Case Study: The University of Scranton achieves submillisecond VDI performance and reclaims 11,000+ learning hours with NetApp All Flash FAS

The University of Scranton: Going Global with FlashEnabled Classrooms

The University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution focused on multicultural and global learning, needed to support BYOD and e-learning initiatives while delivering responsive lab experiences for resource‑intensive applications like SPSS and MATLAB. Existing VDI bottlenecks caused latency spikes (as high as 50 ms) during class boot storms, degrading student experience and limiting the university’s ability to scale virtual desktops for remote and international students.

Scranton moved its VMware Horizon View VDI to NetApp All Flash FAS8040 (while using FAS8040 for critical apps) running clustered Data ONTAP, enabling a seamless, no‑downtime transition with existing SnapMirror replication. The result: sustained sub‑millisecond latency, 50% faster desktop login times, more than 11,000 student hours reclaimed annually, 700 virtual desktops in production (1,300‑desktop pilot for staff), improved performance for heavy apps, reduced IT maintenance, and better support for BYOD and global enrollment.

The University of Scranton

Lee J. DeAngelis

Senior Systems Administrator