Sun Ray 170
Gallery
Image of OSfOM.org Collection's Sun Ray 170.
Technical Specifications
| Model: | Sun Ray 170 |
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| Processor: Math Copro: |
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The Sun Ray 170: A Thin Client with a View
Sun Microsystems introduced the Sun Ray 170 around December 2004 as an all-in-one thin client in its Sun Ray product line. Developing out of Sun Labs research from the late 1990s, the system used a "stateless" architecture. It lacked local storage and had minimal local processing power, relying instead on a central server running Sun Ray Server Software to execute and deliver user sessions.
The hardware was built directly into the housing of a 17-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of 1280×1024. Built-in interfaces included Ethernet, audio jacks, USB ports for peripherals, and a video port for external projectors. It also contained an integrated smart card reader, which enabled "hot-desking" by allowing users to access their active session from any terminal upon inserting their card.
Sun Ray Server Software ran on Solaris or Linux servers, centralizing system administration, updates, and software deployment rather than managing individual desktop PCs. Sun used the platform to reflect its "the network is the computer" approach to computing infrastructure.
While thin clients did not replace conventional PCs, organizations deployed Sun Ray systems in business and educational settings that required centralized management and access control. Oracle discontinued the Sun Ray product line following its acquisition of Sun.