The Sparkasse Krefeld is viewed as one of the pioneers of server-based computing. As one of the first institutions from the German Association of Savings Banks to do so, the Sparkasse Krefeld, with 1,850 employees and a balance sheet total of 10,45 billion USD (2005), has been using a terminal server since the middle of the 1990’s to make IT applications available centrally. Furthermore, the Sparkasse has been pursuing a successful Thin Client strategy since 2003 in order to minimise the support and leasing costs for its 56 branches and six self-service centres on a sustained basis.

Introduction of consistent server-based computing
When the Sparkasse Krefeld introduced the OneSystemPlus (OSPlus) total bank solution from Sparkassen Computer Sciences as the first Sparkasse in the Rhineland to do so, they also strengthened their server-based computing initiative on the basis of Windows® NT and Citrix Metaframe server. They had already made the OSPlus applications available via terminal server to a large proportion of their users by the end of 2003. The workstation infrastructure initially consisted purely of personal computers. The Sparkasse procured 1,010 new computers and equipped around 650 older appliances with additional RAM for the OSPlus migration. “The Sparkasse Krefeld took the first important step towards standardising its IT landscape with the early decision in favour of server-based computing and the subsequent OSPlus migration,” says Dirk Oberem from the Sparkasse Krefeld’s IT Service.
In recent years, the successive introduction of the financial service provider concept had led to an expansion of the PC landscape with correspondingly high support and procurement costs. When the leasing contracts for the upgraded old machines ran out in 2004, the IT department, in collaboration with Mr Oberem, created a strategic IT concept which was intended to help reduce the costs for investments and operation of the client infrastructure on a sustained basis. The concept provides for the establishment of a homogeneous system landscape with low expenditure for administration and support as well as low investment and energy costs. The board of directors agreed, thus deciding in favour of the introduction of a Thin Client-based infrastructure. The opportunity for a pilot project arose in late 2004 within the framework of a Sparkasse Computer Sciences validation programme, in which various Thin Client models from a total of three manufacturers were evaluated. The appliances from two manufacturers were tested exhaustively in the Sparkasse Krefeld.

The customer Sparkasse Krefeld 1,850 employees, 56 branches server based computing pioneer (since 2003)

TC leasing sinks costs by up to 75 percent
The Sparkasse Krefeld chose the model from the German Thin Client manufacturer IGEL Technology. The German market leader convinced not only the Sparkasse Krefeld, but also Sparkasse Computer Sciences. They evaluated three model variants in order to enable the financial institutions that they support to lower their IT costs on a sustained basis.
A profitability study determined the savings to be expected, which resulted above all from the lower administration costs for the installation of IT applications, updates and anti-virus measures, lower electricity costs and standardisation of the IT environment. The Sparkasse Krefeld thereby analysed three leasing variants, each for 25 workstations, which could be operated under a terminal server:
• old computers with local software installation,
• new computers with local software installation and
• Thin Clients with a blade-type terminal server.
“The greatest difference was shown by the comparison of Thin Clients with old computers,” Dirk Oberem remembers. “The Thin Client variant, including blade server part, was 75 percent cheaper compared to the old computers and 54 percent cheaper compared to the new computer variant.”

Support, management and roll-out speak for IGEL
Conversion to IGEL Clever Clients was planned and executed in the IT Service department. “Following a survey of the areas, the systems were ordered and called up in lots,” Dirk Oberem reports. Within 9 months, the Sparkasse Krefeld replaced around 920 old PCs with IGEL Clever Clients. In order to retain the existing Token Ring network structure, the Sparkasse Krefeld initially leased 685 IGEL 464 Winestra series machines from a local IT service provider. These machines’ integrated PCI slots allowed the bank to continue to use the Token Ring cards from the old PCs until the completion of the planned Ethernet migration. Around 80 percent of all terminal appliances are now connected via Ethernet. The current standard Thin Client is called IGEL-364 Compact. 235 of these models are now in service. “The duration of the roll-out was for the most part accelerated by the management software included in the scope of delivery, with the aid of which the Thin Clients to be installed could be quickly pre-configured. The computers were exchanged during normal working conditions, because the employees were able to resume work directly after connection of the Thin Client. After about nine months, all 920 machines were in operation. A guideline for the Sparkasse employees supported the introduction.”

The challenge reduction of support and leasing costs establishment of a homogeneous workstation IT low investment costs

Premature replacement of PCs pays off
The administration of the IGEL models used is carried out centrally and cost-effectively via the free administration software IGEL Remote Management Suite, which was included in the package. Basic functions such as central machine configuration or the automatic distribution of firmware updates can alternatively be executed by Sparkasse Computer Sciences via the Communication Association Database (Kommunikationsverbund Datenbank - KV DB) solution. In view of the enormous cost advantages of the IGEL solution, Dirk Oberem is considering taking even new PCs with running leasing contracts out of service. The background to this decision is the discontinuation of support for the Windows® NT operating system which has been used up to now. A profitability calculation speaks for the premature replacement investment: The additional leasing costs for each IGEL-3200 Compact will be offset by savings such as anti-virus measures, lower electricity costs and lower support and administration costs. “Prolonged technician service visits hardly ever occur any more, because defective appliances are simple replaced and the workstation is instantly available again.”

According to Dirk Oberem, the Sparkasse Krefeld has not regretted the decision to replace almost half of its workstation PCs. “When we made the early decision in favour of server-based computing in conjunction with the use of Thin Clients, no comparable installation was known anywhere in the entire Sparkasse landscape. The decision in favour of this technology corresponds today to Sparkasse Computer Sciences’ current strategic recommendations for a future-orientated Client-Server structure. We have now already prematurely decommissioned 170 personal computers in order to supply complete areas with uniform technology.”
The over 900 Thin Client users are also satisfied. “The employees concerned especially praise the high uptime of the IT workstation and the uniform display on all appliances. But the design and the typical ergonomic advantages such as the almost silent operation, low heat generation and low space requirement are also viewed positively.”

The solution standardisation of the workstation infrastructure with approx. 900 IGEL thin clients efficient remote management thin client leasing saves up to 75 percent compared to PC leasing

Fusion-capable solution
An expansion of the Thin Client infrastructure is already fixed. As part of the fusion with the neighbouring Sparkasse Geldern on 1st January 2007, it is likewise intended to convert 50 percent of the 200 additional new workstations to IGEL Clever Clients. “The structure of the solution thus achieves the prerequisite for the most uniform workstation infrastructure management possible and supports the fusion process.” The Sparkasse Krefeld also wants to complete this step together with the German Thin Client manufacturer. “We have found a powerful partner in IGEL,” Dirk Oberem says in summary. “IGEL’s support is very reliable; products and solutions are well thought-out and secure for the future. We are therefore in a position to implement the new appliances just as quickly and without problems and to further simplify management.”