"How Do you Keep Your Technology Investments Current"

byDan Vassallo, Office Administrator
Murray & Murray Co LPA

     We’ve all been there… bought the very latest and greatest computer system and software, only to have it become almost obsolete in a relatively short period of time.  How long does a new computer workstation remain useful?  What is the cost to replace a third of your computer workstations each year?  How do we remain current, without breaking the bank? 

A popular alternative is the server centric environment, where the primary investment is made in a fully configured “souped-up” server that handles all of the computing tasks.  Users access the server programs and services through low-cost network “dumb” terminals that have a life expectancy of up to seven years.  Additional cost savings can be derived by using all existing computer workstations as terminals.  A small terminal emulator program runs on each computer workstation making it act as a terminal on the server network.  Even older computer workstations running a DOS operating system can be used although better user performance is obtained by meeting a minimum standard RAM requirement and processor speed.

What is old becomes new again.  Instead of an expensive mainframe computer and terminals of old, we can use an economical server with existing workstation terminal emulators for superb performance at a bargain price.  The computer hardware cost of a Windows based server with redundant internal components (power supplies, hard drives, processors, NIC’s, etc.), with sufficient computing “horsepower” for up to a hundred users, is about four or five times the cost of a single, really “beefed-up”, desktop computer workstation.  Even with multiple redundant servers, replaced every four years, it is still a very economical proposition, when compared to frequently updating all desktop computer workstations.

An added benefit is easier software administration.  All user programs are installed and updated one time only, on the server.  Individual software licenses are still required for each user, but the technical aspect of the installation is simplified on the one server machine.  All users access the same copy of the program.  This provides tremendous IT savings by not installing and updating on each individual workstation.

The network software runs on Microsoft Terminal Services.  It has been reported that 100% of the Fortune 100 companies use Citrix Meta Frame software, although there are competing products available.  The current Linux kernel also contains a similar VPN feature.