Zero Client: Are You Ready for VDI?

Among endpoint devices for VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure), zero clients are one of the most popular choices. What is a zero client? A zero client is a compact hardware device that reduces power consumption, noise and maintenance in a VDI environment. Zero clients boot in a few seconds and are highly resistant to viruses, which reduces device downtime and increases user productivity.

A zero client is an endpoint device with no local storage and no operating system (OS), hence the name ‘zero client’. Instead of an operating system, a zero client has an onboard processor tuned for one of the three VDI protocols (PCoIP, HDX or RemoteFX).

Thin clients have an internal operating system and some local storage for customising end-user applications. With zero clients, by contrast, all desktop applications are provisioned and managed from a remote server.

The benefits of zero clients are as follows.

Zero Client Advantages

  • Fast boot-up times

  • Little-to-no maintenance

  • Less involvement of the IT department

  • High-resolution graphic capabilities

  • Higher security with lower power consumption; endpoints are protected from viruses.

  • Lower costs

  • Quick installation and deployment with no additional configuration

  • The zero client boots quickly and takes the user directly to the VDI sign-on screen.

Why Choose Zero Clients?

  • End users experience very few endpoint issues with zero clients, such as viruses, unexpected upgrades or system failures. IT professionals also spend less time on management and maintenance, as all end users are managed centrally and upgrades are applied as group updates.

  • Apart from a few differences at login, desktop virtualization with zero client endpoints looks and feels like a traditional desktop to the end user. When logging in, each user sees their personal desktop with their preferred settings. The user can also access the same desktop from anywhere, on any hardware device.

With these advantages, zero clients are well worth deploying at your workplace. To offer cost-effective, high-quality zero clients, Thinvent has developed its own zero client, the Micro 2. Its key features are:

  • Ultra-low power consumption (less than 5 watts)

  • One of the smallest zero clients on the market

  • Powerful dual-core 1.2 GHz ARM processor

  • RDP protocol support for Remote Desktop connectivity to Windows and Linux servers

These are only some of its features.

For more information, get in touch with our experts.