Bootime for Windows Embedded device explained (short version)

Hi Folks,

very often i’ve been asked why IGEL´s Windows based OS is taken a little bit longer for the boot time then Thin Clients from other Vendors.

First of all a few specs…

The new UD5 Windows 7 Dual Core provide’s: A faster CPU, faster Storage (WD SSD), faster Memory and a faster Chipset but still it takes (only for the Boottime!) a little bit longer then (much) slower Devices from other Vendors. See also my UD5 Performance Whitepaper.

The Myths:

– IGEL is running a virtualized Windows Embedded OS = Nonsense… IGEL has a Linux Partition to pevent the use of PXE crap and provide a secure and high available firmware deployment solution. There is no “Thin Client” Hypervisor or something funny at all (like the Citrix XenClient).
– IGEL devices are slower= Nonsense… Compare the overall UD5 Dual Core performance with any other current high end client and you will see which device is slower in general. Tip: It´s not the IGEL. Of course you should try devices on the same level… Comparing a UD5 with a 3rd Party entry Thin Client or a IGEL UD2 with a 3rd Party High End Thin Client doesn’t make sense at all.

The reallity:

– IGEL comes with a lot of services compared to other vendors, most of these services are enabled by default and not disabled or better: Not available.
– IGEL’s Management is very stong but these management tasks are not for free… They do require a little bit time. If a device with no really or only basic management is offered: Of course it will boot faster! If you have nothing do to at work… Of course you can make a break earlier; It’s very similar.
– IGEL Boot Loader takes a few seconds to time out.

How can it be optimized:

– Disable not used services
– Make sure the UMS is available, the Clients will always try to talk to the UMS and it takes a few seconds for a Time Out.
– Use the Standby Mode if possible, no device will boot faster if an standby mode and the new devices only requires a little bit more power compared to switched off client.
– Some vendors are using a Standby Mode by default (without mention this in the documentation), plug off the power cable to check this or enable the Standby Mode for the IGEl too.

Things to consider:
– If you’re only looking at the boot time you should figure out how often your Users are “booting” there device and compare this to other performance figures.
– People complaining about the boot time for a thin client… Compare it to your Active Directory Profile Management (if in place), how long is your logon time?
– Use the IGEL Universal Management to wake up the clients for the user’s, the new devices require less power then ever and every User is happy (or not 😉 ) if his client is ready to use.

I hope this helps a little bit…

Cheers
Michael