What is Operating System Streaming? 

Operating system streaming delivers the speed, flexibility, and power of a centrally managed, full PC, without requiring a significant infrastructure upgrade and without overloading the existing network. OS streaming (sometimes called diskless computing or stateless computing) makes use of networking advances to dramatically improve software distribution and desktop management.

OS streaming builds on the benefits of centrally managed thin clients, but delivers the speed and functionality of a fully loaded PC. With OS streaming, computers boot and run from an image file stored on the network, in a fashion similar to audio streaming. With audio streaming, songs are maintained on a central server and then streamed to a client PC on demand; with OS streaming, the actual operating system and the applications are streamed to the desktop from a central server when the PC is booted up from a disk image file and when any applications or libraries are loaded.

In the OS streaming architecture, only those files required for the desktop to function are downloaded (the operating system and the applications). So, while a full-blown instance of the operating system may exceed 1 GB, only a fraction of this runs in the PC’s memory at any given time.

Operating System Streaming Use Cases

• Call centers providing on demand delivery of applications to a diskless client while maintaining centralized IT management.
• Diskless workstations without the need for persistent storage are ideal for classified work environments. Eliminating local storage on a locked down, diskless client increases security while network storage provides scalability.
• OS streaming also provides benefits in education environments, where maintenance costs can be prohibitive. Most network maintenance costs—and most problems—stem from the need to configure and support every PC on an individual basis.
• OS streaming can also make the introduction of new operating systems simpler. When users turn on their PCs, they can be presented with a simple menu that lets them easily choose which operating system they want to use for that session. They can switch between operating systems by simply rebooting and making a different choice.

The AMD Difference

At the core of enterprise computing, regardless of the architecture, is the server and the server processor. AMD manufactures processors with a wide range of technology options that can be tailored to enhance a variety of computing architectures. AMD processors support the performance and isolation requirements of the virtualization technology used in VDI and Terminal Services, in addition to the low power requirements and memory requirements for concurrent users and applications demanded by Blade PCs and OS streaming.