Intel Community: IT@Intel Client Blog

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Software On-Demand Case Study

Posted by Catherine Spence Feb 26, 2008

A Proof-of-Concept (POC) conducted by Intel IT evaluated OS and application streaming in call center and manufacturing environments. The four-part study included performance, usability, IT support and cost. The POC successfully identified streaming as a novel, feasible technology in the tested scenarios. The biggest benefits were related to locking down the client, improving security and eliminating service calls. Challenges were encountered related to the learning curve and software maturity of application packaging and troubleshooting.

A technical brief is available for downloading:

Software On Demand: OS/Application Streaming Client Study

0 Comments 11 References Permalink Tags: alternate_compute_models, client, saas, software_delivery_models, streaming, streaming_computing

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Could Streaming Apps run faster than traditionally installed?

Posted by Catherine Spence Feb 14, 2008

It seems counter-intuitive to think that applications streamed over the network could run faster than the same applications installed locally. If the circumstances are right, it could happen!

Here is a Systems Manufacturing example. We ran a series of key tasks across a variety of configurations to collect performance metrics. Our script opened a work order in our ERP system, created packaging labels using a bar code generation program, looked up label part numbers for our product bill of materials and ran work order activity reports in three custom web-based applications.

Our baseline was a Pentium 4 desktop system (3.0 GHz). Our trial system was a Celeron 215 desktop system (1.33 GHz). Both had 1 GB RAM. The baseline system had applications installed locally on its hard drive. Applications and the OS were delivered to the trial system via streaming. Throughput time of our script on baseline system was 6 minutes 15 seconds. The same script executed on the trial system for 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Two things come to mind to explain the difference. First, our script contained a good mix of local and remote processing to maximize our trial processor. Second, the nature of the computing model provides explanation. Applications are broken up into execution blocks so we only need to load and execute the portion of the application that we need. Further, since virtualization was used in conjunction with the application streaming, the virtual software layer makes things like registry settings easier and faster to access.

1 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: alternate_compute_models, client, saas, software_delivery_models, streaming, virtualization, streaming_computing

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Compute Models and Enterprise Streaming

Posted by Catherine Spence Jan 29, 2008

One of the emerging compute models is enterprise streaming. With streaming applications and/or operating systems are downloaded to clients for temporary local execution. End-users access software on-demand.

Intel IT has been evaluating streaming as a way to boost productivity and lower costs. Streaming can streamline IT operations by consolidating backend infrastructure, while preserving user experience.

Listen to the podcast for a brief introduction to the work taking place in Intel IT.

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: alternate_compute_models, client, saas, software_delivery_models, streaming, streaming_computing

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Streaming Impact on the Server and Network

Posted by Catherine Spence Jan 25, 2008

Several Intel IT folks (and others!) have expressed concern over the back-end implications of hosting a streamed computing solution. How many clients can be supported by a server? How will streaming affect the network? Well, we had the same questions so we constructed a lab experiment to find out.

Streaming was more efficient than we expected. We demonstrated that server utilization remained low and network utilization improved over time. We successfully executed a variety of applications including audio and video. We also encountered a few challenges.

Want to know more? Read our full report: Streaming and Virtual Hosted Desktop Study