Ronnie
Just a few comments..
There are no 'true' virtual sessions for OS X Server. (Well there is,
but it's developed by a separate company and they charge per seat ==
expensive). What I define as a 'virtual session' is that you get a
login window and your own desktop all running over VNC. (and you can
do this for multiple users). The Apple Remote Desktop software only
shares one screen/one user.
Just as the other commenter said, multiple users on a crystallographic
workstation is moot if you need 3d or even graphics intensive
visualization (as each computer would benefit from having coot/pymol
run locally).
The number of programs taking advantage of multiple processors is
growing, but far from mainstream (support, software usability,
benefits etc). Much of crystallography remains to be a 'serial' rather
than a 'parallel' experience.
That being said, each your money may be better spent giving each user
a Mac Mini (the price for 3-4 Minis == 1 Lowest end Mac Pro) .. and if
you truly want multiple user management get a Mini Server that does
manages user accounts/policies with local home directories. You could
even keep the software on the main server and map it to the clients so
you have version control over the xtal packages.
F
On Dec 15, 2010, at 9:26 AM, Ronnie Berntsson wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> We are currently considering buying a computer which can be used by
> multiple people, via our existing network, as a workstation for
> crystallography purposes. My thoughts are currently going towards a
> 8-core Apple Pro (or 12-core) with a lot of RAM, with OS X Server,
> which in theory should be able to handle multiple (up to 4) users
> simultaneously running crystallography software. The idea would be
> to have the users access this computer using their own laptops
> (starting their own virtual sessions?) connected to the same network.
>
> Does this sound like a viable strategy, or should it be setup in a
> different way? In that case how? Would it need advanced setup and
> maintenance, or would it be possible to jsut set up a number of user
> accounts in OS X Server, and let it run? I'm reasonably computer
> savvy, but haven't really done something like this before, so I
> would very much appreciate your advice or personal experiences
> regarding this matter.
>
> I know that I could probably get a cheaper computer if I went for a
> pc with linux, but I have more experience with OS X, and would
> therefore want to stay with it.
>
> Thank you in advance,
> Ronnie Berntsson
>
>
>
>
> ----------
> Ronnie Berntsson, PhD
> PostDoctoral Fellow
> Department of Biochemistry
> Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute
> & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials
> University of Groningen
> Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG
> Groningen, The Netherlands
---------------------------------------------
Francis E. Reyes M.Sc.
215 UCB
University of Colorado at Boulder
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