A thin client is commonly thought of as a computer that does not have its hard disk. A thin client connects to a server-based environment containing most of the programs, memory, and sensitive data that the user needs. Thin clients can also connect to cloud-based servers.

Thin client computers can be helpful to substitute for regular desktop PCs in a variety of situations (PC). There are various benefits to doing so, including the possibility of creating a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

You may purchase new workstations for remote or in-house personnel at a fraction of the cost of supplying them with their computers by utilizing thin client technology. You may also centralize your security solution by protecting the server connected to all of your thin clients. Continue reading to learn more about Citrix XenApp.

Consider the case of thin client vs. thick client

A "standard" PC or central processing unit is referred to as a "thick client" or "fat client" (CPU). In the case of a thick client, the client handles all data processing. Thin clients, on the other hand, have benefits and drawbacks.

Deploying a thick client is more expensive than deploying a thin client. If you have a thick client, you must pay for all of the components that come with it. Another disadvantage of thick clients is the number of moving parts. Because each element has its life cycle, making them more fragile, it is more difficult to maintain and more likely to fail early. They use more energy since each component of a thick client must be powered. Cooling several heavy users may need more electricity than cooling a central server serving several light users, resulting in more extraordinary energy expenses.

It should also be noted that a thick client offers additional possibilities. There are situations when having other features might be beneficial, especially if they support functions that you may desire in the future. Thin clients may not have enough RAM to run memory-intensive programs, but thick clients are more likely to have enough RAM to execute these types of apps.

What are the benefits of a thin client?

Thin clients provide a variety of benefits that may boost an organization's productivity and cyber security.

Security may be enhanced by using thin clients instead of standard PCs. The server must first allow access to the thin client before it may launch the software. This means that if three users mistakenly began downloading three different types of malware, the same firewall protecting the server to which each thin client connects would block them all.

Further, anyone attempting to save corrupted data on the thin client system will be unable to do so. It'd need to be installed on the server. It is impossible to get harmful code into a protected server, protecting all thin client users from having their operations disturbed by unintentionally installed malware. As a result, thin-client systems are simple to monitor because all endpoints connect with a single server.

Thin clients are less expensive to deploy than traditional PCs. In addition, thin clients consume substantially fewer resources than standard PCs since they perform far less work. A thin client is unlikely to have a high-end graphics card or a big hard disk for storage. It will also have less storage space than a desktop PC. Each of these components has a hefty price tag associated with it. Thin client manufacturers can save money by not spending as much time and money acquiring the components of a standard PC.

Thin clients, in general, are simple to manage since they connect to the same server as the rest of the network's endpoints. As a result, you may focus a significant percentage of your time and attention on a single physical unit. Because a single IT team member can do simple tasks like upgrading security software on the central server, several users may be supported simultaneously. IT support personnel are no longer required to visit individual workstations to install or repair software.

You may rapidly and cheaply increase the capacity of your system by using virtual desktops and thin client architecture. You may allow your users to bring their own devices to a virtual desktop environment, which is an added benefit of a thin client arrangement. The thin-client server in the workplace may also be used as a virtual desktop base for seasonal workers or temporary contractors to connect to the network and get work done.

How does a thin client work?

Thin clients include desktop virtualization, shared services, and browser-based computing. In a virtualized desktop system, such as one where each user has a remote desktop, a virtual machine is just a partition within a centralized server. The many divisions that exist side by side serve different users. These users, like every other PC user, have their software and operating systems.

These resources are now housed on a single server rather than on separate devices. If a device can connect to the server, it is also feasible to use its resources, allowing greater flexibility and speedier deployment.

When terminal services are shared, all thin client users can utilize the same operating system and applications from a single server. Users are limited in what they can do since the IT department must approve all actions. This can benefit the organization by restricting user activity to applications deemed safe or secure.

The use of browser-based architecture reduces the necessity for a remote server to perform device-specific actions. Although data processing occurs on the thin client, network connectivity is essential to access apps and data.

Why should you care about the Citrix XenApp thin client?

Desktop virtualization design and execution is one of the most critical IT initiatives that businesses are now undertaking. It is essential to your company's success that you keep up with the ever-increasing expectations of a worldwide workforce. Citrix XenApp desktop virtualization enables your company to achieve critical strategic goals such as recruiting and retaining the most qualified employees regardless of location, increasing business efficiency by reducing the time required to integrate acquisitions, and, most importantly, allowing your employees to use their own devices while keeping critical data safe in the datacenter.

The phrase "desktop virtualization" really refers to a lot more than just virtual desktop technology (VDI). Desktop virtualization cannot give a general solution; instead, it must be tailored to each user's individual needs. However, because many people assume that virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is identical to desktop virtualization, businesses frequently start their technology search by looking at VDI solutions when embarking on a desktop virtualization program.

Citrix FlexCast™ technology, a feature of Citrix XenApp, can help your organization achieve vital strategic goals such as recruiting and retaining the most skilled employees regardless of location, increasing business efficiency by reducing the time required to integrate acquisitions, and, most importantly, providing your people with device choice while keeping critical infrastructure secure.

Lower the amount of computational power needed

Sharing resources and isolating each user session allows a single XenApp server, real or virtual, to support 150-200 virtual desktop sessions1. A VDI-only solution, where each user has their virtual machine (VM), requires up to 400% more servers than a XenApp hosted shared desktop solution. When comparing one-to-one VDI users to many-to-one XenApp-hosted virtual desktops, it's clear that the server hardware requirements may be significantly decreased. Two of the most prominent desktop virtualization systems in use today are XenDesktop and XenApp.

Save space by reducing storage requirements

It's critical to note that server hardware is only one component of the more extensive desktop virtualization solution infrastructure. To accelerate the implementation of both hosted shared and virtualized desktops, centralized image management technologies should be used.

This centralized management system will benefit any large-scale implementation because of its improvements to reduce the overall amount of high-performance shared storage required. On the other hand, XenApp-hosted shared desktops are still helpful in both shared and local storage, even in smaller deployments.

When used with a central image distribution system such as Citrix provisioning services, a single XenApp server instance typically requires just 15 GB of high-performance shared storage to handle up to 200 user sessions.

As a result, the same 200 VDI users would need 1,000 GB of high-performance local or shared storage for each VM, for a total of one terabyte of storage. Overall, XenApp hosted shared desktops dramatically reduce storage requirements and costs.

Increase mobility using Citrix Receiver™

Mobile devices and the capacity to use them for professional work are becoming increasingly vital to users (bring your own). Restricting clients to a single device or operating system has been shown to influence their adoption and satisfaction with desktop virtualization solutions substantially. Citrix Receiver makes it simple to provide user freedom and choice.

Thanks to this easy-to-use client software, users can access their XenApp server-based virtual desktops from any device and over any network connection. Tablet features like the XenApp Mobility Pack and Citrix Receiver may be used to make a Windows desktop available to users who do not have access to a keyboard or right-click mouse buttons on their tablet. The Receiver, which is available for free download from the Citrix website, makes it simple for customers to configure their own BYO devices for desktop virtualization using XenApp on their own.

Implement a desktop virtualization solution

SSI offers Citrix XenApp hosted shared desktops as one of its desktop virtualization options. With these Citrix desktop virtualization solutions, you can meet your company's desktop and application virtualization needs.

Learn more about our desktop virtualization options.  Reach out today.