Simsbury Public Schools

BOE Strategic Plan: Improvement Indicator #8 “Provide increased access to quality

information technology hardware and software for students and staff.” and staff.”

District Network Infrastructure Project:$1.8 million

Client Virtualization of our computer network (“Thin Client”) over a 3 year period

•What is virtualization? •Why do we need to make this investment?•Why is this the best option?

District Network InfrastructureCreate a new district-owned network infrastructure to replace approximately 2,000 aging desktops with virtual “Thin Clients” to achieve the following:

1.Reduce the long-term total cost of ownership of the district’s network infrastructure,

2.Improve over all network performance and management efficiency, and

3.Provide a platform for remote access, mobile devices and instruction.

Thin Client Thin Client versus Distributed ComputingDistributed Computing

•A popular alternative since the early 1990’s•Client only passes keyboard/monitor/mouse signals to the network•Lowest upgrade costs / Low Total Cost of Ownership•Every logon performs like a freshly built PC•Centralized management•Platform neutral•Consumer-grade Internet connection friendly •Over time can significantly reduce electricity consumption•This is a different approach to networking

Client Virtualization

Technology Equipment Funding History

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

SlownessSlowness

Most frequent computer issues:

McAfee updatesMcAfee updates

Real Player Real Player instancesinstances

MS policy downloadsMS policy downloadsMalwareMalware

SpywareSpyware

IE ToolbarsIE Toolbars

Heightened expectationsHeightened expectations

On-access scanningOn-access scanningIntermittent problemsIntermittent problems

Age: ½ of computers from 2002Age: ½ of computers from 2002

Startup itemsStartup items

Low memoryLow memory

Anti-virusAnti-virusAnti-Anti-spywarespyware

Anti-malwareAnti-malware

• Upgrade to Windows 7 and Office 2010

• Improve PC Performance—

Sustainability

• Improve Repair Response Times

• Remote options for students and staff

Access and Quality Needs:

Option A Option A – More of the same (distributed computing)

Two options to meet these needs::

NetworkResourc

es

NetworkResourc

es

Operating system, apps,and processing happen at the client PC

All processing happens at centrally managed network servers

Option B Option B – Thin Client

Option A Option A – More of the same (distributed computing)Follow a traditional replacementschedule for PCs.Hire additional tech support.

Two options to meet these needs:

‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17

$ Current Spending Level $

$ Option A $

$ Option B $

‘12 ‘13 ‘14 ‘15 ‘16 ‘17

$ Current Spending Level $

Option B Option B – Thin Client• Change the current

computing paradigm.• Improve PC performance at

a fraction of the cost.• Do not hire additional tech

support.

Client VirtualizationProject Budget SummaryThin client ComponentsRacks & UPS 28,896$ Dell PowerEdge Servers 260,964$ Equalogic Hybrid Storage 489,772$ Equalogic SAS Storage 217,152$ Network Switches 35,324$ VMware Software 357,336$ Labor 313,200$ Infrastructure Contingency 97,356$

Total 1,800,000$