WinFrame (Was: NetPCs)

[Grace Agnew]

Citrix WinFrame is a very good solution for several disparate needs:

1.  You want to provide web browsers at remote sites over low bandwidth (56
KB or less).  Citrix delivers near-LAN speeds, even at 28.8

2.  You have lots of older workstations that won't be replaced or you want
to purchase an "Internet PC/Internet Terminal".  WinFrame will run on 1 KB
RAM and on a 286 machine.  the client software control some screen display
and mouse action.  Everything else occurs on the WinFrame server.

3.  You want to provide dial-up Internet to varying workstation types and to
users who may or may not be avble to install software.  Ideal for a public
library environment.  Patrons only install the WinFrame client, which is
free and very easy to install.

4.  You want a consistent browser, with consistent readers and plug-ins,
without having to do constant remote installs, install downloads, or
reliance on the user to maintain browser upgrades and plug-ins.

5.  You need the class C security of an NT server for your web browser.
Citrix can serve quite well as a firewall.

You should have a server with at least a dual Pentium-Pro 200 MHz processor.
I believe each processor will host 15 concurrent users (and this is true NT
multithreaded concurrency).  The maximum to be supported on a single server
is 60 concurrent users, requiring 4 processors.  I would also recommend, if
this is a service that is mission-critical for your library that you use
server clustering software to use a second NT server as backup for the WinFrame.

I don't think WinFrame handles video or audio yet, and the full range of
colors is not supported, but download to floppy disk and print work very
well.  Citrix uses their own architecture, ICA (Intelligent Console
Architecture) to segregate what occurs on the "home" PC from the CPU load at
the server.

I recommend checking out the Citrix home page:  www.citrix.com

It's a really interesting application with lots of potential for multisite
library environments, heavy dial access use, and sites with a large legacy
base of older PCs.

Grace