Multi-Platform Diskless Workstation

• Main Author: Azizan, Ariffin
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English
• Published: 2001
• Subjects: QA76 Computer software
• Online Access: http://etd.uum.edu.my/258/1/Azizan_bin_Ariffin%2C_2001.pdf; http://etd.uum.edu.my/258/2/1.Azizan_bin_Ariffin%2C_2001.pdf; http://etd.uum.edu.my/258/

It is time consuming, costly and labor intensive to manage a large number of computers. Multi-platform diskless workstation is a computer that can run several operating systems and has low maintenance cost. Its configuration and operating systems are stored inside the server. The workstation is configured to run applications from the server. It has no hard disk and stored data inside the server. The workstation also has the ability to roam the Internet through router. In actuality, the workstation is a dumb terminal. Since all the management of the workstation is done on the server, the cost in maintaining the network is reduced. The workstation is booted from a pre-configured 1.44MB floppy disk. It requests for its configuration parameters from the server. The server will also assign IP address to the workstation. Once the workstation received all its parameters, it operates as normal computer with the exception that the software and data are accessed through the network from the server. All activities are done on the server and displayed on the workstation monitor. The benefit of using multi-platform diskless workstation is the centralized management of the network. Centralized management will enable software upgrades to be done quickly and smoothly. It would also deny the user from installing unauthorized software. The treat of virus attack can also be reduced. By being multi-platform, the user can gained access to different applications based on different operating systems. The management centric concept incorporated in multi-platform environment reduces the total cost of computer ownership significantly.