Rackmounted Desktops
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We use rackmounted desktops for our media systems in theaters, conference rooms, and class rooms. They fit perfectly in lockable racks, and all of the AV equipment is generally the same width so they get mounted as well.
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They must be thinking desk mounted or VDI.
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@Joel said:
I cant imagine a rack mounted situation? How on earth would that be possible without running extra long cables all around the office!!! am i missing something obvious with this???? Or having a senior moment!!!
I think there's a break in your communications train with manglement - I'd start asking questions up the chain to figure out what they really want to accomplish. Not many people wake up in the morning and ask a department to do insane things without a goal in mind.
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@coliver said:
We use rackmounted desktops for our media systems in theaters, conference rooms, and class rooms. They fit perfectly in lockable racks, and all of the AV equipment is generally the same width so they get mounted as well.
They work brilliantly for AV world.
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@Joel said:
I cant imagine a rack mounted situation? How on earth would that be possible without running extra long cables all around the office!!! am i missing something obvious with this???? Or having a senior moment!!!
No, you're not. Management doesn't understand some basic concepts in the IT world. Education needed. If they still insist on it after that, well, presenting the financials to get it done compared to the standard desktop/laptop at each desk, and accept the final decision (odd as it may be. Who knows what motivates some of these decisions.)
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@travisdh1 Thanks
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@MattSpeller I've asked and will see what they say!! Must be talking about desk mounts or a VDI solution.
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@Joel said:
Maybe a silly Q, but what are the pro's / con's about rack mounted desktops?
TBH, I didnt even know about these until a new opportunity came to me wanting to setup a new office and wanted costs for new PCS....After providing costs, they said they were discussing the options of rack mounted them....How would this work? If they are all rack mounted they'd have cables running from the rack to each work station and it would look messy no?? Unless the rack is in the middle of the desks??? Can someone explain how users would connect eg monitors, keyboards etc and what the pro's/cons are???They have to mean thin/zero clients, right? Please update this thread with what ends up happening. If people actually think this way it'll make me more optimistic about my own job.
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they came back and said a rackmounted server with VDI for each user....makes sense...
My knowledge on VDI is limited....whats the pro's / con's over this solution in your option?How does VDI work exactly? the server has the applications on and each user simply uses a remote app to open the application thats running on the server?
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@Joel said:
they came back and said a rackmounted server with VDI for each user....makes sense...
My knowledge on VDI is limited....whats the pro's / con's over this solution in your option?How does VDI work exactly? the server has the applications on and each user simply uses a remote app to open the application thats running on the server?
That's application virtualization. VDI is literally running a virtual desktop for each user. Look into XenDesktop, Horizon View, and I think Microsoft has their own they are working on.
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@Joel said:
they came back and said a rackmounted server with VDI for each user....makes sense...
My knowledge on VDI is limited....whats the pro's / con's over this solution in your option?How does VDI work exactly? the server has the applications on and each user simply uses a remote app to open the application thats running on the server?
Think of it more like the users entire desktop environment is actually running on the server. This actually is easy to do with most Linux/UNIX. Windows makes it easy as well, after you get the licensing figured out.
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@Joel said:
they came back and said a rackmounted server with VDI for each user....makes sense...
My knowledge on VDI is limited....whats the pro's / con's over this solution in your option?How does VDI work exactly? the server has the applications on and each user simply uses a remote app to open the application thats running on the server?
It sounds like someone's heard buzz words and is on a fishing expedition - are you getting this from management or IT senior to you?
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Probably NOT what you're looking for, but Dell has a line of rack mount workstations:
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-r7910-workstation/pd?oc=cupr7910w7pOur one division uses these in rack media cabinets for school auditoriums
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Not advocating for this, but you could use a KVM over IP set up to actually make this work without all the crazy cabling.
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A Rack Mounted PC is something I have thought of a time or two, only to consolidate all the gear in a cabinet. I have a RM Server that I guess I will just scrap (a PE 1850) and would like to see a RM server and Desktop and NAS all together in on central location and off my desk.
I guess to some degree to it's the 'sleek' coolness of having all the blinky lights in one place, and ability to filter the air more.
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@Joel said:
Maybe a silly Q, but what are the pro's / con's about rack mounted desktops?
Pro: Fits great in a rack.
Con: Super annoying when sitting on your desk. -
@Joel said:
TBH, I didnt even know about these until a new opportunity came to me wanting to setup a new office and wanted costs for new PCS....After providing costs, they said they were discussing the options of rack mounted them....How would this work? If they are all rack mounted they'd have cables running from the rack to each work station and it would look messy no?? Unless the rack is in the middle of the desks??? Can someone explain how users would connect eg monitors, keyboards etc and what the pro's/cons are???
Before VDI, people used rack mounted PCs for the same goals. You would use RDP, ICA or PCoIP to connect to them. No different than any other remote system.
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@Joel said:
I cant imagine a rack mounted situation? How on earth would that be possible without running extra long cables all around the office!!! am i missing something obvious with this???? Or having a senior moment!!!
Thin clients. How do you access remote desktops normally?
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@Joel said:
How does VDI work exactly? the server has the applications on and each user simply uses a remote app to open the application thats running on the server?
VDI means nothing more than virtualized desktops.
Remote apps is not VDI, that's terminal services (like RDS and XenApp.) VDI means you run a full desktop VM for each user and they get a remote desktop.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@Joel said:
TBH, I didnt even know about these until a new opportunity came to me wanting to setup a new office and wanted costs for new PCS....After providing costs, they said they were discussing the options of rack mounted them....How would this work? If they are all rack mounted they'd have cables running from the rack to each work station and it would look messy no?? Unless the rack is in the middle of the desks??? Can someone explain how users would connect eg monitors, keyboards etc and what the pro's/cons are???
Before VDI, people used rack mounted PCs for the same goals. You would use RDP, ICA or PCoIP to connect to them. No different than any other remote system.
But you still had to have a connection device of some type on the person's desk.
The OP said they asked about VDI after getting the pricing for desktop - FYI VDI is ALWAYS more expensive (when using windows) than desktop/laptops. So if they are considering it because of possible cost savings.. just stop right there.
