New Philological Library incorporates an ultramodern serverless Thin Client solution for catalogue and online research

The dedication of the 'Berlin Brain' on 14. September 2005 has given the capital yet another fascinating architectural monument. Designed by the renowned English architect and master builder Lord Norman Foster, the new Philological Library of the Free University is modelled on the human brain, and so combines design, functionality and the effective use of space to impressive effect. The same exceptional combination is also found expressed in the IT facilities. During the merger of eleven sub-libraries, containing over 700,000 books, the Free University developed a unique IT structure for catalogue and online research.


The customer

• Freie Universität Berlin - the Philological Library, designed by star architect Lord Norman Foster
• 700,000 books available for catalogue and online research
• Antiquated IT infrastructure called for a new solution
  

Modernization of research stations

For the IT administrator, breakdowns of the equipment across the sub-libraries were an ongoing headache. 'At the end of 2003 we had a pretty heterogeneous infrastructure,' recalls Jonas Fansa, System and Network Administrator of the Free University’s Philological Library. 'Five generations of PCs, with different operating systems and display units, meant that there was more and more maintenance involved. In personnel terms we just couldn’t put up with it any longer.' In view of the urgent need to invest in a replacement for the outmoded equipment, the favoured solution for the new library was a model based on unified and centrally administrated Thin Clients. Over a period of six months the library’s IT officer investigated and tested nearly a dozen models from the leading suppliers.


Quality of graphics decisive in choice of Thin Client

The evaluation phase started at the 2004 CeBIT, where Library Director Dr. Klaus Ulrich Werner and IT officer Jonas Fansa made the acquaintance of the manufacturers. In the course of subsequent testing, many of the devices were rejected just on grounds of the basic design, as being inadequately robust, not stable enough or too noisy. 'Although none of the Thin Clients had any mechanical parts, some models produced notably unpleasant acoustic effects when tested, with electronic components giving off beeping and whistling sounds.' The decisive hurdle at which, nearly all the equipment tested failed was the quality of the graphic output by way of the analog VGA connection. 'The reproduction of sometimes extremely delicate characters on a white background makes extreme demands on graphic display systems,' explains Mr Fansa. 'For philologists, however, working with texts is the most important criterion of assessment for a computer workstation. The quality of representation on the monitor must approximate to the printed original as closely as possible.'

According to the IT officer, IGEL was the first manufacturer to offer a Thin Client with a DVI (Digital Video Interface) connection. A prototype of the high-end IGEL-5128 LX Premium was sent to Berlin in the autumn of 2004, and the clarity of the output of graphics data was greeted with enthusiasm.


Serverless Thin Clienting at the highest level

In Jonas Fansa’s view, the IGEL Clever Client fits in perfectly with the design and functional principles of this outstanding new library. 'he black design option is an ideal match for the grey tonality of the library’s interior. We selected the other components of the research stations in the same colour as the Thin Clients. These consist of exceptionally massive and soundless Cherry keyboards, optical mice and top quality EIZO LCD monitors with a brightness sensor. The metal housing of the IGEL Clever Clients is robust and stable. Two USB 2.0 connections on the front make it possible to insert memory sticks, so you can save your research.'


The challenge

• Eleven sub-libraries, with around one hundred research and catalogue stations, were to be managed centrally on the basis of a unified system
• Integration of the Thin Clients in the overall design of the building was a must
  

The 'Berlin Brain' includes over 100 research and catalogue stations. Thanks to their generous software complement, the Clever Clients on which they are based work with complete autonomy. All applications offered as a service by the research centre, like the online catalogue system for instance, are brought up by way of the Internet browser incorporated locally in the system firmware. 'The technical progress that has been made in the Thin Client sector means that the difference in performance as compared with a PC workstation is being reduced all the time. The model we chose, the IGEL-5128 LX Premium, already includes a VIA C3 LP processor with a clock time of 1 gigahertz. With this level of performance we were able to set up a real serverless Thin Clienting environment, without needing to invest in terminal servers. This has been very well received, and is vastly less complicated in terms of maintenance and administration than the previous setup. As an administrator, I can once again say that I look forward to going to the library.'


Convenient management

When it comes to management software, the IT officer again credits the German manufacturer with performance at the highest level. The IGEL Remote Management Suite, which forms part of the standard delivery, is divided into three components: the platform-independent Java console for remote administration from any point, a server program for control of the Thin Client pool and a database for equipment settings and user and group profiles. 'Thanks to the logical setup and the intuitive operation of the management software, I can administer the Thin Client pool from any point where I am located. With an administration Notebook I can dial in via our Cisco VPN Client, which means that I can theoretically do my job without any security worries even if I happen to be in Shanghai,' Fansa laughs. Thanks to the convenient administrative functions provided for the communication of settings and user profiles, the installation and configuration of the Thin Clients was achieved in minimal time The administrator did most of this work himself, and only needed a week and a half to do it.


The solution

• Installation of 100 IGEL-5128 LX Premium for real serverless Thin Clienting
• Graphic display of the IGEL Clever Clients is equal to the highest philological demands
• Customer-specific printing control realized by IGEL with the help of self-programmed Java applets
  

Expert firmware adaptations

The research stations are evenly distributed about the library. Visitors have access to a Thin Client at intervals of 15 meters. At most of the stations you can access the Internet at will, once you have gone through the authentication procedure. When it comes to printing, the library went for an innovative solution. When the print command is launched from the browser, the Java applet XPrint of the Geniusbyte company, who supplied the firmware, starts up. This requests the user to enter his print card number and a selfselected job ID. Based on these data the printing job can be passed directly to a network printer or to the printing server. It can also be saved as a pdf file on USB, or sent by e-mail. IGEL integrated the Java applet with the firmware specially for the customer. 'These and other adaptations were carried out by IGEL reliably and with great expertise. Overall cooperation and support from the supplier have been admirable, which has confirmed the first impression we had at the CeBIT, where we made contact with a committed team who immediately took note of our requirements,' Mr Fansa relates.


Economically convincing as well

Besides meeting the requirements of design and functionality, the serverless Thin Clienting architecture is extremely economical, as Library Director Dr. Klaus Ulrich Werner testifies. 'With conventional systems the outlay on administration would be around three times as high than it is today.' In view of the system’s high degree of reliability and ease of maintenance, Jonas Fansa looks with confidence to the future. 'Our new infrastructure based on IGEL Thin Clients hits the nail right on the head. The concept of functionality, efficiency and design that the architecture of the new building proposes has also been realized on the IT level as well, and we have had thoroughly positive feedback from the users.'


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