Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Converting Desktops to Thin Clients?

Posted by Cliff on from the cyclic-nature-of-IT dept.

tfiedler asks: "I manage about 3500 desktop computers and was recently asked by my CIO to begin looking into thin client computing, something like WYSE terminals. I'd like to know, what are some good functional, and more importantly, manageable options to convert existing desktop computers into what would essentially be a Citrix terminal? I was thinking some brand of Linux that starts up an X11 session, starts the Citrix client and connects to our server farm. The user would see a Windows logon, our apps would function as normal and I'd get the benefit of performing a LOT LESS client-side maintenance. Any suggestions?"

3 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. No by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Funny
    Thin computing is a buzzword companies throw around when the balance sheet is drifting into the red and the CEO doesn't want to give up the corporate jet. Ultimately the latencies are unacceptable, network outages paralize your entire company, and unless you're doing a lot of stuff that does't require computers in the first place the entire effort will not only fail, it will fail miserably. Look at ANY company that has attempted to deploy graphical thin clients and you will find nothing but failure. The guys at Sun will try to tell you that they have thin clients and it works great but this is not true. All the guys who do real work at the company have either laptops or SunFire machines on their desks.

    Here's a suggestion straight from the BOFH that might work though; Spin off a company to test the citrix rollout. After a couple of weeks of using citrix anyone who finds it acceptable gets moved to the new company. Then mismanage the new company into bankruptcy. You'll have gotten rid of most of the deadwood at your company and the citrix rollout will die the ignomious death it so richly deserves.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:No by Sea+Monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      We successful used Sunrays with no issues for 2.5 years doing hardware design. I don't buy your argument. Other than that Citrix sucks.

  2. Convert to thin, eh? by mkoko · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would suggest a hacksaw, a dremel, and some duct tape. Those should be able to make any desktop thinner.