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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 17, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-r <br /> SUBJECT: Desktop / Laptop Replacements and Upgrades <br /> DEPARTMENT: Information Technologies PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Contract Jim Northrup, 919-245-2276 <br /> Cirtual PC Description / Diagram (Last <br /> Page) <br /> PURPOSE: To authorize the Manager to sign a contract with CenTegra in the amount of <br /> $101,400 to convert 150 existing desktop computers into virtual desktop computers. <br /> BACKGROUND: A total of $200,000 was approved during the current fiscal year budget for PC <br /> Replacements, i.e., refreshing the County's oldest desktop computer technology. The PC <br /> Replacement / Cirtual Desktop project will be funded with that current funding combined with <br /> carryover funds from the PC Replacements capital line item. Both a virtual desktop replacement <br /> piece and a traditional physical PC replacement piece are included in this project. <br /> In an effort to start transitioning to a virtual desktop computer environment, Information <br /> Technologies (IT) initially transitioned 30 physical PCs into a virtual environment during a nine <br /> month pilot project. A virtual desktop environment is a framework in which less powerful <br /> computers, rather than depending on their individual limited capabilities and software, connect <br /> to a more powerful computer/server in order to take advantage of the more powerful computer's <br /> resources, storage capacity and updated software. <br /> IT is now recommending implementing a virtual desktop environment where feasible. This <br /> project is a means to extend the County's hardware investment by lengthening the desktop <br /> replacement cycle from 4 to 6 years to 6 to 8 years. Rather than switching out a physical <br /> desktop PC with a new PC, the old PC remains on the desktop and simply connects to a more <br /> powerful computer/server. A total of 150 existing desktop computers will be converted into <br /> virtual desktop computers. Staff requests that the Board authorize the Manager to sign the <br /> contract to implement this conversion (the cost is above the Manager's signature authority). <br /> Not all of the oldest computers will be virtualized. A major component of moving to a virtual <br /> desktop platform is identifying where replacing a desktop with a virtual desktop makes sense <br /> and where it does not. Based on the Information Technologies pilot project and industry <br /> standards, IT is estimating that approximately 60% of the slated desktops will be virtualized and <br />