Simple and Satisfying
Using Tarantella software and thin client technology,
the city of Urasoe achieved a simple and highly efficient solution
for its regional intranet-based service projects. 
Pioneering City
For more than 20 years, the city of Urasoe (population 105,000),
located in the southern part of Okinawa, Japan, has steadily developed
advanced computing capabilities. Due to the advanced nature of these
developments, Urasoe enjoys an excellent reputation with other cities
throughout Japan. Currently, Urasoe is engaged in a regional intranet-based
service project. A regional information center was established in
the Urasoe city offices, and each public facility is now connected
via a network using optical fibers and a wireless LAN. By offering
disaster prevention information, nursing information, education
and cultural information, as well as methods for reserving public
facilities using television conferencing and groupware, the region's
citizens are enjoying real improvements in customer services.
Furthermore, a new project called "Cyber Town" is also
being developed. This project will allow for the creation of advanced
regional information for use by businesses and citizens within the
city. By establishing a network control center, IT data center (IDC),
and research and development facilities, the city hopes to attract
leading businesses, industries, officials and schools, as well as
actively educate the work force.
Costs and Labor Reductions
The introduction of computer systems in Urasoe's city offices dates
back to the first accounting machines added in 1967. The first full
computer installation did not occur until 1981, but the infrastructure
grew steadily throughout the decade. By 1990 much of Urasoe's financial
accounting, living assistance systems and water billing were computer
operated and maintained. 1997 marked Urasoe's third major computer
installation with all processing done by computers at City Hall
and pioneering advances in the city's information systems were continued.
However, issues of high maintenance and labor costs began to emerge.
To deal with these issues, the city decided to introduce a server-based
computing model with centralized application control. To help simplify
its information systems, the city adopted a thin client system in
July 2000. The following year saw the introduction of Tarantella
software into Urasoe's thin client computing model. Using thin clients,
applications are accessed by simply turning on the power and computing
errors rarely occur. In addition, for maintenance of the regional
intranet base, the client management costs are greatly reduced.
Simple functions result in simple settings, and the start-up of
a Linux-based OS is surprisingly fast. Its small, portable size
is also very attractive and if damaged, the client itself can be
quickly exchanged. In the first year, 82 MiNT-ACC agile Tarantella
servers, each with an application server, were introduced. Due to
an increase in clients, future Tarantella servers are scheduled
to be multiplexed in an array structure. The Tarantella load balancing
function will also increase application server efficiencies.
Multiple Benefits with Tarantella
With Tarantella software there is no rewriting of existing applications.
The three tier architecture of Tarantella greatly facilitates a
server-based environment and the thin clients can be almost immediately
deployed. Users are presented with familiar icons, thus almost eliminating
retraining. Operability and speed are comparable to the use of local
applications and the user will experience far less stress than when
using a normal PC.
For the system administrator, the unified, centralized control
of the user environment is a major plus. Because the icons that
appear on the webtop can be centrally set for each group and user,
access is easily controlled. Also, the applications can be updated
all at once, which is an extremely attractive feature.
Mr. Uema of the Information Policy Department of the Urasoe City
Office's Planning Division precisely understands the characteristics
of the UNIX solution. According to Mr. Uema, "The reliability,
expandability and durability of UNIX, which we will use for the
entire city, are indispensable for Urasoe."
Excellent Performance
"When we were looking into the Tarantella software, I was
most concerned about performance," Mr. Uema explains. Traditionally,
when a number of users access a server at the same time, a load
is placed on the server and network. However, when the Tarantella
software was tried, the advantages of its three-tier structure were
immediately evident and there was no drop in performance.
Operability and speed are comparable to the
use of local applications and the user will experience far less
stress than when using a normal PC.
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The Challenge
Find a server-based thin client solution that
allows for unified application control while reducing overall client
maintenance.
The Solution
Using Tarantella software and thin clients, the
city of Urasoe is able to offer applications to users regardless
of location and with a great reduction in maintenance costs.
The Benefits
— Simplified administration
— Reduced hardware failure
— Reduced maintenance costs
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