ClearCube Success Story

Nellis AFB provides training for compositestrike forces, which include every type of air-craft in the U.S. Air Force inventory, includingfighters, bombers, refuelers, and aircraft usedfor transport, close-air-support, command-and-control, and combat search-and-rescue.Training is also conducted in conjunction withair and ground units of the Army, Navy, andMarine Corps as well as air forces from alliednations.

Located approximately eight miles northeastof Las Vegas, Nevada, the base itself coversmore than 14,000 acres. The Nellis workforce of about 9,500 military and civiliansmakes it one of the largest single employersin Southern Nevada.

With a vast reach and with such critical oper-ations at its core, Nellis Air Force Base relieson top flight technology at all levels. The baseinstalled ClearCube blades at the

Commander level of its 99th Information Systems Flight, and the top-level users arevery pleased with ClearCube's performance.

By centralizing industry-standard compo-nents-Intel processors, hard drives, andmemory-in a highly dense, rack-mountedblade computer, ClearCube offers unprece-dented reliability, manageability, and securityof both data and computing assets. The PC islocated in a secure environment, while usersretain monitor, keyboard, and mouse on thedesktop. ClearCube provides users the per-formance and software support they need torun today's advanced technologies, all whilelowering total cost of ownership.

With ClearCube behind the scenes, Nellis AirForce Base can be sure IT costs are ground-ed while computing performance flies high.

Nellis Air Force BaseNellis Air Force Base, a part of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command, is home to the largest and most demanding advancedair combat training in the world. The base's 99th Information Systems Flight uses ClearCube's blade computers in its mission-criticalenvironment.

A TOP FLIGHT SOLUTION

Key Benefits

• Superior manageability, securi-ty, reliability, and space savings

• Significantly reduced IT budgetrequirements and systemdowntime

• Unprecedented control overcentral and remote computingand network assets

ClearCube Technology 8834 Capital of Texas Hwy N Austin, Texas 78759 ℡℡ 512 652 3500 �� 512 652 3501 www.clearcube.com

S U C C E S S S T O R Y

Eglin Air Force Base Meeting Government Security Requirements with ClearCube PC Blades

OVERVIEW

4The Challenge

Provide high-performance computing at an Air Force F-15 testing facility while meeting federal emission security (EMSEC) requirements for data security

4The Solution

Deploy ClearCube PC Blades and User Ports to support multiple secure networks per user

4The Benefit

A small footprint, fully Intel® compatible solution that complies with EMSEC requirements and hardens overall data and asset security

Eglin Air Force Base is home to the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force (OFP CTF), which collects data from F-15 fighter jets, performs development and operational testing, and ensures that all software upgrades made to the F-15s will work within the parameters of combat.

The Challenge

In order to support users at various security clearance levels while complying with emissions security (EMSEC) requirements, the OFP CTF utilizes five different networks. The test force must also keep a distance of one meter between each network in order to prevent the transfer of sensitive data.

The strict EMSEC regulations posed a logistical challenge for the OFP CTF in terms of choosing an appropriate computing system. If the test force implemented a traditional PC infrastructure, it would have

“ClearCube delivered security, manageability and space savings at the desk. This is an optimized solution for us.”

—Roger Chilcott, Senior Engineer

SENTEL, OFP CTF, Eglin AFB

to outfit users with five box PCs that were separated from each other by three feet.

“We would have had to make a significant investment to increase space, power and cooling at the user desks,” says Roger Chilcott, Senior Engineer, SENTEL Corp., OFP CTF.

In addition to the space constraints caused by housing five different box PCs at each user work area, the cost of traditional PC support was also prohibitive.

The Solution

The OFP CTF turned to ClearCube for an innovative solution that would provide the security and high performance demands necessary to support its F-15 testing facility.

ClearCube removes the PC from the desk, condenses it into an Intel®-based PC Blade form-factor, and rack-mounts it in a centralized location. All that remains at the end user’s desk are the peripherals (keyboard, monitor, mouse) and a small connection device called a ClearCube User Port that supports cable, fiber or Ethernet connectivity.

8834 Capital of Texas Highway North Austin, Texas 78759 Voice 512.652.3500 Fax 512.652.3501 Toll Free 866-652-3500

www.clearcube.com

Each PC Blade contains all standard PC components, including the latest Intel® processors, memory, hard drives and video cards. The ClearCube Management Suite (CMS), a powerful software suite of asset management tools, enables IT personnel to manage the entire deployment from anywhere in the world.

The Benefit

Instead of navigating between five bulky box PCs housed directly at the desk, OFP CTF users can now connect to five remotely located PC Blades. The only part of the solution that resides at the user’s desk are five small User Ports.

“Since everything’s stored directly on the PC Blades, data isn’t being transmitted from the User Ports. That means we can stack them on top of each other like video tapes and keep them out of the way of the users,” says Chilcott.

The user’s five PC Blades are housed in separate racks within the secured data

center, which allows the OFP CTF to comply with EMSEC provisions without incurring additional support costs or space demands.

The centralized ClearCube solution also reduces the risk of data or hardware theft. Only IT can access the secured PC Blades, and the ClearCube Management Suite enables IT administrators to “lock out” users from attaching USB or removable storage drives to the User Ports. By restricting the use of classified removable media (CREM) like floppy disks and CDs, the OFP CTF can prevent unauthorized data downloading and software/virus uploading.

The ClearCube solution also enables the OFP CTF to remotely manage the deployment without making disruptive and time-consuming trips to the user’s work area. If the system should ever fail, IT can instantly switch the user to a spare PC Blade and then perform repairs as needed. Even if an administrator must physically touch every PC Blade for memory upgrades or hard drive replacements, he or she can

do so directly in the data center without disrupting test force operations.

The ClearCube PC Blade solution allows the Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force at Eglin Air Force Base to better optimize its user work space while complying with strict emissions security requirements. The solution’s simplified asset management is also a key advantage in both time and cost savings.

“With PC Blades, everything is all in one place,” says Chilcott. “The users are very pleased with the ClearCube PC Blades, and the IT support staff is thrilled with the ease of support and maintenance.”

ClearCube Success Story

Security is not just a top priority for the HQ AFSFC; it's their middle name. The Center, an AirStaff Forward Operating Agency (FOA), manages both classified and unclassified computernetworks and needed a new PC system that would both increase security of technology anddata assets while bringing across-the-board efficiencies and cost savings.

Lackland Air Force BaseThe Headquarters Air Force Security Forces Center (HQ AFSFC) at Lackland Air Force Base supports the Air Force Security Forceswith policy and guidance in the execution of law enforcement/base police and base defense missions.

"The largest benefit is the implementa-tion of increased security throughoutthe network and a more efficient use of available technical resources.Secondarily, one of the more substantial expenses - the cost ofadministrator time spent replacing systems - is drastically reduced."

Richard A. JohnsenSenior Network Engineer

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

Key Benefits:

• Increased security of technology anddata assets

• Simplified maintenance and troubleshooting

• Downtime and system administrationtime decreased by approximately two-thirds

• Significant reduction in operatingcosts

GIVING CLEARANCE TO CLEARCUBEThe HQ AFSFC was using a mixture of several PC systems from several different manufacturers. Many were no longer able to provide proper administrative support, saysRichard Johnsen, Senior Network Engineer for the Security Forces Center. In addition, network administrators spent countless hours providing intensive, hands-on support to 200+ PCs within the HQ AFSFC.

The HQ AFSFC replaced the desktop systems throughout the organization with ClearCube PCBlades, the majority of which are used for processing classified information on a secure network. ClearCube's innovative PC architecture takes the computer off the user's desk,shrinks it into a PC Blade with the latest Intel processors, and centralizes it in a secure location.This enables IT managers to remotely administer the system and switch PC Blades (whetherfor upgrades, maintenance, or moves/adds/changes) in a matter of seconds.

The HQ AFSFC installed the ClearCube PC Blade upon moving into a brand new facility and immediately realized the benefits of clearing the user's cube of a bulky PC. "The space savingsrealized by these systems greatly enhanced the operating environment for the user," saysJohnsen.

THE CHALLENGE

ClearCube Technology 8834 Capital of Texas Hwy N Austin, Texas 78759 ℡℡ 512 652 3500 �� 512 652 3501 www.clearcube.com

SECURITY CHECKCombined with the ClearCube Management Suite (CMS) software, the ClearCube systemgives IT administrators unprecedented control over computing assets. "With the consolidation of personal systems to a central location and the ease of management usingthe CMS, our administrators spend significantly less time traveling from desk to desk toassist with user issues," says Johnsen. In fact, the Security Forces Center anticipates thatusing the ClearCube Blades will reduce both system downtime and administrator time byat least two-thirds.

The ClearCube solution also provided the HQ AFSFC an immediate solution to its securityconcerns. "Removing valuable equipment and volatile media from the user's work area hasgreatly improved our network security posture," says Johnsen. "Users now have the abilityto accomplish required tasks with the same access to network resources as they had withdesktop PCs, but the big difference is the security of the data. Systems cannot be bootedfrom removable media such as CD or floppy drives." Since administrators now spend lesstime running around, explains Johnsen, they are able to play a more proactive role in network security.

The HQ AFSFC is "exceedingly pleased" with the ClearCube system. "The impact and benefits were immediately realized, and we have just begun our journey," he says. "Theease of management and system stability will further cement our commitment to this technology."

NORAD Cheyenne Mountain Air Force StationClearCube Helps Keep National Airspace Secure

OVERVIEW

4The ChallengeIncrease workspace inside a mountainside command center while decreasing support costs and providing users with powerful and ultra-secure computing tools.4The SolutionReplace the existing box PC infrastructure with ClearCube PC Blade hardware and management software.4The BenefitSmaller space requirements per user, hardened system security and a 30% decrease in unplanned user downtime.

level of performance you can find on con-ventional PCs. ClearCube seems, more than the other blade vendors, to keep up with technology as it evolves.”

ClearCube Expands The MountainA user in the station’s command center may be required to operate as many as five different PC networks and go through both classified and unclassified communication lines. Having five box PCs at every work area was hot, noisy and uncomfortable for users. It also led to frequent accidents involving equipment. “If a user can touch it, there is a possibility they can break it,” says Garcia.

CMAFS was able to increase user work-space by removing all CPUs from the desk. Instead of squeezing between five box PCs, users now work with five small User Ports. The connection devices can safely be stacked on top of each other like VHS tapes because they contain no data. As long as a user’s PC Blades are kept separate in the data center, CMAFS’ net-works remain secure.

Located 2,000 feet beneath a mountain in Colorado Springs, the Cheyenne Moun-tain Air Force Station (CMAFS) is the command center for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). This ultra-secure facility collects informa-tion for a worldwide system of satellites, radars and sensors that provide early warning of missile, air or space threats to North America. Because of its space con-straints, CMAFS found traditional box PCs very limiting. “We’re under a mountain, so we don’t have the option of expanding the building,” says network chief Garland Garcia.

The CMAFS also has massive process-ing requirements, meaning that power and heating costs were major issues. The center’s IT staff was under pressure to re-duce these costs while still providing ef-ficient support and increasing asset secu-rity. With these objectives in mind, the IT staff began evaluating alternatives to the traditional box PC arrangement.

ClearCube Technology’s approach to computing is simple: remove the PC from the user’s desk, condense it into an Intel-powered PC Blade and rack-mount it in one secure location. Only the peripher-als and a small connection device called a User Port remain at the user’s desk. CMAFS was immediately attracted to this architecture because it could reduce the use of hardware and minimize sup-port costs. The IT staff researched sev-eral other blade vendors, but according to Garcia, “the other blades didn’t even come close to the performance of the ClearCube Blades, which essentially offer the same

S U C C E S S S T O R Y

“In addition to reductions in heat, noise and clutter, the PC Blades help improve security and reliability in the user environments.”

-- Garland Garcia, Network ChiefNORAD Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station

8834 Capital of Texas Highway North Austin, Texas 78759 Voice 512.652.3500 Fax 512.652.3501 Toll Free 866-652-3500

www.clearcube.com

In addition to reducing crowding at the desk, the centralized PC Blades also en-sure that CMAFS equipment is not inad-vertently bumped or kicked. Furthermore, because User Ports have no moving parts, the noise and temperature in the center dropped considerably. In a potential high threat situation, operators in the center will now be able to talk in normal voices to technicians across the room and be heard without interference from associated equipment noise.

PC Blades Boost Security, Uptime, ManageabilityOperations at the mountain base are so secretive that users would have to spend about fifteen minutes to lock up their hard drives after using them. It would then take additional time to make sure network con-nectivity was in place once a hard drive was put back at a user station. “With ClearCube, we don’t have to secure the machines when they are not being used because they are now always secure,” says Garcia. “We do not have to worry about the equipment [and information in-side] growing legs. Having the Blades in a central location away from the floor where top secret information is being processed also negates the need for as many top se-cret-cleared technicians.”

CMAFS found that ClearCube PC Blades are also more reliable and easier to re-pair than traditional PCs. In the event of a hardware or software failure, IT administra-tors can switch a user to a spare Blade in a matter of minutes. This “hot swapping” capability vaults PC availability to an un-precedented 99.9%. “To get a user up and running after a downtime event took hours on average with traditional machines,”

says Garcia. “With the Blade solution, about 30% of unplanned user downtime has gone away.”

Furthermore, PC Blades have boosted user and IT productivity. Previously, IT would focus approximately five hours per PC on software installs and upgrades; with the ClearCube solution, the staff only devotes about an hour-and-a-half to each Blade. Hardware and software asset man-agement also requires less time. “It’s easi-er to operate and manage the IT infrastruc-ture because when the technician needs to service a machine, they don’t have to interfere with the operations of the organi-zation. The floor could be operating at a peak level, and we don’t have to interrupt the operation,” says Garcia.

Whereas IT technicians could previously support about two hundred computers each, the deployment of ClearCube PC Blades has boosted that number to over five hundred computers. “Because of ClearCube, we will not have to hire addi-tional IT staff when we add networks and applications and increase the complexity of the applications,” says Garcia. “We’ll probably be growing the number of differ-ent types of missions by two-thirds, but we’ll have the same number of people, more than likely.”

CMAFS Plans For The FutureThe higher reliability, hardened security and simpler management of PC Blade technology has significantly reduced CMAFS’desktop support costs. Through an annual investment of a little under $800 per user, CMAFS has experienced annual savings and productivity benefits of $3,100 per user.

“I see Blade technology as the direction the entire mountain will achieve in the next four to five years.”

-- Garland Garcia, Network ChiefNORAD Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station

ClearCube PC Blades presently repre-sent only a fraction of the total computing devices at NORAD Cheyenne Air Force Station, but the share is increasing as the organization realizes the longer-term cost savings and user productivity benefits of PC Blades. “We’ve been really happy with the ClearCube implementation,” says Gar-cia. “We’re not using it everywhere yet, but we’ll continue to deploy ClearCube as closets are outfitted with A/C and power.”