[THIN] Re: CE thins and nFuse

  • From: "Steve Greenberg" <steveg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 10:01:45 -0700

The downside of LINUX clients we have found is that they (strangely) are not
as stable, and, the RDP/ICA client is often a version behind the latest
available.
 
 

Steve Greenberg
Thin Client Computing
34522 N. Scottsdale Rd. suite D8453
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
(602) 432-8649
(602) 296-0411 fax
steveg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



-----Original Message-----
From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Greg Reese
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 9:07 AM
To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [THIN] Re: CE thins and nFuse


some of the Linux clients do have an integrated Netscape browser.  But you
really get into the higher end models.  I have not tried it myself.  The
Internet Explorer browser that you can embed in to the CE devices is pretty
weak at best though.  You would be better off to publish IE like Ron
suggested and make an ICA connection to that.  That will also let you buy a
lower end terminal since all it will do is connect to one published app.
Everything else will be handled from there.
 
One feature to think about with this.  Some thin clients have an option to
both Autostart an ICA connection and to Automatically restart connections.
 
If you have a useless account connecting to the published IE which is the
nFuse logon.  You can turn on the automatically restart option so that no
matter what happens, all the user ever sees is the nFuse logon.  If they
walk away from it and they get disconnected or whatever, the terminal will
then relaunch and put them back at the nFuse login screen for them or the
next person to sign into.
 
Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: Higgins, Bob [mailto:BHiggins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 11:50 AM
To: 'thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: [THIN] Re: CE thins and nFuse


Thanks Greg,
 
We tried a linux device, but need an integrated browser to achieve the nfuse
evnvironment that we're after. Any thoughts?
 
Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Reese [mailto:GReese@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: September 23, 2003 9:36 AM
To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [THIN] Re: CE thins and nFuse


to chime in on this.  We run a pure thin client environment here.  Mostly CE
based Winterms, Linux thin clients, and a bunch of CE tablets.
 
the CE devices we have both from Wyse and Boundless (running Neoware
software) are a little skittish.  The flash gets corrupted too easily and
they run into memory problems if you try and do too much with them.
 
There is very little you can do with a CE device that you can't do with a
Linux device.  All we buy now are Linux based thin clients and they are very
solid.  They are also cheaper.  Depending on what you buy, most of them can
be upgraded to CE if you find you don't like the Linux.  In my budget
request this year was the funds to replace all our CE thin clients with
Linux thin clients.  I think it will get approved because the CE devices
have been a giant pain.
 
I only have 200 devices and I do run a full desktop that is locked down
solid and I use mandatory profiles.  I have found that the Linux based thin
clients work best.
 
But that's me. There are a lot of people on this list who will probably
disagree.  Try out some units and see for yourself.
 
Greg 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Oglesby [mailto:roglesby@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 11:24 AM
To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [THIN] Re: CE thins and nFuse



I have done this (but not for a thousand users) I am also planning one right
now for about 600 or so to access this way.  

 

Any. The concept with NFuse is simple. Have the CE client launch to
anonymous NFuse (published IE). Then the users can sign into that and launch
applications.

Alternatively you can have a STRIPPED down desktop with a taskbar.  From
within the desktop they can use NFuse. BUT I have found that often times it
is better to give users the ability to run all the apps right from that
desktop (even using the passthrough client to launch apps from other silos)

 

But to address your individual questions:

 

Is it possible to achieve a user bombproof environment with nFuse (Web
Interface) on CE devices and still maintain the taskbar? 

Maintaining a taskbar mean giving them a desktop (even if stripped) Bomb
proof would mean mandatory profiles with maybe a flex or hybrid mixed in.
That is about as close to bomb proof as you can get. BUT any desktop is a
hole, never forget that.

What are the pitfalls of CE devices, other than the inability to have any
local apps?. 

Not anything you would want to run.... And generally these devices don't
have enough CE to do anything other than connect to a server.

How was your experience with implementation? 

Been good in most cases. I don't like giving the user a desktop if I don't
have to. If I do I give them mandatory profiles. If they gripe about saving
settings I then add in the flex or hybrid profile kit so the admins
determine what is saved and not the user.

How do users like the environment? 

Just fine once they get done gripping. You have to find a balance between
giving them anything they want and not giving them anything. I found that
these are easiest when moving them from older slower machines.

Any other comments? 

Not now.

 

 

Ron Oglesby

Senior Technical Architect

 

RapidApp

Office 312.372.7188

Mobile 815.325.7618

email roglesby@xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Higgins, Bob [mailto:BHiggins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 9:44 AM
To: 'thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: [THIN] CE thins and nFuse

 

Hi All, 

We are looking for feedback from larger environments (1000+ devices) that
have done nFuse on CE for their core application delivery. We have achieved
a satisfactory, end user secured environment on a stripped down w2k shell on
PC's, but it took some add ins (PWB, etc.) to achieve the lock down we
desired, but still maintain the necessary functionality (taskbar, etc.). 

Is it possible to achieve a user bombproof environment with nFuse (Web
Interface) on CE devices and still maintain the taskbar? 

What are the pitfalls of CE devices, other than the inability to have any
local apps?. 

How was your experience with implementation? 

How do users like the environment? 

Any other comments? 

 

Your feedback is appreciated! 

Bob Higgins, MCSE 
Information Systems Server Administrator 
Chinook Health Region 
960 19th Street South 
Lethbridge, Alberta 
T1J 1W5 
www.chr.ab.ca 
Phone: (403) 382-6338 
Fax: (403) 382 6046 
E-mail: bhiggins@xxxxxxxxx 

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