The Faculty of Computing & IT’s Department of ICT Support Services (DISS) has fully embraced a novel desktop solution called SUN Microsystems that helps to serve a number of thin clients supported on Ubuntu Linux operating system.
The Faculty of Computing & IT’s Department of ICT Support Services (DISS) has fully embraced a novel desktop solution called SUN Microsystems that helps to serve a number of thin clients supported on Ubuntu Linux operating system.
SUN Microsystems can be installed with just Five Hundred Thousand Ugandan Shillings, which is used to buy a hardware component that plays the role of a server. You would not need separate processing systems for each thin clients because they would be operating on one server.
Since this system runs on Ubuntu Linux, it enjoys all the benefits associated with Open-source software. Unlike Windows or some UNIX systems, Ubuntu Linux freely distributed, which gives users a chance to customize it without incurring copyright costs. This is a benefit which the CIT faculty has already tapped into as it harnesses the system to run its thin-clients.
“Also, Linux is not affected by viruses as they would affect the other operating systems” David Gaamuwa, System Administrator at DISS remarked. David further added that since they started using Ubuntu Linux, cases of virus attacks have greatly reduced.
This setup reduces on the number of processing systems required, hence eliminating unnecessary heat and reducing on the amount of power consumed. In so doing, it becomes environmentally friendly since it does not emit excess heat that might affect lab users. This also cuts on the power expenses for the computers as well as air-conditioning.
Apart from the aforementioned benefits the system also is user friendly, Ubuntu's endless list of software applications can be downloaded from the internet for free. But even with these benefits it has not yet been adopted in the whole university because it is feared that if the server breaks down it may affect a number of university systems which may result into loss of data.
However David re-assured users that the setup has alternative servers connected to the main server such that if the first one breaks down, the other servers would still do the work.
Article by Aston Mubangizi