Gakushuin Adopts CoreBoot^® in 1,700-Seat Student Computer System- Largest-scale network-booting thin client system in Japan -

NTT DATA Corporation (President and CEO: Toru Yamashita; Head office: Koto-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that the Gakushuin School Corporation (Chancellor: Yoshio Hatano; Head office: Toshima-ku, Tokyo) has adopted NTT DATA's network-booting thin client system CoreBoot^® as a computer management solution. The system went into operation on April 1, 2009 for student PCs. Accommodating approximately 1,700 terminals, it is Japan's largest-scale deployment to date of a network-booting thin client system.
NTT DATA intends to build on this success to make CoreBoot a major solution in large-scale thin client environments for educational facilities and schools like Gakushuin.

Background to the Adoption

Since the early 1990s, Gakushuin has provided Internet-connected PCs for use by students, separate from the environment used by faculty and staff. Student PCs connected to the Internet need regular maintenance such as for applying security patches. System administrators performed these updates by delivering software over the network, but their work load was compounded by occasional delivery failures and the need to perform recovery operations. Gakushuin planned the renovation of its student PC infrastructure including upgrading the network itself and implementing measures to prevent information leaks and other security problems, while reducing the time and costs of maintenance.

CoreBoot is a computer management solution in which the OS, applications and other program information are centrally stored in iSCSI storage connected to a LAN, and accessed as necessary by client terminals for use. When viewed as one kind of thin client approach, it can be classified as a network-booting thin client system.
Compared to the already well-established screen-transfer type, the advantages of network-booting thin client systems include ease of accommodating applications and maintaining high performance in individual terminals even when large numbers of users are connected. Network traffic tends to be fairly heavy, but Gakushuin also undertook to boost their network at the time of this system introduction. The school settled on CoreBoot for its applicability to large-scale environments and its wealth of administrative functions, among other advantages.

CoreBoot Features

CoreBoot was developed based on the knowledge and experience gained by NTT DATA in years of large-scale system design and operation. It is intended in particular for use as a computer management solution in large-scale environments. During fiscal 2008, performance and usability were tested with Windows Vista, in cooperation with the Gakushuin University Computer Center, and further optimization was carried out.
The main features of CoreBoot are as follows.

1. Efficient to operate and administer
   When program updates and security patches are applied to one client terminal using the Easy Maintenance feature, the updated environment is reflected in all client terminals. The Fast Backup Feature performs backups and restoration in an instant. These and many other operation and administration features greatly reduce system administration time.
2. Well suited to large-scale environments
   Essentially, client terminals access the CoreBoot server only at the time the client boots, after which clients run by directly accessing the iSCSI storage. As a result, even in an environment with a large number of client terminals, the adverse effect on processing performance is minimal and the number of servers can be kept small. In an environment with 1,700 client terminals like Gakushuin, for example, a system can be configured with just two CoreBoot servers.
3. Prevents information leaks
   The Easy Maintenance feature ensures OS updates and security patches are applied without fail to all client terminals. Where a higher level of security is demanded, it is also possible to physically remove hard disk drives from client terminals, preventing data leaks in case of client terminal loss or theft.
4. Outstanding usability
   Programs run using the CPU, memory and graphics card on the client terminal. Even processing-intensive software such as that involving multimedia can be run without strain.

CoreBoot System Structure

CoreBoot Operating Environment in Gakushuin

CoreBoot servers: 2 (excluding redundant configuration elements)
iSCSI storage: 8 units
Client terminals: approx. 1,700

* The system installation for CoreBoot introduction in Gakushuin was carried out by Net One Systems Co., Ltd.
* CoreBoot is based on STRAGEX developed by the NTT Information Sharing Platform Laboratories.

Future Plans

Taking advantage of the additional expertise gained from this project, NTT DATA plans to step up sales and marketing efforts aimed at CoreBoot adoption by educational facilities and other customers as a major solution in large-scale thin client environments.

Endorsement

On the occasion of this announcement, NTT DATA has received the following endorsement message from Net One Systems.

* CoreBoot^® is a registered trademark of NTT DATA Corporation.
* Other names of products, services, and companies herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.