Wyse Technology released a utility that allows administrators to “instantly restore” their Linux- and Windows-based thin client devices in case of damage or misuse. The “Wyse USB Firmware Tool” (left) saves device configurations to USB memory sticks, which can then be used as needed, says Wyse.

(Click here for a larger view of Wyse's USB Firmware Tool)

Unlike PCs, thin client devices rarely crash, but it is possible for their firmware to be damaged by misuse or improper administration, Wyse says. To get around this problem, the Wyse USB Firmware Tool can save a device's firmware to a standard USB memory stick, which can subsequently be used to boot and restore the device if necessary, the company adds.

With the Wyse USB Firmware Tool, users can successfully configure a USB key to:

• Copy a firmware image from a thin client (for use on another thin client, for example)
  
• Update a firmware image to a thin client (to upgrade firmware)
  
• Replicate USB keys (containing the original configuration) for multiple firmware updates

The Wyse USB Firmware Tool requires a desktop PC for initial setup of a USB stick. (The company says it has tested SanDisk Cruzer and Kingston DataTraveler devices, though other brands should work too.) This approach helps ensure that there is more free storage available than that taken up by the OS image on the thin client being backed up. Once set up, a USB stick can boot, backup, and restore Wyse thin clients running either Linux or Windows XP Embedded (XPe), the company adds.

Linux-based Wyse thin clients supported by the Wyse USB Firmware Tool include the R50L, R50LE, V50, V50L, V50LE, and X50L, says the company. Supported Windows XPe thin clients are said to include the G90, R90L, R90LE, V90, V90L, V90LE, and X90Le.

Stated Daghan Altas, a product manager at Wyse, “As cloud computing architectures continue to grow, the means to access cloud-based applications simply and reliably grows more important every day. If the device firmware is somehow damaged, the fix is easy, free, and quick.”

Availability

For further information, and to download the Wyse USB Firmware Tool, see the company's website, here.

 
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