Mainframes to Microblades

On my dynamic Google desktop, I have a content box that tracks the path of the Hubble Telescope. As Hubble was approaching the southwest coast of Viet Nam heading in a north easterly direction, I noticed in the column to the left a headline from Slashdot, “The Future of Computing”. Not wanting to miss out on knowing what the future of computing is going to be, clicked to read the article. Interesting. And then I read the entire article by Dr. Fomitchev. Server Based Computing folks have been doing this for years. We call it homogeneous grouping of applications in silos.

From Slashdot,

An anonymous reader writes "Penn State computer science professor Max Fomitchev explains that computing has evolved in a spiral pattern from a centralized model to a distributed model that retains some aspects of centralized computing. Single-task PC operating systems (OSes) evolved into multitasking OSes to make the most of increasing CPU power, and the introduction of the graphical user interface at the same time reduced CPU performance and fueled demands for even more efficiencies. "The role of CPU performance is definitely waning, and if a radical new technology fails to materialize quickly we will be compelled to write more efficient code for power consumption costs and reasons," Fomitchev writes. Slow, bloated software entails higher costs in terms of both direct and indirect power consumption, and the author reasons that code optimization will likely involve the replacement of blade server racks with microblade server racks where every microblade executes a dedicated task and thus eats up less power. The collective number of microblades should also far outnumber initial "macro" blades. Fully isolating software components should enhance the system's robustness thanks to the potential of real-time component hot-swap or upgrade and the total removal of software installation, implementation, and patch conflicts. The likelihood of this happening is reliant on the factor of energy costs, which directly feeds into the factor of code optimization efficiency."

Until the next post,

Steve

Aggregation

They started out as text based terminals. Some labeled them as "Dumb". Then came choice of character color, traditional green, Swedish amber, and white if you did not want green or amber. And they connected to the Big Iron located down the hallway or some where in the building.Three hundred bps for remote access is very slow even in the context of its era. To be a Network Engineer then meant you made and trouble shot your own coax cable plant. Let's be honest, some "good old days" were not as good as others.

The terminals have morphed to thin clients and they no longer only connect to the "Big Iron" in the nearby data center. Although "thin client" means that they are dependent upon another system to be functional, they now have the capacity to be more flexible and independent. Can these devices replace a traditional Personal Computer?

My PC is no longer just my personal computer. It is a focal point for gathering information, enjoying entertainment, maintaining communication as well as the original purposes, word processor with spell checking, spreadsheet, and playing solitaire. My problem is I am stuck with the name and concept of "MY PC". MY, meaning MINE! And PC for personal and computer. My love for the PC grew from hate derived from the propeller heads that ran the data centers at the university. They had more rules than a small town judge magistrate that was paid a percentage of the fines. But with a PC, I was the judge, town council, and mayor.

Perhaps I no longer need a standard PC. Maybe not even a upscale ultra thin laptop. If the PC is no longer as important to me as before, then what is? My Data. Our Data. Managed access. And a medium to securely connect to the data. For many users that still means a PC, Laptop, hand held, Blackberry, and similar devices connected to their network. For me all I need is secure access to the resources that include information, intertainment, communications, word processing, spreadsheet and some additional small business services. Maybe some type of solitaire, but that would be optional. If access to the data is secure, do I care if the pipe is wireless, copper, fiber or aluminum? No. If access on the service side is secure, do I care if on the client side it is MY device or someone else's trusted device. No. But having had a PC since the summer of 77, I may have been scarred for life and may never truly get over them. But I am willing to try. How far can I go with out a PC?

Aggregation.

Wish I would of thought of using the word aggregation in a computational context first. Found the term in the Free On Line Dictionary of Computing. Although the definition refers to aggregation as a programming technique, I am going to adapt the term to identify how I could become PC free.

My basic requirement is that I have that ability to interact with services that will allow me to aggregate resources where I want them and store the benefits of those services where I choose to save them. That is what most of us do with our traditional PC, laptop or other portable device and them synchronize them when ever we are all together in the same room. But, I want the applications that are currently hosted on MY PC and synchronized attachments to execute elsewhere. word processing, Email, news, daily planner, IM, all of it hosted elsewhere. Do not send me notifications of patches, security fixes, or product updates. The service vendor does that by the hour, of every day, all year. If not, I will switch to a vendor that does maintain a good service. Do not lock me into some 24 month service agreement that has more rules than a small town judge magistrate. And I can select which services I use from a primary vendor then select other services from a collection of sources that meet my particular needs and wants. I then place the selected services on a virtual desktop the way I want to interact with them. A monthly fee of Free might make it a perfect solution. I could also choose to pay a premium for other demanded services.

Imagine a buffet restaurant that has everything you might want to eat but you can choose to order only those items that you want now. The sushi could be from Japan, pasta from Italy, kimchi from Korea, beef from Kansas and wine from Australia. Ala Carte is OK!. And if you have a fine Greek restaurant in your neighborhood, they just might serve everything you need and want. Ouzo anyone? Premium add on of course.

The point is I choose what is aggregated on the table. What prompted this diatribe? Many things but there are three events of note.

1) Google Calendar, Gmail, et al.
2) Damn Small Linux booted from a thumb drive.
3) Jetro CockpIT Universal Connector.

Recently, I have been asking people if they would like to look at MY calendar events on THEIR computer. It is amazing just how many different, and strange looks I got. If they respond with a yes, then I asked if they would like to be an event on MY Calendar. This went very well until I got to someone that had not updated their browser in several years. Do I want someone that has not updated their browser in years to be an event on MY Calendar? Yes and maybe this might help to motivate them to update. Now if Google could aggregate a word processor, Email...where is my list? Does Google have a version of solitaire?

Damn Small Linux is a distro that can be booted from a USB pen drive. The pen drive hosts a minimal OS and has a second partition which can occupy the balance of the pen drive capacity. DSL has a browser and rdesktop module included in the distro. The browser allows me to connect the web/grid and the rdesktop allows me to connected to other traditional MSTS hosted applications. One of my criteria for aggregation is the burning question of data storage, your place or mine? DSL on a pen drive provides a choice. The limitation is I must find a host that will allow me to boot from the USB port.

A couple of years ago or so, Jetro Platforms included a client named CUC, "CockpIT Universal Connector". It is still listed in the current release 3.6. This client connection would permit anyone with a rdp protocol enabled module to connect to a virtual desktop. Even though Jetro sits atop Windows 2003 terminal server, the rdesktop modules of the Linux distros I tested worked well. I invited Linux user groups to test drive the CUC and they did with success. The down side is that the Jetro administrator determines which services are aggregated on your virtual desktop. Maybe a organizational solution or one the grandparents might like?

In summary, since my telepathic skills are nil, will still need to attach to the web/grid with something. Need a minimal boot OS (PXE, network, Pen Drive, CD or hard drive) that has a browser and/or a supported protocol to reach MY services. But once connected with the services, how are I got there is transparent. Can a thin client boot into a browser and take me to the web/grid? How about using rdp to access an aggregated service provider? Or maybe "YouOS?'

Until the next post,

Steve

Microsoft Terminal Services

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It was an accident that I stumbled into Microsoft Terminal Server and later MetaFrame 1.0 atop TSE 4.0. Just about 8 years ago I was returning from Malaysia after setting up SMS for a company with sites in Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia. Malaysia was the last to join the SMS inventory list. The flight from Kuala Lumper to Los Angeles is almost 20 hours. Even the Boeing 747-400 had to stop for more fuel in Taiwan to get across the Pacific. It made the final leg, a “red eye” flight from LA the the east coast, seem like a puddle jumping commute. The project was completed almost three months early and I thought that the rest of my contract was about to be canceled. Not so.

Upon my arrival back the next day, I was summoned to IT Mount Olympus. Was informed that some guys from MS were bringing “Hydra” over in the afternoon. Advised since I had three more months on my contract I should talk with them and then set up a test bench replicating the company's global network for testing “Hydra” in the lab similar to what I did with SMS. The objective was to go wireless and replace the miles of CAT 5 cable that ran though the plants using TSE. An on staff person and I were to enumerate “Hydras” capabilities and flush out the flaws that would negatively impact the objective.

We split the evaluation into to two components. Wireless and PC (Desktop) replacement. The desktop replacement component hosted an audition for thin client manufactures and selected one to provide a 75 user test environment. The wireless component had the more difficult of task forecasting which wireless technology would win the standards war. He did, and the project made it onto the do list. Early the next year we had 15 brand new Certified Citrix Administrators spread out over 4 continents.

Citrix and/or Microsoft TS dominate the Server Based Computing market. For most IT administrators their choice is to add Citrix atop MS TS or go with TS alone. But even Microsoft acknowledges that at some point in the build out process you may need an additional product to leverage MS TS resources.

RDP has come a long way over the years. The differences between ICA and RDP for most users is not measurable. The differences are often at the implementation level and can be narrowed down to a few requirements. They are application-level load balancing, seamless presentation of applications, listing published applications based on user authentication and web based operations. If none of these features are on your have to have list, then MS TS may be all you need. Many of the vendors listed in the column to left think that upon your investigation of SBC, critical evaluation, and subsequent reflection, you just may need their assistance.

Microsoft Terminal Services can present to a user a remote desktop based on a profile and membership in a GPO. The user profile may be defined specifically for the TS experience or bypassed in favor of one profile. It is not complicated. The complications begin to arise when one starts to try make TS do on its own what the vendors listed in the left column have already done. The reason they exist is because there are complications achieving what they have done using TS alone.

I was teaching a Citrix MetaFrame class near Washington, DC comprised almost exclusively with employees of U.S. government agencies. The group at large looked as if they wanted to be somewhere else. To wake them up I said, “ninety nine percent of the Fortune 100 companies use this technology, and it is not because it costs a lot of money and does nothing”! It worked. Heads popped up and eyes opened. I remember it as one of my better classes.

But if all you need is a remote desktop for a subset of your IT users, MS TS may be all your need. You can download Microsoft Server 2003 R2 for evaluation. They have some on line forms to fill out to download the evaluation copy. I did for 32 bit and 64 bit versions. No problems. The URL is “http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/trial/default.mspx”. This is a good place to start. Write down what your objectives are for implementing a remote desktop environment. Could be the old favorite, lower TCO. Could be a new favorite, lower my energy costs. A 5 watt thin client consumes less energy and generates less heat than a 200 watt PC. Then cross off all the objectives that can be achieved using MS TS. Nothing left on your list? You now have the beginnings of a solution.

Got something left over on the list? Look to the left column under SBC Vendors.

Until the next post,

Steve

Edubuntu Live CD

Edubuntu is the education/terminal server member of the Ubuntu family of Linux operating systems. It is designed for the education market and includes a server based computing component. The TS portion is aimed at the classroom environment running within the school LAN. More on the TS portion later.

Edubuntu is available in three flavors. On their web site they list;

"PC (Intel x86) desktop CD
For almost all PCs. This includes most machines with Intel/AMD/etc type processors and almost all computers that run Microsoft Windows. Choose this if you are at all unsure.

Mac (PowerPC) desktop CD
For Apple Macintosh G3, G4, and G5 computers, including iBooks and PowerBooks.

64-bit PC (AMD64) desktop CD
For computers based on the AMD64 or EM64T architecture (e.g.,Athlon64, Opteron, EM64T Xeon). It is not necessary for all (most) processors made by AMD -- only their 64 bit chips."

These are "Live" CD ISO images that let your load the Edubuntu OS without installing the OS on to your system. Experience what the user will see and hear without committing to an installation. I loaded the x86 and 64-bit "Live" versions on the appropriate platforms without a problem.

Edubuntu does not claim to be the ultimate Terminal Server solution. It offers a clean and simple desktop from a server to a computer that meets the minimum requirements listed below and as posted on Edubuntu's web site.

"The minimum requirements for a thin client computer is a Pentium II with 48MB RAM and a 2MB display card. Recommended specifications is at least a Pentium II/300 with 64MB RAM and a 4MB display card. You will also need a method to boot over the network. Most newer mother boards (and network cards) have built-in PXE software that allows you to boot from the network. If it doesn't, you can create a network boot floppy or CD from http://rom-o-matic.net. Keep in mind that you need to enable PXE emulation when creating the boot media."

I tested the boot process using rom-o-matic, native PXE boots on several computers from multiple vendors, and a thin client device, without a problem. This is not however, a low bandwidth solution. This solution needs to run on a local area network. One hundred megabit switches or greater may be required for all but the smallest installations.

Once the "Live" CD is loaded, it places an icon on the desktop that will load the OS on to you local drive. That is good. The bad news it does not load the Terminal server portion of the OS. To see and follow the actual setup instructions as presented in the "Getting Started" document you will have the use the Alternate installation CD that is available on the same down load site. Just look a little lower on the download page. Download and burn the ISO image as listed in the "Getting Started" document, then boot from that alternate image.

The default installation assumes that you are setting up a new installation. And that you are using a 192.168.0 address scheme with this machine as a DHCP server for this network segment. For my testing I used another addressing scheme and the "Getting Started" document explains how to change the address range and restart the DHCP server. There is additional documentation if you want to add sound, have mixed computing architectures, and/or use another DHCP server.

What about printing? For me it is very nice. Had the choice of using SAMBA or CUPS. Choose both and they both worked just fine. I may be one of the few sites in the world that has an HP printer that works with all the Linux systems but none of the Microsoft OSes on site. What printer am I using for the tests?

Is Edubuntu ready for large installations, probably not. Being limited to a single server, there is no scalability. The one server goes down and you have a problem. I stored personal data on a Network Storage Device that was accessible by multiple operating systems and could go from one OS to another and keep my personal data. But this is contrary to the idea of a simple solution for education (or any other market segment). Overall however, it is a very promising solution. A few more steps on the development path and it will be a very viable option in the Server Based Comptuing market.

This blog is about Server Based Computing and not about the applications that are executed on the SBC platforms. However, since it Edubuntu is directed at the education market I will make a comment. Wish I had this option when I was in school. Even as a stand alone OS, it is worth looking at as a desktop OS.

Families that have trouble maintaining 2, 3, or 4 personal computers at home, might find this a welcomed solution. Has instant messaging, web access, and open office suite for creating documents and presentations. The repository of available applications is extensive. However, try downloading a program that requires an installation and your are not the administrator! Not today.

As a foot note to large organizations contemplating Server Based Computing for browser based applications or SOA, you might want to book mark another of Ubuntu's family members, Xubuntu.org. Theoretical capacity with existing technology is over 400 users per server. If it can achieve 25% of that it would be very interesting. The Terminal Server portion is not there yet, but it is included in the install as an option.

Was curious as to how to pronounce Xubuntu. Found three choices.

"ZOO-bun-tu", "ZOO-boon-too", and "ZOO-boon-tuu". They all agreed on "ZOO".

Until the next post,

Steve