Scenario:

Private school in the Midwestern U.S.

About 40 computers:

• 15 in a Lab
• 4 in the Drafting (AutoCad) Lab, which is intended to grow to 8
• About 10 rooms with an average of 2 each
  

All PCs run Windows XP and Office 2000. There is an aging Windows Server that provides file and print services.

A math teacher has shouldered the responsibility of maintaining the PCs. He won't even estimate how many "volunteer" hours he spends....it is a sore subject.

For a variety of reasons, including cost, the Internet connectivity is DSL, estimated at 768Kbps.

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Objectives:

The school wants to modernize, and create flexibility while reducing PC maintenance, at reasonable cost.

"Flexibility" means:

• Ease of rolling out new applications
• Ease of purchasing and deploying new desktop computing locations
• Ability of valid users to access data and sofware from whereever they happen to be

They understand the principles of thin client computing, have read the success stories, understand the phenomenal growth in the technology, but don't know anyone personally who is doing it. They would like to "get their feet wet".

Proposed Solution:

A proper Windows Domain based architecture, with Terminal Servers to deliver applications, with redundancy in both the Terminal Servers and data storage.

To reduce expenditures, it is decided to keep most of the PCs, because operating system licenses have already been paid for. The PCs will run Office applications from the Terminal Server.

The thin client vendor is even offering to pay shipping and recycle the "dead" PCs, as well as paying a rebate on each PC recycled.

Hardware cost estimate is $12,000; Since the Microsoft Office license is a DEVICE license, it permits simultaneous use of the same license on a PC, whether installed locally or on the Terminal Server. Technically, the "status quo" of local Office sofware could be considered in lieu of the backup Terminal Server, for the remaining PCs, but considering $2000 vs. the time required to support software on 30 PCs, it's a reasonable insurance policy.

Software cost estimate is about $4,000; The Provision client adds some very nice features to Windows Terminal Server, but is not strictly necessary.

Onsite Design, Installation, and Configuration assistance is $3000, including travel.

To estimate lease costs, use 3% of the total to estimate on a 48 month lease.

BENEFITS:

• Ease of rolling out new applications -All installs are only on the 1 (or 2) Terminal Server(s)
  
• Ease of purchasing and deploying new desktop computing locations
• Ability of valid users to access data and sofware from whereever they happen to be
• Safe, limited pilot of thin client technology

The school will see IMMEDIATE benefits, as:

• Staff and students understand that they have technology of which they can be proud
• Prospective parents see and appreciate the wisdom of the Principal and staff in investing in this system
• The math teacher gets his life back, and
  
• Teachers can work from anywhere
• Computing transitions from a stress factor to a resource - leaving the PC treadmill behind
  
• The school is in a position to evaluate new technologies like virtualization of the AutoCad desktops, instead of worrying about purchasing more PCs.
• The same drafting lab that can only "hold" 4 PC workstations will likely support 6 or 8 thin client workstations, as thin clients will mount neatly under desk surfaces, if a virtualization and thin client strategy is adopted in the next phase.