The term thin client originated in the 90's to describe a new category of client devices such as Network Computers, X Terminal (supporting X Window Systems) and Windows-based Terminals (WBTs) that run "thin" operating systems locally.

Today, the term thin client computing defines a network-based approach to information processing where all applications and data are centrally hosted on a server and accessed using a simple terminal, referred to as a thin client. Thin client are comprised of both cost-effective hardware devices and software elements that provide customers with access to centrally-controlled applications. This is different from a client-server architecture where some of the data and applications reside on PC’s spread throughout the organisation. Because no applications or data are resident on the desktop, it is "thin" when compared to the traditional "fat" PC.

Apart from the very simple desktop management and elimination of frequent desktop upgrades, thin client computing differs greatly from the mainframe-terminal model in three primary ways:

Access to all network operating environments: thin client computing provides simultaneous network-based access to applications running in multiple environments—including Windows, UNIX, Linux, legacy, and Java—from one thin terminal. The mainframe computing model usually provided a connection between the terminal and one mainframe host only.

Local processing: while character terminals provided very rudimentary local capabilities, the thin clients contain powerful CPUs that are used for a variety of display and input-output functions and also run local emulators, a web browser and Java-based applications. Keynux thin clients are also designed to run applications locally.

Graphical desktop iInterface: ASCII character terminals provided access primarily to character-based applications while the thin clients present a user with the familiar Windows or X Window graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and provide full multimedia support for video, audio and high-resolution imaging.

Thin clients can access many different types of server based applications on practically any operating environment, whether Unix, Linux, Windows® or legacy systems. Such applications can be divided in three categories:

X Window System applications

With this architecture, data and applications are hosted on the servers. If for most manufacturers, thin client computing is limited to applications centrally processed on servers and remotely accessed using a simple graphics based terminal, Keynux approach is different.

With Keynux thin client architecture, the following two modes of operation are supported:

Keynux thin clients can support both execution modes concurrently. This means that some applications can be executed remotely while others are executed locally. It is the role of the systems administrator to define which applications must be executed locally or remotely, to optimize servers load, network bandwidth and end-user's productivity.

Web based computing

Web based computing is where applications are deployed using a form of HTML (ie HTML, XML or Dynamic HTML), Java or a mixture of both. Applications and data are hosted on central servers and are connected to the web. Web browsers can then be used to access the application. The architecture doesn't use the same protocol as X Window System computing, but a protocole such as HTML to transmit screens. Some applications can also be run locally if Java is used. All Keynux thin clients contain built in web browsers for easy access to web based applications. With web based applications, security must be reenforced to protect companies against hacking and unwanted intrusion into corporate networks.

Legacy applications (green screen applications)

This form of server based computing refers to older mainframe or mini-computer applications running centrally and accessed using ASCII text terminals. This form of server based computing is in decline, being replaced by Unix-, Linux- or Windows-based Client/Server or web based architectures.

The Keynux thin client infrastructure is a complete, end-to-end solution - not just devices, not just client management software - for accessing, delivering, and managing information over networks. It ensures ease of deployment and use, high-end service and support and provides critical functionality on the desktop.

Thin client computing translates to simpler, more cost effective access to information. It is great for organisations with PC’s who want to have access to their traditional applications while getting rid of the cost and hassle. Ease of management, rapid deployment and outstanding reliability are the key benefits of thin client computing. These benefits are currently driving the market growth.