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10 th Nov 2017 Our Story VDI Overview A change in ICT infrastructure in Irish education. From idea to implementation Darren Platts, B.Sc. Trevor Collins, B.A., H.D.E., M.Ed.
10th Nov 2017
Our Story
VDI Overview
A change in ICT infrastructure in Irish education.
From idea to implementation
Darren Platts, B.Sc.
Trevor Collins, B.A., H.D.E., M.Ed.
• What this talk is about:
• Who we are
• Why we are here
• Our Journey…..
• Thank you to the organisers of the 2017 HEAnet conference.
•Welcome.
• 1. Advantages of using VDI.
• 2. Recap of traditional computer model.
• 3. Review of key components of any ICT system: ROM, RAM and Software.
• 4. Problems associated with the traditional computer model.
• 5. Cost comparison – Old v New systems.
• 6. Changing the mind-set…… Improving ‘background’ infrastructure.
• 7. Overview of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
• 8. The future ….. dependent on key stakeholders in Irish education.
• 9. Q & A.
Telling our story – An Interesting journey.
Agenda:
• Developing an IT infrastructure on which a world-class ICT
education system can be based.
•Our peer-reviewed system……
Mr Bob Savage, VP & GM of DELL EMC,Lord David PuttnamICS-Skills,VMware CESI,COMPASS,Cork Teachmeet,IT@Cork – Excellence in Education,National DMA Awards.JMB ICT Advisory group
Endorsed by:
• Researched, designed, implement and run an award winning school Virtual Desktop
Infrastructure.
• Created a broad ICT curriculum to develop an interest by students in programming,
virtualisation and computer applications. (JCCIA school)
• Developed links with Google(Pilot School) and the European Schoolnet Academy.
• Currently:
• Run the Bandon CoderDojo (Kids computer club)
• www.dotie.ie : Have sourced, refurbished and helped to allocate over 300 PC’s to 14
different primary schools in the West Cork area for free. (Donations accepted!)
• Goal:
• Maintain a world-class ICT system to enhance the teaching and learning experience.
Become an ICT school of excellence. Improve ICT infrastructure in Irish education.
• Staff of BGS have: (In conjunction with huge help from Mr Gordon O’Reilly from VMware)
•To date:
• Bandon Grammar School
•Our background:
2 secondary school teachers
Strong interest in ICT in education
Won awards at local and national level
Presented VDI at various conferences
Feel VDI is a perfect fit for education
Bandon Grammar School.
Worked with various ICT providers over a
number of years.
We now use Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
(VDI) solution to provide computing in the
school
HEAnet asked us to share some of our experiences of this
system with other education & training providers.
In this presentation we’d like to:
• Explain the context for this solution
• Introduce VDI
• Outline advantages of VDI• Future developments
Context for solution:BGS: a co-ed voluntary secondary school; 615 students,
45 teachersSchool has recently expanded • 440 – 615 students (Now 670)
• New building erected (2012)
• Desire for 4 computer rooms
• Expansion of ECDL delivery to
students
• ICT to support teaching & learning
Essentially presented with a green field site and a challenge to find and
implement a suitable ICT infrastructure for the school
First examined a traditional model of computing deployment
•Traditional typical classroom:
• C. 25 PC’s in a
dedicated room:
–Networked PCs in specialist rooms & classrooms
–Shared storage
–Servers for authentication, file server etc.
•Each computer needs:
• ROM, RAM and Software / Applications.
•Key Problems: 5 Areas:
• 1. Costs:
• Expensive cost of new PC’s
• Fast depreciating
• Expensive to maintain
• Power usage is high
• Some schools can afford the fastest, newest and best ….others can’t!
• 2. Redundancy:
• Huge amount of time not used between 9.00am and 4.00pm
• Not used after 4.00pm or weekends or holidays.
• Must be physically in the room to use the software on the PC.
• Each computer has virtually a replica hard drive!
• 3. Management problems- Difficultly in accessing 120 PCs
- Maintaining/installing applications
- Maintenance
- Life cycle of PCs
• 4. Usage difficulties- In order to access specific applications, user has to be present at machine
- Unless uniform installation of operating system & applications, end user may have difficulties
- Uniform provision is essential for training e.g. ECDL
• 5. Adaptability- Can we deploy new software quickly?
- How is this compatible with BYOD or 1:1 initiatives?
- Can we customise the infrastructure to serve needs of staff and students
•Need to find solutions to these problems:
• Teacher /
Lecturer
• Which apps?
• How to
access?
• ICT Manager
• How to manage.
• Ease of updating.
• Level of use.
• Adaptability.
• BOM / Finance
• Infrastructure Costs
• Depreciation.
• Maintenance costs
• Staff training
Our Solution:
Because of these issues we decided to look for
alternative ways of deploying computing.
We instead installed a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
solution utilising VMware software, running on Dell
servers and incorporating a EMC SAN.
This is the first such installation in an Irish secondary
school
•How it works: (Simplified)
Server
PC Laptop Tablet Smartphone
VMWare System
Different pools of accounts for schools & users
•‘Front of house’ v ‘Back of house’ infrastructure.
Username,
password &
a smart device.
********************
What users
see
********************
The real
mechanics
behind the
system.
Golden Image
Pool
Software & Apps
Server, RAM & ROM
Data storage
Backup
Administration
Updates
Security
Cloud Computing (VDI)
Virtualising– abstraction of computing from the
underlying hardware/software
App
OS
HardwareDrivers
App
OS
Hardware
Hypervisor
Hardware
Hypervisor
A
p
p
O
S
A
p
p
O
S
A
p
p
O
S
A
p
p
O
S
Common with servers, but can be done with desktops too
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Cloud Computing (VDI)
Install desktops on a centralised
server
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
1. Golden Image – from which
is created a pool of desktops
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
1. Golden Image – from which
is created a pool of desktops
2. Method to connect to the
desktops
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
1. Golden Image – from which
is created a pool of desktops
2. Method to connect to the
desktops
3. Software to broker the
connections (Client)
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
• All desktops are stored centrally
• Created from a single image
• Users connect from any device
• All users get identical desktops
• After use, the desktop is refreshed
to its original state ready for next
user
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Easy to manage?• Staff centrally manage all desktops
• Desktops of any specifications can be formed
• To maintain all desktops in a pool only the golden image needs to be updated
• Software can be added and rolled out to all desktops in minutes
• Easy to make specific pool of desktops for each type of users
• Users cannot introduce viruses or malware as the desktop is refreshed after logoff
• With the introduction of thin clients management is further reduced
Cloud Computing (VDI)Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Each time a user logs on they get the new refreshed desktop from
the pool.
Different pools of desktops can be created from different groups
of users, e.g. staff, student, ECDL, young scientist etc.
Persona management: However in addition to the desktop from a pool, users get their
own Persona profile.
This is configurable to contain application data, theme settings,
documents, browsing history etc.
Staff & Students desktops are customised with Persona
•New way of thinking:
1. Use the same ROM, RAM and Software as before …. but now they’re
located on a server.
2. The server can be located on-site in the school or a cloud based
server.
3. Users log in from any type of device.
4. The server does the processing …. not the device being used.
5. All updates to ROM, RAM and Software can now be done centrally.
6. Huge savings in costs, time and manpower
7. The management of accounts can be done off-site.
8. In comparison to the best practices in Europe, VDI does all that is
recommended and more.
•VMWare / VDI / Server: An overview!1. The VMWare system allows us to create a ‘virtual’ computer. (Base
image)
2. We then clone this ‘virtual’ computer and create ‘pools’ of virtual machines for different class groups / years.
3. You can now provide different resources (programs) for different groups of students.
4. Every student has a user name, a password to enable them to log-on with any device from any location, (PC / Laptop / Tablet or Smartphone)
5. The key programs are uploaded onto the base image and when students access their account, they can use various programs. The software is managed centrally.
6. The work created can be stored on a school server or if the school internet line is fast, they can store it off site. (Cloud computing)
•Key elements to focus on:
1. The school’s VDI solution consists of centralised desktops, accessible from ANY device inside or outside the school
2. Administration is significantly easier than in a ‘traditional’ deployment. (Done centrally)
3. Old PCs can be recycled to act as a unit to access the virtual desktops. (Barely using the computing power of the PC’s)
4. Very compatible with BYOD
5. VDI is a viable alternative for ALL primary, secondary and third level education institutions.
6. IaaS will be a feature of computing in schools in the future
7. The VMware VDI solution has proven very successful in this school. (More users, more devices, more data at a higher speed)
•What does this mean for education in Ireland?
1. Huge savings.
2. Level playing field for ALL schools – Equality of access for ALL.
3. ‘Green’ ICT system ….. can now use second-hand PC’s donated from companies.
4. Uses less power than traditional systems. (€ Savings)
5. All software can now be accessed from anywhere with internet access.
6. Whole system can be monitored by the Dept. of Ed.
7. Other: Accountability / Cannot get a virus / Future-proof / Adaptable.
•Cost-Benefit Analysis:• Example: State ICT grant of €11,000 =
• What do you get?
• Key questions: (Who / What / Why / When / Where / How and How many?
1. Cost
2. Maintenance
3. Durability
4. Longevity
5. Updating
6. Future proof
7. Cost-effective
8. Energy use
Obstacle: Getting value for money:
What can we do with €11,000? (Typical ICT grant)• Increased server space
• Use the software we have
• Support from Dell EMC and VMware
• Total number of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure units: 105 units.
• We use a ratio of 5:1, if we used a 10:1 ratio, we could create enough VDI machines for 2 more secondary schools in Bandon!
•Key management problems:
1. Fear of the unknown / Conservative
2. Small ICT budget
3. New PC’s, tablets and iPads ‘look’ good.
4. Boards of management want to see ‘front of house’ infrastructure.
5. Traditional IT systems operate from a ‘top-down’ structure.
6. Lack of knowledge by staff on ICT issues. Inexperienced / unskilled
people making the decisions on how to use an ICT budget.
7. No time or budget for staff ICT training
8. Cost-benefit of implementing a proper system
•BGS specific on-line system:
•For the future: Our dream!1. Develop a world-class ICT education
infrastructure system for Ireland.
2. Developing BGS as an ICT school of excellence showcasing the newest and most innovative trends in technology in education.
3. Dept. of Education & Skills to commit to a cost-benefit analysis of the system with a view to it becoming the national standard for ICT in education.
4. Encourage large companies to donate old PC’s / ICT equipment to schools through various incentives.
•Finally:
• Questions and Answers Session:
