NEC Launches Virtual Desktop Thin Client System

NEC Corporation announced the launch of sales activities for its Virtual PC Center 4.0 (VPCC 4.0), an enhanced version of the company’s existing Virtual Desktop thin-client system, began on June 30, 2011.

The VPCC 4.0 enables a variety of terminals to access its Virtual
Desktop through web browsers (Supports Internet Explorer7 and Internet
Explorer8) without installing special connection modules. It also
features optimized architecture and operations, including a ‘Session
Management Function’ (Connection Broker) that strengthens transmissions
between virtual desktops and terminals, as well as improved
user-friendliness.

Furthermore, the VPCC 4.0 features a newly-developed linking function
through the XenDesktop from Citrix, and enables virtual desktops to be
accessed using either the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Image
transmission protocol from Microsoft) or ICA (Independent Computing
Architecture (ICA) Image transmission protocol from Citrix) connection
protocol. As a result, users may select the protocol that is suitable to
their working environment.

Features of the Virtual PC Center 4.0 include:

• Access expanded to a wider variety of terminals: A ‘Session
  Management Function’ enables users to access a virtual desktop through a
  web browser, even when using terminals that aren’t internally equipped
  with specialized connection modules. Therefore, the VPCC 4.0 system
  expands the selection of terminals that can access a virtual desktop,
  including NEC’s Android based Cloud Communicators, and supports a
  variety of market needs, including the demands of telecommuting.
• Strengthened transmissions between virtual desktops and terminals:
  Supports both the RDP and ICA connection protocols for accessing
  virtual desktops. As a result, users can switch between an RDP
  connection when using the high-speed network of an office or an ICA
  connection when visiting off-site facilities. Existing users of VPCC may
  also utilize this function (Scheduled to be available in August 2011).
• Functions for efficient use of storage disk capacity:
  Strengthening of the ‘Differential.Clone Function’ (The
  Differential.Clone function deletes the necessary disk capacity for
  virtual PCs that are managed by the Master Image and Differential Data
  by only maintaining the capacity for differential data of individual
  virtual PCs in a storage environment) which shares the overlapping
  portions of the OS used on virtual desktops and application disk images
  and deletes data by determining the priority for differential data to be
  deleted based on the volume of differential data and production period.
  This improves overall system performance by making efficient use of
  storage disk capacity and reducing data volume.
• Functions that facilitate system construction:
  Implementation of functions that control virtual networks defined on
  virtualization platforms, including VMware and others, which eliminates
  the need for recognizing the relationships between each virtual desktop
  and a virtual network during the time of system construction and
  relieves the burden of system architects.

In recent years, greater attention has been drawn to the need for
business continuity and disaster prevention measures which capitalize on
thin client systems that provide access to desktop environments
regardless of the location. These latest developments respond to this
need by enabling users to continue working from remote locations,
including their homes and distant offices, when they are unable to reach
their usual workplace.

Looking forward, NEC aims to continue leveraging its VPCC thin client
systems, both domestically and abroad, as part of strengthening ‘Client
Integration Solutions,’ business continuity plans, security measures and
reducing TCO.