Sun Ray

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Sun Ray 1
SunRay 3 Plus

A Sun-Ray infrastructure is used to virtualize desktop computer environments and consists of at least one Sun-Ray client and one Sun-Ray server . The virtual desktop is physically located on the Sun Ray server or on another computer.

The time-critical data exchange between the Sun-Ray client and the Sun-Ray server is based on the (optional) encrypted Appliance Link Protocol (ALP) , which (in contrast to other thin clients ) is primarily based on UDP . TCP is also used, but is not used for bandwidth-intensive graphics transmission.

Sun Ray client

The Sun Ray client is an (ultra) thin client from Sun Microsystems , which was first presented in September 1999. The client is based on the idea of ​​the older JavaStations from Sun Microsystems from 1996. Since Sun Microsystems was taken over by Oracle Corporation in early 2010 , the Sun Ray devices now operate under the name of Oracle Sun Ray Clients .

The client does not run its own operating system, but displays (among other things) the graphic data of a Sun Ray server.

The client has a CPU and a memory, but only uses these to establish the connection to the Sun-Ray server, to buffer and render the graphics data of the server, as well as to pass on the serial and USB ports to the server and to transfer the audio data (input / output). USB devices ( keyboard , mouse , mass storage device ) can be connected directly to the device . Since 2009, the USB interfaces can also use other devices such as B. Pass the scanner through to the server. The client does not have its own mass storage device (only a flash memory for the firmware and optionally a local, minimal configuration) and no moving parts.

By not using powerful hardware, the power consumption of the clients in operation with 4 watts (Sun Ray 2) to 8 watts (Sun Ray 2FS, information according to the data sheet) is lower than that of an average desktop PC .

There are also clients that are integrated in a monitor . The current model (2011) Sun Ray 3i corresponds to the Sun Ray 3, whereby the resolution of the monitor (1920 × 1080 pixels) is fixed. The previous model was the Sun Ray 270 Client with a 17-inch monitor with 1280 × 1024 pixels.

Since there is no operating system running on the client, it is also known as an ultra thin client . Due to the lack of an operating system, the client itself is practically unsusceptible to hacker attacks. Even if a Sun Ray client is physically stolen, all data is safe in the data center.

All Sun Rays contain a built-in speaker and smart card reader. The smart card reader can be used for PKI infrastructures or for Sun-Ray internal authentication . With the built-in smart card support, running sessions can easily be moved from one client to another without having to quit running programs or log off.

In 2005, Sun Microsystems Inc. took over Tarantella Inc. and took over program parts of the Secure Global Desktop software for connecting Windows terminal servers to the Sun Ray server software. This led to the widespread use of the Sun Ray for the purpose of connecting to Windows terminal servers and VDI infrastructures.

The first model generation of the Sun Rays was replaced by three new devices in mid-2006. The third generation was launched in April 2010 with the Sun Ray 3 Plus.

There are also several implementations of the Sun Ray client in software:

  • Oracle Virtual Desktop Client for Windows, Mac OS and Linux
  • Oracle Virtual Desktop Client for the iPad.

Sun Ray server

The software of the Sun-Ray server requires the Linux ( X86 ) or Solaris ( Sun SPARC or X86) operating system .

In the so-called kiosk mode (formerly CAM ) the server communicates with another computer in order to transfer its virtual desktop to the client. Usually the RDP protocol is used to reach the other computer. An RDP client ( uttsc) was specially developed by Sun (now Oracle) for this purpose .

Models

  • Sun Ray 1 (August 1999, EOL )
  • Sun Ray 100 (July 2000, EOL)
  • Sun Ray 150 (July 2000, EOL)
  • Sun Ray 1G (December 2003, EOL)
  • Sun Ray 170 (December 2004, EOL)
  • Sun Ray 2 (April 2006)
  • Sun Ray 2FS (June 2006)
  • Sun Ray 270 (July 2006)
  • Oracle Sun Ray 3 Plus (April 2010)
  • Oracle Sun Ray 3
  • Oracle Sun Ray 3i

Cessation of development

On July 15, 2013, Oracle announced that further development of Sun-Ray software and Sun-Ray clients will be discontinued.

Web links

Commons : Sun Ray  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Oracle Virtual Desktop Client for the iPad on YouTube
  2. Important Information about Oracle Desktop Virtualization Products (English)