IGEL, provider of the next gen edge OS for cloud
workspaces, announced that Getech has selected its
endpoint software running on LG Cloud Device thin client devices as
part of a company-wide strategic shift to cloud desktop virtualization and
update of ageing desktop hardware.
This
is a notable customer win for IGEL and LG. Getech is a leading thin client
distributor in the UK based on revenue, market knowledge and sales expertise.
Over and above all the other well-known brands it supplies, Getech selected
IGEL OS and LG for its own corporate solution.
Guy
Watts, Getech's managing director, explains, "We've been selling IGEL's
technology for the past six years. IGEL OS was chosen because it's hardware
agnostic - it runs on any x86-64 device - as well as providing a variety of
cost, management and security benefits. It means we can truly say to our
customers that IGEL OS works, backed up by detailed technical advice based on
our own experiences."
Founded
in 1989 and privately owned, Getech is a hybrid distribution and reseller
business with its headquarters in Ipswich along with a 4,000 sq m storage
facility. The site is home to the firm's configuration and engineering centers,
logistics, sales and administrative functions. Turnover for the year ending
December 2021 was £72m, with the thin client business making up £12m of this.
Capitalizing on its familiarity using Microsoft Windows server platforms and applications,
Getech has migrated to Azure Virtual Desktops (AVD) - utilizing six Windows 10
multi session hosts - whilst installing CL600 thin client running IGEL OS. This
has an AVD client built in enabling easy connectivity. Two LG 24-inch monitors
for each of its 85 staff have been purchased as well.
The
roll out was simple: 10 minutes per desktop managed by Getech itself department
by department, with IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) then used to manage
the whole desktop estate.
The
investment in AVD has also allowed Getech staff to work from home effectively
and easily during the Coronavirus pandemic given the new platform is accessed
via a standard browser and optimized for Microsoft Teams so that video
telephony and workplace collaboration is reliably delivered.
The
business previously used Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2012 R2 and
it was impossible with this legacy platform to provide this kind of functionality
for the whole company.
Michael
Peck, Getech's IT manager, says, "The use of Windows Server 2012 R2 caused
various issues. Systems admin was difficult, newer apps like Teams aren't
supported, updates will end soon, R2 has the ‘look and feel' of outdated
Windows 8 technology so the user experience isn't great, and staff struggled to
login every morning as the system was slow. This could literally take minutes.
In a nutshell, Windows Server 2012 R2 was creaking at the seams and didn't meet
today's requirements hence the change."
In
addition, from a desktop perspective, Getech's existing LINUX-based thin client
endpoints were already eight years old - long in the tooth from a performance
and security perspective - and did not support AVD. Watts adds, "The
replacement upgrade was on our radar long before the pandemic hit. Covid and
the requirement to offer remote working for staff with video conferencing tools
brought this investment program forward."
Various
benefits of a combined AVD, IGEL OS and LG desktop solution have been realized:
1.
Lower cost. AVD has meant Getech has moved away from on-premise Windows
Server 2012 R2 - thereby solving its operational issues - as well as reducing
the number of [physical] servers within the business. That's meant a reduction
from 25 to 6 with more to come. More money is being saved as the company's
disaster recovery facility has also been closed as it now has a solution in AVD
that's a proven alternative to a physical DR suite.
Furthermore,
compared to other competitive products, the LG Cloud Device CL600 thin clients
were attractively priced as they came as a blank chassis with no OS on them.
IGEL OS was then loaded straight away. In addition, LG Cloud Device thin
clients have a compact fanless design. This means they're quieter, take less
space and use less power which lowers operational costs.
Eleanor
McBryde, LG Electronics' general manager, IT solutions, says, "In the spring of
2022, IGEL OS will also be available pre-installed on select LG All-in-One Thin
Clients. The collaboration between IGEL and LG Business Solutions is a result
of validation of devices through the IGEL Ready Program as IGEL continues to
expand its partner ecosystem."
2.
Improved performance. In addition to the speed of the new LG endpoint
devices - which each come with powerful Intel Celeron Quad Core processors and
4GB / 8GB options of DDR4 memory - the login process to AVD now takes seconds
rather than up to two minutes at peak times as with Windows Server 2012 R2.
Staff then access Office 365 and a bespoke in-house developed ERP system called
G-Sys which combines CRM, sales and finance modules.
3.
Happy users and better team collaboration. AVD also supports Microsoft
Teams for dependable desktop video telephony and workgroup collaboration. All
users are better-off with larger LG 24-inch monitors which are ergonomically
and attractively designed and perform well. Watts adds, "Unmatched by competitors,
LG has a superb range of cloud devices including desktop, mobile thin clients
with screens, and all-in-one units with monitors of varying sizes: 24, 27 and
34 inches."
4.
Enhanced reliability and superior platform flexibility. With the old Windows
Server 2012 R2 platform, the IT team spent a lot of time solving and fixing
problems which often meant taking the system down out of hours. The reliability
of AVD means that the focus now is on using time for productive development to
enhance the overall environment. Peck says, "Different users work on different
virtual machines. With AVD, these are now all in a pool so it doesn't matter if
I now take one offline and update it, staff can use the others. Before, each
department had their own server and when updates were required, the respective
system couldn't then be used."
5.
Easier management. The UMS central management console makes it is
straightforward to power on new IGEL OS-powered LG endpoints, set them up in
the correct workgroup and then configure each based on the individual needs of
the user.
6.
Greener IT. Watts says, "Another reason for moving to AVD and using LG
Cloud Device thin clients is that our environmental working group has been
looking at our on-prem power consumption. Shifting to the cloud helps with our
ISO 140001 certification and delivering on our net zero carbon footprint
strategy."
Watts
concludes, "Our confidence in selling a LG-IGEL OS solution has increased since
we have deployed it ourselves. I am delighted to say this has resulted in more
sales and a bigger pipeline building in 2022."
Simon
Townsend, IGEL's chief marketing officer, says, "It was a simple process for
Getech to adopt AVD for its VDI solution whilst installing LG thin clients
running IGEL OS. The timeframe from deciding to do something after lockdown to
deployment was impressively short. The best thing is that Getech is a true IGEL
evangelist; they practice what they preach. They're selling our solution which
they happily use themselves."
Watch a film about the Getech project: