Server-based Computing in Education

8/10/2019 Server-based Computing in Education

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S e r v e r - b a s e d C o m p u t in g in E d uc a t io n


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odays academic inst i tut ions face cr i t ica l IT chal lenges that r iva l those of any industry . Students ,

facu l ty an d ad min is t ra t i ve s ta f f , wh e th er th ey a re o n camp u s , a t h o me o r wo rk in g f ro m remo te

fac i lit ies , n ee d ac ce ss to a g ro w in g n u mb er o f ac ad e m ic ap p l ica t io n s , as w e l l as th e In te rn e t . E very yea r ,

IT p ro fess io n a ls w o rk in g fo r sch o o ls , co lleg e s an d u n ive rs i ties m u s t su p p o r t a n ew in fl u x o f s tu d en ts u s in g

a va r ie ty o f co m p u t in g eq u ip me n tfro m 2 8 6 P Cs to th e l a tes t h an d -h e ld d ev ices . Acad e m ic in s titu t io n s o f

a l l s izes, confronte d w ith lim ited IT budge ts , are se arc hing for innovat ive w ays to supp ort s tude nts and fac ulty,

w h ile s im u ltan eo u s ly leve ra g ing th e i r ex is t in g c o m p u t in g in ves tm en ts .

In this p ap er , w e w ill lo o k a t th e IT ch a l len g e s o f th e ed u c a t io n co m m u n ity, an d e xp lo re h o w Ci t r ix

S erver -b a sed Co m p u t in g so lu t io n s ca n b e n efi t an y ac ad e m ic in s t itu t io n , reg a rd less o f s i ze , lo ca t io n

o r co mp u t in g en v i ro n men t .

S e c tio n 1: IT Ch a lle n g e s o f Ac a d e m ic In s tit ut io ns

Ma nagement Challenges

Access Cha llenges

Performance Challenges

Security Challenges

S e c tio n 2 : C it rix S e rv e r -b a se d C o m p ut in g : A B e t t e r Ap pr oa c h

How Does Citrix Server-based Computing Work?

What is Citrix ICA (Independent Computing Architecture)?

Role of ICA

Server-based Computing Compared to Network Computing and Traditional Client/Server Computing

S e c t io n 3 : H o w C it rix S e rv e r- ba s e d C o m p ut in g S o lv e s t he C ha lle n ge s

o f A c a d e m ic I n s t i t ut io n s

Ma nagement Solutions

Access Solutions

Performance Solutions

Security Solutions

S e c t io n 4 : C it rix S e r ve r -b a s e d C o m pu tin g S c e na r io s fo r Ac a d e m ic I ns tit ut io ns

Satellite Campus Computing Cross-Platform Computing

Web Computing

Remote Computing

Thin-Client Device Computing

TT

C O N T E N T S


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IT Ch a lle n g e s o f

Ac a d e m ic In s t it u t io n s

The fiscal restraints and special user needs of the

academic community provide a select set of IT

challenges. Finding solutions for these challenges is all

the more difficult because of the limited range of solution

products available today. While some products are

targeted at one or two problem areas, IT professionals in

academia need technology solutions which can address

the total scope of management, access, performance

and security.

M a n a g e m e n t C h a lle n g e s

Deploying vital applications in an academic environment

has a lways been complex, time-consuming and,

ultimately, expensive. Beyond having to physically

distribute applications to every client device, IT staff

must solve the inherent problems associated with version

control, support, multiple system configurations a nd

data replication. Managing IT for a large university

campus with thousands of students and faculty dispersed

across a variety of locations can quickly make the

expense of application ownership cost-prohibitive.

Ac c e s s C h a lle n g e s

Most academic computing environments comprise a

broad mix of disparate client devices, operating systems,

LAN protocols and network connections. Providing

students and faculty with access to Windows-based

applications in this type of environment is diffi cult at

best and often involves costly upgrades, problematic

emulation software and complete application rewrites.

P e r f o r m a n c e C h a lle n g e s

Applications designed for high-bandwidth networks and

powerful desktop computers are not well-suited for the

variety of client devices and network connections in use

at academic institutions today. These applications strain

already congested networks and yield poor performance

over low-bandwidth and remote connections. As a

result, many students and faculty simply avoid using the

applications altogether, and the institutions investment

in the application is wasted.

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S E C T IO N 1

S B CS e r v e r

C l a s s r o o mL a b s

C l a s s r o o m s a n dA d m i n i s t r a t i v e

O f f i c e s

L i b r a r i e s

L ANN e t w o r ko r

I n t e r n e t

S a t e l l i t eC a m p u s e s

K i o s k

D o r m i t o r i e s

H o m e s

W i r e le s s L A N s a n dI n f o r m a t i o n A p p l ia n c e s

Server - b ased co mp u t in g leverag es yo u r

ex is t in g reso u rc es b y ext en d in g

ap p l ica t io n s an d d at a t o yo u r var io u s

c l a s s ro o m s , d e p a r t m e n t s a n d c a m p u s e s .

St u d en t s an d ad m inis tra t o rs can u se

v ir t u a lly an y d ev ice a n d g e t L A N - like p er f o rm an ce

over mult ip le types of connect ions, including LAN,

WA N , In t ern et a n d d i rect d ia l- u p .


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S e c u r it y C h a lle n g e s

Security issues are especially difficult because, in traditional

client/server architectures, critical applications and data

exist not only on the server, but also on client desktops

spread across the network. With classified da ta dispersed

to so many client devices, the risk of unauthorized users

gaining access to confidential information, or data

getting lost or stolen, is greatly increased.

C i t r i x S e r v e r - b a s e d

Com put ing: A Bet te r Approac h

Citrix Server-based Computing is an innovative

approach to delivering vital applications

to end-user devices(clients). With this approach, a ll

applications are deployed, managed, supported and

executed 100 percent on the server. It doesnt matter

if the client device is a full-featured PC, a notebook

computer, a legacy PC, a Macintosh system, a UNIX

workstation or a true thin-client device like a

Windows-based terminal or ha nd-held information

appliance. In server-based computing, all client devices

function as thin clients and a ll have the ability to

access and work in highly graphical, Window s-based

applications on the server.

The benefits of the Citrix approach are unparalleled.

Universities and other academic institutions are better

able to extend the use of their existing hardware and

networks. Application installations, updates and

additions are made only onceon the serverand

then are instantly available to users anywhere, with

exceptional performance. IT staff have the ability to

manage applications on the network from a single point

and provide system-wide security for data and applications.

The end result: server-based computing is rapidly

becoming the most reliable way to reduce the

complexity and total costs associated with large,

complex computing environments.

H o w D o e s C i tr ix S e r v e r - b a s e dC o m p u t in g W o r k ?

Citrix Server-based Computing is comprised of three

critical technology components. The first is a multi-user

operating system which enables multiple concurrent

users to log on and run applications in separa te,

protected sessions on a single server. The second is

a remote presentation services protocol that separates

the applications logic from its user interface, so only

keystrokes, mouse clicks and screen updates travelthe netw ork. As a result, application performance is

bandwidth-independent. The third key component,

centralized application and client management, enables

large computing environments, such as a state university

system, to overcome the critical application deployment

challenges of management, access, performance

and security.

In server-based comput ing, mult i -user capabi l i t ies al low

ap p l ica t io n s an d d at a t o b e d ep lo yed , man ag e d , su p p o r t ed

a n d e x e c u t e d 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o n t h e s e r v e r.

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S E C T IO N 2


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W h a t Is C i t r ix I C A (I n d e p e n d e n t

C o m p u t in g A r c h it e c t u r e ) ?

Citrix ICA is a computing architecture which shifts the

burden of application processing from client device to

server. This allows organizations to deliver applications

and information anywhere, to any device, operating

system or network infrastructure.

Citrix ICA includes a server software component,a network protocol component and a client software

component. On the server, Citrix ICA has the unique

ability to separate the applications logic from the user

interface at the server and transport it to the client over

standard network protocolsIPX, SPX, NetBEUI,TCP/IP and PP Pand over popular network

connectionsasynchronous, dia l-up, ISDN , Frame

Relay and ATM. On the client, users see and work

with the applications interface, but 100 percent of the

application logic executes on the server. Citrix ICA

transports keystrokes, mouse clicks and screen updates

over standard protocols to the client, consuming less

than 20 kilobits per second of network bandwidth.

R o l e o f I C A

The efficiency of Citrix ICA enables the latest, most

powerful applications to be accessed w ith exceptional

performance from existing PCs, Windows-based

terminals, network computers and a new generation

of business and personal information appliances. With

over two million ports in use worldwide, Citrix ICA is

a mature, reliable technology that is quickly becoming

the de factoindustry standard for server-based

computing.

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S E C T IO N 2

A h ig hly e f fic ien t remo t e p rese n t a t io n serv ices p ro t o co l

sep a rat es a n ap p l ica t io n s lo g ic f ro m i ts u ser int er f ace an d

a l lo w s o n ly keyst ro kes , mo u se c l icks an d sc reen u p d at e s

t o t rave l t h e n et wo rk .

Shared E thernet 10 M bps

W i re les s E t he rne t 2 M bps

I SD N 64 K bp s

M odem 28 .8 K bps

I C A S t r e a m

Server - b ased co mp u t in g p ro v id es an

ideal solution for bandw idth-constrained

environments. I t of fers users LAN- l ike

appl icat ion performance over vir tual ly

an y t yp e o f c o n n ect io n .


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S e r v e r - b a s e d C o m p u t in g C o m p a r e d t o

N e t w o r k C o m p u t in g a n d Tr a d it io n a l

C lie n t / S e r v e r C o m p u t in g

While all three computing models have a valid role in

todays enterprises, its important to note the differences

betw een them. In the tra ditional client/server architecture,

processing is centered around local execution using fat,

powerful hardw are components. In the network

computing architecture as defined by Sun, Oracle,

Netscape, IBM and Apple, components are dynamically

downloaded from the network into the client device for

execution by the client. But w ith the Citrix server-based

computing approach, users are able to access business-

critical applicationsincluding the latest 32-bit

Windows-based and Java applicationswithout

requiring them to be dow nloaded to the client. This

approach also provides considerable total cost of

application ow nership savings since these applications are

centrally managed and can be accessed by users without

having to rewrite them.

Some of the other differences in the three types of

architectures are listed in the following chart:

4

S E C T IO N 2

C o m p u t i n gA r c h i t e c t u r e

P r o c e s s i n g

M o d e l

H a r d w a r e

F o o t p r i n t

A p p l i c a t i o n

A r c h i t e c t u r e

N a t iv e D e v ic e

N a t i v e

A p p l ic a t i o n Ty p e

S e r v e r - b a s e dC o m p u t i n g

100% Server Execution

Thin or Fat

Monolithic, Component or

2- or 3 -Tier Client/Server

Variable o r Fixed Function

(PC, NPC, NC, WBT)

Windows o r Java

N e t w o r k

C o m p u t i n g

Dow nload and Execute

Fa t

Component

Variable Function (NC)

Java

T r a d i t i o n a l

C l i e n t / S e r v e r

Local Execution

Fat

2- or 3 -Tier Client/Server

Variable Function (PC)

Windows

Basically, the server-based computing approach delivers all the benefits of both host computing and personal

computing.

H o s t C o m p ut ing B e ne fi ts P e rs o na l C o m p ut ing B e ne fi ts

Single-point management Thousands of off-the-shelf applications

Physically and technically secure Low-cost and fast-cycle application development

Predictable ownership costs Standards ba sed

Mission-critical reliability Graphical, rich data and easy to use

Bandwidth-independent performance Wide choice of device types and suppliers

Universal application access


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5

H o w C it r ix S e r v e r - b a s e dC o m p u t in g S o lv e s t h eC h a lle n g e s o f Ac a d e m ic

Inst i tut ions

Citrix Server-based Computing is an ideal solution for

schools and universities because it enables every student,

faculty member and administrator to increase

productivity regardless of their connection, location or

operating system. C itrix provides solutions in each of the

areas tha t most concern IT professionals in academia.

M a n a g e m e n t S o l ut io n s

Citrix Server-based Computing solutions enable IT staff

to deploy, manage and support applications in minutes,

instead of hoursall from a single location. Network

administrators can a ssign applications to servers and

provide applications to students and faculty over LAN,

WAN and dial-up connections.

Through our strategic partnership, Microsoft has

licensed the C itrix MultiWin technology to create multi-

user functionality for Windows NT 4.0 and the

upcoming Window s 2000 Server operating system.The resulting product, Microsoft Windows NT Server

4.0, Terminal Server Edition delivers multi-user

capabilities to enterprises using the Windows NT Server

operating system. Citrix Server-based Computing

softw are adds significant va lue to Terminal Server by

delivering a broad range of server-based computing

capabilities, including the ability to

cost-effectively manage and support large enterprises as

they grow in size and complexity. Citrix Server-based

Computing solutions enable enterprises to extendWindows-based applications to heterogeneous

computing environments, provide enterprise-scale

mana gement capabilities and ensure seamless integration

of the users local and remote resources and applications

with exceptional performance.

A c c e s s S o lu t io n s

Citrix Server-based Computing provides access to

virtually any Windows-based application, across any

type of network connection to any type of client. Since

all applications and data are centralized, users anywhere

can gain access to their email, database information,

critical applications, student data, accounting and

human resource tools, or the Internet. Citrix Server-

based Computing works with any clientfrom

the latest Pentium PCs, Window s-based terminals and

network computers to legacy DOS PCs, Macintosh

systems, UNIX workstations and O S/2 desktops. It is

even possible to embed Windows applications right into

a schools Intranet Web pages. The application looks,

feels and performs as if it were running locally, but it is

actually executing on the server. Faculty and staff can

work in real time with critical databases such as student

records and lesson plans.

Citrix Server-based Computing solutions provide high-

speed remote access over LAN, WAN or Internet

connections, making it possible for schools and school

boards to share applications and other resources

between districts and regions.

Server - b ase d co m p u t in g is t h e h ig h - p er f o rman ce so f t ware

so lu t io n t h at a llo w s co n cu r ren t access t o server - b ased Win d o ws

appl icat ions f rom any cl ient

S E C T IO N 3

S B CS e r v e r D e s k t o p P C

N e t P C

N e t w o r kC o m p u t e r

M a c i n t o s h

L e g a c y P C2 8 6 / 3 8 6 / 4 8 6

U N I X

W in d o w s - B a s e dT e r m i n a l

N o t e b o o k P C

P C B r ow s e r

W i r e l e s sL A N s a n d

I n f o r m a t i o nA p p l i a n c e s

N e t w o r k


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P e r f o r m a n c e S o lu t io n s

Citrix Server-based Computing solutions provide

bandwidth-independent performance for students,

faculty and administrators, regardless of how they access

academic resources. Since application activity occurs on

the server, users get blazing speed over the existing LAN.

With this approach, an older machine, such as a 386 PC,

delivers the same performance as a Pentium w orkstation.

Remote users can connect to the network using 14.4

Kbps modems, and get LAN-like performance. The

Citrix approach works effectively over analog or ISDN

modems, WANs, w ireless LANs and even the Internet

with performance levels up to 10 times faster than

existing remote-node servers.

S e c u r it y S o lu t io n s

With server-based computing, the security of academic

applications and data is dramatically improved since all

vital information is kept on a centralized server. Actual

data never gets downloaded to an end-user device, so

critical applications and sensitive student information

remain safe. By fully incorporating Window s NT multi-

level security, Citrix Server-based Computing solutions

ensure that only authorized users have access to secure

data . Administrators can lock dow n specific files,

directories and system areas as well as the entire system,

improving the security of servers on the LAN/WAN or

Intranet.

6

S E C T IO N 3

Wit ho u t serve r - b ased co m p u t in g , yo u r v i t a l files an d

ap p l ica t io n s are sp read t h ro u g h o u t th e e n t erp r ise , m akin g

secu r i t y a ser io u s p ro b lem.

Wi t h server - b ased co m p u t in g , yo u g et e yes- o n ly secu r it y

s ince b u s iness- cr i t ica l d a t a an d a p p l ica t io n s can b e see n

an d u sed w it h o u t b e in g d o w n lo ad e d t o t h e en d u ser .


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C i t r i x S e r v e r - b a s e d

C o m p u t in g S c e n a r io s f o r

Ac a d e m ic In s t it u t io n s

The following scenarios demonstrate how Citrix Server-

based Computing can help academic institutions

overcome the challenges of application deployment and

management in large, complex computing environments.

S a t e l lit e C a m p u s C o m p u t in g

P r o b l e m

To better serve and support communities across a widegeographic region, many colleges and universities are

opening satellite campuses. While these off-site facilities

are helpful to students who cannot attend classes at a

central campus, they create considerable problems for IT

staff who must support users at these remote locations.

Traditionally, new individual LANs have been built for

each satellite campus. But configuring and managing

these LANsand the information on themcan create

substant ial mana gement obstacles. In addition, since

most remote campuses are connected by WANs to the

central campus, vital data and applications must travel

back and forth across the network.

This type of setup creates user delays and unacceptable

application response. Unt il now, the only solution option

was to regularly invest in new higher-capacity WAN

connections.

So lu t io n

Citrix Server-based Computing solves the problems

associated with satellite campuses because it minimizes

network traffi c, even for Windows-based, 32-bit

applications. This server-based approach allows

applications to be deployed, supported and managed

from the central campus without the need fo r satellite

campus administrators.

S a t e l l i t eC a m p u sR o u t e r

R o u t e r

An yD e s k t o p

D a t a b a s eS e r v e r

WA N

S B CS e r v e r

7

S E C T IO N 4


10/12

C r o s s - P l a t f o r m C o m p u t in g

P r o b l e m

As schools and universities embraced technology in theclassroom, they purchased generation after generation

of the latest hardware, software and networking

equipment. M ore often than not, this resulted in a

stockpiles of diverse client devices, including

286/386/486 PC s, M acintosh systems and UNIX

workstations. Many institutions are now forced to

employ a variety of operating systems, processing

power and connectivity options.

For IT professionals attempting to deploy the latest 32-bitWindows-based applications to students and faculty

system wide, these existing technology investments are

a formidable impediment. As a result, many academic

institutions have resorted to using problematic emulation

softw are or investing in costly application rewrites.

So lu t io n

Citrix Server-based Computing is a better, more cost-

effective solution because it enables virtually any existing

device in the enterprise to access Window s-based

applications without special emulation software, changes

in system confi guration or application rew rites. This

means that schools and universities can maximize their

investment in existing technology while allowingstudents, teachers and administrators to work in their

preferred computing environments.

W e b C o m p u t in g

P r o b l e m

While Web computing continues to gain in popularity,

the task of deploying interactive applications on a n

Intranet or the Internet remains difficult and time

consuming. New hardware and software are usually

required to deploy these solutions, and every time the

application changes, the Web-based application needs

to change as well.

So lu t io n

With C itrix Server-based Computing, administrators can

launch and embed Windows-based applications into

HTML pages without rewriting a single line of code.

Students and faculty can access academic applications

quickly and easily from the school Intranet or public

Internet sites affiliated w ith the institution.

A n y W e bB r o w s e r

W e bS e r v e r

S B CS e r v e r

R o u t e r

HTM

L

Applic

atio

n

I n t e r n e t& I n t r a n e t

M a c i n t o s h

L e g a c y P C

U N I X

S B CS e r v e r

L AN

8

S E C T IO N 4


11/12

R e m o t e C o m p u t in g

P r o b l e m

The changing technology environment is allowing moreand more students, faculty and administrators to work

at home and from other remote locations. As a result,

a variety of network connections are being used to access

academic applications. Unfortunately, lower bandwidth

severely inhibits application performance. This poor

performance leads many users to abandon trying to

access applications altogether.

So lu t io n

Citrix Server-based Computing works for remote users

because it keeps all application processing on the server,

meaning less traffic is sent across the network. Plus, its

optimized for low-bandwidth connections so users can

get LAN-like performance over analog or ISDN

modems, WANs, w ireless LANs and even the Internet.

With Citr ix Server-based Computing, IT staff can

deploy and manage vital applications and support

remote usersall from one location.

T h in - C lie n t D e v ic e C o m p u t in g

P r o b l e m

While some schools and universities have installed mini-and mainframe computing systems that deliver a few

of the same centralized computing benefits as server-

based computing, these types of machines werent

designed fo r the thousands of G UI-based Window s

applications available today. In addition, many of todays

new devices, like Windows-based terminals, PDAs and

wireless tablets are not compatible with the Windows-

based academic applications unless rewrites are performed.

Also, teachers and students who work on these devicesand are familiar with their text-based interfaces are

typically slow to adopt to new operating systems.

So lu t io n

With server-based computing, the latest Window s-based

academic applications can be extended to any

thin device without application rewrites. This enables

students and faculty to work in their preferred environments

and still access the Windows-based applications they

need to be productive. As a result, the academic

institution reaps the financial benefits of usingcomparat ively inexpensive ICA clients.

N e t w o r kC o m p u t e r s

W i r e l e s sT e r m i n a l s a n d

I n f o r m a t i o nA p p l i a n c e s

W i nd o w sT e r m i n a l s

S B CS e r v e r

L AN

N o t e b o o k

N o t e b o o k

D i a l - u p

D i a l - u pR e m o t eN o d eS e r v e r

S B CS e r v e r

9

S E C T IO N 4


12/12

1999 Citrix Systems, Inc. Citrix , WinFrame and ICA are registered trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. MultiWin and MetaFrame are

trademarks of C itrix Systems, Inc. for w hich there are pending applications for registration in the U.S. Patent and Trademark O ffice.

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Server-based Computing in Education