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Zero Clients

Streamlined Endpoint Devices: Ultra-secure, centrally managed computing solutions, commonly used in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and DaaS environments.

Zero Clients

A zero client is a small end-user device that has no local storage. Unlike a traditional thin client, which stores the operating system and configuration settings in flash memory, a zero client relies entirely on a remote server for processing.

Typically, a zero client device connects a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and Ethernet to a server. The server hosts the client’s operating system and software and can be accessed either wirelessly or through a cable. Essentially, zero clients are minimal devices that depend on a server to perform functions usually handled by a traditional PC or thick client. Zero-client devices are commonly used in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments, making them ideal for remote work or distributed teams.

Zero clients and thin clients are both efficient and secure endpoints designed to connect to remote servers and manage centralized computing infrastructures. However, zero clients are lightweight as they lack a local operating system, while thin clients have a minimal OS and can handle some client-side tasks.

Most zero clients are optimized for a single connection type or protocol while thin clients are considered more flexible and support multiple connection types and VDI/DaaS platforms.

The benefits of zero clients include the following:

  • Devices are more cost-effective than PCs or thin clients.
  • They provide an efficient and secure way to deliver apps to end users.
  • With no software on the client, there is no vulnerability to malware.
  • In a VDI environment, admins can reduce the number of physical PCs, running multiple virtual PCs on server-class hardware.
  • Increased hardware efficiency can enhance the user experience.

The disadvantages of zero clients are:

  • Zero client devices often have limited ability to render graphics.
  • Performance depends a lot on network connection because zero clients rely on remote servers to do almost all processing.
  • Many zero clients are optimized for only one vendor or connection broker and usually cannot be updated or reconfigured. This leads to a total vendor lock-in.

When taking on a VDI deployment project, you have many options to choose from. Everything from what server solution to use, down to the nuts-and-bolts of what endpoint device hardware you will host your virtual desktops on. In this article, explore the different options available for what endpoints you should use and discover which is the right fit for your business.

Stratodesk’s NoTouch runs on almost any X86 thin client, PC, laptop, and tablet as well as Raspberry Pi endpoints regardless of make, model, or manufacturer. Stratodesk NoTouch OS is standardizing and unifying mixed endpoint environments. Stratodesk is partnering with many thin client companies in offering thin client hardware pre-loaded with NoTouch OS or software and hardware bundles.

NoTouch OS is based on our own Linux distribution. It is always stored as one firmware image and booted from that image. This maintains consistency and prevents casual or even malicious modifications. For this reason, NoTouch OS is more similar to a Zero Client than it is to a traditional Thin Client.

By creating our own Linux distribution we maintain consistency in a way that is unseen and unmatched in the market today. It also eliminates common attack vectors. If you hear about a Linux security hole, it most likely doesn’t apply to NoTouch OS.

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