Office IT infrastructure based on Raspberry Pi on a limited budget

Learn about how SIM-Networks experts deployed a remote office in the cloud for a company with 40 employees and lowered the cost of individual workplaces by using single-board Raspberry Pi computers.

What were the client’s requirements towards the remote office?

The client’s main requirement was that the IT infrastructure solution must store all data in the provider’s cloud. The client’s employees must work remotely, using a remote desktop through a terminal connection.

Client’s requirements:

• create an IT infrastructure for a company with 40 employees on a limited budget;
• make workstations compact and affordable;
• give all employees access to the network through mobile devices.

It was vital to the client that all data and services be stored in the cloud and only accessed using a terminal connection. All user apps must run on the servers in the provider’s data center. The company’s office must not contain any information carriers with user files and archives. Employee workstations must only be used to access the cloud server remotely.

How did we implement the client’s project?

The local network of the company was designed based on bandwidth requirements and the project’s limited budget.

Passive network hardware:

• 100 Mbit/s structured cabling system;
• 6U server cabinet;
• 48 ports patch panel (one link per user);
• single module sockets and patch cords for each user (total cable length 960 m).

Active network hardware:

• 1 unmanaged 48 port switch;
• MikroTik RB2011UIAS-RM router;
• MikroTik cAP (RBcAP2nD) wireless wi-fi access point for users’ personal devices.

Employee workstations are equipped with microcomputers (diskless thin clients), standard peripherals and 19” screens:

• thin client (Raspberry Pi 3B single-board microcomputer in a compact plastic case)
• Raspberry Pi 3B+/3B/2B);
• HDMI signal cable;
• 2 Gb micro USB memory card;
• HDMI/D-SUB adapter;
• wireless keyboard & mouse;
• affordable Philips 193V5LSB2/10 screen.

The IT infrastructure designed by SIM-Networks engineers

All computing resources are taken from the pool of SIM-Cloud, a public cloud by SIM-Networks.

How did our solution help the client save money?

The office in the cloud for a company with 40 employees was created and launched in 5 business days. The infrastructure was deployed for a minimal cost: using diskless thin clients helped the company decrease spending on individual workstations by a factor of 3, compared to the cost of an average office PC.

The thin client does not contain any parts that move or wear down with time, such as magnetic storage, ventilators, power units etc. Personal employee PC do not need to be updated every 3 to 5 ears. This way, the client spends less on supporting workstations.

The terminal server in the cloud provides the company’s staff with familiar tools and services. The server can be accessed from anywhere, which enables remote work. The terminal connection rids the client of the need to buy individual licenses for office software and operating systems.

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