Desktop Cloud Application for Government and Enterprise

The core idea of a desktop cloud is to transfer the host, OS, applications, and all data from personal terminals to a data center. This makes it easy for desktop users to select an OS, office software, R&D software, and other applications—just like using a remote control. Desktop cloud is a brand-new concept that helps government and enterprises control their core internal information, reduce power, reduce TCO, and improve terminal management and maintenance.

ZTE's Desktop Cloud Solution

System architecture

ZTE has developed an end-to-end desktop cloud solution. Data processing and storage is concentrated at the data center, and terminals are turned into simpler cloud terminals. The data center assigns a virtual host to each terminal from a resource sharing pool. This enables the OS and application software to run in the data center while input and output operations are performed by the terminals. All user input into a terminal, such as mouse and keyboard operations, are synchronized with the server; and all output, such as screen refreshes, are synchronized with the terminal.

Cloud terminals can be thin clients, traditional PCs, smart mobile phones, or tablets. Virtual desktop session management involves scheduling the virtual desktop system and verifying user identity. Virtual resource scheduling involves dynamic scheduling and unified management of computing resource pool, storage resource pool, and network resource pool. Cloud infrastructure provides servers, storage, networks, and security devices.

      Figure 1. Architecture of ZTE's desktop cloud.

Features

ZTE's end-to-end desktop cloud solution has the following features:

• Separation of data and terminals so that sensitive information is secure: Terminals are separated from sensitive information. Desktops and data are centrally stored and processed in the background. Only screen refreshes are transmitted, without any data loss or breaches of confidence. Remote access is also authorized.
• Energy efficiency to reduce TCO: Thin terminals are quiet and consume less power. They are a solution to the problems of noise and high temperature in confined office environments and also reduce electricity costs. Thin clients and desktop operating systems do not need to be maintained. This simplifies O&M and reduces OPEX.
• Flexible access to mobile office: Data and desktops are stored and operated at the data center so that users can access mobile office anywhere and at any time. Users can gain flexible remote access using their terminals without interrupting running applications.
• Unified O&M to enable resource sharing: Managing thousands of thin terminals is easy with the unified management platform. The data center uses virtualization technology to integrate all computing, storage, and network resources into a shared resource pool for simple and unified management, maintenance and technical support. This reduces management, purchasing, electricity and air conditioning costs.

Application Models

ZTE's desktop cloud can be applied in government, large and medium enterprises, finance, education, and medical care. Application models can be designed for R&D departments and other offices that require high information security, public service halls and counters, integrated call centers, and mobile offices.

       Figure 2. Application scenarios for ZTE's desktop cloud.

ZTE's desktop cloud is widely used in government and enterprise. 60% of the employees of a particular design institute are designers. These employees use AutoCAD for graphic design and have specialized workstations. 40% are office workers who use regular PCs. Graphic designs are stored in personal terminals, so there is a hidden risk of information being disclosed without authorization. A graphic workstation is also very expensive to purchase and operate.

ZTE's desktop cloud solution can address these problems. Graphic workstations are centrally located in a data center, and thin clients are used as PC terminals. The server provides workstations for the graphic designers and virtual hosts for the office workers. Core design information is kept in the data center and expensive graphic workstations are shared by users. Desktops for graphic workstations and office computers are also managed in a unified manner. This improves O&M.