LG's "Zero Client" monitors can work without a CPU, memory

Just days afterwards launching its own cloud storage service, LG has announced the "P Series," a new line of cloud monitors aimed at company networks. Aside from this the monitor itself, its "zero client" work stations need only a LAN cable, a keyboard and a mouse to work properly, cutting down dramatically on costs and allowing companies to ditch desktop and laptop computers altogether.

The monitors use the PC-over-IP protocol

The monitors use the PC-over-IP protocol, a centralized, server-based model in which the host takes care of near all the number-crunching - it fetches the data, renders the graphics, compresses and encrypts the rendered images pixel by pixel, and at that time sends them over to the client machine using the low-latency UDP protocol, the same as is used for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) chat.

On the receiving end, the customers' only job is to decode the image and display it, eliminating the need for a CPU, memory or storage of their own. This simpler hardware setup translates into lower maintenance costs, no incompatibility issues between host and client, and a longer life cycle for the monitor. The client machines don't need to install operating systems or software updates, which are managed centrally along with the data, resulting in increased network security.

The system as well adopts the Universal Power over Ethernet research developed by Cisco, which feeds up to 60W of electric power via the LAN data cable. This is plenty for the monitors, which can consume as little as 15W. Virtualization via VMware enables a single server to support a large number of monitors, and lets administrators perform system updates without causing interruptions.

"Cloud Computing may be amazingly amazing, nevertheless so is having your own data on your own system, with your own power supply, when "the cloud" and it's hardware and connections fail.