Date: 27-Nov-2009
URL: www.sun.com/sunray/sunray270/faq.xml
Sun Ray 270 Virtual Display Client
General FAQs
General Questions
Q:
What is Sun Ray technology and how does it work?
A:
The unique Sun Ray Software architecture removes management of complex PC or embedded OS thin clients from the desktop equation by offering a complete virtual desktop. The architecture consists of two parts: Sun Ray Virtual Display Clients and Sun Ray Software. The environmentally friendly Virtual Display Client is a low-cost device that, when plugged into the network, delivers a secure, network desktop. Sun Ray Software has three core components: Sun Ray Server Software, Sun Ray Connector for Windows, and Sun Desktop Manager.
Sun Ray Server Software Acts as a broadcaster, delivering customized content to each Sun Ray client on the network. Channel 1 might be Microsoft Windows, Channel 2 might be Linux, and Channel 3 might be the Solaris OS. It provides user authentication and encryption between server and client, as well as user session management. This not only enhances security, but also helps reduce complexity and administration of the IT environment. Sun Ray Server Software provides automatic load balancing, optimizing performance by distributing sessions across servers in the group. Load balancing takes into account each server's load and capacity, the number and speed of its CPUs, so that larger or less heavily loaded servers bear more of the load.
Sun Ray Connector for Windows Enables a direct connection between the Sun Ray Server and Windows Terminal Services, so that Microsoft Windows applications can be displayed on the Sun Ray client. In Controlled Access Mode, customers can provide full-screen, Microsoft Windows desktops to Sun Ray clients, with all the security and mobility benefits unique to the architecture. Sun Desktop Manager Returns desktop control to system administrators by providing a Web-based tool to centrally control the Solaris OS desktop and applications. Because it removes complexity and increases management efficiency, this helps reduce costs and administration workload relating to desktop infrastructure.
Sun Ray Server Software Acts as a broadcaster, delivering customized content to each Sun Ray client on the network. Channel 1 might be Microsoft Windows, Channel 2 might be Linux, and Channel 3 might be the Solaris OS. It provides user authentication and encryption between server and client, as well as user session management. This not only enhances security, but also helps reduce complexity and administration of the IT environment. Sun Ray Server Software provides automatic load balancing, optimizing performance by distributing sessions across servers in the group. Load balancing takes into account each server's load and capacity, the number and speed of its CPUs, so that larger or less heavily loaded servers bear more of the load.
Sun Ray Connector for Windows Enables a direct connection between the Sun Ray Server and Windows Terminal Services, so that Microsoft Windows applications can be displayed on the Sun Ray client. In Controlled Access Mode, customers can provide full-screen, Microsoft Windows desktops to Sun Ray clients, with all the security and mobility benefits unique to the architecture. Sun Desktop Manager Returns desktop control to system administrators by providing a Web-based tool to centrally control the Solaris OS desktop and applications. Because it removes complexity and increases management efficiency, this helps reduce costs and administration workload relating to desktop infrastructure.
Q:
What business benefits does Sun Ray technology provide?
A:
First, Sun Ray deployments have provided customers up to a 76 percent Return on Investment (ROI) vs. other desktop alternatives. See the Forrester Research Total Economic Impact Study for more information.
Second, Sun Ray technology eliminates desktop upgrade fatigue, the never-ending cycle of new PCs. Complex PCs and other "thin clients" have a local OS and local applications, which require different amounts of memory (RAM), CPU power (MHz/GHz), operating system patch levels, application patch levels which get you, the customer, caught in a never-ending cycle of application upgrades that then force new memory or CPU hardware upgrades on the desktop client.
Sun Ray technology frees your organization from desktop upgrade fatigue by centralizing your desktop computing on Sun Ray servers. A desktop application upgrade, memory performance upgrade, or OS upgrade is as simple as upgrading a few servers. All Sun Ray clients will have instant access to the upgrades made on the servers.
Third, protecting your critical business information is vital to your success. Sun Ray technology virtually eliminates the risk of desktop virus infections and can help protect corporate intellectual property with a more secure desktop solution.
Fourth, flexibility and choice are important components of any desktop solution. Sun Ray technology provides a choice of desktop environments Windows, Linux or Solaris OS, as well as choice of x86 or UltraSPARC server hardware.
Second, Sun Ray technology eliminates desktop upgrade fatigue, the never-ending cycle of new PCs. Complex PCs and other "thin clients" have a local OS and local applications, which require different amounts of memory (RAM), CPU power (MHz/GHz), operating system patch levels, application patch levels which get you, the customer, caught in a never-ending cycle of application upgrades that then force new memory or CPU hardware upgrades on the desktop client.
Sun Ray technology frees your organization from desktop upgrade fatigue by centralizing your desktop computing on Sun Ray servers. A desktop application upgrade, memory performance upgrade, or OS upgrade is as simple as upgrading a few servers. All Sun Ray clients will have instant access to the upgrades made on the servers.
Third, protecting your critical business information is vital to your success. Sun Ray technology virtually eliminates the risk of desktop virus infections and can help protect corporate intellectual property with a more secure desktop solution.
Fourth, flexibility and choice are important components of any desktop solution. Sun Ray technology provides a choice of desktop environments Windows, Linux or Solaris OS, as well as choice of x86 or UltraSPARC server hardware.
Q:
How is the Sun Ray 270 virtual display client different from the Sun Ray 170 virtual display client?
A:
The Sun Ray 270 is a functional RoHS (reduction of hazardous substance) replacement of the Sun Ray 170. Although most functional features are the same, there are some subtle differences between the products.
- The Sun Ray 270 has a new industrial design that provides the same basic functionality as the Sun Ray 170 but it has a slightly different look and feel.
- The Sun Ray 270 has a USB port and audio connectors on the front bezel. This improves the ergonomics of the unit by making the USB and audio connectors easily accessible from the front of the device.
- The motherboard in the Sun Ray 270 is in the display head rather than the base. This improved design enables better cable management and VESA mounting.
- The Sun Ray 270 has a sturdy, ergonomically correct, tilt adjustment. Although it does not have fold flat like the Sun Ray 170, the new design is much more stable when a smart card is inserted.
- Similar to the Sun Ray 170, the Sun Ray 270 has a dual-sided smart card reader. This provides a foolproof login and hot-desking experience.
- The VESA mount of the Sun Ray 270 is easier to install than the Sun Ray 170. Unlike the legacy product, the Sun Ray 270 does not require any additional custom brackets. On the Sun Ray 270, the base comes off of the display head (which contains the board) and then the 270 display head attaches directly to a VESA mount. This is simpler than the Sun Ray 170 VESA mount method.
- The Sun Ray 270 is RoHS-6 compliant and the Sun Ray 170 is not.
Q:
What resolutions are supported on the Sun Ray 270?
A:
The 17 inch display offers a native resolution of 1280 x 1024. It also includes support for 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 resolutions.
Q:
How is the VGA input connector used?
A:
This connector is used when a user wants to use the Sun Ray 270 as a display for a PC, laptop, or workstation. The Sun Ray 270 is connected to the other device with a VGA cable (not provided) and then the user selects the display mode with the "A/B" switch on the Sun Ray 270.
Q:
Can I connect a Sun Ray 270 to my existing Sun Ray network?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Will the Sun Ray 270 unit require a firmware upgrade?
A:
No. When the units are connected to any supported version of Sun Ray Software (1.3 or above), they will function properly.
Q:
What types of USB devices may be used with the Sun Ray 270 virtual display client?
A:
Customers can use a variety of USB devices:
-USB keyboard & mouse
-USB flash disks (Solaris OS only)
-USB memory sticks (Solaris OS only)
-USB flatbed scanners
-USB digital cameras
-USB zip drives (Solaris OS only)
-USB external hard drives (Solaris OS only)
-USB-Serial/Parallel adapters
-USB printers
-USB keypads
-USB bar code scanners
-USB magnetic stripe readers
-USB HID class touch screen interfaces
-USB HID Keyboards and Mice
-USB keyboard & mouse
-USB flash disks (Solaris OS only)
-USB memory sticks (Solaris OS only)
-USB flatbed scanners
-USB digital cameras
-USB zip drives (Solaris OS only)
-USB external hard drives (Solaris OS only)
-USB-Serial/Parallel adapters
-USB printers
-USB keypads
-USB bar code scanners
-USB magnetic stripe readers
-USB HID class touch screen interfaces
-USB HID Keyboards and Mice
Q:
Is the Sun Ray 270 touch screen enabled?
A:
The Sun Ray 270 was not designed to be used as a touch screen device.
Q:
Can I connect a projector to a Sun Ray 270?
A:
Yes. The Sun Ray 270 clients have a projector port which allows an RGB projector to be attached directly to the Sun Ray client.
Q:
Can the Sun Ray 270 virtual display client be used with all versions of Sun Ray Server Software?
A:
Yes.
Q:
Do I need to insert my smart card a certain way?
A:
No. the Sun Ray 270 has a dual-sided smart cart reader so you can insert your card either way.
Q:
What about wireless?
A:
The Sun Ray 270 clients do not have built-in wireless capabilities and they do not support USB wireless adaptors. You can, however, use a wireless bridge such as a Linksys WET54G Wireless-G Ethernet bridge and the Sun Ray 270 units will function properly.
Q:
Do Sun Ray 270 units run a local operating system?
A:
No. Sun Ray 270 clients are stateless thin clients with no local OS or state.
Q:
When I pull out my smart card, is there any data left on the Sun Ray virtual display client?
A:
No. Sun Ray clients are stateless units with no local hard drive or local storage. All information is stored on the server.
Q:
Will the new units work over low-bandwidth links?
A:
Yes, but they will not work on a dial-up connection. The minimum requirement is DSL/Cable Modem. The recommended bandwidth requirement is 300kbps.
Q:
What is the slot on the right side of the Sun Ray 270 virtual display clients?
A:
It is a SIM card slot. We are future-proofing our hardware design for future software enhancements. The functionality for the SIM card will be supported with a future release of Sun Ray Software.
Q:
How is a Sun Ray virtual display client different from a thin client with an embedded operating system?
A:
Most thin clients, such as Windows or Linux Based Terminals,
contain a local operating system, a local protocol client (such as an ICA or RDP client), and often client side applications (browser, Java Runtime Environment, etc.). Performance can be dependent on the local memory and processor resources of the client terminal. As performance
needs increase with new applications, new hardware may be required.
These clients also require client side operating system maintenance (patching and upgrades) and must be managed as individual desktops. A Sun Ray solution eliminates both the need for client side hardware performance upgrades and client side OS/application patching or upgrades, as everything is managed server side.
These clients also require client side operating system maintenance (patching and upgrades) and must be managed as individual desktops. A Sun Ray solution eliminates both the need for client side hardware performance upgrades and client side OS/application patching or upgrades, as everything is managed server side.
Q:
When is it preferable to not use a Sun Ray client?
A:
If you require local desktop-based acceleration for 3-D graphics, a Sun workstation is a better solution.
Links Mentioned on This Page
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