An evaluation and comparison of the different approaches to deploying Windows NT and 32-bit applications to end-users: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment for the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)

Abstract

As software developers continue to write 32-bit programs in order to take advantage of recent hardware developments, users are requesting 32-bit operating systems in order to run them. Network administrators are faced with the problem of deploying 32-bit operating systems, such as Windows NT over their enterprise networks. This investigation evaluates four common methods used to deploy Windows NT and 32-bit applications to end-users. It includes an evaluation of a new multi-access Windows NT server called Citrix WinFrame, as one of the deployment methods. The investigation discusses the trade offs between the performance advantages gained by having all the files stored on the local hard disk with the administrative ease of centralised fileservers.