Launch of collaborative database for peripherals and device support allows customers and partners to innovate on the desktop

Reading, UK 10th February 2014 – IGEL Technology, Europe’s largest provider of Linux thin and zero clients, today invited customers and partners to collaborate on new desktop solutions with the launch of its Third Party Database.

The new IGEL Third Party Database allows customers and partners to test, check and share information on supported hardware and peripherals for IGEL compatible devices to help them create innovative desktop solutions.

The database offers a comprehensive overview on the numerous drivers for third party peripherals and desktop devices included in the IGEL operating system. The database also shows at a glance whether the hardware has been successfully tested and verified by IGEL or IGEL customers and partners.

In order to expand and improve the database on an ongoing basis, users can also add their own comments and information relating to hardware and share valuable knowledge.

“This open initiative is all about helping to share our software knowledge and understanding with our customers and partners to assist them in getting the best from their desktop infrastructure,” explained Simon Richards, IGEL UK & Ireland Managing Director. “As the European leader in Linux thin and zero clients with ongoing investment in new drivers for peripherals and desktop devices, this collaborative approach reflects our Linux open-source ethos.”

Intuitively designed, users first select a main hardware category (e.g. smartcard reader, digital dictation etc.) followed by a manufacturer and then a specific product. The results are classified using a traffic light color system. The user can see at a glance whether the hardware is officially verified by IGEL (green), has been successfully tested by third parties (yellow) or has not been tested successfully (red). User comments can also be added to a database entry, allowing details of possible limitations or installation information for specific end devices, for example, to be updated instantly. Customers can also submit their own test results. These are checked by the IGEL development department and then published in the database. The Third Party Database applies to all drivers integrated into Linux systems as well as to the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter 2 (UDC2), for which supported graphics cards and sound cards can be checked.

Technical information portal
In addition to the new Third Party Database, IGEL has also launched a new technical information portal called edocs.igel.com. Sorted according to topic areas and designed for viewing in a browser, it allows users to view step-by-step instructions, best practice reports and system user guides and download them in PDF format.

With edocs.igel.com, IGEL now offers its customers and partners a platform via which they can quickly and easily obtain answers to many technical questions and gain an insight into new developments in IGEL's products. edocs.igel.com offers not only information on current firmware updates but also best practice and how-to documents, manuals, IGEL instructions and system user guides. In addition to a clear directory of topics and a full text search, an alphabetical index makes it easier to navigate on the page. As a result, the IGEL "knowledge base" offers customers the ideal basis for working with IGEL software and hardware and allows partners to provide even better advice for customers.