Centralized Desktop is an innovative technological solution that allows you to use the desktop of a PC/Server from multiple workstations, called terminals. With this system the terminals use the desktop and all programs installed on the PC/Server, while maintaining excellent performance and simplifying IT management.
This technology, called Terminal Services, was developed by Microsoft to replace older operating systems like Windows 98 in large companies, without having to change the hardware of the workstations that were turned into terminals.
Today, thanks to new software products of other companies and to a new generation of terminals of reduced size (called thin-client), the use of a centralized desktop is affordable for everyone!
How does Centralized Desktop work
Once the ThinStuff software is installed on a PC, this becomes a desktop server: terminals, which can be thin-client or old PC, connect to the server and use, each independently and autonomously, the server's desktop.
With this solution programs and printers installed on the PC/Server are immediately available for all users - except those rare programs that due to technical or licensing prevent the simultaneous use by different users.
Even security of access to data and internet is much easier to manage: just set antivirus and access on your PC/Server; turning old PCs into terminals you will have a secure and fully efficient network, fast and easy to manage.
What you need
Centralized Desktop requires at least 1 PC/Server to use as server and software to turn a XP/Vista/7 desktop into a server desktop. You can now use your old PC as terminal because connection software for connecting to Centralized Desktop (also called RDesktop, Remote Desktop or Terminal Server) is already present in all versions of Microsoft Windows and Linux.
To have a secure system, with backup and antivirus, you can just install on the PC/Server, saving time and licenses.
Economic benefits
The following table shows a comparison that estimates the cost of ownership, management, maintenance and power consumption between a company that uses a server for sharing data and 10 workstations consisting of ordinary PCs and those incurred after adopting a solution UnDesktop combined with the use of 10 thin-client workstations. Estimated costs per year.
SERVER + 10 PC
UNDESKTOP + 10 THIN-CLIENT
Ownership hardware cost
The minimum cost of an office workstation is about € 400 and its average duration is estimated to be 4 years
€400 x 10 / 4
€ 1000/year
The minimum cost of a thin-client is about € 200, and its life expectancy is estimated at 10 years
€250 x 10 / 10
€ 250/year
Management cost
€ 6.000,00
€ 600,00
The use of thin-client requires the Centralized Desktop. This means that any type of intervention performed on the main machine, is reflected immediately on all workstations. For example if you install and configure a printer to be shared among 10 PC it takes 30 minutes each, in a centralized environment just install and configure it on the main machine as an ordinary PC, making the printer instantly becomes available to all terminals.
Maintenance cost
€ 500,00
(€ 50.00)
In maintenance costs, we estimated a theoretical figure of € 50/year per workstation, considering the possible breakdown in PC power supplies, fans, cards or hard drives. These costs are not present with the use of terminals, as there are no moving parts subject to wear or breakage. This is also why a terminal has an average life considerably higher compared to a PC. Furthermore, the UnDesktop certified machines are chosen from among those of the best manufacturers on the market and offer robust features much more than regular workstation.
Electrical power cost
€ 871,20
€ 95,04
The cost of electricity was calculated considering several parameters, such as:
- 1kWh = € 0.15 - Average consumption PC/Server = 300Wh - Average consumption thin client = 5Wh - Usage time = 8 hours/day, 220 working days/year
Total amount
€ 8371.20
€ 995.04
Sometimes costs relating to management are considered irrelevant because a person inside the company takes care of IT structure. It should not be underestimated because time he spends to follow the various computer problems that may occur is taken off to functions for which that individual was hired.
Basic features:
The following table shows the basic features of the 3 different XP/VS versions
XP/VS Server versions:
Lite
Standard
Professional
Features Version 1.x
Remote Control Mirroring of Remote Desktop sessions for support purposes
Starting single applications instead of a full Windows Desktop in Remote Desktop sessions (not seamless)
Access to server devices and resources in Remote Desktop sessions
Following client devices and resources can be used inside of Remote Desktop sessions: printers, clipboard, smart cards, ports (COM, LPT), drives*
Remote audio from server to client in Remote Desktop sessions (audio downstream)*
Audio recording from client to server in Remote Desktop sessions (audio upstream)**
Windows Media Player redirection from server to clientin Remote Desktop sessions**
TS Easy Print (Client side printer driver support) With TS Easy Print no printer drivers have to be installed on the server**
TS RemoteApp (Seamless Windows): Same as TSXRemoteApp but does not work if XP/VS Server is installed on Windows XP, Vista or Server 2003
True Multimonitor support, Applications behave in RDP sessions spanning over multiple monitors the same as locally (maximize over just 1 monitor etc.)**
Aero Glass Remoting Support of 3D effects and transparency over RDP (not on Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic - only works on certain operating systems.Aero Glass Remoting FAQ entry http://www.thinstuff.com/faq/index.php?solution_id=1060) AeroGlass Remoting FAQ:http://www.thinstuff.com/faq/index.php?solution_id=1060)
Enhanced Application Compatibility Compatibility mode for legacy applications which are not Terminal Server capable
Domain authentication of Remote Desktop users (The XP/VS Server system must be member of a Windows Server Domain - does not work on Windows Home Editions)
* not supported if XP/VS Server is installed on Vista Home operating systems ** only works if XP/VS Server is installed on Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2
Advanced features:
The following table shows the optional features of the 3 different XP/VS versions
XP/VS Server versions:
Lite
Standard
Professional
TSXRemoteApp (Seamless Windows) Allows publishing of single applications seamlessly instead of publishing a complete desktop session.Applications published with TSX RemoteApp RemoteApp appear on the client desktop as if they were local. Works on all operating systems including Windows XP, Vista and Server 2003 (requiresTSXRemote Desktop Connection client on the client system)
TSXSession Broker (Load Balancing) Based on server load values incoming RDP sessions are automatically assigned to individual servers in multiple server environments(The XP/VS Server system must be member of a Windows Server Domain - does not work on Windows Home editions, Windows 8/ Windows Server 2012)
TSXUSB Allows you to use all client attached USB devices in your Remote Desktop session as if they were directly attached to the local USB port of the server. This is useful for e.g. USB flatbed scanners, MFC devices (printer, scanner, fax), handhelds, mobile phones, webcams etc.
Supported server operating systems:
The following table shows the supported operating systems (Please Note !!! Only GDR versions are supported !!!)
XP/VS Server versions:
Lite
Standard
Professional
Supported Server Operating Systems x86(32-Bit) and x64 (64-Bit)
Windows XP All versions including XP Home
Windows Vista All versions including Vista Home Basic and Home Premium
Windows 7, 8,8.1 All versions including Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium / Windows 8/8.1 Standard, Professional and Enterprise
Windows Server2003/2008/2008 R2/2012 All versions including Small Business Server (also 2011), Web Server and Foundation Server (without the Terminal Services / Remote Desktop Services role), Windows Server 2012 Essentials
Remote Desktop Host (RDH) is a light Remote Desktop solution for the individual user that uses the standard Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It is compatible with all versions of Windows 7 and 8.
You have to know that Microsoft removed the feature of Remote Desktop Host from Windows 7 Home/Starter and Windows 8 Basic versions. In order to access to these Windows versions from any RDP client you need to install an RDP Host alternative solution such as Thinstuff RDH (single user) or Thinstuff XP/VS Server (multi-user).
Since it is compatible with many Remote Desktop Connection clients pre-installed on many devices and operating systems, it integrates seamlessly into existing networks without any hardware or software change.
TSX Gateway is a highly secure RDP-VPN solution which encapsulates the standard Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) over HTTPS to establish a secure and encrypted connection between remote users in the internet and remote desktop hosts in your local network.
Network resources can be any RDP enabled hosts, such as:
Multi-session hosts:
Thinstuff XP/VS Server
Microsoft Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH/Terminal Server)