Startforce Extends Life and Manageability of Outdated Computers for Education & SMB Markets with Cost-Effective Web-based Virtual Desktop Solution

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Startforce, Inc., a leading global provider of Web Desktop services used by businesses of all sizes, today announced the release of Startforce Server 2010 Private Cloud Edition to address the requirements of the small business and education markets that serve approximately 1,000 users. Startforce Web Desktop will be demonstrated at the CEPTA (California Educational Technology Professionals Association) conference in Monterey, CA (booth #1106).

Today's schools and small-to-medium businesses have a common dilemma about what to do with the increasing number of slow, outdated, virus-plagued computers that outfit their facilities. The combination of disparate brands and operating systems that cannot perform effectively with streaming media or other Internet applications, plus shrinking budgets, has forced schools and organizations to spend countless frustrating hours repairing and troubleshooting software problems in these old computers.  

Increased Manageability and Security, Lower TCO with Startforce:

The Startforce Web Desktop, a robust desktop environment that users can easily, securely and instantly access from any computer with any web browser, combines a familiar user interface with a full desktop experience within a web browser. Outdated or virus infected computers could be quickly revitalized by booting Linux OS directly from a local CD-ROM or network server to seamlessly launch Startforce Web-based Desktop. Using Linux on the server, as well as on outdated computers, creates a more secure environment from virus infection attacks. This procedure automatically bypasses any software or virus problems, removing the prior need to totally discard old computers.

The Startforce Server 2010 Private Cloud Edition Web-based Desktop Virtualization solution can be installed within a school or organization in less than one hour, requires less server, storage and bandwidth resources, and lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) by up to 7x compared to traditional VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) solutions. Startforce Web Desktop also supports features such as USB and local printers for a seamless user experience.  

Centralized management of applications streamlines the manageability of 1,000 or more computers, saving IT administration time and resources. Startforce provides comprehensive administrative dashboard control including numerous points for easy, secure management of applications and user privileges, desktop template customization, and Windows Server Active Directory support for update provisioning.

"Disposable Classroom Desktop":

Startforce Server 2010 Private Cloud Edition provides the industry's first, patent-pending "disposable" virtual desktop for the education market. A disposable virtual desktop enables the temporary use of desktop content that is presented to groups of students or other participants for learning, collaboration or information sharing. After a specified period of time, such as after the end of a class or presentation, the virtual desktop content expires and is securely archived in local data storage.

"Traditional on-site VDI is very expensive to deploy due to significant increases in server, storage and bandwidth requirements," said Young Song, Executive Chairman of Startforce, Inc. "Each user requires a separate virtual desktop software image with an underlying guest operating system. With the Startforce Web-based virtual desktop approach, we extend the existing PC infrastructure by using only a light server footprint. Startforce provides a viable path to rapid deployment of virtual desktops for the SMB and educational markets in today's economic environment."

Startforce Implementation at Santa Clara Unified School District:

According to Mary Phillips, Director of the Information Technology Group, Santa Clara Unified School District: "We explored virtualization to see if we could decrease PC costs and maintenance issues. However, when we added up all licensing and infrastructure costs associated with traditional VDI, the investment was excessive. We selected Startforce because their cost-effective solution is versatile and innovative enough to meet our needs, and includes unique qualities such as a customized disposable virtual desktop and network boot features from local devices."

The Startforce architecture combines a powerful platform of Windows Apps, Web Apps and Startforce Apps, making the Startforce Web Desktop the most comprehensive and fully functional virtual desktop on the market. From any Web browser, Startforce delivers a fully integrated Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection for running legacy Windows applications along with Web applications. IT managers can deploy, manage and secure a large number of virtual desktops with confidence.

Startforce Web Desktops use standard HTML/AJAX technologies to render desktop interfaces that are delivered to Web browsers via standard HTTP protocol. Unlike traditional VDI, which is typically based on RDP/ICA protocols with persistent connection, Startforce uses HTML/AJAX technologies to provide asynchronous connection which significantly reduces the connection bandwidth requirements. Unlike traditional VDI, which requires 10GB of storage per user, due to hypervisor and Windows architecture at the backend, Startforce Web Desktops only require 1MB per user which results in saving storage costs. The maximum concurrent users supported by a server blade also dramatically increases from the traditional VDI of 100-150 users to 1000+ users with Startforce's solution.

About Startforce, Inc.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Startforce (http://www.startforce.com) is a leading global provider of a Web Desktop solution providing a customizable virtual desktop environment that enables easy, secure, instant access from any computer (PC, MAC, thin clients) with any web browser.

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