For most companies the purchase price of a desktop computer is
only a small part of its total cost of ownership, with maintenance
and support quickly overtaking the initial capital outlay.
This particularly applies in mining environments where dust,
heat and poor quality power are inherently bad for information
technology (IT) assets. Add to this the challenges of distance
from good support services and high cost, limited size network
links and it is little wonder that many mining companies are
frustrated with their IT systems.
Norton Gold Fields’ Paddington operations addressed this
issue at their recently opened Enterprise mine through the
adoption of a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), where users
connect to virtual desktop computers running on centralised
servers using thin terminals or terminal software. Proposed
and implemented by Openet, Norton’s long-term information
technology partner, the VDI solution allowed rapid deployment
of services to the new mine without the need to replicate
additional server infrastructure.
While conceptually similar to older terminal services or
Citrix environments, the desktop-virtualisation platform that
Openet implemented for Norton Gold Fields offers an important
difference. “Each virtual desktop has its own independent
operating system, such as Windows 7, and can run any standard
software application, not just those certified for terminal
services,” said Andrew Monteiro, Openet’s Managing Director.
Basically if an application will run on a normal desktop
computer, it can be delivered via VDI”.
ITefficiencies
Enhanced technology
helping mobile mine workers
Andrew Monterio
Managing Director
Openet Pty Ltd
A mine worker operating a thin terminal connected to a virtual
desktop computer at Norton Gold Fields’ Paddington operations
With a VDI implementation, employees have the ability to
log in at any terminal on any site and get their own desktop,
just the way they left it. This can greatly improve productivity,
especially for mobile staff who work across multiple locations.
Deployment of virtual desktop infrastructure has provided
mobility capabilities such as access to my desktop through
use of iPads and tablets that I actually use,” commented
Brian Thorpe, Commercial Manager at Norton Gold Fields’
Paddington operations.
Remote staff working on virtual desktops can access
information on the company’s servers just as quickly as being in
the office. Mr Monteiro explained that “with VDI, when the user
opens a file on the server, the file doesn’t have to be transferred
across a slow network link. The information processing occurs
in the server room adjacent to the stored data and only screen
and keyboard updates are exchanged with the thin terminal or
mobile device.
Desktop virtualisation provides a greatly improved
computing experience for our clients that work on small satellite
sites. They are able to access information at the main site just as
if they were actually there.
While offering greater reliability, if a terminal fails, the user
can simply log in to another terminal and continue working
without waiting hours or days for IT to repair or replace a
failed desktop computer. VDI also offers centralised
management and rapid deployment, reducing administration
overheads,” concluded Mr Monteiro.