We were very surprised and a bit disappointed!
I called to speak with the HP product champion at our distributor and was told that although the product had been quite popular, the overly optimistic hardware specifications published by Microsoft had caused the unraveling of the product line. Apparently there were too many schools out there attempting to install the maximum allowed zero clients onto an underpowered server at a ratio of 20:1.
And when the system (with 20 students trying to do online gaming) slowed to a crawl, the buyers got upset. Go figure…
As one wise military commander told me many years ago at Officer Training, when asked about the wisdom of doing a particular thing; “You can, but you may not”. This pretty much sums up the wisdom of the aforementioned scenario. Perhaps it is better stated that while you CAN attach 20 Zero Clients onto a modestly provisioned MultiPoint Server, you may in fact not WANT to do so.
For the record, MultiPoint, as of this writing is not going away. Nor has it been an unsuccessful new product, not by a long-shot. It is working very well in the schools we have installed it when a reasonable effort to design the system has been employed.
And not to worry, there are still plenty of vendors supporting the technology and the required Zero Clients that are required to easily roll it out. But you may want to curb your optimism just slightly as you do system design and engineering. A reasonable allocation of server resources, client connections, and bandwidth utilization will help you make MultiPoint the home run in your school.
Here are three specific suggestions that will ensure your project does not get bogged down:
- Determine the purpose of the MultiPoint installation
- Start with a properly specified server
- Calculate the Server/Client Ratio conservatively
Determine the purpose of the MultiPoint Installation
There are widely divergent requirements for a MultiPoint installation. Some are managed with the strict control of a well-organized teacher leading a discussion and managing the student sessions. Others are a free-for-all student study hall where anything goes. And on occasion (at least a few times each year) there will be standardized student testing where workstations are configured precisely for a sterile testing environment.
As you design you MultiPoint installation, start with the designated purpose. And if you can’t ensure that designated purpose then design conservatively. You will be happier in the long-run (although your financial managers may not share your entusiasm).
In our rather unscientific, but thorough testing, we have found that a ratio of 5:1 with a reasonable MultiPoint Server is a very solid place to start. And on the upper end of the scale, we have found that exceeding 10:1 under most conditions is not going to deliver the needed performance for anything more than casual web-browsing.
Start with a properly specified server
It has been said that “Common sense is not so common”. But it makes sense in this scenario to have a Multi Core processer (more is better), as much RAM as you can afford, and a fast Hard Drive with at least 500GB of space. Additionally, the server needs to have the capability for rendering graphics. This is normally accomplished by installing a graphics card in one of the open slots if it is not built into the mains system board.
And while there are many different connection configurations for MultiPoint, we have had the best luck using USB. Accordingly, you will need to have as many USB ports on the server as you plan to have zero-clients. This might require you to purchase a USB card and install it in your server.
Some manufacturers design servers specifically for the MultiPoint Server Operating System, but a bare box system is fine. Other than what is mentioned above, there is nothing special about hardware required to run MultiPoint. If it will run Windows7 or Windows Server 2012 standard, it should work fine with MultiPoint Server.
Calculate the Client Server Ratio Conservatively
The ratio of clients to a single server is the last thing you should determine. We simply call it the client/server ratio. Microsoft advertises a ratio of 10:1 in Windows MultiPoint Standard and 20:1 in Windows MultiPoint Premium. With few exceptions these numbers are (characteristically) hype.
For hard core computer lab workstations, keep the ratios low. For occasional browsing of the library collection or standardized testing increase the ratios accordingly.
One other aspect of determining ratios is the simple matter of logistics or layout. Depending on how the rows or clusters of workstations are configured in your lab, you may need to adjust your ratios purely based upon space and distance. The USB cables included in the HP Zero Clients were 25’ long. Distances greater than that may not work well. Check with your specific vendor for the lengths of included cabling (if included).
Summary
Windows MultiPoint Server is a great technology that will dramatically reduce the cost of provisioning a computer lab at your school. Not only do you save tons in buying hardware, but you nearly eliminate one of the more costly components of your technology budget - technical support. And you will see a commensurate reduction in both electrical and heating/cooling costs.
You will also have a much, much quieter computer lab (not counting student noise!).
But don’t be ridiculous, while you CAN connect 20 clients to a single MultiPoint server, you MAY NOT have a good experience in doing so. Good advice for me back then and for you today…
If you need assistance in designing your MultiPoint Server project, give us a call.
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