Thin client: look at the concept, benefits and challenges

The use of Thin Client type PCs In manufacturing areas, it helps to have a highly reliable architecture, as it allows data to be stored on a central server without representing a change in the user experience, compared to a traditional PC.

In fact, a thin client looks the same as a traditional PC and also offers facilities such as: local printing, Internet browsing, and audio and serial device support, as well as terminal emulation and combination with the network computing process.

Although both computing alternatives are apparently similar, the Thin Client has specific potential and features that help overcome the classic problems and limitations of traditional client-server architectures in the field of workstations, such as:

Low mean time between failure (MTBF) hard drives;
Damage to electronic components in areas with vibrations or from foreign particles and dust;
Decreased performance in high temperature areas;
Access to system functionalities not necessary for system operation.
Vulnerability to viruses.

Among these characteristics that make the Thin Client An excellent alternative, which eliminates the aforementioned problems, is the ability to implement hybrid environments, the timely replacement of damaged workstations and access to operating system functionalities.

To go even deeper into the potential of this architecture, in the following lines we will talk specifically about its main benefits.

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Benefits of PCs of the type Thin client

In addition to allowing the failures and deficiencies of the client-server architecture to be overcome, ThinClient They guarantee great advantages, represented in two general and comprehensive benefits, such as:

Greater profitability

Thin clients, especially those based on Terminal Services, are characterized by low energy consumption, which translates into cost reduction and sustainability.

Also, they minimize unscheduled stops, avoid rework, shorten the time of unavailability or loss of visibility of the plant and reduce serious product failures due to the absence of control elements, contributing to more profitable operations and the increase of benefits.

On the other hand, they reduce spending on hardware not suitable for the production floor, as well as man-hour spending.

Greater practicality

The implementation of a client-server architecture using ThinClient translates into having to migrate applications to a centralized server infrastructure.

Basically, this dynamic makes each workstation become a thin client that does not require a hard drive or operating system, but that at the same time can display the applications that the ThinClient user needs. In this way, services such as backups and application maintenance are centralized, which is much more practical and effective. Also, in this architecture all security policies and application changes can be carried out within the same central environment.

In addition to this centralization practice, the system allows changes to take immediate effect. It also simplifies data backup policies.

On the other hand, traditional computing systems demand greater operational effort and constant supervision of information technology (IT) personnel, who must deal with solving individual problems in a timely manner, since otherwise severe operational losses or failures may occur. .

In conclusion, ThinClients are associated with significantly reducing IT total cost of ownership (TCO).

In addition, centralized processing of the thin client also facilitates compliance with IT policies and procedures of organizations, consequently, increasing information security levels.

Challenges

These benefits demonstrate that ThinClient They emerge as the best option for industries in the present and the future. To integrate into this trend and take advantage of it, it is important to overcome and face various challenges related mainly to the effort involved in the paradigm shift.

In recent decades, many industries have developed complex traditional computer networks, with operating systems that are expensive and difficult to maintain. This has created a great dependence on PCs and workflows have been created and developed according to the characteristics of those machines.

That is why to migrate to the concept of ThinClient A change in this paradigm is required and adaptation to the dynamics proposed by centralized application management, in which IT personnel will no longer have to act directly in problem solving and control tasks at the operating stations.

To take this important step, industries can use a comprehensive thin client management solution (ThinClient), which allows the deployment of suitable, robust and less expensive industrial hardware.

Added to this, a good T management systemhinClient It has a multi-session base that allows different sessions to run on the same ThinClient and can be viewed remotely from the central servers to facilitate support.

Very good! If you have accompanied us this far, you already know what a thin client (ThinClient) is and what benefits it provides to industries, as well as the challenges that must be overcome to implement this type of computer systems.

The use of ThinClient, combined with the ideal practices and solutions to perform lean manufacturing and modernize operations, will boost the profitability of your factory and compliance with the expected business indicators.

Did you find this reading interesting? In case you need more information about the topic discussed or have any specific questions, contact a MES Automation representative now.