2014 Fourth International Conference on Communication Systems and Network Technologies
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure in Higher Education Institution : Energy Efficiency as an application of Green Computing Shalabh Agarwal St. Xavier’s College [Autonomous], Kolkata, India,
[email protected]
Rana Biswas St. Xavier’s College [Autonomous], Kolkata, India,
[email protected]
facilities. Similarly in a Virtual Desktop environment, the user is connected to the server through thin clients or zero clients which utilise the computing capabilities of the server. However the user gets the full experience of personal computing as each user retains his or her own instance of desktop operating system and applications, but that stack runs in a virtual machine on a server -- which users can access through a thin client similar to a dumb terminal. A thin client is a client computer or client software in client-server architecture networks which depends primarily on the central server for processing activities, and mainly focuses on conveying input and output between the user and the remote server. In contrast, a thick or fat client does as much processing as possible and passes only data for communications and storage to the server. Besides being more secure and easier to deploy, manage, and maintain (than their PC counterparts) thin clients boast a longer life expectancy because they have no moving parts, small footprint on the desktop, lower power consumption, and server-centralized data storage. Desktop virtualisation is an implementation of thin client concept and is defined as a computing environment in which some or all components of the system, including operating system and applications, reside in a protected environment, isolated from the underlying hardware and software platforms. The virtualisation layer controls interactions between the virtual environment and the rest of the system. Essentially, servers host desktop environments specific to each user and stream applications and operating systems to the desktop. Desktop virtualisation separates software from the basic hardware that provides it, putting the focus on what is being delivered, making the user unaware and unconcerned about how it is being delivered or from where it is coming. Virtualisation separates the fundamental operating system, applications and data from an end user’s device and moves these components into the central server where they can be secured and centrally managed. This approach allows users to access their “virtual desktop” with a full personal computing experience across devices and locations. Desktop virtualisation takes the efficiencies offered through a centralized processing environment and merges it with the flexibility and ease of use found in a traditional PC. It is the concept of isolating a logical operating system instance from the client that is used to access it. There are several different conceptual models of desktop virtualization, which can broadly be divided into two categories based on whether or not the operating system instance is executed locally or
Abstract—With the incredible development in computer technology in recent times, the personal computers have become so powerful that most of the users are not using the entire capabilities of a computer for their regular work. Because of this one can utilise the excess capabilities in one computer and share it with many other users. The concept of desktop virtualisation implements this sharing of capabilities with the help of thin client machines which not only reduces the cost of infrastructure but also introduces green computing by limiting energy consumption and e-waste. A similar concept is implemented in St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata and is used extensively by the students. The present paper is an effort to establish the green benefits of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. Keywords- desktop virtualization; VDI; e-waste, green computing
I.
INTRODUCTION
Green is used in everyday language to refer to environmentally sustainable activities. Green computing encompasses policies, procedures, and personal computing practices associated with any use of information technology (IT). People employing sustainable or green computing practices make every effort to minimize greenhouse gases and waste, while increasing the cost effectiveness of IT, such as computers, local area networks and data centres. More directly it means using computers in ways that save the environment, save energy and save money. Today's PCs are so powerful that we no longer need one PC per person. We can utilise the excess capabilities in one PC and share it with many users. Desktop virtualisation thin client devices do just that and use just 1 to 5 watts, last for a more than 10 years, and generate very little e-waste. Not only is this a simple solution to a complex problem, it is also very efficient. Desktop virtualisation saves 75% on hardware, and since they draw very less power, we can reduce nearly 90% energy footprint per user. These devices produce practically no heat, reducing the need for air conditioning, which in turn saves power consumed by such cooling solutions. Such solutions can be implemented with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure which reduces the total cost ownership and also introduces Green Computing. II.
VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is similar to the mainframe concept of centralized computing where the users are connected to the mainframe computer through dumb terminals which do not have any computing or storage 978-1-4799-3070-8/14 $31.00 © 2014 IEEE DOI 10.1109/CSNT.2014.250
Asoke Nath St. Xavier’s College [Autonomous], Kolkata, India,
[email protected]
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remotely. It is important to note that not all forms of desktop virtualization involve the use of virtual machines which lead to more efficient use of computing resources, both in terms of energy consumption and cost effectiveness. Host-based forms of desktop virtualization require that users view and interact with their desktops over a network by using a remote display protocol. Because processing takes place in a server, client devices can be thin clients, zero clients, smartphones, and tablets. Client-based types of desktop virtualization require processing to occur on local hardware; the use of thin clients, zero clients, and mobile devices is not possible. In this paper, all the references to desktop virtualisation are related to host-based forms of desktop virtualisation where the client does not require any processor, memory or storage facilities. The solution can be implemented in a LAN as well as WAN environment. Whereas in the WAN scenario, the bandwidth and the speed becomes an important driving factor.
single image, not hundreds or thousands. It is also a simple matter to create multiple such images for different groups, each setup with the applications that users in that group need. D. Efficient to operate The efficiency of the virtualisation solution goes beyond getting more from the PC resources. The virtual desktop devices save space in the work area and save electricity by drawing substantially less power than a typical PC. E. Simple to deploy Every virtualisation software and hardware product is designed to be easy to set up, secure, and maintain by people with basic PC skills. The virtual desktops require no maintenance and do not contain sensitive components such as hard drives and fans. And with fewer PCs to manage, there will be fewer support issues. IV.
Green Computing refers to environmental friendly use of computers and related technologies. Green computing includes policies, procedures, and personal computing practices associated with any use of information technology so as to have minimum impact on the environment. The main goal of sustainable or green computing is to minimize energy consumption and e-waste, while increasing the cost effectiveness of IT infrastructure. More directly it means using computers in ways that save the environment, save energy and save money. Efforts to reduce the energy consumption associated with personal computers are often referred to as “green computing,” which is the practice of using computing resources efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive manner. “Green IT” refers to all IT solutions that save energy at various levels of use. These include (i) hardware, (ii) software and (iii)services. The focus is into two distinct areas. One is on the technology of green computing, which includes low-power / energyefficient hardware, software techniques to reduce power consumption. The other focus area is on the reduction of ewaste through dematerialisation and online deployment of various services and training. One of the best ways to reduce energy consumption is to consider use of thin client technology. This can be implemented through desktop virtualisation where one physical computer runs several workstations in the same way that several server instances can be run on one physical server box using virtualisation tools. This approach has been made possible by the increased power of modern computers. The computer hardware improvements in terms of faster processors and larger memory have enabled delivering a faster and richer experience to the user. The increased potential of modern PCs has provided an option to run many workstations from one computer base unit and save energy and cost. The average person uses less than 5% of the capacity of their PC. The rest is simply wasted. The Desktop Virtualisation solution is based on this simple fact that today’s PCs are so powerful that the vast majority of
Desktop virtualisation using N-Computing III.
GREEN BENEFITS OF VDI
GREEN BENEFITS OF VIRTUALISATION:
A. Affordable to all With virtualisation, the investment on PCs can be maximized by adding users for a small fraction of the cost. The client access devices are mostly thin or zero computing devices which are nearly 3 times cheaper than a PC. B. Compatible The implementation of desktop virtualisation supports multiple operating system platforms like Microsoft Windows and Linux. So the current applications can be used in the same environment without the need of any migration of technology. C. Easy to manage Once deployed, desktop virtualisation solutions centralize management and enable easy software updates and security and patch rollouts. They also improve security and provide users with options like self-help and desktop mobility. Desktop virtualization, creates a single “golden” image of the OS on a server and each user takes advantage of the same golden image. So, in effect, there is a need to manage only a
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applications only use a small fraction of the computer’s capacity. Virtualisation tap this unused capacity so that it can be simultaneously shared by multiple users—maximizing the PC utilisation. Each user’s monitor, keyboard, and mouse connect to the shared PC through a small and highly reliable virtualisation access device. These access devices use the concept of thin client or zero client. The zero client access device has no CPU, memory, or moving parts. Electricity consumption of a thin/zero client is less than 10% that of a PC. Hence virtualisation can reduce electricity consumption as well as cooling requirements, thus reducing both carbon emissions and cost. Virtualisation reduces carbon emissions and has a significantly smaller footprint, with some solutions using less than one twentieth of the materials required for a traditional PC, which results in far less e-waste filling landfills. The elimination of the physical desktop PC lessens the landfill issues as zero-clients contain no processor, memory or other moving elements like hard disks. Additionally, zero-client desktop virtualisation solutions can have a useful life more than twice the length of a traditional PC because they do not have an operating system, software or moving parts on the device which can fail or quickly become outdated or obsolete. Zero-clients can last for 8-10 years as opposed to 3-4 years of a conventional PC. Hence in case of Desktop virtualisation, e-waste reduction, as opposed to e-waste recycling, is definitely a grand step towards greener environment. PCs typically weigh about 10 kilograms and are disposed of in landfills after three to five years. Desktop virtualisation access devices weigh about 150 grams, and easily last eight years or more, for a 98%
reduction in electronic waste. So there’s less e-waste that will find its way to a landfill. V.
IMPLEMENTATION OF VDI TO SAVE POWER
In order to harvest the benefits of VDI, it is important to understand and estimate the capability of the required server with the number of connected clients. The VDI based computing solution is deployed in St. Xavier's College Kolkata (SXC) with the help of N-Computing solutions which provide hardware and software to create virtual desktops in order to enable multiple users to simultaneously share a single operating system instance. In SXC a server (Intel Xeon E3 - 1220v (Quad Core) 3.1 Ghz , 12 GB RAM / 500GB HDD) was connected to 20 numbers of zero-clinet devices (N-Computing - ModelL300) under Windows OS. Eventually, the power consumptions for the VDI solution with zero-client and Desktop PC environment (Core i3, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD) was compared to establish the fact that the energy consumption in case of desktop virtualisation is nearly 16% of a stand alone PC.
Sl.No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Table-1: Power Consumption Table Power Consumption Device Amperes Watts Server 0.205 45.10 N-Computing Client 0.023 05.06 Stand Alone PC 0.190 41.80 Monitor - 15" 0.102 22.44 Monitor - 18.5" 0.114 25.08
Table-2: Power consumption and power savings Comparison table of power consumption and savings. %age Comparison with power consumption of N Power consumption in watts Computing device w.r.t. a PC N Computing No of Server Device terminals total per terminal power consumed power saving 45.1 5.06 5 70.40 14.08 33.68 66.32 45.1 5.06 6 75.46 12.58 30.09 69.91 45.1 5.06 7 80.52 11.50 27.52 72.48 45.1 5.06 8 85.58 10.70 25.59 74.41 45.1 5.06 9 90.64 10.07 24.09 75.91 45.1 5.06 10 95.70 9.57 22.89 77.11 45.1 5.06 20 146.30 7.32 17.50 82.50 45.1 5.06 30 196.90 6.56 15.70 84.30 45.1 5.06 40 247.50 6.19 14.80 85.20 45.1 5.06 50 298.10 5.96 14.26 85.74 Power consumption of a PC 41.8 From the above table it can be understood that with 20 to 50 clients the power saving is nearly 85%. The server of this capacity can effortlessly support 50 terminals.
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VI.
VDI TO REDUCE E-WASTE
As discussed earlier, the thin client or Virtual Desktop devices have very little electronics parts and circuits compared to a desktop. The N-computing device consists very little electronic parts and chips compared to a desktop. It only has a System On Chip and a few capacitors, resistances and transistors. Since it does not have any storage devices, memory, processor etc, the e-waste generated by this device minimal compared to a standard PC. Moreover the life of such a device is projected to be at least 10 years. Hence it can be used for a much longer period of time. Since this device connects to the server and does not have any processor or memory, there is no need for any up gradation or disposal due to advancement in technology. All these features help to use the device for a longer period of time without any maintenance or up gradation and hence reduce the land fill and save the environment in turn.
From the above graph it is clear that the power consumption and the savings become more or less constant with 20 terminals and above.
Diagrammatic representation of VDI at SXC Power consumption measurement using Clamp Meter
Inside a N-computing device ACKNOWLEDGMENT We are very much grateful to UGC for the MRP which has enabled us to carry our the research. We are also obliged St. Xavier's College to give us opportunity to carry out our research. We are also grateful to our fellow professors and colleagues for their support and constant encouragement.
Consumption of a server: 0.205 amps
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Consumption of a N Computing Client: 0.023 amps
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