CHAPTER I
Project Title

Proposed Computer Virtualization of NEUST-Gabaldon Computer Laboratory Using Thin-Client Network

Project Description

NEUST-Gabaldon Campus (Formerly Sabani Estate Agricultural College) established their computer laboratory on 2011 which help the students of College and High School for their computer subjects (Office Productivity).

Since then, the computer laboratory has its computer administrator in presence of Mr. Jefrain M. Padre, although there was computer network architecture in the campus there were times that the computer had some troubles including the System Unit and its operating system.

So, the researchers decided to make a proposal entitled “Proposed Computer Virtualization of NEUST-Gabaldon Computer Laboratory Using Thin-Client Network”. The proposed project used virtualization for it was essentially lets one computer do the job of multiple computers, by sharing the resources of a single computer across multiple environments. Using an Ncomputing M300 (thin-client) series connection of network it was possible for the entire project. Thoroughly, the entire project covered up network of computer using this device (Ncomputing M300 series) to connect through a server in a series type of network. Also, using a server with a high specification it will then try to run at least one programming language that can be used by the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology students of Gabaldon Campus.

Project Goals/Objectives
Project Goal:
The goal of the project is to provide low cost but energy saver and is efficient to learning computer laboratory with the use of thin-client (NComputing) network.

Objectives:

1. To reduce the costs instead of buying new systems.
2. To provide at least one programming language that can be used not only by the students taking Office Productivity subject but also the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology students of NEUST-Gabaldon Campus on their laboratory.
3. To simplify the job of computer administrator in networking all the computers in the laboratory.
4. To secure the use of computers in the computer laboratory.

Project Rationale

The NComputing device has not been very well-known here in our place so that the proponent had this idea to adopt because they found it more effective and easier to use compared to traditional computer.

It is also cheaper compared to the PC we buy in places such as malls and other establishments that sell it. It is also one way to help us in the conservation of the environment because it is also called Green Computing.

Seeing that the use of NComputing device that can make benefit to an institution like the school. It also has benefit NEUST-Gabaldon Campus for the purchase of this device is not large just because it is cheap and long life span also. Since this device also helps us in nature because it is eco-friendly because there is not much UV rays coming from regular Computer Unit.

Procedure

1. The researchers will conduct a preliminary interview of the Computer Administrator in presence of Mr. Jefrain M. Pade for this study entitled: “Proposed Computer Virtualization of NEUST-Gabaldon Computer Laboratory Using Thin-Client Network”. Insights regarding the system will be provided to rationalize the proposal.

2. The researchers will provide a prototype of the given project to show a formal design of the project.

3. The researchers will use the Network Development Life Cycle (NDLC) for their project as a guide to finish it and they will also use Gantt chart to show the plan for the entire project as a basis. NDLC consists of six stages namely: analysis, design, simulation, implementation, monitoring, and management. The purpose of the analysis phase is to understand the business requirements and build a logical model, which describes the business processes for the new system or system to be upgraded. In design phase, the network designers create a blue print of the logical and physical network designs for the new system based on the requirements gathered during the analysis phase. Simulation modelling allows the new system or proposed changes to an existing system to be quickly evaluated before committing to a course of action. The implementation phase begins after the design has been approved. The network is then built according the design specifications, tested, documented, and the whole system is installed. The next phase is monitoring the progress of the network system, and many organizations use network management software to monitor and control their networks. Management phase, like other related technology-based solutions, can only be effectively implemented when combined with other processes, management staff, and procedures.
NDLC is a continuous cycle that is practical for identifying the logical processes involved in network development. But it lacks an established standard that is universally agreed upon. Besides, there are no clear steps within the cycle that identify how each stage is precisely completed compared to SDLC. Hence, it relies on the network analysis and design methodology, which is a practical, step-by-step approach to network analysis and design to complement its logical framework.

4. This study will have duration of three months to complete the project and to gather data from all sources they need.

CHAPTER II

Existing Work/Research
NComputing is a desktop virtualization company that manufactures hardware and software to create virtual desktops (sometimes called zero clients or thin clients) which enable multiple users to simultaneously share a single operating system instance.
NComputing, based in Santa Clara, CA is a privately held for-profit company with offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Korea, Poland, Russia, and Spain; and resellers around the world. Unlike the X-series, the NComputing L-series does not use a PCI card. L-series access devices connect each user’s keyboard, mouse, other USB devices and monitor back to the shared PC over standard Ethernet cables through a router or switch. An entry-level server supports approximately 30 users. The L-series comes in kits that include NComputing’s vSpace software and one access device. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ncomputing).
The greenest computer will not miraculously fall from the sky one day; it’ll be the product of years of improvements. The features of a green computer of tomorrow would be like: efficiency, manufacturing & materials, recyclability, service model, self- powering, and other trends. The study will also tell the approaches of green computing. What and how much work done in green computing and how the power consumption is reduced through different approaches and key challenges facing to accomplish the goal. However, because computing developments can enable individuals and businesses to adopt greener lifestyles and work styles, in terms of the environmental debate computing is definitely both part of the problem and part of the solution. Through more environmentally aware usage and by adopting current lower power technologies, computers can already be made significantly more energy efficient.

In this way by using computer virtualization along with NComputing (an approach of green computing) we could save energy and such systems make environment eco-friendly by reducing harmful emissions. (Source: Prof. SaoudSarwar, 2014 “Green Computing: An Approach Of Saving Energy By Computer Virtualization”)

For many years, the best way to deliver computing resources was to give each person their own PC, with their own OS, and with their own applications. This created a constant challenge for IT managers to overcome the high costs and complexity needed to deliver, manage and maintain individual PCs. When mobility was required, organizations provided laptops and took on the additional cost of managing mobile devices. Today, the Bring Your Own Device approach (BYOD) presents a possible solution; however, it requires that IT managers provide access to corporate resources from a combination of devices, operating systems, and applications that they did not select for their infrastructure. (www.ncomputing.com)

Today’s computing environment requires IT departments to address more PC management challenges than they did just a few years ago. Users are increasingly demanding access to their applications and data anywhere and from any device. The rapid growth of knowledge workers who roam from one PC to another within the office had led companies to provide access to the users’ desktop experience at any computer in the workplace, effectively detaching the user from the physical PC.

Today, just about every single business office depends on PCs. Getting the job done depends on unfettered access to word processing, spreadsheets, email enterprise, web applications and the internet.

The costs for access add up fast especially when you consider total costs of ownership over time and that is where NComputing comes in. NComputing’s economical virtual desktops help any institution like the Surigao del Sur State University Tandag Campus save energy cost. In addition to its benefit as great energy saver, the study is being conducted to establish its efficiency and effectiveness as additional benefits of the said device. (Isip, Born Christian (2012) “The 3Es of NComputing Access Device for Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU) Tandag Campus”)

The green computing is really important field that has come out and is really useful also. Green computing will change the later scenario and new technology will be developed and every research in this field will give a new technology to people and new way to think for IT industries and this will bring in new things. A green roof can be a good location for a break area for employees. These are but a few small ideas you can use to make your business more Green which is good for the Environment and the stock-holders. Let’s start working on it and embrace the future. (Saini and Yedav (2014) “Green Computing and Its Importance”)

Ncomputing Technology has proved to be a key cost saving approach in educational sectors. This brings some interests of analyzing to which extent these devices bring cost relief to the users and stakeholders who deploy Ncomputing in secondary schools. The analysis compares the deployment costs of desktop computers with the costs to deploy Ncomputing in the Computer Labs. This research also explores the cost implications for deploying each of the Ncomputing devices while comparing with the cost of deploying desktop computers. The findings show that, generally, Ncomputing has a significant cost relief by more than 53% when deployed on a single Computer Lab of 40 students when compared to deploying desktop computers. Furthermore, Ncomputing M300 seem to be the cheapest option with up to 74% cost saving while the least option found to be U170. (Renatus, Michael 2010)
Storing information on servers instead of on a computer is called a ‘cloud service’. Using the cloud allows information to shared, stored, downloaded, and transferred easily. If schools implemented the cloud service, homework assignments, grades, worksheets, packets, and exercises could all just be uploaded there to be done online, or emailed back to the teacher, or printed out without having extra copies or paper copies being the only option. This significantly cuts costs and paper usage. The servers that run do exhibit heat costs and produce CO2 emissions, but at a much lesser rate than a bunch of computers or paper waste created. (Albanese, Joseph 2010)

In a rapid fire presentation, the Ncomputing folks provided a very interesting view into what they've been doing to help organizations take advantage of the unused power in today's desktop systems to support many workloads. As I mentioned in the post Ncomputing: Sharing the power of a single computer, this is not a new idea. Although not a new idea, Ncomputing has implemented it in a very clever, very efficient way.
Parallels has been offering a similar approach for server consolidation using operating system virtualization and partitioning for years. The suppliers of UNIX for midrange systems have also supported this approach for a very long time. They use terms such as IBM's LPARS, HP's hardware and operating system partitions, or Sun's Solaris Containers and Zones. What's interesting about Ncomputing's products is that the operating system being partitioned is Microsoft's Windows. (http://www.zdnet.com/article/ncomputing-the-benefits-of-operating-system-virtualization/)
Thin-clients have several advantages over traditional networked PCs in an academic classroom environment. The most significant of these are lower cost, case of maintenance and administration, lower power requirements and increased reliability. This study found that, with just a few exceptions, the large majority of existing Windows applications being used in higher education are compatible with the thin-client architecture. The study also found there are a wide variety of thin client devices on the market and it is important to test prospective devices to determine whether they satisfy all of the user's functional requirements. The second phase of this research project will examine the issues involved with building a thin-client network as well as its on~going support and maintenance. (Brinkley, Douglas E., 2006: “Thin-Client in the Classroom: Software Compatibility and a Survey of Systems”)
NComputing is a desktop virtualization company that manufactures hardware and software to create virtual desktops (sometimes called zero clients or thin clients) which enable multiple users to simultaneously share a single operating system instance.

NComputing, based in Santa Clara, CA is a privately held for-profit company with offices in the United States, Australia, Canada,China, Germany, India, Korea, Poland, Russia, and Spain; and resellers around the world.Unlike the X-series, the NComputing L-series does not use a PCI card. L-series access devices connect each user’s keyboard, mouse, other USB devices and monitor back to the shared PC over standard Ethernet cables through a router or switch. An entry-level server supports approximately 30 users. The L-series comes in kits that include NComputing’svSpace software and one access device. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ncomputing)

The greenest computer will not miraculously fall from the sky one day; it’ll be the product of years of improvements. The features of a green computer of tomorrow would be like: efficiency, manufacturing & materials, recyclability, service model, self- powering, and other trends. This paper is survey or a brief study about a green computing in a cloud environment .The study will also tell the approaches of green computing. What and how much work done in green computing and how the power consumption is reduced through different approaches and key challenges facing to accomplish the goal. However, because computing developments can enable individuals and businesses to adopt greener lifestyles and work styles, in terms of the environmental debate computing is definitely both part of the problem and part of the solution. Through more environmentally aware usage and by adopting current lower power technologies, computers can already be made significantly more energy efficient.

In this way by using computer virtualization along with NComputing (an approach of green computing) we could save energy and such systems make environment eco-friendly by reducing harmful emissions. (Source: Prof. SaoudSarwar, 2014 “Green Computing: An Approach Of Saving Energy By Computer Virtualization”)

For many years, the best way to deliver computing resources was to give each person their own PC, with their own OS, and with their own applications. This created a constant challenge for IT managers to overcome the high costs and complexity needed to deliver, manage and maintain individual PCs. When mobility was required, organizations provided laptops and took on the additional cost of managing mobile devices. Today, the Bring Your Own Device approach (BYOD) presents a possible solution; however, it requires that IT managers provide access to corporate resources from a combination of devices, operating systems, and applications that they did not select for their infrastructure. (www.ncomputing.com)

Today’s computing environment requires IT departments to address more PC management challenges than they did just a few years ago. Users are increasingly demanding access to their applications and data anywhere and from any device. The rapid growth of knowledge workers who roam from one PC to another within the office had led companies to provide access to the users’ desktop experience at any computer in the workplace, effectively detaching the user from the physical PC.

Today, just about every single business office depends on PCs. Getting the job done depends on unfettered access to word processing, spreadsheets, email enterprise ,web applications and the internet.

The costs for access add up fast especially when you consider total costs of ownership over time and that is where NComputing comes in. NComputing’s economical virtual desktops help any institution like the Surigaodel Sur State University Tandag Campus save energy cost. In addition to its benefit as great energy saver, the study is being conducted to establish its efficiency and effectiveness as additional benefits of the said device. (Isip, Born Christian (2012) “The 3Es of NComputing Access Device for Surigao del Sur State University (SDSSU) Tandag Campus”)

The green computing is really important field that has come out and is really useful also. Green computing will change the later scenario and new technology will be developed and every research in this field will give a new technology to people and new way to think for IT industries and this will bring in new things. A green roof can be a good location for a break area for employees. These are but a few small ideas you can use to make your business more Green which is good for the Environment and the stock-holders. Let’s start working on it and embrace the future. (Saini and Yedav (2014) “Green Computing and Its Importance”)

Ncomputing Technology has proved to be a key cost saving approach in educational sectors. This brings some interests of analyzing to which extent these devices bring cost relief to the users and stakeholders who deploy Ncomputing in secondary schools. The analysis compares the deployment costs of desktop computers with the costs to deploy Ncomputing in the Computer Labs. This research also explores the cost implications for deploying each of the Ncomputing devices while comparing with the cost of deploying desktop computers. The findings show that, generally, Ncomputing has a significant cost relief by more than 53% when deployed on a single Computer Lab of 40 students when compared to deploying desktop computers. Furthermore, Ncomputing M300 seem to be the cheapest option with up to 74% cost saving while the least option found to be U170. In this paper, recommendations from the key vendors and opinions of local users of Ncomputing are also presented. (Renatus, Michael 2010)
Storing information on servers instead of on a computer is called a ‘cloud service’. Using the cloud allows information to shared, stored, downloaded, and transferred easily. If schools implemented the cloud service, homework assignments, grades, worksheets, packets, and exercises could all just be uploaded there to be done online, or emailed back to the teacher, or printed out without having extra copies or paper copies being the only option. This significantly cuts costs and paper usage. The servers that run do exhibit heat costs and produce CO2 emissions, but at a much lesser rate than a bunch of computers or paper waste created. (Albanese, Joseph 2010)

In a rapid fire presentation, the Ncomputing folks provided a very interesting view into what they've been doing to help organizations take advantage of the unused power in today's desktop systems to support many workloads. As I mentioned in the post Ncomputing: Sharing the power of a single computer, this is not a new idea. Although not a new idea, Ncomputing has implemented it in a very clever, very efficient way.
Parallels has been offering a similar approach for server consolidation using operating system virtualization and partitioning for years. The suppliers of UNIX for midrange systems have also supported this approach for a very long time. They use terms such as IBM's LPARS, HP's hardware and operating system partitions, or Sun's Solaris Containers and Zones. What's interesting about Ncomputing's products is that the operating system being partitioned is Microsoft's Windows. (http://www.zdnet.com/article/ncomputing-the-benefits-of-operating-system-virtualization/) Personal/Professional Expectations

The researchers intend to make the Computer Laboratory of NEUST-Gabaldon Campus an eco-friendly laboratory and also to make the students of taking up the subject of Computer Productivity to be a competitive student in terms of using computers in the Computer Laboratory of NEUST-Gabaldon.

Personally, the researchers want to gain respect from all people and that they were not ordinary people but productive individuals who share knowledge and skills to everyone.

The researchers after being graduated at the University which they have been studying, they want to take Civil Service Commission (CSC) examination and after that if they passed it they want to serve people in the Municipality of Gabaldon in a way of teaching at NEUST-Gabaldon Campus. CHAPTER III
Methodology

The researcher used developmental method for their project. Developmental research is the systematic study of designing, developing, and evaluating instructional programs, processes, and products that must meet criteria of internal consistency and effectiveness. Developmental research is particularly important in the field of instructional technology. The most common types of developmental research involve situations in which the product-development process is analysed and described, and the final product is evaluated. A second type of developmental research focuses more on the impact of the product on the learner or the organization. A third type of study is oriented toward a general analysis of design development or evaluation processes as a whole or as components. A fundamental distinction should be made between reports of actual developmental research (practice) and descriptions of design and development procedural models (theory). Although it has frequently been misunderstood, developmental research has contributed much to the growth of the field as a whole, often serving as a basis for model construction and theorizing. CHAPTER IV
Existing system models The figure below shows the Computer Laboratory of NEUST-Gabaldon. It didn’t have a network infrastructure and it is hard for the computer administrator to view or monitor all the computers. One of the problem sighted with this connection was there were times that many of the computers had a system and hardware failure and it will costs thousands of peso if they have to buy new computer.

Fig. 1.1 Proposed Design Models The figure below shows the design of their project in which it runs using server with a high specification to support all the clients in the network which can be run using Ncomputing device. Fig. 1.2 CHAPTER V
EQUIPMENT

Specifications / Description
For Client
Ncomputing M300series device (P 6,000.00/package) - The M300 provides a simple, powerful and affordable PC Expansion alternative. As the industry's first 3-in-1 thin client offering, the M300 delivers a rich PC experience at 1/3 the cost of PCs and typical thin clients. With this breakthrough, NComputing uniquely delivers innovation that multiplies the value customers can expect from thin clients in a virtual desktop environment.

Kit contents M300 Kit includes three M300 client devices*, power supply with power cord, vSpace Server software installation CD/license and User’s guide, Quick Install Guide and VESA screws **
Size Primary client 160mm(w) x 120mm(d )x 35mm(h)Satellite client: 120mm(w) x 99mm(d) x 33mm(h)
Weight M300 primary client device: 0.21 kg / 0.46lbs. M300 satellite client device: 0.12 kg / 0.26 lbs.
Kit Shipping Weight 0.96 kg or 2.1 lbs. (includes 3 client devices, power adapter, documentation, etc.)
Power supply Input: 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz Output: 12 VDC, 1.5A Nominal power consumption: ~6 W (without peripheral USB devices)
Front LED indicators Primary client: Power: connection to power supply LAN: connection to network green, blinks with traffic
Satellite client: Good connection to primary client
Connection to Host 10/100 Mb/s switched Ethernet (1 Gb connection to host recommended)
Connection between primary and satellite clients Add Cat 5/6 STP cable up to 5 meters between the primary client and the two satellite clients.
If USB 2.0 support is desired on the satellite client add USB A/B cables
Video Resolution From 800x600 to 1440x900 up to 24-bit color support
Audio Stereo output via speaker port
Microphone Microphone audio input via port
USB Mouse & Keyboard Stacked USB ports support Mouse and Keyboard devices (HID devices)
USB 2.0 USB 2.0 port for peripheral support (USB port on the front of device. Must add USB A/B cables to enable support)
Internal HW Numo2 System-on-Chip with SDRAM and flash
Solid-state design, no moving parts, no fans, no local user storage
Embedded NComputing firmware (no local user OS)
Reliability Reliability (MTBF) >250,000 hours
(calculated using Bellcore Issue 6 TR-332, Case 2, Part I at 40°C) vSpace User Support Maximum number of users per host PC is 45
Table 1.1

For Server: The System Unit must contain the following hardware to support all clients in the network
NAME DESCRIPTION PRICE
Processor Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz

Intel Core i7-3770K processor is the ideal choice for whatever you want to accomplish—because the only thing more amazing than Intel® technology is what you’ll do with it. P 14,999.00

Random Access Memory (RAM) Samsung M378A1G430B0-CP8 DDR4
4GB Memory
Density: 8GB
Organization: 1Gx72
Voltage(V): 1.2
Speed: PB
Power: C
No. of Pin : 288
Bank/ Interface : 16B /POD
Component Composition: (512Mx8)x18 ₱ 5,240.00

Video Card Zotac Geforce GTX 780 2GB
₱ 3,200.00
Motherboard (ASUS Z98 Pro) Ultra-fast 10Gb/s USB 3.1 built in to the board

5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 – One click, total system optimization!
M.2 & SATA Express - Speed up your system with lightning-fast 10Gb/s transfer speed
Crystal Sound 2 and Intel Gigabit Ethernet — a game-winning combo!
ASUS HomeCloud with 802.11ac Wi-Fi - Access your PC remotely and stream multimedia content anywhere, anytime
Proven quality – 5X Protection. 1000+ compatible devices. 7000+ validation hours P 6,600.00

Monitor LG GEN33s 15.6 in
• Lead
• Dual Smart Solution
• Super Energy Saving
• Wall mount P 2,999.00
Power Supply ASRock 1000watts P 1,200.00
AVR
Table 1.2

For Network:
NAME DESCRIPTION PRICE
Switch D-Link DGS-1024D 24-port Gigabit Switch 24-Port 10/100/1000 Rackmountable Switch
The first of the Green Ethernet products the DGS-1024D provides 3 key benefits to end users through its cutting edge innovative eco-friendly technology
• Reduces power consumption & creates less heat
• Extended product life
• Reduces Operating Costs P 6,300.00

UTP Cable UTP Cable (305 meters) P 2,300.00/ box
Monitor LG GEN33s 15.6 in
• Lead
• Dual Smart Solution
• Super Energy Saving
• Wall mount P 2,999.00
RJ 45 RJ 45 (8P8C) P 3.00
Crimping Tool Subject to branch availability
• Portable style with perfect shape
• The mouth of the press-pliers is made up of magnetic steel which is hard and durable
• It won't damage the shelled-wire and works conveniently with high efficiency
• While using press-pliers, just insert the crystal top into its position and press it.
• 3 in 1 Crimping tool
• Large comfort grip handles
• Angled head and hardened and tempered jaws

Specifications:
• Length: 8 inches
• Weight: 268 grams
• Material: Steel and ABS plastic
• With safety latch
• 3 in 1 tool (cutter/stripper/crimper)
• Spring-load provides fast self-opening action
• Ideal hand tool for home, shop and work place
• Ensures uniform crimp
• Crimps RJ45 modular plug
Package Content:
• 1x 3 in 1 Crimping Tool P 95.00
Table 1.3 Installing vSpace
Begin by going to www.ncomputing.com/softwaredownload and downloading the latest version of vSpace. Once the download is complete, launch the vSpace installer and proceed through the guided install process. Be sure to reboot your host once the installation process is complete.
Registering vSpace

Once vSpace is installed, register the host software by right-clicking on the NComputing icon in your system tray and selecting “vSpace Registration,” as shown in the image to the right. This will launch the Registration Utility and you will be guided through the remainder of the registration process.

Connecting Your Devices vSpace is now ready to accept connections from L and M-series devices. Keep in mind that, by default, your devices will automatically look for vSpace hosts on their designated subnet. You can alter this behavior from the devices themselves or from within the NC Console at any time.

Depending on your selected operating system, further configuration steps may be required for the OS itself (such as adjusting Local Policies or User Groups). Be sure to review our general deployment checklist to ensure that your environment is properly configured to facilitate device sessions.
Once they have connected and received a session, you should register and update your device firmware as soon as possible. vSpace Information

Launch the vSpace Management Console by navigating from the Windows Start button to “NComputing vSpace,” and then click on “NC-Console.” Once the console launches, left-click on the “NComputing vSpace” section of the left navigation tree to display information on the current vSpace build installed on your host. The vSpace Information screen provides the following information:

Product Name The product name of the current NComputing software installed on the host
Build Date The publish date of the vSpace build currently installed
Version The version number of the vSpace build currently installed
Copyright vSpace Copyright information
Home Page The official NComputing website URL
Technical Support The official NComputing Technical Support URL
NC Console Version The version number of the vSpace Console currently in use
Available (L300 / M300) Firmware Indicates the current firmware version available for download from this host
Left-click on the “+” sign next to the “NComputing vSpace” section of the left navigation tree to display the “License Information” and “System Settings” sections.
License Information

Left-click on the “License Information” section of the left navigation tree to display licensing information for the vSpace software on your host. The License Information screen provides the following information:

License Type The type of license associated with the current vSpace install
Serial Number The vSpace Server Software Serial Number
Maximum Number of Connections The maximum number of simultaneous NComputing device sessions allowable under the current license
Registered Device Session Duration The length of time each registered device is allowed to maintain a session
Name, Company, Country, Address, City, State, Zip, Email, Phone Contact information and other details provided during registration
Reseller / Dealer The Reseller or Dealer indicated during registration
Type of Use The use-case indicated during registration
Client-Specific Licenses Additional Client Device specific licensing information

System Settings - Common
Left-click on the “System Settings” section of the left navigation tree to display settings that affect the host, as well as devices that connect to it. The “Common” tab provides the following options and information:

Computer Name The system name of the vSpace host
System Uptime Displays the length of time the host has been running without interruption. Reboots and shut-downs will reset this counter.
Main Station Auto Logon Enabling this feature with a valid user name and password will cause the host to automatically log in to Windows when it boots. Otherwise, a user will need to manually enter a user name and password each time the host starts up.
Disconnected Session Cleanup Timeout This value determines how long the host will wait before closing a user session after its device disconnects. A larger value provides a longer “grace period” during which users can re-connect their device without losing progress.
Send Message from NC Tray Policy This setting controls the NC Message feature, which allows devices to send messages to each other. Full allows users to send messages to all connected devices. Point-to-point restricts messages to a single target device. Disabled turns this functionality off entirely.
Start NC Console from NC Tray This setting determines whether the NC Console can be opened from the NC Tray icon in the task bar.
Display Desktop Wallpapers Enabling this feature will allow device users to select and display custom Desktop Backgrounds within their Windows sessions.
Display Last User Name Enabling this feature will auto-populate the user name of the last user to log in when a new user attempts to log in to Windows.
Ask User’s Permission to View Session Enabling this feature will prompt the target user session for permission if someone attempts to view their session through the NC Console.

System Settings – L-Series/M-Series

The “L-Series/M-Series” tab provides access to settings that control video streaming, USB support, and remote console support among other features.

The “L-series/M-series” tab provides the following options and information:
Video Streaming Support Enables or disables vSpace’s proprietary video compression and streaming technology.
JPG Compression Ratio Increases or decreases the JPG compression ratio used by vSpace. Higher compression means more CPU load, but lower network bandwidth use. Lower compression means lower CPU load, while increasing the amount of data streamed across the network.
USB Support for L-Series/M-series Devices Enables or disables USB support for L-series and M-series devices.
Register Future Devices in the Background Enabling this feature instructs the vSpace host to automatically register and activate L-series and M-series devices that connect in the future. This process will be completed silently in the background and requires no further interaction.
Enable Remote Console on this Server Enabling this feature will allow other vSpace hosts to view this host’s settings, as well as information on active sessions and USB port assignment.
Remote Console Password Sets the desired password for Remote Console access by other hosts. Hosts attempting to connect remotely to this system will be prompted for this password.

System Settings – Performance Profiles

The “Performance Profiles” tab allows administrators to configure and assign separate performance configurations for varying network environments (such as Wireless, Low, and High Speed networks).

Assign Performance Profiles Allows the administrator to choose from a selection of custom performance profiles to be used by specific NComputing products.
Advanced Provides additional advanced configuration options.

System Settings – Performance Profiles ADVANCED The Advanced menu allow administrators to create, edit, or delete individual performance profiles. The specific settings and their effects are detailed below.

Administrators can add or remove profiles using the “Create Profile” and “Delete Profile” buttons located to the top left of the menu. An existing profile can be selected using the drop down at the top of the “Customize Profiles” section of the menu. Defaults can be restored using the “Restore Defaults” button to the right of the menu.
Show Desktop Wallpaper Enable the use of desktop wallpapers in user sessions. This can also be set to conform to existing user profile settings (default).
Show window contents while dragging Enabling this setting shows full window contents when moving a window on the desktop. Disabling this setting will show only the window’s outline while it is moving and can improve the overall performance of the desktop experience.
Menu animations Enabling this setting enables graphical elements within the OS such as window animations. Disabling this option can improve desktop performance.
Use Windows themes Setting this to “Yes” enables advanced Windows themes and graphical elements. Disabling this setting can improve desktop performance.
Cursor Shadow Enables or disables the shadow seen beneath the mouse cursor. (Mouse shadows are not supported)
Allow blinking cursor Enables or disables the blinking cursor effect.
Font smoothing Enables or disables smoothing which can improve the appearance of fonts in some situations at the cost of increased resource usage.
Maximum video frame rate (fps) Restricts streaming video frame rate to the value entered. Lower values will reduce network traffic when streaming videos to client sessions.
Video Quality This setting affects the JPEG compression value found in the L-Series/M-Series tab (section 2.4). Lower percentage values will reduce the amount of network traffic being sent to client sessions at the cost of video quality.
Video streaming support This setting enables or disables the advanced video streaming capabilities available to L300 and M300 devices.
Advanced Graphics Compression (MOJO) Allows users to have more than one window open and streaming video at a time per session. Note that video performance may be better when limited to a single stream at a time.
Number of video frames to skip between updates This value affects the rate at which the session image is updated. Larger values reduce network traffic but create a larger delay between updates.
Audio sample rate Sets the audio sample rate to be used by sessions.
Audio mono sound Sets the session to use mono sound.
Audio 8bit sound Sets the session to use 8-bit sound.
Maximum size (in bytes) of each network video update Restricts the size of network video updates. Best left at “0” (default value).
Packet queue size for high latency networks Increasing this setting can provide a smoother streaming experience in high-latency networks.

Profiles

Left-click on the “Profiles” section of the left navigation tree to display information on device profiles that have been saved for future use. You can edit or delete these profiles by right-clicking on them in the profile list on the right side of the console.

Profiles can be “pulled” from existing devices and then “pushed” to entire groups of devices to simplify the process of configuring several devices at a time.

USB Assignment

Left-click on the “USB Assignment” section of the left navigation tree to display information on USB controllers available to the host. From this interface, you can assign individual USB ports to specific user sessions. By default, most USB ports on the host and the peripherals attached to them are visible and available for use by any user (provided the peripherals themselves are multi-user aware).

It is important to select USB ports that are not currently in use. Ports not in use are identified by the text “No device connected.” If you select a USB port in use, you might accidently disable or restrict one of the ports servicing the host’s keyboard, mouse or other USB peripheral. Once you have selected an open USB port, the following settings on the right side of the console will display:

Available to All Stations This setting is enabled by default, and allows all devices to see a given USB port and access devices connected to it if those devices support multi-user environments. This setting must be disabled to enable the other two options.
Available on Host Restricts the port to use by the host session only.
Assigned to Following Devices: Allows administrators to decide which user session(s) have access to a given USB port.

Session Overview

When one or more devices connects to your vSpace host, the “Sessions” section of the left navigation tree will be populated with a list of active sessions. Left-click on the “Sessions” section to display an overview of active sessions on the right side of the console.

Right-click on any of the active sessions listed on the right side of the console to display the following four options.
View Session Select this option to allow you to view the desktop of the selected session.
Send Message Select this option to broadcast a short text message to the selected session.
Disconnect Session Disconnects the device from the current session, but leaves the session active for a period of time for ease of reconnection.
Stop Session Logs the user out of the current session.

Session Information

In addition to the session summary, you can expand the “Sessions” section of the left navigation tree to reveal information about individual sessions. Select these sessions to display additional information on the sessions themselves. The Session Information screen provides the following information:

Session The session’s identifying number
Device Model The model of device connected to this session
Activation Status The device’s activation status, which is dependent on registration
User Name The Windows User Name associated with this session
Session Start Time The date and time that the session was created
Serial Number The serial number of the device associated with this session
Firmware Version The firmware version being used by the device associated with this session
Client IP Address The IP address of the device connected to this session
Loaded Applications The applications currently in use by this session

Session Controls

A number of controls that provide easy access to some common operations appear at the top of the console. These operations include the ability to remotely view a specific session or to send that session a message.

Refresh – Refreshes Device and Session data within the vSpace console.
Send Message – Sends a private message to the selected session.
View* – Remotely displays the selected session, providing the same desktop view that the user is currently seeing.
Disconnect – Disconnects the device from its associated session.
Stop – Stops the selected session, effectively logging the user out.
Registration –Opens the Registration dialog box.
Help – Opens the Ncomputing Support page on an external web browser.

*While using the “View” function on a session, administrators can right-click on the top bar of the view window to take control of that session.
Device Management

L-series / M-series

The L-series and M-series sections of the console provide all of the tools and options needed to configure and maintain your devices, as well as important usage information (such as user name and session number). The L and M-series devices share nearly identical configuration options.

Right-click on one or more devices displayed in the L-series or M-series Devices list to display some basic maintenance options. Standard left-click “box” selection, shift-click and ctrl-click methods allow for the selection of multiple devices at once.

• Reset Device – Resets the selected device.
• Refresh Device Information – Refreshes all information on the selected device within vSpace.
• Apply Configuration Profile* – Applies a stored Configuration Profile to the selected device(s).
• Store Configuration Profile* – Stores a profile of the selected device’s settings for future use.
• Update Device Firmware – Initiates the Firmware Update process on the selected device.
• Set Device Password – Opens the Device Password menu for the selected device.
Double-click on any device displayed in the L-series Devices list to open the Device Settings menu. This menu contains the following sub menus, which are explained in detail in the pages that follow.
• Information – Basic device information
• Connections – Connection options
• Server Groups – Details on preconfigured Server Groups and their contents
• Login – Options for manual and automatic login
• Network – Network settings and options
• Password – Device password options
• Update – Controls for updating device firmware

Device Groups

When dealing with large numbers of devices spread throughout several logical or physical groups (for example, deployments across several office floors or classrooms), it can be advantageous to group these devices within the vSpace console itself. This can be accomplished by right-clicking on the “L-series” section inside the “Devices” group within the left navigation tree and selecting “Add Group,” which opens the Device Group Management interface, as shown below: e
From this interface, devices can be added to a group which can be given a name befitting the nature of your deployment. Once created, groups can be selected from the “L-series” section of the console for easy configuration, as shown below:

Information Tab

The “Information” tab provides basic information on a selected device, including its network address and serial number. This tab also allows you to rename the device to facilitate identification.

Device Name Displays the designated device name. This can be edited as desired.
Device ID The Model ID of the selected device (L300’s have a Device ID of 300)
Serial Number The serial number of the selected device
MAC Address The MAC address of the selected device
IP Address The current IP address of the selected device
Firmware Version Displays the currently loaded firmware version of the selected device. In this example, the device firmware is out of date, as indicated by the text “Please update firmware.”
Schema ID Miscellaneous build information (for NComputing internal use only)

Connections Tab

The “Connections” tab provides several host configuration options that determine how the device finds and then connects to available hosts. From here, you can set the device to automatically detect available servers, or instruct the device to connect to specific predetermined hosts or groups of hosts.

Autoconnect to Configures the device to automatically connect to a predefined server location or server group.
Manual connection options Configures the device so that the user can select a specific host, IP or Server Group each time the device boots.
Auto-discovered connections Enable to display all available hosts on the device’s subnet.
IP address or hostname Enable to allow the user to type in a specific IP or host name.
Server group list Enable to allow the user to select a server group to connect to.

Server Groups Tab

The “Server Groups” tab allows administrators to combine several servers into a group, and then instruct the device to connect only to servers in that group. Exactly which servers are included in a given group and the order in which devices connect to them can be designated and altered within this menu. When the device is setup to autoconnect to a server group, it will connect to the first available server in the list (in the order set in the group). If the first server is not available, the device will then connect to the next server in the group, and so on. This is a key component for using the auto-failover feature of the L300.

UP / DOWN Changes the order in which a server within a group will be accessed.
>> Adds a detected server to a server group.
Add Group Creates a new server group.
Add Server Adds a new server to an existing server group.
Remove Removes the selected server or group.

Login Tab

The “Login” tab provides several configuration choices that determine how the device will behave once it connects to a given host system, including screen resolution and automatic login options. Note that the L-series and M-series Login configuration menus vary slightly as seen below.

Screen Resolution Sets the screen resolution and color depth to be used by the device once it connects to a host. Note that for the M-series, all three clients in an M-series kit share the same resolution and color depth settings.
Vertical Refresh Rate Sets the vertical refresh rate (in Hz) to be used by the device.
Sleep If Idle For Instructs the device how long to wait before turning off its video signal (thereby allowing the monitor to enter its built-in screen saver mode).
Enable Automatic Login Instructs the device to use a specific user name and password when it connects to a host. When enabled, the credentials will be entered automatically, allowing for a swift login. Specify the user credentials in the fields below this option.
Kiosk Mode Instructs the device to immediately launch a specific application on login, instead of providing the standard Windows desktop experience.
Program The name of the executable or object to be launched on startup
Folder The path to the file to be executed

Network Tab

The “Network” tab provides standard network configuration options, including a choice between static and dynamic IP acquisition.

Interface Indicates the device’s network interface.
Optimize for Indicates the type of network being used; LAN = Local Area Network.
DHCP Instructs the device to acquire its network information from a DHCP server.
Static IP Address Instructs the device to use specific network settings, which can be specified in the fields below this setting.

Password Tab

The “Password” tab provides the option of setting a password that will restrict future access to device configuration. Use this tab to enable and disable password protection.

No Password for Setup Sets the device to be accessible for configuration by any user.
Require Password to Enter Setup Sets the device to require a password before device settings can be altered. If a password does not currently exist, it can be entered in the fields directly beneath this option.

Update Tab

The “Update” tab is used to check for and install (if available) firmware updates for the device. This tab allows you to select from several different update methods, and can be set to draw firmware updates from inside your network, or from an external FTP location.

Automatic Update Enable this option to instruct the device to automatically check for newer firmware that is available on the servers it can see during startup. If found, it will then download and install this firmware automatically.
Search and Update from LAN This option instructs the device to search for updated firmware within the local area network it resides in.
Search and Update from FTP Server This option instructs the device to search for updated firmware at a specific FTP location. Enter the full path of a specific firmware file to force the device to use that specific file (which allows for downgrading if needed). Enter the path of a folder that contains multiple firmware versions and a firmware index file to instruct the device to use the most recent firmware version available, according to the index file. For more information on firmware updates via FTP, visit
FTP Server Credentials These fields allow you to enter the URL, user name and password for the FTP server you wish to use (if required).

Search Settings and Columns

The “Search Settings and Columns” features in the upper-right side of the “L and M-series” sections provide additional tools for locating, sorting and displaying device information.

The L/M-series Device Search Settings dialog box provides administrators with the ability to locate devices anywhere on the network (provided that the connections in question are allowed by the network’s routing rules), as well as the ability to search specific IP ranges, while ignoring others. The dialog box contains the following options:
Broadcast Search Searches for devices on the same subnet as the host using UDP broadcast.
Multicast Search Uses the network Multicast functionality of certain high-end routers and switches to more efficiently discover devices. (Must be supported by network hardware.)
Search by Range of IP Addresses Searches for devices within a specified IP range.
IP Address Range Provides the necessary fields to specify what range of IP addresses you wish to search within (only applies to “Search by Range of IP Addresses” setting).

The Select L/M-series Device List Columns dialog box provides an extensive list of device details that can be toggled on or off as desired to create a custom display within the L/M-series device list. These choices affect which columns are displayed in the L/M-series Devices field to the right of the vSpace management console.
Configuration Profiles

As of vSpace version, the NComputing vSpace Console includes the ability to save L-series device settings and apply those settings to other L-series devices across the network. While administrators retain the option to fine-tune devices on an individual basis, the Profile Management feature adds the ability to design and then deploy pre-selected configuration profiles to groups of devices in one step.

Creating Profiles
Profiles can be created by right-clicking on a device in the L/M-series Devices list and selecting the “Store Configuration Profile” option from the pop-up menu that displays, as shown below:

After choosing to store the selected profile, a confirmation will appear. Select “Yes” from the confirmation dialog box to store the profile in the “Profiles” section of the vSpace Management Console. The Management Console can store multiple profiles, and you can edit or remove them at any time.
Editing Profiles

Once a profile is created, administrators can edit the profile in the same way they would apply changes to the settings of an individual device. To do this, select “Profiles” from the left navigation tree within the Management Console, and then right-click on a profile, as shown below:

Once you have selected a profile to edit, you will be presented with a multi-tabbed configuration menu that closely resembles the device configuration menu. This menu allows you to rename the selected profile, as well as alter Connection, Server Group, Login, Password and Firmware Update settings, as shown below:

Applying Profiles

To apply a saved profile to other devices, select one or more L/M-series devices within the L or M-series Device list and then right-click on any of the selected devices. From the pop-up menu that displays, select “Apply Configuration Profile,” as shown below:

After confirming the action, the Management Console will begin updating the selected devices. This process may take a few moments, depending on the number of devices affected by the update. Once the process is complete, the affected device(s) will reboot automatically.

Keep in mind that L and M-series device profiles are not cross compatible due in part to the fact that M-series stores information for three separate devices/users per kit as compared to the L-series’ single device/user. For this reason Profiles must be created for and applied to M and L-series devices separately.

Dimension: The figure below show the actual measure for the computer laboratory of NEUST-Gabaldon to be used by the researchers for their capstone project.