Getting 6 Users on 1 Computer… at the Same Time! (But How?)

Summary

The video tests the NComputing X550, a desktop-virtualization kit designed to let up to six users share one PC at once, each with a separate monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. It was intended for settings such as school computer labs and public libraries, where sharing a host computer could reduce hardware costs and maintenance.

Hardware and setup

• The X550 kit includes a PCI card for the host PC and five small “access devices” for user stations. The host itself serves as the sixth station.
• The card was installed in a Windows XP desktop. For the three additional stations tested, the system exceeded NComputing’s stated minimums: a 2.4 GHz or dual-core CPU and 1 GB of RAM. The host had a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 and 1.5 GB of RAM.
• The access devices connect to the PCI card using Cat 5e or shielded Cat 6 cable. Despite using Ethernet-style connectors, these links aren’t Ethernet network connections. They also carry power, so the devices need no separate power adapter.
• The X550’s cable limits are short: 5 m for unshielded Cat 5e or 10 m for shielded Cat 6. In contrast, NComputing’s more expensive L-series clients used regular Ethernet, supported up to 31 users per PC, and could connect through network switches.

Software, administration, and user features

• The host software, VSpace, creates separate Windows sessions and provides a management console for viewing and configuring stations. Administrators can assign users, set programs to launch at login, change display settings, send messages, and control whether stations can shut down or restart the host.
• The host’s network connection was shared with the access devices. Each station had its own audio output, and the presenter demonstrated that audio could be isolated between stations.
• The access devices have no USB ports. USB devices must be plugged into the host, but the console can assign access by USB port. By default, a connected drive was visible to all sessions; the presenter changed the settings so it was available only to selected stations. The optical drive remained accessible, with access restrictions left to standard Windows policies.
• The kit’s administrator tools and some account restrictions still rely on Windows administration features, such as user permissions and Group Policy.

Tests and results

• Registration failed with a network error, suggesting the activation service was unavailable. The software warned that unregistered sessions were limited to 60 minutes. The presenter was able to continue testing, but the trial warning appeared at login.
• Attempting to update Windows XP through Legacy Update caused the access devices to repeatedly disconnect and reconnect. VSpace also reported a driver-version mismatch, while its updater required activation. System Restore returned the PC to its working state.
• The presenter successfully ran four copies of Half-Life at once—one on the host and one on each of the three tested access devices. However, the sessions could not successfully join the same LAN game; attempts to connect produced network errors. Running the game in all sessions also strained the old PC, and the 60-minute limit logged the users out.
• A 50 ft (15 m) Cat 5e cable—three times the stated maximum—still delivered a display, but keyboard and mouse input did not work reliably. The presenter also observed a loud audio disturbance while testing the overlength connection.

Overall assessment

The X550 demonstrated how several users could share one ordinary desktop PC, with separate Windows sessions and useful controls for peripherals and station behavior. Its main practical limitations were the short, proprietary cable links; dependence on an aging activation and software-update system; and the need for a sufficiently capable host to handle simultaneous workloads.

Speakers and sources

• Michael MJD — presenter and tester.
• NComputing X550 documentation and software — product instructions and administration tools referenced during setup.
• FlexiSpot — sponsor; the video included a separate promotion for the E7 Plus standing desk.