This laptop design approach is a very powerful virtualisation (KVM/VM) tool for taking on the road.
Multiple Operating System environments simultaneously running
It is ideal for system administration personnel enjoying VMs and acting like a pseudo server, who need to take it all on the road in a laptop. Surprisingly, the solution comes from a high performance gaming market solution, because of the need to have lots of memory, as well as lots of disk storage running safely in RAID-1 as well as a third internal archive reference drive. This has worked well with the sub-10 seconds quick boot time of Debian, whilst also enjoying access to a Windows environment running within a powerful open source Linux/KVM host.
Performance and security all in one
Having built-in Virtualisation as part of a booted Kernel, offers superior performance for VMs.
PLUS: equipping the laptop with high performance mSATA RAID-1 and SSD technology driving it all with multi-threaded, multi-core processors, is the trick to all this. For Disaster Recovery, scheduled archiving to external USB3 storage provides that all important rescue ability, if ever things go pear-shaped!
This rig is often running a Debian host as well as desktop, plus a Windows VM, along with two or three other concurrent Ubuntu and Debian systems for software development / client support purposes. These are all reachable via a dedicated internal LAN (for the VM’s), even when not connected to the internet or a physical LAN at the office or at a client premises. The terrific aspect is the Debian security firewall protecting all this at the front end, and the isolation of internal LAN, connected LAN, and WAN access, thus protecting the VM environment when in use at client sites.
Connectivitiy
Great for trouble shooting when away from the office, and in particular, when in remote locations where 3G/4G or satellite connection to the internet is just not available. This is where the dedicated LAN aspect comes into its own, not relying upon a CAT6 or WiFi connection to still run all the different operating system environments.
Multiple, concurrent workspaces/screens/sessions
See all about its specifications in this clip below. Excuse the frank approach in the clip, but it is intended to show the connection, storage and key aspects that permit this type of unit to run in a highly desirable, Debian/KVM environment. Alchester would be happy to direct clients and interested IT professionals to where to obtain these specially configured ‘laptop servers’. Readers may query the reason for going 13″, when there are 14″, 15″ and 17″ versions too. Well that is purely for portability. When back at the office, it is used in conjunction with a pair of externally connected 24″ screens, which are used in addition to the laptop’s LCD screen. Three different screen activities, all with 5 or more workspace sessions simulataneously – a delight for SysAdmin staff swinging from call to call with clients, all at the same time. Recent usage has often seen about 50 concurrent client screen processes happening, but all switchable across Debian workspace sessions.
Just contact us for the details. Whilst this technology is promoted under a variety of brand names, the service and support we obtained for this unit, has been superb from the vendors we selected.