The complexities of managing desktop computers can be very challenging for IT managers and ultra-expensive for businesses. Deploying and upgrading systems, for example, often requires tens or hundreds of time-consuming visits to individual workstations. In addition, administrators deal daily with system crashes and accidental machine damage due to end-user errors.
These mistakes, of course, result in a plethora of help desk calls – and off goes another of your well-paid IT employees to deal with a single machine, possibly wasting several hours or more. And let us all collectively shudder at the lurking possibility that, at any given time, an employee might stick a corrupt file into his or her hard drive; the potential cost and system damage from this class of accident is practically inestimable.
To cut down on these hassles and expenses, many companies deploy managed PC solutions. Traditional managed PCs rely on custom software applications that sit on a server for users to share. Because these applications are centralized, they are easier to access if something goes wrong. In addition, implementations and upgrades require only one process instead of many desktop visits.
However, this system does have its drawbacks. Unlike traditional desktops, managed PCs focus solely on access and entry rather than on processing, which translates into less power at slower speeds. And because managed PC solutions require desktop computers to reside in every workspace, your IT staff still spends a great deal of time travelling from office to office. In addition, with managed PCs, your users retain access to floppy drives and CD-ROMs, with which they can accidentally brew a whole host of costly disasters.
Recently at PC Expo, ClearCube Technology announced its new C3 Architecture, a desktop management system that provides the centralization benefits of a managed PC solution but with greater control for administrators and superior performance for end-users.
With the ClearCube solution, every employee still uses a standard and fully-functional PC. But instead of placing PCs on individual desktops, ClearCube uses Intel-based hardware in the form of small cards or CPU Blades, which collectively reside in a metal housing rack that is centrally managed from a secure environment. Besides the mouse, monitor and keyboard, the only thing that sits on the user desktop is a small C/Port box, which provides a category 5 connection to the CPU Blade. ClearCube’s patented technology allows the category 5 wire to carry a mixture of digital and analogue signals as far as 600 feet.
Personalized Applications
Because the CPU Blades (read: PCs) reside in a central environment, installations and upgrades are a cinch and user damage to your network is all but eliminated. As with managed PC tools, ClearCube relieves your IT staff of copious personal visits in response to help desk calls. But unlike ordinary managed PC solutions, ClearCube also allows users to maintain personalized applications with all of the power of a traditional PC.
And with ClearCube, your users have no floppy drives or CD-ROMs. Although this may result in certain inconveniences, such as for the employee who wants to take home a file for the evening, it reduces the chances of an infected file sneaking into your network.
To put the solution to the test, we set up several ClearCube PCs and gathered a group of Test Center analysts to serve as lab rats. We hid each system underneath a workbench so that the lab rats did not know they were using the ClearCube instead of a standard PC.
The analysts accessed files off the network, created documents, and surfed the Net. None of them noted any unusual system behaviour or usage issues. Except for the fact that they had no access to a floppy drive or a CD-ROM, their experience was the same as if they were sitting in front their own machines.
C3’s solution is ideal for organizations that want to contain a high number of PCs in one location without sacrificing the speed or performance of any individual machine. Obviously, if you have already invested in an entire network of desktops, ClearCube’s solution might seem like a major and costly overhaul. However, it is worth the investment to roll out this solution slowly, beginning with those areas that most require centralization, such as call centres or support desks. This truly innovative product gives us a glimpse of the future of desktop management and easily earns our top score of Excellent.
Senior analyst Orubeondo (ana_orubeondo@infoworld.com) relishes client hardware, workstations and laptops.
Review Box:
C3 Architecture
Supplier: ClearCube Technology
Platforms: Windows 95/98/2000, Windows NT, DOS, Linux
Cost: Starts at US$1,095 for Pentium III600 with Intel 810e
Pros: Reduces administrative and support costs; secures business data and company hardware; comes with three-year warranty; lack of floppy drives and CD-ROMs increases network security
Cons: Lack of floppy drives and CD-ROMs causes inconvenience to end-users