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“WinSun”: Deploying the Windows Desktop on a Sun Ray

Anita Schwartz

Carol Jarom

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About the University of Delaware

• One of the oldest land-grant institutions, as well as a sea-grant, space-grant and urban-grant institution.

• The University enrolls over 20,000 students.• More than 7,000 students live on campus.

http://www.udel.edu/

Why Sun Rays?

• We started evaluating Sun Rays to replace existing NCD X-Terminals.

http://www.udel.edu/topics/os/unix/sunray/aboutTerminal.html

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• Sun introduced Sun Ray Connector

• Allows Sun Rays to connect to Windows!

Sun Ray 1G

WinSun Project

• We were supporting older PCs dedicated to providing limited services. “Express Station”

• Same level of support was needed

• Sun Connector software was a natural fit

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Sun Ray 270

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WinSun Sites

• Smith Hall– Express terminals designed to provide quick

access to Windows desktop functionality such as Office suite, web browsing and mail.This site also has full service desktop systems.

• Christiana– Full Windows desktop lab environment

designed to provide Office suite, SPSS and Maple in addition to web browsing and mail. This site is in the commons area of a student dorm. Functions well as an unstaffed or minimally staff site.

In WinSun sites, all files are saved or edited from a USB key and printed via VendPrint.

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Additional WinSun Sites

• Dickinson-The success of the Christiana site prompted User Services to convert another residence hall computing site to a WinSun site.

• Student Centers

-At the request of the Student Government Association, two express stations complete with printing were deployed. One in the Perkins Student Center and one in the Trabant University Center.

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All-in-One Design

• Custom built cabinet– The University carpenter shop designed a

cabinet for the station

• WinSun Terminal– For email, web browsing and to view and print

documents, no editing

• VendPrint print release station– A Mac mini was used to minimize space

• HP 4240 LaserJet Printer

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WinSun ServersHardware Configuration

• Sun Ultra 20 Workstation

• Dual Core 2.4 GHz AMD Opteron processor 180

• 2 GB Ram

• 250 GB mirrored SATA Hard drive

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WinSun ServersHardware Configuration

• Sun Ultra 40 Workstation

• 2 x Dual Core 2.2 GHz AMD Opteron processor 2214

• 8 GB Ram

• 250 GB mirrored SATA Hard drive

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WinSun ServersSoftware Configuration

Windows 2003 Server Solaris 10 x86

Terminal Services SRSS and Sun Connector

Mandatory Roaming Profiles

Kiosk mode script

Windows Firewall Host allow-deny

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Windows 2003 Server Configuration

• This server should not be a Domain Controller.– Use Local Group Policy Object (LGPO)

• Terminal Services configuration– Use Terminal Services Configuration tool to configure Terminal

Services

• Terminal server computer accounts– Domain accounts that reside in an OU (organization unit)– Accounts use a mandatory profile– Group policies are set on the OU

• Enable the Windows Firewall– Allow only designated machines access– Unblock applications as needed

Solaris x86 Server Configuration

• Choose Kiosk mode for the SRSS configuration • Default number of predefined kiosk users is 25• Kiosk scripts are split so direct calls on the Solaris

server do not show username and password• Additional script needed for USB keys to be seen on

the windows server• All systems are denied access to the Solaris server

except 1 for remote administration

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Cost and Reliability

Sun Ray Terminals

WinSun

Terminals

Low per unit cost

$675.00 for 80+ seats

$604.00 for 53+ seats

Load balancing and Failover

3 Sun Fire V210s

2 Sun Fire V240s

Yes

3 Ultra 20s

1 Ultra 40

2 Unix & 2 Windows

Yes

Hot desking

(Smart cards)

Yes No

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Disadvantages

• Network is mission-critical.

• USB devices not all recognized.

• Graphics-intensive applications put high demand on the network.

• Applications that use video and audio together do not perform well.

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Advantages

• Reduced staff.

• Ease of configuration and maintenance.

• Reduced security/virus administration.

• Reduced hardware failure.

• Reduced power costs.

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Conclusion• Implemented three WinSun terminal sites.• Students accepted the new technology.• Students requested additional terminals in

Student Centers.• We continue to learn and discover best practices

for this environment.• “Proof of concept” has sparked increased interest

around campus.

Useful URLS and Contact Information

• Scripts:http://www.udel.edu/topics/os/unix/sunray/winsun/

 

• Help pageshttp://www.udel.edu/topics/os/unix/sunray/aboutWinsun.html

jarom@udel.edu

anita@udel.edu17