The ClearCube product platform provides a hardware architecture within which system administrators can manage a bladed PC architecture for end users. In the ClearCube framework, users have only peripheral gear on their desktop (keyboard, video, mouse, speakers, etc.) with the CPU, memory, video card, and hard drive being supplied as a blade in a central location (i.e., similar to KVM deployments, only applied to end user PCs). Alternatively, Web-based access (through the Sentral software) enables the end users to access their PCs via their Web browsers.

The main hardware components of the ClearCube infrastructure are:

- User ports: These are the ports that reside on the user's desktop and facilitate connectivity between the user's peripherals and the main PC blade. The main ports available from the vendor are the C/Port, which allows for direct connectivity to the PC Blades via category 5 cabling (up to distances of 200 meters); and the I/Ports, which can be used to connect peripherals to PC Blades over standard Ethernet networks. Other available ports allow for Fiber based connections and multiple monitor displays.

The I/Ports, in particular, are offered in two basic flavors; the I8400s and the I9400s.

The I8400s are the newest ports in the bunch, and are targeted for use with the vendor's new V7000 series chassis and blades. The I8440 is the base model; with the I8442 boasting enhancements including dual monitor support.

The I/Port I9400 series offers support for one to two (I9420) or one to four (I9440) display monitors, each supporting 32-bit color at resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 (75 Hz). The I9400 series also leverages the vendor's TDX technology but in conjunction with the PCoIP (PC over IP) technology from Teradici, and are targeted for use with the vendor's A1410 series PC blades. The I9400s additionally allow the mix and match management of both physical PC blades and VMware virtual machines for end users. A single Gig Ethernet port (10/100/1000) provides the Ethernet connectivity.

- PC Blades: These provide the CPU, disk, memory, and video needs of the user's PC and are housed in a centralized chassis (see below). Four models are now offered: An Intel Core 2 Duo processor version with a SATA hard drive and dual integrated Ethernet ports (R1350); a dual Intel Xeon processor blade (with Hyper-Threading) with single or dual SATA hard drives (hardware-based RAID) and dual integrated GigE ports (R2200); the A1410 with a Quad-core processor (Pentium 4 with Hyper-Threading is optional), 80 GB SATA 3.0 Gb/sec drive, and an integrated 10/100/1000 port; and the new V7100S, with dual Quad-Core Intel Xeons, six SATA/SAS drives, and dual GigE Ethernet ports. The V7100S, in particular, is targeted for use with the vendor's V7000 Chassis and specifically boasts compatibility with VMWare and other virtualization technologies; providing the ability to deliver virtual desktops and therefore enable multiple users to access a single PC Blade.

- Chassis: The chassis is the physical structure that is mounted in the rack and houses the PC blades. The R Series blades are loaded in the R4300 chassis, which packs up to 8 blades per chassis (112 blades per rack); the A3000/3100 series chassis house the A series blades to the tune of 10 per chassis (70 per rack); and the new V7000 chassis holds up to 10 of the new V7100S blades (supporting the combined delivery of up to 600 virtual desktops).

Managing a ClearCube deployment is the job of the ClearCube Sentral software, which features the vendor's Connection Brokering technology (for the management of policy-based connections; i.e., mapping users to blades, PCs, or virtual machines, including A/D integration), as well as a Virtualization Module that supports the ability to pool VMs, manage VM power states, and more. Sentral also facilitates browser-based desktop delivery; end users can login from any Internet-connected location and access the appropriate blade/resources.

The ClearCube product suite is available now. Visit the ClearCube Technology Web site for further information.