Open source solution vendor Cybersource has launched a new range of diskless Linux PCs which the company claims is the answer to the security and administration issues bugging nearly every desktop user in the business environment.

Cybersource says its Linux-based TrimClient desktop product line will be especially useful in locked-down and higher security environments, such as computer labs in schools & colleges, help-desk and call-centres, prison environments and various line-of-business corporate and government arenas.

"Basically, the TrimClient solution has all the advantages of thin-clients and none of the disadvantages," claims Cybersource's product manager, Ron Fabre.

The TrimClient solution is a combination of workstation PCs and a system image server. The system server provides the TrimClient desktop PCs with their system and application software images. The TrimClient workstations run most applications locally, but load those applications off the System Server.

"Unlike thin-clients, which require expensive servers and which slow your network with screen refreshes, TrimClients run their applications locally on industry-standard disk-less PCs. Like thin-clients, TrimClients are a Zero Administration Solution - users cannot play around with any of the system or application software configurations. Likewise, TrimClients can't be infected by viruses, spyware or other forms of malware," says Fabre.

"While there are cost advantages to the TrimClient technology, saving 50-80% on a fat-client or thin-client solution, the major gain is in reduced maintenance and increased security. Such attributes explain the very real interest we've had from schools and prison facilities. At present, we're in discussions with several state correctional agencies and 30 independent
schools, all looking to roll-out perhaps several thousand such Linux desktops."

Diskless PCs sounds like a reasonable proposition and is not a new concept. The question that springs to mind, however, is what happens when the server goes down?