Thin Clients solutions are used to lower the cost in hardware and in maintenance.

The principe is simple : in place of having a desktop per user, you use one application server for everybody. Then each workstation is replaced by what we call a thin client.

A thin client, it's basically a network card, a graphic card, a mouse, a keyboard. some jacks for sound and a screen. Tasks are runned on the server but input and results occurs on the thin client.

You'll cumulate those advantages :

• Lower IT administration costs : The job done on the server is done for all thin clients
• Easier to secure : The policy defined on server is directly available to everybody.
• Lower hardware costs : The client don't need hard disk. 64Mb or 128Mb of memory are enough. It has low cost CPU.
• Lower Energy Consumption : You save money on electricity and in air conditioning.
• Easier hardware failure management : In case of failure, everything is already stored on the server, you just replace the thin client.
• Useless to thieves : Without the right server to communicate with, the thin client is nothing more than an empty box.
• Hostile Environments : Thin clients are much less sensitive to dusty environment.
• Less network bandwidth : Only keystrokes, mouse movements and screen updates are transmitted. If you open a big document, data doesn't transit by your intranet as it is the case if you retrieve the file from a file server to your Desktop computer.
• More efficient use of resources : Most of the time, when you send emails or do office tasks, the load on your computer very low. Few tasks need power. And when this is needed, the probability that 2 users need heavy load at the same time and for similar long duration is low. Therefore, for 40 users, you don't need a server which is as powerful as 40 Desktops at the same time, but something much lower.
• Simple hardware upgrade path : It happens only on server.
• Lower noise : Thin clients don't need fan, so no fan noise in the office. This provides a much nicer working environment.
• Space saving :

Thin Clients have the sixe of an USB external hard drive.

• Less Wasted Hardware : You preserve the environment, life cycle of thin client is much longer than desktop computer.