the activities that are taking place in the organization. The application programs should be enabled to provide the operations of data entry, updating the data, query processing, and report processing. The manual procedures include the documentation of what input has been used as an input and what are the outputs produced by the system. Machine procedures should direct the computer system about how to perform the tasks that are in queue or scheduled. In such procedures, the output driven from one activity is used as an input for the other activity. The information system should update all the files when the new record has been entered. The process of updating can be done on daily basis or periodically. The maintenance and updating of information systems are very much essential for any organization as the information plays the role of blood for every business and if it is not updated or is incorrect then it may lead the business to its downfall. Information can be needed at any instance for any matter, it can be accessed at any time to make decisions or to plan that what step should be taken next so it should be ready every time. If the information is not arranged properly then it is also a wastage of time to look for the information. (Information system: definition, n.d.)
Implementation of Thin Client Computing In Information System
Obviously thin client computing refers to the shift towards centralized computing but it also emphasizes on maintaining the benefits and facilities offered by the personal computers. But in developing an information system using the personal computers each of the personal desktop will require separate hard ware for display, all the other applications and soft wares and all other peripherals that are needed to input and then manage the information. Where as the thin client is a terminal that can be known as a display only terminal. It does not have any hard disk drive and in addition it also does not require any kind of software installed over it. As it does not have any kind of storage device so no data is stored in it. Instead of storing the data in all the single personal computers with in the organization it is better to have client server approach. If an information system is generated by using the thin client architecture then all the applications will be processed on the powerful servers attached and thin client will only allow you to input the information by using the keyboards associated with every thin client and it will also allow showing the output on the display terminals. SO in this way the information will be centralized and it will be much more secure rather than storing it on different personal desktops. Updating the information is again very easy in this case as the data is centralized so only updating is required at one place. Applying thin client computing to the information system is very much cost effective and easy to manage. As thin clients just need enough power to generate the screen display at the user’s end. Therefore there are no expenses of upgrading the soft wares and hard wares on every thin client when new versions are released. This thin client computing architecture makes it easy to gather all the data at one place and at the same time it also allow any number of people to access the data at the same time by simply plugging in their thin client or display terminal. Thin client computing allows you to use the benefits of all kinds of modern hard wares, soft wares and application programs without increasing the complexity of the system itself. It not only reduces the complexity of the system but at the same time it also reduces the cost that is required for delivering the updated versions of all the hard wares, soft wares and application programs to all the desktops in the traditional desktop based information system. (Greenberg, 2000).
Development of Thin Client Computing in Information System
The thin client computing has done a lot of developments after it has been implemented in the information system structure.
Reduced Cost
It has lower down the cost of ownership as well as the cost of maintenance as no updates are required. It has reduced the cost that is usually applied over per user. It can be expanded to hundreds and thousands of users but that would not be expensive. As all the processes of upgrading have to be done on server so it has also reduced the amount of time that is being utilized.
Reliability
Over the period of two decades it has developed a lot in the area of reliability. If any of the thin clients is damaged then only that terminal has to be replaced rather than making many changes or facing a great loss. The server hard wares are much better in performance as compared to the other traditional desktops and it also has very less chances of failure. As the application programs and all the soft wares are centralized so user’s problems can be easily fixed and there is no need to find out a technician who visits every desktop and fixes it.
Better Security
This is the most prominent area where very much development has taken place. The data and information is stored centrally so it is very much secure. If the organization does not want any of his member to access the information then simple his login will be disabled and he won’t be able to access the information that is stored. As thin client computing do not involves any kind of storage devices so there are no chances of transferring the confidential information through storage devices. One of the major developments that have been made in using thin client computing architecture for developing information systems is that this architecture can view all the activities of all the end users. So the users can be monitored that what they are doing with data and how they are using it and for why.
Access
Users get the same data no matter from where they are using this data or from which terminal. It is not necessary that for accessing any kind of information they should login from their own terminal rather they can use the same information from their office, as well as remote office or home.
Simplified
If thin client computing is implemented then it is very much easy for the end users to manage it. The end users do not have to do much for getting in to the network. They just simply have to plug and play. Only the cables of the terminals are to be connected then it is turned on and you can start using it by logging in. As there is not data storage so the user does not need to worry about the management and handling of terminals. All the thin clients do support the graphical user interface so after plugging in the device the user does not need any technician to configure the system. It is simple and easy to use as compared to traditional information systems that are developed using personal computers. (Greenberg, 2000)
Benefits of Thin Client Computing
Thin client computing has provided a lot of benefits:
- As it is a centralized system so it makes it easy to perform management activities. All the thin clients are easy to manage no matter how many clients are added in a single network.
- It has provided a pattern that can continuously provide development of the system and organization if it is followed repeatedly.
- By using thin client computing the skills can be divided easily and very finely.
- It saves a lot time of the client and development time is also improved.
- There are very less chances of system failure.
- By offering multiple data models, servers and protocols it improves the flexibility of the system.
- As it implies user friendly environment so it is very much easy to use.
- It reduces the cost of maintenance as the terminals are only the display devices and there are no other soft wares and hard wares are loaded on them. The server has very less chance of damage or malfunctioning. (Bahars, 2003).
Designing the Thin Client Computing
If an organization is interested in implementing the thin client architecture then there is a broad variety of devices that are available to choose from them. Most of the times the terminal side is easy to choose but a lot of factors have to be taken under consideration while choosing the server side of the architecture. There are many serious and important issues that should be observed while choosing the server side. The server hardware, its size and the software configuration details should be paid great deal of attention and should be handles carefully as these are the core of implementing this thin client system. For getting the benefits of this system it is necessary to build the system with great care. All the things should be carefully observed, tested, researched and reassessed before implementation. It would be a better approach to hire a qualified designer who can guide the organization about the proper deployment. (Greenberg, 2000).
Thin client computing is very much needed for developing the information systems in any organization so as to minimize the risks of data loss and also to reduce the amount spent on establishing the system. It is a cost effective system and it also saves the time that is spend in developing as well as maintaining the system. In the UNIX and mainframe world, thin client computing has proven to be the solution of many problems and also the improvements over many factors. By the arrival of products like Citrix Winframe, Citrix Metaframe and Microsoft Windows NT terminal server the environment is getting very much user friendly and easily maintainable. One of the main factors that makes thin client computing a better solution is that it does not require much configuration and setups as it is very much environmental friendly. The applications are loaded in the same way over the server as it used to be loaded over the desktop computers. But the primary reason for using these systems is there performance, reliability and security. Each and every input from the user is passed to the server and any information for which the user has asked for is displayed over their display terminals. The response time is mostly very short but it also depends over the network speed of the user’s network. (Ash, 1999).
Thin client computing has proven itself to be a promising technique and solution with minimized cost of ownership so it can be implemented in almost all the organizations. With the growing popularity of thin client architectures there is an increasing need of developing the techniques that can compare the performance and feasibility of different thin client computing models. It can become easy to choose that what type of model should be implemented in what type of organization. (Nieh, 2000).
References
Jeff Ash. Supporting the client server architecture (1999). Web.
Jason Nieh. A comparison of thin client computing architectures (2000). Web.
Information: Definition. 2008. Web.
Information system: definition. 2008. Web.
Peter Bahars. Introduction to thin client framework (2003). Web.
Server based computing. 2008. Web.
Steve Greenberg. Thin client computing- Server based computer systems (2000). Web.
Thin clients information on global spec. 2008. Web.