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2X Software today announced that HSE Integrated Ltd. has chosen a 2X ApplicationServer solution to ensure efficient remote application delivery. HSE Integrated is Canada’s largest national industrial safety services provider, with operations across the country and into the United States. The company has consolidated 19 regional, private industrial safety companies into an all-inclusive public corporation with 25 locations and more than 600 employees. Each of the company’s locations requires access to their Calgary centralized data center, to access applications and centralized storage. The company deployed Microsoft Terminal Services to handle remote network access, with 10 terminal servers hosting their ERP software (Microsoft Dynamics AX) and other relevant applications such as Microsoft Office.
Although their Terminal Services solution initially met their basic needs, IT Director Ryan Barg found that it “fells short in several key areas as our complexity increased. We desired a simplified user experience, easy software administration, and the ability to publish applications seamlessly to our client devices based on Active Directory groups. We were also interested in better printer support, multiple monitors, and single sign-on.” After evaluating several high cost solutions, Ryan found that his requirements were easily with the much more affordable 2X ApplicationServer solution.
To solve their Terminal Services dilemma, the 2X ApplicationServer and 2X Loadbalancer were added to the company’s Terminal Services environment, which enabled the addition of necessary functionality as their infrastructure grew in complexity. Ryan notes that he “found that our requirements were met in other high-cost solutions, such as Citrix; however, 2X solutions were a fraction of the price with similar core functionality.” The company currently uses 10 32-bit terminal servers running Windows Server 2003, functioning as 2X ApplicationServer agent servers, and one 64-bit 2X ApplicationServer VM running Windows Server 2008, as well as one 32-bit 2X Loadbalancer VM running Windows Server 2003. Ryan notes that “he is in the process of upgrading all servers to 64-bit Windows Server 2008 machines,” and that his selected hypervisor is “VMWare ESXi 3.5, which will soon be upgraded to VMWare ESX 4.0.”
Ryan mentioned the two biggest benefits of HSE Integrated’s switch to the 2X ApplicationServer were the ability to seamlessly publish applications and desktops from a central location, and the ability to service more users through 2X’s unlimited number of allowed concurrent connections.Using the 2X ApplicationServer, HSE was able to publish all core applications from a centralized source. Ryan notes that he “has also been able to improve service delivery by publishing resource intensive software from higher- powered farms seamlessly to the end user. Using a 2X ApplicationServer solution, users are filtered for the specific applications they need in a single session, removing licensing and administration challenges and providing for a great end-user experience. In addition to centralizing HSE’s application delivery process, Ryan noted that the 2X ApplicationServer allowed improved virtual computing service to his user base, since “using the 2X ApplicationServer, we were able to service more users on fewer terminal servers.” A reduction in the number of required terminal servers meant that Ryan and the rest of the HSE IT team could focus on discerning what applications were most critical for the company’s needs, rather than wading through necessary licensing and administration hassles. Having available resources within his terminal server farm also allows for the seamless inclusion of additional users, should the need arise, without delays from additional license purchases. Ryan notes that the 2X ApplicationServer has provided these advantages to HSE with a performance so flawless he has never been forced to call the 2X Support staff for assistance.
To read the full case study, please visit: HSE Integrated Case Study.
About the 2X ApplicationServer for Windows Terminal Services
The 2X ApplicationServer tunnels any Windows application or desktop onto remote computers, including Mac and Linux desktops, without the need to install the application or desktop onto each user’s machine. This provides significant savings on administration and support. Key features include:
• Application publishing, rather than local installation;
• Tunneling specific applications rather than a complete desktop;
• Publish applications to Web interface;
• Publish Windows applications to Linux and Mac;
• Multiple monitor support;
• Automatic redundancy;
• Application publishing based on username, group membership or IP;
• Seamless integration with local desktop and taskbar;
• SSL-secured connection to applications;
• Universal printing and scanning;
• Application license management;
• Integration with 2X LoadBalancer;
• Windows 2008 Server 32 / 64-bit support.
The 2X ApplicationServer Version 8 was recently released, combining virtual computing technology and thin client management within a single application. New features include TWAIN re-direction, improved direct client settings management and the zero-management thin client feature. For more information on Version 8 features, please visit our blog post.
For a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) comparison of the 2X ApplicationServer 8 vs. Citrix XenApp 5, please visit our TCO blog post.
Obtaining the Trial Version
2X is offering a 30-day trial version of the 2X ApplicationServer for Windows Terminal Services. After the 30-day trial period, users can still use the 3-connection free version by registering for the 3-connection license key on the 2X website. Download the trial version today.
About 2X
2X Software Ltd (2x.com) develops enterprise server-based virtual computing software, enabling desktop virtualization and application streaming on personal computers and thin client devices. Its product line, which includes the award-winning 2X VirtualDesktopServer and 2X ApplicationServer, is easily scalable, installable, and manageable with straightforward licensing, resulting in product prices far below those of competitors.
About HSE Integrated
HSE Integrated (hseintegrated.com) is a national supplier of industrial health, safety and environmental monitoring services. The company provides an integrated suite of services to protect workers, assets and the community in the most cost-effective manner possible. HSE Integrated offers the largest team of industrial safety experts and the largest inventory of rental safety equipment in the country. From its head office in Calgary, Alberta, it serves its clients from field service locations in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Michigan. HSE also operates in Odessa, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under through a jointly owned company called Boots & Coots HSE Services LLP. HSE trades on the TSX under the symbol “HSL”.
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