The common practice 30 years ago of many users working on one server seemed to come to an end in the age of the PC. Today, like in former times, the opportunity is there again to exploit those same advantages offered by a central architecture and, moreover, to make great cost savings. It is even possible to centralise the familiar graphic user interface and the typical applications. Current technology offers users even higher performance and greater mobility as regards workplace and data.

Such server-based concepts can be easily implemented in a local network (LAN). The speed of today's networks by far exceeds requirements as far as the server connection is concerned. The servers hosting the applications can run Microsoft operating systems and / or Unix operating systems such as Linux, Solaris or AIX. The choice of operating system depends on the individual application. By using virtualisation, servers can also run with a mix of operating systems.

There are various client options:

ThinClient

ThinClients are PCs without hard disks, which load a 'trimmed-down' operating system from a flash memory during the start-up process. The operating systems are Windows CE or special Linux versions. ThinClients from Neoware, Igel or Wise allow connection using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Citrix Clients. ThinClients do not store data, nor do they run applications. The ThinClient - in the same way as the terminal used to - merely serves to visualize content from the respective server on the screen. The requirements for the mouse and the keyboard are transmitted from the ThinClient to the server.

This produces a low maintenance system, which has the advantage of being noiseless (no noises from fan or hard disk).

It is possible to connect this type of system to conventional Windows terminal servers or Citrix or Tarantella systems.

Ultra ThinClient

As a progression of the ThinClient concept, Sun RayServer offers ThinClients without operating systems. This process is even more reduced and enables UltraThinClients to run without operating systems, as opposed to the ThinClient. This eliminates the need for servicing and such client systems never go out of date. Even configuration or system maintenance is no longer necessary on the client. The lifespan of such systems is extended to seven or more years. Even the works guarantee for 1G models covers a period of 60 months.

VPN

The internet promotes the WorldWideWeb to becoming a new application standard. One of the most important clients already today is the internet browser. In the near future, it will be possible to run entire application environments without barriers. Whether they are customer management, bookkeeping or office applications, all applications will run on the browser.