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e-Labs: The Cloud
Leveraging The Cloud as a Technology Strategy
e-Labs Technology: What is The Cloud?
- Cloud computing is a technology paradigm whereby software and IT infrastructure are delivered as services via the Internet. This network of services is collectively known as "The Cloud."
- The term “cloud” is used as a metaphor for the Internet based server center and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals.
- Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure as the "cloud" that supports them and is remotely managed and maintained.
A Greener e-Labs with the Cloud
- Consolidating computing resources to the e-Labs cloud means:
- Energy efficient thin clients replace energy thirsty PCs on each site
- Resource efficient servers in the cloud replace energy thirsty servers on each site
- Overall each site’s carbon footprint is dramatically reduced
A Cloud Approach to e-Labs Technology Reduces Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):
- Less hardware to buy at each site
- Fewer software licenses to buy at each site
- Fewer IT personnel at each site
- IT staff is centralized in the cloud
- Local staff can concentrate on helping students instead
Where do the PC’s go?
- The PC at each workstation is eliminated and replaced by a “thin client.” PC functionality is instead consolidated to servers in data centers residing in “the cloud.”
- The “thin client” simply reads the student’s keystrokes and mouse clicks, and sends them over the network to the server.
- The server sends back the data to the student’s thin client, which displays data and graphics on the workstation monitor.
- Local application servers are also unnecessary; these are also consolidated in the cloud.
- The result: lower operating cost, smaller carbon footprint.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership - Thin clients:
- Are less expensive than PCs.
- Have no fans, and smaller processors, drawing less power.
- Have increased security, reliability and ease of management, reducing operating and maintenance.
- Have a longer useful lifespan measured in years (no moving parts).
Ease of Thin Client Management
- No applications or data are stored locally on the thin client:
- Easy to replace if lost, stolen or damaged.
- Thin clients are managed at the server, located in the cloud:
- The only software they need are web browsers or remote desktop software so that they can connect to the server.
- Even this software can be loaded remotely from the server each morning or before each use (remote boot).
- Thin client hardware has fewer points of failure and lacks a hard drive, providing protection from viruses and malware.
- Thin clients are highly reliable:
- Data and applications are not resident on the client, so nothing is lost in a disaster.
- With no moving parts, thin clients have an extended product life of up to 5 years (as opposed to 2– 3 in typical learning labs) and can be cost effectively replaced if needed.
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