Mobile device BYOD management vs kiosk software

When securing and locking down kiosks or mobile devices, is kiosk software or mobile device management more beneficial? It depends on the context.

Source: www.kioskmarketplace.com

One way MDM is moving into that industry is via the tablet. “When tablets arrived, it was a natural addition to, or replacement of, the smartphone. Quickly, it became clear that tablets could also be used by a much broader segment of staff on tasks within the workplace,” said James Kruper, president of KioWare. “For example, sales staff in a retail store can wander around the store with a tablet helping customers.”

This pushed tablets into a category Kruper calls a “purposed device,” since it is a device that is utilized for a specific purpose, within certain security parameters. Hence, it would make sense that MDM would begin to push into the self-service market, but also kiosk software could also move into the smartphone MDM market, according to Kruper. Purposed devices lay in between self-service and mobile device management.

There are still a few primary differences between the two markets. First of all, most self-service kiosks are made for use by the general public whereas a purposed device is usually meant to be utilized by an employee or owner during hours of operation. Second, many kiosks utilize peripherals in a manner that MDM devices have not adopted yet. Some examples of this include magstripe readers, printers, RFID scanners, cash dispensers and so on. In order to perform this task, the kiosk needs an interface to communicate with the devices.

“MDM vendors will need to add self-service capability to their MDM architecture, and the risk is that it will become a clunky add-on that performs poorly,” Kruper said. “MDM can be a viable option in the purposed device market, but in the true kiosk/self-service market, they are the new kids on the block and need to prove they can provide 24×7 security as well as device integration and monitoring.”

The key question that emerges from this discussion is whether MDM will ever be able to displace kiosk software. For purposed devices, it could go either way, according to Kruper. If keeping the device locked down is more important, then kiosk software might be more beneficial. On the other hand, if you need to be able to change the settings and update the device often, then MDM might offer more freedom.

“In the kiosk/self-Service market, if it is a public facing kiosk expected to run unattended and for long periods of time, then it is hard to beat kiosk/self-service solutions designed and tested specifically with that intent,” Kruper said. “In the spectrum that is corporate device management, consider that BYOD is on one side of the spectrum where there is a high level of freedom but little/no control, MDM is in the middle, and kiosk software would be to the right where there is a high level of restricted behavior allowing for stronger security and tight control of the device.”

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IGEL UDC2 now converts enterprise-class Dell Wyse thin clients

IGEL UDC2 simplifies remote management of business desktops and assists migration to VDI environment

Reading, UK. December 1, 2015 – The latest updates to IGEL’s igel-udc2 Universal Desktop Converter 2 solution now allows businesses to convert Dell Wyse thin clients from the 5000 and 7000 series into standardized IGEL desktops, with all the remote management benefits of a unified workspace. IGEL’s UDC2 standardizes the operating systems used by thin clients, PCs, and notebooks, turning them into IGEL-like devices that can then be more effectively remote managed using IGEL’s sector-leading Universal Management Suite (UMS) software, which comes as standard with the UDC2 license. 

The latest version of the UDC2 with IGEL Linux 5.08.100 now runs on all desktop thin clients from the Dell Wyse 5000 and 7000 series, including their predecessor models from the D and Z class. Even the top of the range Dell Wyse 7020 with Windows Embedded Standard 7 (formerly Z90Q7), is supported with full functionality – including sound, dual view, network drivers and WiFi – alongside updates to the devices for the latest tools and drivers for peripheral support.

“The UDC2 is the tool for smart businesses looking for simplified, remote management of their desktop estate or a smooth transition to a VDI environment,” said Simon Richards, IGEL MD for UK & Ireland. “The addition of Dell Wyse thin clients to the UDC2’s conversion capabilities makes it even easier for businesses to convert their existing desktops to IGEL-like devices and gain all the benefits of simplified, central remote management. In addition, businesses looking to move to a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure can use UDC2 to migrate their existing desktops to IGEL-like devices that are designed for use in virtual and cloud environments from all the leading suppliers. This approach means businesses do not have to immediately spend additional money buying new desktops when they move to a VDI environment.”

As well as Dell Wyse, the UDC2 standardizes thin clients from various vendors, such as Acer, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo or Samsung, as well as x86-based PCs and notebooks.

The conversion process can be carried out locally on the device using a UDC token, USB stick or DVD, as well as over the network by means of the IGEL UDC Deployment Appliance, a combination of PXE Server and web GUI. The guest thin client’s original operating system – in this case Linux, ThinOS or Windows Embedded – is irrelevant for conversion with the UDC2. However, the notebook and all-in-one models from Dell Wyse series are not supported or not fully supported.

Price and availability

An unlicensed evaluation version of the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter 2 (UDC2) can be downloaded free of charge from www.myigel.biz. Full conversion of the Dell Wyse client series is possible with IGEL Linux firmware release 5.08.100, available mid-December. Use of the software requires a UDC license, which costs around £49.00 plus vat.

An overview of all thin client devices from other manufacturers that can be converted with the IGEL UDC2 is available at: www.igel.com/udc2-specs. IGEL publishes a complete list of the individual hardware components supported by the IGEL Linux firmware in the “Linux 3rd Party Hardware Database” at: www.igel.com/hwdb

About IGEL Technology

A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter:twitter.com/IGEL_Technology

 

Editorial Contact:

Paul Smith

[email protected]

Tel: +44 (0)7770 828525

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Opinion #2 — AWS bias – Microsoft Azure vs Amazon AWS: which cloud is best for the enterprise?

Microsoft Azure vs Amazon AWS public cloud comparison: Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are often regarded as the leading infrastructure as a service clouds. Choosing between the two public providers can sometimes be tricky however. ComputerworldUK takes a look at the merits of each for enterprise customers.

Source: www.computerworlduk.com

Good review though the writer gives it AWS (he has to give it to one or the other I suppose?). 

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One Opinion — Amazon Web Services Vs Microsoft Azure: The Real Difference

Gartner Research compared AWS and Azure in the Spring. But Microsoft has since made some changes to their cloud offerings.

Source: blog.apterainc.com

Good comparison and more in favor of Azure.  I wish the writers didn’t try and mitigate differences. This writer tries to equate the two vendors competitively, and noticeably ignores AWS is 10 times the size of Azure (and others).  Doesn’t add to credibility for sure.

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HP Inc. Introduces World’s First Thin Client With Native Quad UHD/4K Support

HP t730 delivers landmark performance for today’s most demanding and content-rich virtualized applications
HP t730-rear

Click to expand image

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 10, 2015 – HP Inc. announced the world’s first thin client with native quad UHD/4K(1, 2) display support for breakthrough graphics performance.(3)

The HP T730 Thin Client is equipped with next-generation quad-core AMD processing power.(4)

The new performance leader in the HP Thin Client lineup empowers businesses to work in the content-hungry environment they want, without add-ons, extras or options. The HP t730 excels in this emerging market for customers in high-performance sectors, like financial services, oil/gas, digital media, and engineering, with an easy and secure solution to drive their heavy content needs.

HP t730-f

Click to expand image

As display resolutions and screen sizes increase, hybrid computing scenarios are driving new demand for local client processing power. According to IDC, the Virtual Client Computing market expects a five- year CAGR of 7.7percent.(5)

“As more businesses move their most demanding users and apps to virtual computing, we’ve responded by combining cloud-client technology and workstation innovation in one revolutionary platform,” said Jeff Wood, vice president of product management, Workstations & Thin Clients, HP Inc. “The HP t730 Thin Client gives our customers a secure, reliable endpoint for virtual workstation use cases.”

Supporting more displays than the average desktop PC, the HP t730 natively drives four displays at the new UHD/4K resolution standard, and six displays with an optional AMD FirePro™ discrete graphics card. Multimedia is presented in eye-popping detail that translates to a staggering 8,294,400 total pixels. The AMD R-Series™ quad-core APU with Turbo Core technology accelerates CPU performance up to 3.6 GHz to run the most demanding workstation-class apps, and render high-frame rate video to connected displays.

Additional key features on the HP t730 include:

  • Integrated, essential software: Ready to deploy right out of the box with mission critical HP Thin Client management and user experience software, including HP Device Manager, HP True Graphics,(6)HP Velocity, HP Easy Shell,(7)HP Remote Graphics, andUnified Communications support. Customers can deploy, manage, and upgrade their install bases in just a few clicks.
  • Advanced expansion and connectivity: Supports business needs now and into the future with serial, parallel, PS/2, and USB ports, plus a PCI Express x8 low profile expansion slot.
  • Essential OS support: Deploys with a choice of the latest Linux-based HP ThinPro OS, HP Smart Zero Core experience, Windows Embedded Standard 7, or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise.(8)

Price and Availability

The HP t730 is planned for worldwide availability in December 2015 at an estimated U.S. starting price of $599.

HP t730 Thin Client Datasheet

(1) Ultra HD or 4K (3840 x 2160 resolution) content required.
(2) Displays sold separately.
(3) Based on HP’s internal analysis as of October 26, 2015 of thin client vendors with > 5,000 unit annual sales and including standard support for four UHD/4K displays from one GPU.
(4) Multicore is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. AMD’s numbering is not a measurement of clock speed.
(5) Source: IDC Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker, November 12, 2014.
(6) HP True Graphics requires an HP Thin Client with an HP ThinPro 5.0 or higher operating system, AMD processing technology, and a Citrix virtual desktop infrastructure—must be XenApp or XenDesktop v7.0 or higher. HP True Graphics is preinstalled with the operating system starting with HP ThinPro 5.2. See the product QuickSpecs for exact compatibility.
(7) HP Easy Shell is currently available on Windows Embedded Standard 7E, Windows Embedded Standard 7P, Windows Embedded 8 Standard, and Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro.
(8) Windows 10 IoT Enterprise for Thin Clients is planned for availability on the HP t730 in January 2016.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP Inc. (“HP”) and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of HP for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance, market share or competitive performance relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the need to address the many challenges facing HP’s businesses; the competitive pressures faced by HP’s businesses; risks associated with executing HP’s strategy and plans for future operations and investments; the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the need to manage third-party suppliers and the distribution of HP’s products and services effectively; the protection of HP’s intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; risks associated with HP’s international operations; the development and transition of new products and services and the enhancement of existing products and services to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its suppliers, customers, clients and partners; the hiring and retention of key employees; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the execution, timing and results of restructuring plans, including estimates and assumptions related to the cost and the anticipated benefits of implementing those plans; the execution, timing and results of the restructuring plans, including estimates and assumptions related to the cost (including any possible disruption of HP’s business) and the anticipated benefits of implementing the separation transaction and restructuring plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2015. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2015 HP Inc. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Media contacts

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. With the broadest technology portfolio spanning printing, personal systems, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP delivers solutions for customers’ most complex challenges in every region of the world. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com

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AIS’s Touch Screen Thin Client With Intel Atom Processors Offers High Resolution Displays in 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, and 22 Inch for Distributed HMI Solutions With Client-Server Applications

IRVINE, CA–(Marketwired – November 09, 2015) – American Industrial Systems, Inc. (AIS), an innovator and the leader of Industrial HMIs, Touch Panel Computers, Industrial PCs (IPCs), Industrial Box PCs, Industrial DIN-Rail PCs, and Industrial Thin Clients, releases a Compact, ACP-enabled BIOS Thin Client touchscreen now equipped with Intel® Atom™ Processors…

Source: www.marketwired.com

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Hypori to Exhibit First HIPAA-Compliant, Mobile Thin Client at mHealth Summit

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Hypori today announced it will exhibit the first HIPAA-compliant,…

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Hypori’s mobile-first thin client solution provides secure remote access to sensitive data from any mobile devices. The Virtual Mobile Infrastructure (VMI) based approach ensures HIPAA data stays secure on the server just like VDI, with no electronic health record (EHR) apps or data at rest.


Hypori’s VMI platform, allows organizations to extend existing, approved teleworking policies to mobile devices while ensuring HIPAA compliance.

Hypori Co-Founder and CEO Justin Marston says a VMI-based approach secures mobility in healthcare. “With our thin client solution, medical professionals can now access data from both healthcare providers and personally owned devices while minimizing the risk of HIPAA-governed content leakage.”  The VMI platform reduces risk to due to lost or broken mobile devices in hospitals by centralizing EHI data away from mobile endpoints.

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Thin Client – IGEL presents the Unified Management Agent

With the help of the Unified Management Agent (UMA), any end devices IGEL Thin Client with the Windows 7 operating system can be remotely managed in a standardized manner using the sector-leading IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS).

Reading, UK. 09 November 2015 – IGEL Technology is entering the market for workspace management with its new Unified Management Agent (UMA) software product launched today. Designed for all users of Windows 7-based VDI client systems, the Unified Management Agent is aimed at three main user groups: users of desktops and notebooks with the Windows 7 operating system, customers with Windows Embedded Standard 7-based thin clients who are looking for a comprehensive management solution and IGEL customers who use thin clients alongside Windows 7 desktops. Regardless of the desktop scenario, the UMA now allows all Windows 7 devices to be managed easily and securely via the Universal Management Suite (UMS).

The product allows businesses and government agencies, as well Desktop as a Service (DaaS) and Client as a Service (ClaaS) providers to standardize client management within their organisation. The IGEL Unified Management Agent is available with an annual license per client.

“We’ve been further developing and improving the IGEL Universal Management Suite ever since it was first released. The Unified Management Agent marks a new chapter and makes the UMS significantly more versatile. Thanks to the UMA, customers with a W7-based infrastructure who are currently unable to use a thin client management solution gain access to market-leading management software, which they can now use even on systems that are no longer supported by the supplier. In the long term, we’d like to establish a standard for modern workspace management in a VDI context with the UMA and the UMS as a central interface,” said Simon Richards, Managing Director for IGEL UK and Ireland.

The Unified Management Agent (UMA) is installed on or distributed directly to the relevant Windows 7 devices. These can then be conveniently administered with the familiar look and feel of the IGEL UMS. This ranges from managing VDI sessions and modifying the user interface to Windows management and security-related settings. This way, heterogeneous client environments can easily be harmonized and any island solutions become a thing of the past. There is no need to modify or convert the existing Windows operating system on a third-party device.

Naturally, the UMA supports the three most popular virtual session types – Citrix XenDesktop/XenApp, VMware Horizon and MS RDP. The simple management of VDI client module updates was also an important consideration in the development of the product. As is usually the case with IGEL, these take place in a centralized, remote manner via the UMS and also include Microsoft RemoteApp.

Within the Windows 7 system, Internet Explorer and the user interface can be modified and network settings, printer management and selected security and system management functions can be configured. The combination of UMA and UMS also allows other benefits such as VNC remote assistance for support and helpdesks, for example, without the need for additional software because these functions are available free of charge in the UMS. At the same time, it offers sophisticated secure shadowing (VNC) including logging and the group-based allocation of rights.

 Price and availability

The IGEL Unified Management Agent (UMA) is available now for £30.00 plus VAT. The price includes the solution itself as well as an annual license for one device. Annual subscription extensions cost £14.00 plus VAT. The Universal Management Suite 5 (UMS 5), which also comes supplied free of charge, is required in order to use the UMA. There are plans to expand the Unified Management Agent for Windows 10-based systems in 2016.

Editorial Contacts:

Paul Smith

Tel: +44 (0)7770 828525

Email: [email protected]

 

### Die gesamte Endpoint-Infrastruktur im Griff: Mithilfe des Unified Management Agent (UMA) von IGEL Technology lassen sich beliebige Endgeräte mit Windows 7 Betriebssystem über die branchenführende IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) einheitlich fernverwalten. ###

Der Einsatzradius des Unified Management Agent umspannt drei Hauptzielgruppen: Nutzer von Desktops und Notebooks mit Windows 7-Betriebssystem, Kunden mit Windows Embedded Standard 7 basierten Thin Clients, auf der Suche nach einer umfassenden Management-Lösung und schließlich IGEL-Kunden, die neben Thin Clients auch Windows 7-Desktops im Einsatz haben. Unabhängig von der Ausgangssituation können dank UMA ab sofort alle genannten Windows 7-Devices einfach und sicher durch die Universal Management Suite (UMS) verwaltet werden. IGEL schafft damit die einzigartige Möglichkeit, das Client Management in Unternehmen und Behörden nachhaltig zu standardisieren.

Der IGEL Unified Management Agent (UMA) ist ab sofort für 39,- Euro zzgl. MwSt. verfügbar. Der Preis beinhaltet die Lösung selbst sowie eine Jahreslizenz für ein Gerät. Eine Verlängerung der Subscription um ein weiteres Jahr innerhalb der vorgegebenen Frist kostet 19,- Euro zzgl. MwSt. Vorrausetzung für die Nutzung des UMA ist die Universal Management Suite 5 (UMS 5), die ebenfalls kostenfrei im Lieferumfang enthalten ist.

Druckfähiges Bildmaterial finden Sie hier. Weitere Informationen sind unter www.igel.com/umaverfügbar. 

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Why client-server must die

Old models of computing always tend to linger too long, but client-server was based on a fallacy — and needs to go away sooner rather than later

Source: www.infoworld.com

I write this week from IBM’s Insight conference in Las Vegas. A former InfoWorld editor in chief, Stewart Alsop, predicted that the last mainframe would be unplugged in 1996. This week I’ll attend a session where IBM runs Apache Spark on a mainframe, even as the mighty beast’s luster finally fades.


InfoWorld Mobile Security Deep DiveMobile security: The InfoWorld Deep DiveThis guide, available in both PDF and ePub editions, explains the security capabilities inherent toREAD NOWI’m going to the Spark-on-the-mainframe session for the lolz. IBM loves its mainframes because they sustain one of the few noncompetitive hardware businesses in existence, where IBM can make nearly a 50 percent margin.

The mainframe business is also one of the only legitimate areas of computing where you’ll see ©1980 on the startup screen. Client-server computing does not depend on specific hardware. Instead, it’s simply a computing model that has evolved under various hardware and network constraints.

I’m sure we — that is, me and the LinkedIn or Twitter spheres — can quibble over the definition of client-server versus the model I’ll call “purely distributed.” So allow me to define client-server as one or more clients connected to a server listening on a pool or set of sockets that mainly scales vertically and usually has a central data store. This is the model of the LAN.

I’ll define the distributed model as N-clients or peers connected to a mesh of N servers that mainly scale horizontally and use a data store or stores that also shard and distribute processing. This model is built to tolerate failure and demand spikes, enabling you to add more nodes (often linearly) and relocate infrastructure at will. This is the model of the cloud.

The power of this more distributed model goes beyond purely scaling up to include scaling down. This is important because of one of the implied fallacies of client-server was that workloads are predictable.

From the start this has failed to be true. In the distant past, I’ve administered systems that were rendered useless for all other purposes during EoM reporting, then saw only light use throughout the rest of the month. Ironically, this same fallacy is also why mainframe TPC studies are nonsense. Remember when Slashdot was your browser home page and mere mention of your site caused an outage due to a spike in traffic called the Slashdot effect?

The whole Internet is like that now.

Have you ever tried to set up a test database for a large, existing, Oracle-based project? You need to be able to scale up for unpredictable Internet-age data traffic and usage patterns, but you need to scale down to conserve resources (read: massive Amazon bill) and adapt nimbly (not to mention to test the project on your laptop).

Workloads keep getting more unpredictable and in many cases more voluminous. Moreover, our expectations have increased. Waiting isn’t really acceptable, and outages in the age of Google are considered major professional failures. Competition in many areas is fierce and global, while regulations have more bite (at least until President Trump takes office).

Our client-server systems won’t scale to real-time demands. They are not resilient and, in many cases, cloud-ready. Meanwhile, it has become much, much easier to write distributed systems. It takes no time to deploy a few MongoDB instances compared to Oracle or even SQL Server. Spark has a supersimple API. NodeJS lends itself nicely to writing event-driven resilient distributed systems; plus, they’re all easier to use than their predecessors.

Naysayers will point out that these new technologies have relatively small market penetration, but in truth, it’s growing. Some say a technology dies when its developers retire. You may have to pry Oracle out of those PL/SQL developers’ cold dead hands, but it will happen. Today, millennials tend to feel more comfortable with MongoDB than even MySQL.

The client-server era will die in the cloud. In 20 years, as I start to eye retirement, no new client server systems will be put into place for normal business use outside of very specialized areas. The new stuff is simply too much better. It doesn’t require a specific deployment model, it’s easier and cheaper, and it fits the expectations and use cases of the modem business world.

Will the last client-server system be unplugged in 20 years? No — some sectors of business aren’t growing very fast, are protected from competition, or aren’t facing new regulations, nor do they need to write or buy much new software. They’ll run what they have until the cows come home.

However, we as an industry don’t care too much about them because they don’t pay our bills. Instead, we hope they all get Ubered.

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Thin Client Case Study – Brent & 10Zig

Brent Borough Council saw a 33% reduction in carbon emissions and energy consumption using 10ZiG Thin Clients

 “We were a traditional XP fat client estate and were experiencing problems with log-in times and maintenance of the PC’s across our sites. PC’s were generally taking between 20-30 minutes to log-on and even 45 minutes in some cases. When you added this time up over a week, month or year then it was a serious issue for the productivity of our workforce. We were also finding the PC’s challenging to support, particularly with implementing patches or providing general maintenance.


We have 2150 desktops spread across 50 sites, with the majority, 1650, housed at our Civic Centre. The other 500 are spread over the other 49 locations and we needed 4 vans and just shy of 70 support staff throughout the various IT scatter teams in order to keep the lights on.”

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Thin Client – Central IT management made easy: The IGEL Management Interface

IGEL Thin Client The IGEL Management Interface (IMI) enables integration of the IGEL Universal Management Suite with existing enterprise management systems. In particular, companies with large or distributed client infrastructures benefit from being able to make their workflows even more efficient and further increase IT administration automation.

Reading, UK. October 7, 2015 – To accompany the launch of the new Universal Management Suite 5 (UMS 5), IGEL is introducing IMI, a pioneering solution that enables integrated endpoint management using an existing enterprise management system. Customers are able to administer all IGEL thin and zero clients within their IT infrastructure quickly and easily by means of existing systems, such as Microsoft SCCM or IBM Tivoli.

As well as offering enhanced ease of use, the IGEL Management Interface can also be used to implement new, customised workflows that have not previously been able to be mapped in the UMS console. As an API for REST-compatible programming languages, the IMI paves the way for integrating company-specific scripts or programs for administering IGEL clients. An IMI subscription license is required to use the IGEL Management Interface.

IMI is ideal for enterprise customers and larger companies with many branch offices. The solution is also suitable for system integrators and suppliers of Desktop and Client as a service (DaaS/Claas) solutions to multiple customers. Typical uses for the IGEL Management Interface include real-time information monitoring of equipment or for the compilation of important data and overviews in dashboards. In addition, it is also suitable to generate partially or fully automated workflows and to provide selected or reduced settings for administrators of sub-regions.

“For many years IGEL customers have used our UMS thin client management platform to manage Windows and Linux based thin clients at a deep granular level and yet provide Enterprise level, centralized control for zero touch rollouts, administration and updates,” said Simon Richards, IGEL Technology Managing Director for UK & Ireland. “However as the maturity of thin client technology has increased into Enterprise customers, there has been demand from larger organisations to integrate IGELs Universal Management Suite into their existing IT management framework platforms. This means that customers can use the best thin client management platform for thin devices and yet retain the technical skills and financial investment in their existing desktop management. With IGEL’s IMI we enable Connected Management.”

Licensing under a subscription model

IMI is based on a subscription model. An annual license is required to use the functions of the IGEL Management Interface together with the UMS. The license includes a software update service. Universal Management Suite 5.x is required for the additional functionality. When the annual license expires, IMI can continue to be used with the version last licensed.

Availability

The IGEL Management Interface is now available at a price of £7,450 plus value-added tax. The price includes the solution and an annual license. Annual renewal costs £2,499 plus value-added tax. IMI supports all IGEL Universal Desktop thin clients with a Linux or Windows Embedded operating system, IGEL zero clients and all terminal devices that have been standardized using the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter (UDC). The latest UMS 5 and IMI versions can be downloaded at www.myigel.biz.

About IGEL Technology

A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/IGEL_Technology

 Editorial Contacts:

Paul Smith

Tel: +44 (0)7770 828525

Email: [email protected]

 

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Thin Client News – IGEL evolves Workspace Management with UMS 5

The fifth edition of the Universal Management Suite (UMS 5) makes remote management of IGEL clients more efficient and expands the standardized endpoint management system to include devices running Windows 7. This additional functionality (Unified Management Agent) will help IGEL enter the workspace management market above and beyond pure administration of IGEL hardware and software thin clients. In addition, customers can benefit from integrating the UMS into their existing enterprise management system with the new IGEL Management Interface.

 

Reading, UK. October 7, 2015 – With the new release of the Universal Management Suite 5 (UMS 5), IGEL is further reducing the cost and effort involved in endpoint management for customers and partners with two strategic innovations: The IGEL Unified Management Agent for Windows 7 and the IGEL Management Interface (IMI), which enables simple, optional integration of the UMS into an existing enterprise management system.

 

Administration of devices with Windows 7

The IGEL Unified Management Agent for Windows 7 enables devices with Windows Professional or Embedded Standard 7 installed to be remotely administered and securely centrally managed in the standardized UMS console, alongside thin and zero clients and PCs and notebooks with the IGEL Linux operating systems (software thin clients).

 

This new functionality is ideal for customers that want to continue to operate their PCs and notebooks with the Windows operating system but still want to benefit from the IGEL UMS central management capabilities. The Universal Management Agent for Windows 7 can be licensed and will be available in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

The IGEL Management Interface (IMI)

Using the optional IGEL Management Interface (IMI), the UMS 5 can now provide integrated endpoint management under an existing enterprise management system. As a standardized REST API, the UMS 5 allows large organizations or those with distributed offices to administer all IGEL thin and zero clients within their IT infrastructure quickly and easily by means of existing systems, such as Microsoft SCCM or IBM Tivoli.

 

The IMI is also suitable for system integrators and suppliers of Client as a service (Claas) or Desktop as a service (Daas) solutions to multiple customers.

 

UMS5: Modern look and feel, and more performance

Customers using the latest UMS 5, which comes as standard with all IGEL client solutions, will notice the new look & feel with modern designed icons, quickly followed by the enhanced performance. Navigation is faster thanks to a tree structure: Terminal devices, profiles and other infrastructure detail now load in the user interface far more quickly. IGEL has also added two additional languages and keyboard layouts for Spanish and Italian.

 

Functional improvements for everyday work

The practical tools that make administrators’ work even easier include new comparison and import functions. With comparison, differences between two configuration profiles can be seen at a glance, allowing older configurations to be quickly brought up-to-date. The import functionality means the current configuration of an IGEL client installed in the field can be imported as a profile into the UMS, so that it can be easily assigned to other clients or a client group by drag & drop.

 

“Our customers have loved our UMS Suite for many years, this latest version enables new functionality to deliver strategic IT change to customers,” said Simon Richard, IGEL Technology Managing Director for the UK & Ireland.  “UMS 5 has benefits to existing customers who have migrated to thin client but with the addition of the IMI and Universal Management Agent, we can now deliver the management they love, to the desktops they were never able to convert to thin clients. For those organizations that have Windows 7 PC’s or other vendors thin clients running Windows, we can now deliver our management platform without them having to throw away the existing hardware.”

 

“When I look back at thin client management 15 years ago, it was departmental management that ruled the day and that was all that was needed. IGEL has been the leader in taking thin client management into the enterprise customer for many years and with UMS 5, we are able to deliver increased value, functionality and flexibility to our existing customers and deliver a migration path for those organizations using competitor products.”

 

Price and availability

The new IGEL Universal Management Suite 5 (UMS 5) will ship with all IGEL thin and zero clients, as well as the thin client software IGEL Universal Desktop Converter 2 (UDC2) from October 14th 2015.

 

The IGEL Universal Management Agent will be available at the end of the month at a price of £30+vat per device including the 1st year’s maintenance and annual maintenance renewal at £14+vat.

 

About IGEL Technology

A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces one of the industry’s widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit www.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/IGEL_Technology

 

Editorial Contacts:

Paul Smith

Tel: +44 (0)7770 828525

Email: [email protected]

 

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Energy Audit from IGEL

By the end of the year approximately 92,000 companies have to carry igel out an energy audit in Germany, so it wants the Energy Services Act. But where and how can we effectively save electricity? Often take a look at the work-IT, the centralized and with thin clients much more energy efficient and ecological can operate.

Bremen September 28, 2015 – The countdown has begun! Until December 5 companies from 250 employees or more than 50 million euros in sales and more than EUR 43 million annual balance sheet total must check their energy consumption by means of energy audit. Qualified actual analysis aimed at planning of appropriate conservation measures. Away from the traditional areas such as building insulation or lighting but often dormant while undiscovered potential in the form of power-intensive workstation PCs that are functionally no longer necessary for a modern IT operations. With a centralized IT and thin clients on the desks of the energy consumption is reduced, depending on the application scenario to 61-77 percent. If parts of the IT outsourced to an external service, the ecological balance improves further. Thanks to the simpler manageability of thin clients provides the energy audit at the same time the chance to simplify IT management.

Regardless of whether the energy audit has already taken place or is still pending, many companies have already begun to measure IT-related energy and resource consumption and lower. In general, however, these efforts are focused solely on the data center. The computer workstation often remains unnoticed. It has been a study of the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT 2011 * shown that an infrastructure of thin clients and virtual desktops reduces power consumption sustainable. Depending on the application scenario and user type drop energy consumption and electricity costs for terminal and data center cooling portion including opposite a functionally comparable, energy-efficient PC to 61-77 percent. If a thin client used solely for internet access in the context of cloud computing, the savings even reached a value of 88 percent.

Further savings can also obtain the universal remote administration of thin clients. While PCs because of the long start-up times often do not shut down after work and so through the night and on weekends, thin clients are put into practice automatically over the network in the sleep mode and then take only about 1 watt of power. In addition, can also make maintenance and support drives superfluous remote management solutions such as the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS). If, contrary to expectations, a thin client, simply close the site staff themselves a replacement unit to which configures itself within a few minutes automatically over the network. The management software UMS is included with every IGEL thin client and zero client solutions.

Outsourcing with client as a Service (CLAAS)

A comprehensive remote management also forms the basis for a special type of thin client usage. Make client as a Service offerings from the office computer, a service within the meaning of a well-scalable service. As part of a CLAAS agreement represents the provider’s customers for a monthly fee a complete Workplace available – including Thin, Zero or software thin clients and device management. This only falls the power consumption for the thin client hardware into their own energy balance. Further advantages over the internal operation are the high cost transparency, resulting from the conversion of to be activated acquisition costs in monthly.

 

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

der Countdown läuft! Bis zum 5. Dezember müssen Unternehmen ab 250 Mitarbeitern oder mehr als 50 Millionen Euro Umsatz und mehr als 43 Millionen Euro Jahresbilanzsumme ihren Energieverbrauch mittels Energieauditüberprüfen. Die qualifizierte Ist-Analyse zielt auf die Planung entsprechender Einsparmaßnahmen ab. Abseits der klassischen Bereiche wie Gebäudedämmung oder Beleuchtung schlummert dabei jedoch nicht selten unentdecktes Potential in Form von verbrauchsintensiven Arbeitsplatz-PCs,die für einen modernen IT-Betrieb funktionell gar nicht mehr nötig sind.

Mit einer zentralisierten IT und Thin Clients auf den Schreibtischen sinkt der Energieverbrauch je nach Einsatzszenario um 61 bis 77 Prozent. Werden Teile der IT im Rahmen eines Client as a Service-Angebotes (ClaaS) an einen externen Dienstleister ausgelagert, verbessert sich die Ökobilanz weiter. Dank der einfacheren Verwaltbarkeit von Thin Clients bietet das Energieaudit gleichzeitig die Chance, auch das IT-Management zu vereinfachen.

Weitere Informationen entnehmen Sie bitte der beigefügten Pressemitteilung.

 

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