Virtual Computing - Our Purpose

Computers began to appear in corporate offices in the 60's and 70's, and most systems were based around a central "mainframe" computer. In those days the operating system, applications and data needed to be run and stored centrally, mostly due to the sheer cost buying and maintaining the hardware systems involved. Workers accessed their programs through simple terminal devices. Terminals did not really have any computing power on their own - they only sent the user's keyboard input to the mainframe, and displayed what the central system sent back to the user. Since programs and data were stored on the mainframe user control, application updates, and backups were relatively straightforward operations. Information technology personnel could setup new users very quickly on "dumb" terminals, and users were not restricted to just one terminal and could log in from any workstation.

Although these systems were powerful and still do much work for larger organizations today, they were out of reach for most organizations. Personal computing brought the ability to modernize many aspects of operating a small or medium business at a lower cost.

Networking with personal computers has been key to most businesses since the late 1980's. Early systems like LANtastic were "peer-to-peer" - each computer could access each others files in order to share data. Server based systems like Novell Netware evolved to provide a central repository for PC data, with mail and central database add-ons available.

The release of Windows in the early nineties and falling PC prices catalyzed business computing systems. Learning to use applications and being able to operate more than one program at a time meant increased productivity and better results from employees. Business systems have since grown into large enterprises delivering data and messaging to Windows desktop workstations. Applications and most of their processing is done at the PC level, with central servers to store and share data. This model is referred to as "distributed computing".

Distributed computing is likely what you use in your office today. One or more servers store most of your business data on a hard disk where you can access them from a "network drive". You either have your own e-mail system on a server or use a hosting service for e-mail that get's downloaded to the user's computer. You have a backup system that archives your data and mail on tape. The rest of your office network is comprised of regular Windows personal computers and printers.

A well maintained distributed computing platform is a powerful tool for any company. But maintenance is crucial to keep the system working and avoid worker idle time. Servers and workstations alike require attention to the following:

• Security updates: Windows, Office, Exchange, SQL, 3rd party Applications

• Firewall monitoring and updates

• Anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-SPAM monitoring and updates

• Backup: Files, messaging system, operating systems, databases

• Clean electrical power and monitoring

• Hardware (especially disk) failures

The distributed computing system in a typical business evolved over time from a simple peer-to-peer network to the present system of file, application, and email servers connected to Windows personal computers. This design can introduce significant challenges and added costs to a growing business:

• User workstations degrade into a mix of hardware and operating systems creating additional maintenance expense

• Difficult or impossible to provide roaming user support in a mixed hardware and software environment

• Telecommuting and remote access operations are done with slow and cumbersome VPN solutions

• Application rollouts are costly, especially to remote offices (travel expenses)

• Adding workstations for new hires is costly, time consuming, and usually requires multiple visits to resolve issues

• System control is difficult, each PC must be administered separately, users can possibly install their own applications

CORE Desktop solves many of the problems associated with a distributed computing system by centralizing processing and storage on powerful server hardware using virtualization technology. Windows desktops and applications operate from a central platform and are delivered to "thin clients" - today's equivalent to mainframe terminals - providing a single maintenance point, a consistent computing experience for users, and easy network access for remote offices and telecommuters.

• Windows desktops are delivered to thin clients or standard PCs with Terminal Server technology. Users get the same desktop whether in their cubicle, on their laptop, or from home.

• All users in your organization can finally be using the same software versions since they are delivered centrally.

• Security and anti-virus services are handled at a single point, rather that at individual workstations across your enterprise.

• Backups can be done at a single point, no need to backup workstation data (such as user profiles).

• Grade A quality equipment protects against downtime and data loss.