[NTLUG:Discuss] to sum it up...things have come full circle.

[WILLIAM PEARSON]

Hello,

I beleive the reason things went to a decentralized model is because users
increased but the processing power of machines didn't, or at least didn't
scale fast enough to beat the ratio curve of users to processing power. So
they naturally had to add more machines. Now that even a 1Ghz chip is
competitively priced and systems fly with tasks that would bog down a
machine just five years ago to a snails pace, things are going more
centralized. Graphics nowdays aren't that difficult to implement on a
workstation using a centralized model.

In the future, if tasks become unmanageable for a centralized model. Then
decentralization will start to occur. Computers really don't beat the wheel
of time. Decentralization will be the trend in the future, how far in the
future I'm not sure, especially with Micro$ofts .NET strategy.

William Pearson



Message: 6
From: "Richard Geoffrion" <richard at rain.lewisville.tx.us>
To: <discuss at ntlug.org>
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 09:35:56 -0500
Subject: [NTLUG:Discuss] to sum it up...things have come full circle.
Reply-To: discuss at ntlug.org

ok.. diskless workstations running off a central computer and all of this
in
a *nix environment.  We've some full circle. We went from the 'centralized'
main frame days to the distributed PC days and now we are rapidly heading
back towards those centralized days again. I can't say that I'm upset.
Things have gotten a bit out of hand.  It will be nice for network
administrators to be able to have back the control over the desktop.  Of
course there have been products out there to help manage the distributed
network, (like NetWare's Zenworks) but  I can see that products like
Windows
based Citrix/Term. Serv. and Linux based Netraverse (
http://www.netraverse.com/products/standard/features.php ) are bringing
everything back to the server.

I suppose I'm going to have to brush up on diskless workstations,
XWindows,
and Netraverse.  You know, if a cookie-cutter install of a Linux server all
pre-configured was made, then the hard drive could be replicated and VOILA!
A turnkey solution that leveridges the customers current hardware whatever
it may be.

Oh the endless possibilities. Now all I have to do is decide to move away
from Slackware and get into a distro that is updated more often.  It seems
I'm not up to upgrading my kernel AND all the module stuff AND the GCC
libraries...etc.  Slackware is just so slow to update.  *sigh* I did so
like
the BSD style init scripts.

Have I told you guys lately how educational this discussion group is for
me?
Thanks

-Richard

PS, as I spell check this message I added Linux to the dictionary.  Dang MS
and their failure to include THAT technical term.. Geesh!