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About
INNOVATOR 2005: Northeastern University
7/28/2005
| INNOVATION: | INNOVATOR: |
|---|---|
| Northeastern On-Demand: Application and File Access, Anytime/Anywhere | Northeastern University |
Challenge
Service expectations for higher education are increasingly based on a 24/7, constantly connected world. As new classes of students come in, Northeastern University (MA) is seeing more savvy uses of technology and more impatience with not having it available in the expected “instant” timeframes. Faculty and staff are plugging in all over the world and needing access to their tools and information. “Information Services finds itself needing to deliver the Northeastern experience whenever and wherever our community members want it,” explains Richard Mickool, NU’s executive director for Information Services.Technology Choice/Project Design
There are two major components to the solution: 1) delivering and managing a large portfolio of applications, many needed remotely, and 2) central file-sharing and storage capabilities for easy access to data in remote labs, off-campus, and mobile environments. For delivering applications, NU looked at server-based solutions such as Citrix (www.citrix.com) and a product from Softricity (www.softricity.com), called SoftGrid application virtualization. For file storage and sharing, NU looked at webDAV technologies such as Apple’s (www.apple.com) Digital Locker and Xythos (www.xythos.com) WFS. Both component areas required: 1) scalability because they would be used by tens of thousands of people; and 2) reliability because this would be the mainstay of how people consume and share applications and data; 3) a quality user experience—it had to be at least as good in speed and functionality as users were used to when applications and data are installed locally; 4) integration—it had to be able to integrate with the central authentication approach so that users could link to NU’s portal and use their enterprise logins; and 5) manageability— NU needed technologies that eased IT administrative burdens so IT could deliver more service with less effort.
Citrix wouldn’t allow users to run the native Windows 32 applications in their own virtual space and have them available quickly at the labs. So the university chose SoftGrid for instant, on-demand application deployment and centralized management, and Xythos for central file storage and sharing over the LAN or Internet.
