Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Dell Virtual Lab Aims to Lower Computer Lab Hassles

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 09/07/10

The average college in the United States has about 97 labs, and the average number of lab desktops is about 1,100, according to the Campus Computing Project survey. Those hefty quantities represent a sizable amount of IT work behind the scenes, to continually keep up with the changing needs of faculty, to maintain hours suitable for the campus community, and to address the computer problems that may crop up in running highly specialized applications.

Dell has introduced a new product line that's designed to save institutional customers management time and hassle by taking the lab virtual. Virtual Lab, which integrates technology from Dell partners VMware and Citrix, promises to allow students to access lab applications at any time from anywhere on any device with minimal management. Dell said the new offering will debut on several U.S. campuses this fall.

Virtual Lab comes in three customized flavors:

  • Adaptable Virtual Lab, which virtualizes lab desktops for easier management; it allows an image to be accessible from any desktop in the lab with a single reboot.
  • Mobile Virtual Lab, which makes any lab desktop that's fully virtualized to be accessible from any device on or off campus.
  • Hosted Virtual Lab, which combines both offerings but hosts the lab offerings in the Dell/Perot cloud rather than from the college's data center.

"This can be a transformational technology for higher education student labs," said Thom Rubel, vice president of research for IDC's government group. "Though we recognize that university environments vary, this kind of solution, when appropriately evaluated and implemented, has the potential to lower costs over the long haul, while providing students anywhere, any device access to their lab work."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • abstract illustration of artificial intelligence

    CSU Shares AI Learnings in Systemwide Survey

    In a systemwide survey of more than 94,000 faculty, staff, and students, California State University recently documented widespread AI use across its 22 campuses.

  • AI logo near computer equipment

    White House Releases National Policy Framework for AI

    The White House has released a four-page AI policy framework aimed at setting a national approach to AI, with priorities including child safety, intellectual property protections, truth and accuracy guardrails, and worker training for an AI-driven economy.

  • Dana Brunson facilitates a roundtable discussion with research and higher education IT leaders

    Internet2: Closing the Access Gap for Research Cyberinfrastructure

    Internet2's Research Engagement Team brings CIOs and other campus technology leadership together with research computing and data facilitators, forming a community that enables research cyberinfrastructure at institutions of all types and sizes.

  • Silhouettes of business professionals stand against a blurred futuristic city skyline at night, with a glowing digital network data connection

    It's Time for Higher Ed to Get Serious About AI Strategy

    Without a coordinated strategy that involves multiple academic and administrative units across the entire campus, colleges risk wasting resources, duplicating efforts, and ultimately failing to deliver on the promise of deploying technology to improve learning and operations.