Is My sCool Server serving thin-client computing?

Isn't this the same old thin-client technology?

Short answer – No. For more details read on.

The solution is predominantly “fat-client” technology. The difference lies in where the computation is done. Unlike thin-client, wherein the computation happens only on the server side, in fat-client all the computation happens on the client side itself. It utilizes local CPU and memory/RAM to execute all instructions given by the user.  

In common parlance, “fat-client” refers to the normal desktop or stand-alone systems that we are used to. However, the fat-clients that work with the MSS are without hard-disks, as the booting and storage are both accomplished centrally from and on the server respectively.

There are many advantages when compared to the thin-client technology but the major advantages are that of scale and stability. It is very easy to scale a fat-client infrastructure as no changes are needed on the server side and a new user station can simply be added by connecting a computing device of a minimum specification (2 GB RAM, Dual core / current generation Celeron CPU, PXE boot capable LAN port) to the MSS over the network. On the stability and performance side, thin-clients used to be plagued with the problem wherein a runaway process of a single user used to cripple the server and hence hanging sessions of all users logged into the server. Such ills are completely done away with in the fat-client world.

The MSS can also support thin-clients but it is not recommended as that shall bring in all the shortcomings of the thin-client technology with it. Hence, we have disabled the same on the default MSS that is shipped.


Experience fat-client technology with the My sCool Server

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