Feasibility Report for VCS /
Siddharth
Biren
James
Paramjit
Nauman
Ahmad
Mithil
7/20/2009 /
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Objectives
To improve connectivity & way of communications:
To secure connectivity:
To reduce the cost of communication:
Need and Benefits
Academic Institutions
Case Study: Wayne State University
Business
Relevance in the United States
Integration With Current System
Future Operation and Maintenance
Alternatives7
Remote Control (VNC):
VPN:
Terminal Services:
World Wide Web (WWW):
Application Service Providers:
SQL Databases:
Replication:
The Feasible Option:
Conclusion
Works Cited
Executive Summary
This feasibility report is regarding the implementation of project “Virtual Computer.” The idea of virtual computer is to allow employees of any group or company to be able to access a virtual computer from anywhere in the world from any computer that has internet access. Mostly, the computer devices used will be net books which cost very little and do not require many hardware or software components. Moreover, a user can also access his virtual computer from a smart phone or other similar devices.
This project will have two key components. First is a front end which could be a net-book, a smart phone or any computer in the world that has an internet connection. The second component will be the server which will have multiple virtual machine softwares on it, and will remotely allow a specified user to log into that virtual computer via the internet.
The main idea behind the virtual computer is similar to the concept of Remote desktop sharing. Our company will have one or more (depending on the number of users) servers dedicated to serving as virtual computers to many users at the same time. The hardware and software used will be completely of the main server, hence the software or hardware specifications of the net book will not make a difference. A net book will receive a picture of the desktop of the main computer through the internet and will provide two output signals to the main server which will be mouse and keyboard controls. This technology requires a browser and uses active X control features of the browser to transmit keyboard and mouse control signals to the main server.
The advantage of using a virtual computer is that the user does not need any software installed on the actual computer which he or she is using, and can still access all the available softwares that are installed on the main server. The net-book on the user end does not need to have any great piece of hardware and can even work without any physical hard-drive installed in it. The data will always be stored on the main server and will never go outside, contrary to the laptops in which employees carry all the critical data with them where ever they go. It also allows a central point for the company technician to carry out maintenance and problem solving work. The main server will have a stronger firewall hence data will be more secured. The main server will be backed up onto other backup hard drives every day, hence providing better data security options. The user will never have to update or install software as it will be managed on and by the main centralized server.
The biggest advantage will be that the cost of the whole Virtual Centralized Sharing system will be much less as compared to the cost of laptops and upgrading and maintenance of number laptops which will be replaced by virtual computers. A laptop hard drive costs twice the price of a desktop or server hard-drive, and similarly other hardware components of laptops are much more costly than fixed computers.
Introduction
VNC or “Virtual Network Connection” and VPN “Virtual Private Network,” are nothing new to the scope of modern internet and computer technology. With VPN, the user may access files and printer assignments from a specific desktop with the use of their laptop. With the use of VNC, the user may access files and printer assignments in addition to doing real work on their desktop computer from a remote location. The breakthrough technology currently under research and development has been dubbed “VCS,” or “Virtual Centralized Sharing.” VCS makes use of several centralized computers which store purchased memory space, computer settings, software, files, and data which belong to the user. As one might notice, VCS is a close cousin to VPN and VNC. Since these are both current and successfully growing technologies, VCS creates optimism in the area of concern on the feasibility of large scale implementation. Every customer wants a computer application that will increase their efficiency, without compromising security or budget, and with VCS these goals seem within grasp since it is not a far different concept than VPN or VNC.
VCS is most closely related to VNC, but since all storage and operation is centralized, no updates of software or hardware are required, there is automatic data backup, implementation in an academic institution or a large business is possible, and along with an easy setup, VCS has a very low maintenance. As mentioned before, all customers want increased efficiency as well as security with a low price, therefore a necessary study by means of a feasibility report is now under way. Cost analyses must be done in order to determine if the money and time (which also can be analyzed in terms of money) saved with VCS is “worth” the investment of the purchase of space on a centralized computer. Net monetary savings of any sort will for the purpose of this study count as being “worth” the investment of using VCS as opposed to its alternatives, VPN and VNC. Difficulty will be measured in relative terms to other computer systems including VPN and VNC.
Objectives-
Our main objective is to help academic institutions and businesses access their resources in a cheaper and more cost effective manner. A complete easy to use technology would help increase the productivity without adding any unnecessary expenses. Our primary objectives include:
To improve connectivity & way of communications:
As long as an internet connection exists the user will be able to stay connect with the main server or computer. The user will be able to perform all the tasks as if he/she was physically present at the main location were the main hard desk or server is located. It happens through a secure tunnel of data exchange between authorized users and host. This comes in handy to monitor several places at once in case of multi location business owners.
To secure connectivity:
Being able to access all necessary information remotely can do more harm than good if the information shared is not secured from any unauthorized party. Any business or company can hold a large amount of private information that accessing them remotely can put their success in jeopardy. Fortunately, this problem can be overcome by adding some of the best security features into the main servers. Firewalls and state of the art viruses, Trojans and worms protection is added to the system. Maintenance and system updates will ensure the system will run under 24 hours security surveillance giving an ease of mind.
To reduce the cost of communication:
As mentioned before, using the VNC technology will help users to stay connect without the need for expensive traditional desk tops or laptops. Smart phones and other internet access capable devices can do the job as well. This can cut the costs and ease the mobility of the users. Better communication and sharing of resources(software, hardware and manpower) both on the customer and provider end of VCS will mean big cost savings for both sides.
Need and Benefits
Currently corporations and academic institutions use traditional computational sources (desktop computers and laptops) to satisfy their data and computation needs. However, switching to VCS can spell great savings for the organizations and can also solve some remote data needs that are desired by the users.
Academic Institutions
Academic institutions are the backbone of any nation. Author Eric Hanushek laments in his book titled “Schoolhouses, Courthouses, and Statehouses: Solving the Funding-Achievement Puzzle in America's Public Schools2,” that the US is spending more per student in public schools than almost any other country. Some amount of that cost is dedicated to the technology (i.e. computers, internet etc.) that has to constantly implemented and updated in the public school system. Lack of funding often causes disparities between inner city public schools and the schools that are in wealth locations. VCS allows for an opportunity to wash away this disparity between schools by allowing much cheaper technology updating and maintenance costs and providing a transparent measure of the resources available to all public schools. This measure of resources available to all public institutions can be very easily compiled as it will be all present on the same system.
There has also been increased spending by president Obama in colleges3and the use of this funding can be maximized by applying it to resources other than technology updates in the classroom. With the suggested VCS system colleges can shed their technology costs by reducing their in house IT department and also reducing the cost of updating and maintenance. Therefore, implementation of VCS in schools and colleges is both timely and relevant.
Case Study: Wayne State University
Currently, Wayne State charges each of their students $23.70 per credit hour for an “omnibus fee.4” This fee is primarily to “maintain, upgrade and replace student computing and technology resources on campus.5” As it is clear by the cost analysis (see COST) switching to a VCS computing system will save both money and space for the university. VCS implementation can also spell huge cost savings for the students.
Implementing of VCS on campus would have a twofold beneficial effect for the students. Firstly, students can share in the savings of Wayne state university as the maintenance, upkeep and replacement costs will plunge. Thus the omnibus fee could be lowered for the students as not as much funding would be need by the university.
Secondly, the college can sell or have students buy Netbooks which start around $2396 (less than the average cost of one semester`s omnibus fee for the student!). This would allow the students to access Wayne State Research and resources from any remote location with internet. This can be very helpful for many students that live off campus and in research, as it would allow access to all of the research resources (online journal subscriptions, books etc.). Students with specific software needs, who often have to spend hours in computer labs, will be able to access the software from wherever they are.
Currently Wayne State provides their students access to general software such as a Microsoft Office Suite on its own computers and allows them to purchase the software with a slight discount for their use on their personal computer. Students will save money not having to buy this software as Wayne State has already paid a subscription fee to Microsoft for all of its students and thus the students will have better access to the resources that the university has already purchased for its students.
Business
Increasingly, businesses are outsourcing critical processes required to deliver their final product or service. This requires them their suppliers to access resources that the business has remotely. VCS fits in perfectly with such suppliers because it allows data sharing from the customer to the supplier easily and from wherever the supplier is located. Often the supplier has to send an in house team to the customer until the project is done, so that all aspects of the project can be monitored. However, with this system, the supplier can save money and pass on those savings to the customer.
Relevance in the United States
The people involved in this project are computer programmers, network analysts, student in Computer Science/Programming majors and small businesses who are looking for an alternative to take care of their business from a remote location. We are planning to broaden our perspective and widen our range from small businesses to Educational institutions and big companies.
This is a private project with minimal government involvement. The institutions involved in this project are the business owners, the leased or owned network lines, and the programming and security group working on the software. The only government involvement in this project will be to check if the software meets their basic requirements. The software can be molded to fit the business owner’s needs.
The resources need for this project are readily available and not that expensive. The only major expense for this project will be the network lines/servers.
Detroit has a rough winter and business owners who own more than one business can’t take care of all of the businesses. This project will help business owners a lot because it cuts the commuting time to a minimum. They can access all of their businesses without facing the harsh winter snowstorms.
Although United States is not the top country in providing internet access to all its citizens it is a generally agreed fact that it has enormous internet and communication capabilities especially in its metropolitan cities and surrounding area. Internet access is a key element as to how this new technology system will work and that key resource is already available in most academic institutions in the US. As of 2003, nearly 100% of the public schools and colleges in USA had internet access and offered it to their students according to a study conducted by the US department of education1. Since, essentially on the user’s end there is no requirement besides access to the internet, implementing the VCS system in the mainstream academic institutions such as universities, community colleges and even public schools will not require any substantial amount of investment. The businesses that are also targeted as a part of this feasibility report also already have internet capabilities, as the internet has become a way of life for businesses in the last decade.
Integration With Current System
Integration of VCS into the current system would be seamless as the technology suggested to use for the project is already present and is currently being successfully used with many business applications. The suggested technology that would be required for this project are Netbooks, the internet, and a main server with computing power. These pieces of technology are easily available in most developed nation. With the advent of 3G data networks all over the developed nations, access to all business and academic resources can be accessed from anywhere remotely.
Future Operation and Maintenance
At first glance, this project may seem as a blow to the information technology industry as jobs for maintenance and repair would be reduced. However, the providers of VCS would have an IT staff for maintenance and repair of the centralized computer server. The software needed, and customer support would also require IT individual. The cost savings for the customer would come from the fact that the IT resources could be centrally shared and thus will be available cheaper.
Companies that currently deal with data management and mobile phone providers are most likely to be the bigger players in providing VCS because they already have the infrastructure and resources available to implement VCS without much reconfiguration of their current systems. Integration of high speed internet providers (AT&T, Sprint and Cogeco) and data management firms (Cisco, IBM etc.) would be imperative for a successful VCS system. Since most of these firms already have links to data management companies, integration of a new product would not be difficult.
Alternatives7
The number of remote workers is increasing day by day as many companies enter the international market. Employees working for such companies not only need access to critical data but also to applications when they are on move. Staffs away from the home office need access to data from other multiple sites. Remote workers face challenges and are in need of technology that would help them to stay connected with the staff and organization while on the move. Many questions asked in regards of remote access is how would it be possible to access critical information and applications from remote computers? What types of users need access? What kind of access do they really need? What kind of connectivity is available?
There are wide ranges of solutions available in market that could meet the business requirements. Depending on business requirements and evaluation, technologists comes up with the possible solutions and helps the business group to make an ideal decision. The issues that come up with the remote access are bandwidth, cost and security.