Limited Time Offer:

Get 5 VDI Blaster Licenses for only $100! That’s a $74.95 Savings!

*Discounted Pricing only available through June 2013

VDI Blaster Overview:

• Extends the useful life of aging PCs
• Simple and cost effectively with no hardware replacement necessary
• Maintains Windows desktop experience
• Centrally manages converted PCs
• Allows plug and play replacement of PC to a thin client

VDI Blaster™ will connect thin clients to Microsoft Terminal Services, shared services, and virtual desktops from Citrix XenAppView, Microsoft RDP, RemoteFX through rDesktop, VMware Horizon View, Virtual Bridges, and vWorkspace.

Visit VDIBlaster.com for more information on the virtual desktop solution.

Without a cost-effective and flexible system, Calford Seaden had high operating costs, consistent management issues associated with maintaining 200+ desktops and 45 servers, and concerns associated with outdated disaster recovery plans and provisions. IT systems included 45 Intel Windows Servers where each location had its own servers and PCs; all linked via a leased line to their headquarters. As many as 200+ desktops needed to be replaced every three years, making PC refreshes difficult and limiting their flexibility.

Calford Seaden moved to a virtualized server and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Switching to a virtual solution, they were able to reduce 45 servers to five and decrease the number of PCs being used, resulting in notable power savings. Calford Seaden originally utilized 200+ PCs using 150W each and with thin clients they are using less than 12W.

With VDI, Calford Seaden was able to use thin clients for digital dictation with audio transcription.  Devon IT’s Echo™ Thin Client Management Software on Acer thin clients provides them control of their user environment, which simplifies their process for applications and managing profiles.  Users are able to log in at any office, providing greater ease of use and increased productivity.

Download full case study on Calford Seaden and others!

By creating a dynamic and flexible IT environment with thin clients and servers, IT departments worldwide are simplifying their IT infrastructures. Total cost of ownership, security, manageability, energy costs and user experience can all be improved through a VDI approach.

Technology is revolutionizing every aspect of society, and that powerful shift is especially evident in education. The era of paper and pencil has shifted to tablets and multimedia- rich lectures, and schools are being wired to enhance learning across the digital spectrum.

Join Acer and Devon IT for an informative session on a school district’s journey in becoming a 21st Century learning environment by integrating technology and implementing a virtualized computer lab for its students.

Virtual Desktop Computing in K-12: Technology Helping Education
Date: Thursday, May 2, 2013
Time: 11:00 AM Pacific Time / 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Register for the Webinar now!

Agenda:
Patrick Christl, Technology Specialist of Pennoyer Elementary School will share their experience of implementing a virtualized computer lab and server infrastructure. Virtualization, a shared computing strategy that maximizes efficiency by harnessing the computing power of underutilized PCs is an excellent way to bring classrooms and labs into the 21st century, in a simple and cost effective manner. Simply stated, virtualization allows you to achieve more with less by simplifying management, allowing for blended learning and collaborative technology use and by facilitating incremental rollouts. Patrick will share the process, successes and lessons learned.

Register for the Webinar now!

We look forward to your participation. Please contact us_promarketing@acer.com if you have any questions.

Keynote Speaker:
Patrick Christl
Technology Specialist
Pennoyer Elementary School, Norridge, IL

Since joining Pennoyer Elementary School in 2011, Patrick Christl, Technology Specialist, has helped transform Pennoyer into a progressive 21st century learning environment. Patrick has increased interactive whiteboards by 700%, making nearly all classrooms in the district interactive. He established a Cisco managed wireless system and adopted a new advanced content filter and antivirus system to stay current with the continuing trends. He is currently piloting an eBook initiative, replacing paperbound books with digital versions of text. This past school year, Patrick implemented a virtualized computer lab and server infrastructure from scratch. He brings a hands-on, real world approach to technology in education. Patrick is always looking for new ways to help teachers and staff implement technology in the classroom. He enjoys working within the classrooms to help students become more familiar with all that technology can offer.

More Information on Technology for K-12

Learning in the Cloud: How Virtualization Is Revolutionizing K-12 Education – Download White Paper from Devon IT

Acer’s Success Stories for K-12 – See Success Stories

When choosing between thin clients and zero clients, it isn’t that one hardware or connection option outweighs the other. Instead it pertains more to the requirements in the environment being deployed as well as the needs and permissions of the desktop users. Understanding the benefits and challenges of your VDI options will help you make the right choice. There are some key differences between thin clients and zero clients that are worth outlining.  While both have similarities, they each boast capabilities that make them unique.

Taking a Look at Thin Clients

With thin clients, virtual desktops are hosted in the data center and the thin client simply serves as a terminal to the back-end server. Thin clients are generally easy to install, make application access simple, improve security and reduce hardware needs.

Thin Client devices for VDI are traditionally end-point devices with their own native operating systems, usually offering a version of Windows Embedded Standard (WES) or a Linux based operating system such as DeTOS.  Thin clients utilize connection protocols such as Citrix ICA or Microsoft RDP in order to remotely access a desktop that is being hosted on a Virtual Machine stored on a server.   They often include a local browser, as well.

Thin clients are mean to be simple devices to create a secure and manageable environment. However different users have different requirements so when choosing devices, consider whether you need capabilities such as 3-D, video conferencing and multi-monitor support. You should also take into account your remote display protocol and how much display processing your back end can supply.

Zeroing in on Zero Clients

Zero clients are gaining ground in the VDI market. These are client devices that require no configuration and have nothing stored on them. Zero clients often require less setup than a thin client. The deployment time can be lower provided those carrying out the deployment have properly set their environment up.  However, zero clients are not as flexible and often require that the administrators choose one protocol or another for the device to utilize.  While a user may only need to enter their credentials to access their desktop sessions, the options for what they can do is more limited.

Instead of an operating system, Zero Clients have a highly tuned onboard processor specifically designed for one possibly three VDI protocols (PCoIP, HDX, or RemoteFX). Most of the decoding and display processes take place in dedicated hardware and therefore are more efficient than using a software client and a standard CPU and GPU setup as with a Thin Client. Zero Clients have boot up speeds of just a few seconds and are immune to viruses, decreasing the overall downtime of the device and increasing the productivity to the end-user. The Zero Client device requires very little maintenance and rarely needs an update unless there is a significant change/enhancement to the VDI protocol or the occasional BIOS related update.

Alternative Client Solutions:

There are also thin clients such as the Acer Veriton N2010G, that offer a feature through the client operating system that enables fast, efficient deployments of new zero client terminals. Another option is choosing a thin client model that provides an OS (such as ZeTOS) allowing it to perform as a zero client terminal that runs in a stateless condition. Users then are unable to execute software or initiate remote sessions that the administrators have not authorized. A user enters their username and password and is immediately up and running in their remote session.

Configuration is carried out through an external DNS environment: management software becomes optional, as connectivity is established passively through standard DNS records. Once the DNS environment has been established the management process is essentially complete. Choosing this alternative, zero client computing can convert back to thin client computing with this OS capability on these terminals.

‘Thin vs Zero’ Clients: Wrap Up

Thin clients and other slimmed-down devices rely on a network connection to a central server for full computing and don’t do much processing on the hardware itself. Best thin and zero client product choices for your VDI environment really rests within the software embedded on the clients. As I stated before in my previous blog entry Evaluating Software to Reap the Full Benefits of Desktop Virtualization,   “Your thin client management software should be a powerful software product that combines thin client management capabilities with connection management features”.

Again, to host virtual desktops, you have a lot of choices: thin clients, zero clients and not to mention tablets and mobile devices as we continue to advance in today’s mobile and BYOD era. The first step on deciding between thin and zero clients really rests within the requirements of your network and the connection you prefer with your end uses.

“Because we are a healthcare institution, there are a host of non-standard peripherals that we use on a daily basis,” stated Maria Mejia, IT Director of User Services & Support of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. “For example, we ran into problems with device connectivity for our x-ray sensors but we worked with Devon IT and our other manufacturers to resolve the issues.  Peripherals you might find in any business/industry such as printers, scanners, keyboards, and mice posed minimal problems.”

Download the case study along with many others to see real customer challenges, solutions, and results!

A look back at some of the 2012 Milestones with Devon IT:

1. Devon IT Selected By Acer as Software Provider for Its New Line of Thin Client Solutions

2. Devon IT Expands Offices in China and India Sparked by Growing Demand for Thin Clients and Virtualized Desktops in Asia Pacific Market

3. Devon IT Offers Dell FX130 and FX170 Customers Easy Conversion and Full Manageability to New Acer Thin Clients

4. Get the Latest Whitepapers published by Devon IT in 2012

a. Desktop Virtualization Gaining Ground in the Financial Sector
b. Cloud Computing for Small Business
c. Learning in the Cloud: How Virtualization Is Revolutionizing K-12 Education

Some Future Market Predictions made in 2012:

Cloud, Hosted Desktop Virtualization Set for Big Time Adoption in 2013

The Global Cloud-Based VDI Market to Grow At A CAGR Of 30.6% over the Period 2012-2016

Infographic: Will VDI take off?

A sneak peak of what’s to come for Devon IT with the New Year:
1. Announcements around DeTOS, Thin Client Operating System developed by Devon IT.
2. The Acer Veriton N2010G and the Acer Veriton N2620G will hit the market!
3. Working with our partner, Acer to continually offer the best virtual desktop solutions.

Everyone at Devon IT would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and safe and happy New Year!

With the financial sector operating on a constant, global scale, the demand for effective, cost efficient business solutions has become a priority across the financial industry. Many companies have turned to desktop virtualization to simplify their workplace and increase productivity.

In this Whitepaper you will learn why the following virtualized desktops benefits hold such importance for banking and other financial institutes.

Benefits of Virtual Desktop  in the Financial Industry:

1. Availability & Manageability
2. Security
3. Building a Stronger IT Core
4. Cost Efficiency

With desktop virtualization, companies in the financial sector have seen improved availability and manageability of its data, stronger security forces, and enhanced IT operations all while lowering costs. Desktop virtualization strengthens a company’s IT department. When an IT department is running smoothly, so is the rest of the company.

Small business owners face a unique set of challenges on a daily basis. They often have to wear several, if not all hats, to ensure their businesses runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Flexibility, multi-tasking, and razor sharp focus are all necessary tools for a small business owner, and they are constantly looking toward technology to streamline this process for them.

In this Whitepaper you will learn how taking your small – mid-size business to the cloud can benefit you and your business.

• Data Protection -  Backup and Recovery Built into Systems
• Mobility Allows More Accessibility
• Cost Efficiency to Fit Tight Budgets