NEC Achieves Annual Energy Savings of up to 62% Over Conventional PCs

JCN Newswires, April 7, 2008

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 7, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation announced today that it has enhanced its virtual PC thin client system, VirtualPCCenter, with sales of the new system commencing immediately.

The three main enhancements of the new system are outlined below.

(1) Upgraded system administration functions in software installed on the virtual PC thin client system management server automatically adjust the number of virtual PC servers operating to meet the workload needs of end users. These functions dramatically reduce energy consumption during data center operations, delivering energy savings across the entire thin client system of up to 62% over conventional PCs (1).

(2) Launch of the low-cost "Express5800/120Rj-2 VPCC" virtual PC server set, which offers the ideal arrangement for organizations looking to start small with as little as 10 users.

(3) Expanded lineup of thin client terminals, including the low-price entry model "US110E," and the "US300" dual display thin client terminal for multiple-screen processing.

Virtual PC thin client systems have been widely praised for delivering operational management efficiencies with minimum wastage of IT resources through the use of VMware desktop virtualization to centralize IT desktop workloads on a small number of highly reliable servers while providing all the user-friendly benefits of traditional PC environments. On the back of such praise virtual PC thin client systems are being deployed in increasing numbers across the globe. The new enhancements will make it easier to deploy thin client systems from a cost perspective, while creating new value from an environmental perspective by delivering system-wide energy savings, as well as a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions.

NEC has released the following new products to complement the enhanced Virtual PC Center thin client system.

Product: Virtual PC Server

Features / Configuration: VirtualPCCenter2.0Light virtual PC server" software bundled with the Express5800. Includes client licenses for 10 virtual PCs. Can be expanded to incorporate up to 50 virtual PCs.

Price (excluding consumption tax): 1,500,000 yen

Delivery: 28-Apr-08

Product: US10E Thin Client Terminal

Features / Configuration: Palm-sized desktop thin client terminal compatible with virtual PC and screen forwarding servers.

Price (excluding consumption tax): 36,000 yen

Delivery: 28-Apr-08

Product: US300 Thin Client Terminal

Features / Configuration: Desktop thin client terminal compatible with virtual PC and screen forwarding servers. Offers dual display functions.

Price (excluding consumption tax): 62,000 yen

Delivery: 28-Apr-08

Product: SigmaSystemCenter software Thin Terminal 2.1

Features / Configuration: Software upgrade that allows existing PCs to be used effectively as thin client terminals. Can be booted from USB-ROM or CD-ROM.

Price (excluding consumption tax): CD-ROM version: from 15,000 yen;

USB-ROM version: from 19,800 yen

Delivery: 28-Apr-08

The following are the major benefits of the enhanced VirtualPCCenter thin client system.

1. Delivers system-wide energy savings of up to 62% over conventional PCs

Workload on enterprise systems constantly changes, with fewer virtual PCs operating at night or company holidays. The independent software algorithm installed in the management server on the VirtualPCCenter automatically optimizes the number and configuration of virtual PCs depending on workload conditions. In this way, workload is automatically concentrated on the fewest possible virtual PC servers, with power being cut to surplus servers to minimize overall power consumption. When the working day begins and processing loads or the number of PCs in operation increase, the standby servers are automatically restarted and virtual PCs redeployed to ensure that the optimum number of servers is operating at any given time. As a result, annual power consumption is reduced by as much as 62% over conventional PCs (equivalent to the CO2 absorption of a forest area the size of Tokyo Dome(2) for a virtual PC thin client system of 1500 terminals).

2. Release of a low-priced virtual PC server set

To complement the enhanced Virtual PC Center, NEC has released the low-cost "Express5800/120Rj-2 VPCC" virtual PC server set suited to organizations looking to start small with as little as 10 users. With this model, a maximum of 50 virtual PCs can be deployed for each server. This is realized by enhanced CPU capabilities in virtual PC servers running VMware virtualized desktop environments.

As the new set includes all the hardware and software required for the virtual PC thin client system server, system applications can be started up soon after purchase, with initial costs for client terminals reduced from the existing 154,000 yen(3) to 134,000 yen per terminal(4) for system configurations (terminals and displays) comprising 100 units . In this way, thin client systems can be deployed at a lower cost than ever before.

3. Expanded lineup of thin client terminals

(1) "US110E" low-cost entry terminal