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gsartori
Our server side SW called Vspace and our protocols are available also for Linux. ...
gsartori
See the answer I gave above. HW accelerators are the answer. Consider that ...
The SoC is no longer just for embedded systems
Brian Bailey
2/23/2012 5:20 PM EST
When we think of SoCs, we generally think of embedded systems, but these barriers and distinctions are breaking down. Desktop computing now contains multiple cores and it was only a matter of time before they became heterogeneous. Today I find out that this has been taken a stage further. NComputing has announced a new virtual desktop device, the M300. The M300 delivers a 3-in-1 device that provides a PC experience to 3 users simultaneously at 1/3rd the cost, using 1/3rd the power and 1/3rd the networking ports compared to PCs and other thin clients. So what makes this different and new? Well – this is an example of an SoC designed for the desktop market!
The M300 3-in-1 thin-client shows advancements in 3 separate areas:
The Numo 2 is powered by an ARM9 core, providing processing capability for graphics and HD video. This shows me that not only are new chips only possible for cell phones and other high-volume markets, but can still be successfully deployed for a wide array of products and opportunities. Barriers exist for one reason only – to be torn down, and NComputing is doing just that.
Brian Bailey – keeping you covered
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The M300 3-in-1 thin-client shows advancements in 3 separate areas:
- In Silicon: The 2nd-generation Numo™ 2 System-on-Chip (SoC) delivers the performance and user experience like having 3 PCs on a single chip. Within a single chip, the Numo 2 delivers three dedicated graphics, video, and user subsystems across common infrastructure like memory, I/O, and power. This multi-tenant architecture offloads processing from the server and minimizes the infrastructure and power needed to deliver high performance computing.
- In Device Architecture: The M300 thin-client device leverages the Numo 2 SoC to support 3 independent users across a single Ethernet port using a single power plug. The M300 provides full HD-video and high-resolution graphics capabilities, allowing a PC experience in most every work setting.
- In Software: The vSpace Server software supports up to 45 concurrent M300 desktop sessions on a single consumer-class host PC. IT managers can deploy and maintain a Microsoft Windows or Linux-based environment.
The Numo 2 is powered by an ARM9 core, providing processing capability for graphics and HD video. This shows me that not only are new chips only possible for cell phones and other high-volume markets, but can still be successfully deployed for a wide array of products and opportunities. Barriers exist for one reason only – to be torn down, and NComputing is doing just that.
Brian Bailey – keeping you covered
If you found this article to be of interest, visit EDA Designline where you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for the EDA Designline weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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cshore
2/24/2012 5:19 AM EST
Fascinating looking device.
Just a note of correction - it's powered by a dual-core Cortex-A9, not an ARM9. If you could get that kind of horsepower out of an ARM9...
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BrianBailey
2/24/2012 9:44 AM EST
It is funny that you should mention that. In the original press release they just said powered by an A9. I specifically asked them if it was an ARM Cortex-A9 and they said if was an ARM9. I too doubted that that an ARM9 would have the power necessary - especially for the graphics.
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cdhmanning
2/27/2012 12:49 PM EST
The marketing people tend to get confused by stuff like that. I expect it is a Cortex A9
Remember the Dilbert cartoon about "it's beige and you plug it in."
As for power, being ARM it is going to be way, way less than a third of the power if compared to a regular PC.
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gsartori
11/22/2012 7:52 PM EST
The CPUs in this device are mostly for protocol decoding and housekeeping. Everything else is done with very sophisticated HW accelerators. The actual computing is done in the server. Depending on the server we can reach a very large number of users (hundreds using VMs) but to give an idea a simple Sandy Bridge quad core can run 30+ users.
Gabriele Sartori Sr,VO Hardware Products - Ncomputing
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t.alex
2/24/2012 7:39 AM EST
It is no surprise that servers powered by ARM will be spreading the market soon.
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t.alex
2/24/2012 7:40 AM EST
It is no surprise that servers powered by ARM will be spreading the market soon.
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goafrit
2/24/2012 11:40 AM EST
Like I am missing something new in the industry..."The Numo 2 is powered by an ARM9 core". ARM9 seems to have a new stuff I am missing. Never thought they have that power in these systems.
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gsartori
11/22/2012 7:54 PM EST
See the answer I gave above. HW accelerators are the answer. Consider that running 3 clients with multimedia at 1080P is a lot of work for any CPU.
Thanks
Gabriele Sartori Sr.VP Hardware Products - Ncomputing
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sharps_eng
2/26/2012 5:28 AM EST
In cube and office environments, running three users' 'PCs' from one box would immediately appeal. What happens with proprietary software licensing and 'dongling' might be a different matter in such an alien environment.
Should be OK with network licenses of course.
Poses an interesting question: presumably Microsoft's OS and application licensing and DRM layers can track the hardware well enough not to get confused by this virtualisation?
Although Linux would have few issues I am not sure how many people are using it. There are many ways to run multiple users with linux platforms for office 'farms'.
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cdhmanning
2/27/2012 12:52 PM EST
As more and more office software becomes web-based and is "clouded", it becomes less important what OS is used at the desktop.
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gsartori
11/22/2012 7:56 PM EST
Our server side SW called Vspace and our protocols are available also for Linux. There are many other free methods for connecting Linux to a thin client but the problems are performance & bandwidth. With the UXP protocol we solved those problems
Thanks
Gabriele Sartori Sr.VP Hardware Products - Ncomputing
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kinnar
2/26/2012 2:19 PM EST
SoC was not for embedded systems only since inception. But still the M300 is a nice device, I think it is a Thin Client computing system?
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prabhakar_deosthali
2/27/2012 12:48 AM EST
So the era of mainframes with terminals is coming back in a new avatar of SOC based servers and thin clients as virtual PCs
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