XenApp and XenDesktop: Application Virtualization and Desktop Virtualization are Better Together

Transcription

1 XenApp and XenDesktp July 2008 XenApp and XenDesktp: Applicatin Virtualizatin and Desktp Virtualizatin are Better Tgether This dcument is designed t help Citrix XenApp custmers understand hw and when Citrix XenDesktp can be used with Citrix XenApp t deliver virtual desktps t further reduce applicatin and desktp cmputing csts and prvide greater IT and user flexibility cmpared t traditinal applicatin and desktp management mdels. Installing applicatins n a lcal OS has always been prblematic. While users are mst familiar with lcal applicatins, IT must deply applicatins, manage updates, and apply patches t each desktp device individually. Citrix slved that applicatin delivery prblem 19 years ag, intrducing hsted applicatins, where applicatins are installed n servers in the data center and then accessed via any client device. Then, with the shared desktps capability in XenApp, Citrix gave IT managers the ability t prvide a standardized, server OS desktp with installed applicatins t users, prviding a cnsistent wrkspace frm anywhere. Mst recently, applicatin streaming in XenApp extended applicatin virtualizatin t the client device by prviding ffline applicatin use while giving IT centralized management f applicatins. With these three technlgies prvided by XenApp, it seems that IT has the best f bth wrlds: centralized applicatin and desktp management with ffline applicatin use. Hwever, fr mst use cases, each desktp is still managed in the traditinal way: the OS is running n the physical PC, increasing desktp management csts. With Citrix XenDesktp, a Windws XP r Vista OS is delivered as a virtual desktp running in the data center. Applicatins are delivered t XenDesktp virtual desktps using XenApp. T IT administratrs, this means they n lnger manage individual instances f the OS and all f the cntinual updates, patches, and security fixes, n each physical PC. Instead, they manage a single instance f the OS in the data center, which is cmbined with user settings and applicatins delivered by XenApp at the time f lgn, t prvide users with their wn persnalized desktp and applicatins delivered frm the data center. By using XenApp with XenDesktp, rganizatins dramatically lwer the TCO and imprve IT agility fr managing physical PCs cmpared t traditinal desktp management mdels. Desktp virtualizatin is an appealing slutin, hwever, desktp virtualizatin slutins that d nt separate applicatins frm desktp PCs, unnecessarily increase csts and reduce desktp management flexibility. Best Practice: Separate Apps frm Desktps Early Desktp virtualizatin mdels, which first became available a cuple f years ag, simply replicate a cpy f the user s OS and installed applicatins in the data center. They typically dn t slve the cre issue; they just mask the prblem by mving it frm the physical t the virtual. Frm a hardware perspective, this is nt a prblem given the availability f fast, multi-cre, multiprcessr 64-bit servers, dzens f desktp sessins can be efficiently hsted n a single machine. Hwever, managing the SAN infrastructure became cst-prhibitive. Fr each user, a separate instance f the OS and their respective applicatins were stred in the data center. Image clning, where a single OS image is created and then delivered t virtual desktps, saved strage space and was simple t maintain until an OS patch r

2 2 update was required. When the riginal OS image was updated, the image persistence was lst and new clnes were regenerated and distributed t the virtual desktps. Frm an IT administratin perspective, little has changed. Individual OS instances are still managed, nly this time the numerus instances are running centrally, simply mving the existing PC prblem int the data center. Manage a single applicatin instance First, by separating the OS frm the applicatins using applicatin virtualizatin technlgy, a single instance f an applicatin is managed in a central applicatin repsitry and then delivered t the end user. With an applicatin in a central repsitry, plicy-based decisins can be made using the applicatin virtualizatin technlgy t determine hw that applicatin shuld be delivered. Fr example, if a user clicks n a desktp icn fr a streamed versin f Excel 2007, that applicatin will be streamed t the user n first use and then be available ffline. Alternatively, if a user selects a hsted versin f Excel 2007, accessed via a desktp icn n a physical PC r a shared desktp (e.g., XenApp published desktp), a Citrix XenApp sessin wuld be initiated. Finally, if a user initiates a virtual desktp sessin using XenDesktp, that applicatin is delivered t the virtual desktp and then a cmplete Windws desktp, including applicatins, is delivered t the end user. In all three scenaris, IT manages nly a single instance f the applicatin, which can be made available n-demand t thusands f users. Manage a single OS instance Secndly, by maintaining a single, clean, updated OS image fr all desktp clients in the data center, plicy-based decisin can be made n hw t best deliver the OS. By using OS streaming r virtual OS prvisining, strage and supprt issues are reduced by eliminating the need t maintain a separate OS image fr each virtual desktp. Instead, a single, ptimized Windws XP r Vista image in maintained n the netwrk and made available n-demand acrss the rganizatin. All virtual desktps pixie bt (Prebt executin Envirnment) this same image ver the netwrk, applying user-specific settings and prfiles at run-time. Since all OS images are delivered by reference via streaming, users always run the mst up-t-date, patched OS versin. Gne are the days f updating hundreds r thusands f desktp PCs. Instead, a single glden OS image is delivered t each user the next time they lgn. The traditinal desktp virtualizatin mdel simply replicates a cpy f the user s OS and installed applicatins in the data center, requiring IT t manage multiple instances f the same applicatin and OS. This results in significant SAN strage csts. It s n wnder that many cmpanies fund traditinal desktp virtualizatin cst-prhibitive. The benefits f separating applicatins frm the desktp OS as cmpared t the traditinal desktp virtualizatin and desktp management mdels are summarized as fllws: TCO Maintaining a single instance f each OS and applicatin fr the entire rganizatin significantly reduces SAN strage and IT administratin csts. Agility Rll-ut new versins and updates f applicatins, Windws XP, and Vista t 100 s r 1,000 s f users in minutes, nt days r weeks. Manageability With fewer applicatin and OS instances t manage, there are fewer parts fr IT t manage and trublesht. Only Citrix prvides integrated applicatin delivery, whether prvided by any editin f XenApp r XenApp fr Virtual Desktps functinality available in XenDesktp Enterprise and Platinum editins. Nw it is imprtant t determine if the true IT prblem is an applicatin r desktp prblem.

3 3 Step 1: Is it an app r desktp prblem? T crrectly determine the prblem, it is imprtant t understand the cmmn ways applicatins are run and types f desktp envirnments. Applicatins are cmmnly run in ne f three ways: Physical Applicatins are installed n the physical PC and must be cmpatible with the OS. Any applicatin updates and patches are als installed n the same physical PC. Hsted Using server-side applicatin virtualizatin, applicatins are installed n servers in the data center and then made available t users thrugh any client device. These applicatins are stred in the XenApp Applicatin Hub. Streamed Applicatins are packaged, which prduces an image f the applicatin in a way that predictively ptimizes delivery t the client, and then are stred n a streaming server. In the case f XenApp, streamed applicatins are stred in the Applicatin Hub. When users first select a streamed applicatin, it is delivered ndemand t the client and is run in an islatin envirnment. On subsequent use, the streamed applicatin is nearly indistinguishable frm a lcally-installed applicatin. There are als three cmmn types f desktp envirnments: Physical The OS runs n the lcal desktp device. Users are able t persnalize their desktp and settings are stred lcally. Shared Previusly knwn as published desktps, XenApp is used t deliver a Windws Server OS desktp with applicatins t end users. This desktp can be custmized by IT administratrs, but ding s fr each persn is impractical. The shared desktp is a cmmn desktp fr multiple users. Windws Server 2003 and Windws Server 2008 desktps are similar but nt identical t Windws XP and Windws Vista desktps, respectively. Persnalized Als knwn as virtual desktps, XenDesktp can be used t deliver a Windws XP r Windws Vista desktp frm the data center while prviding users the ability t persnalize it. User settings are abstracted frm the OS glden image and bth are assembled at run-time. This enables IT t use a single OS image, which reduces strage requirements, and users are able t persnalize their desktp. Nw that the cmmn types f applicatins and desktps have been defined, what is the fundamental prblem yu are trying t slve fr yur rganizatin? Are yu prviding a new line-f-business applicatin t users, whether at headquarters r t remte ffices? D yu intend t simplify management and reduce applicatin lifecycle csts? Or d yu intend t simplify and reduce the csts f desktp management? Cmmn applicatin and desktp management prblems include: Applicatin prblems Slw perfrmance f client/server applicatins ver the WAN Remte access t applicatins Security f lcally-installed applicatins Incmpatibility f c-resident applicatins Frequent patching r applicatin updates t 100 s r 1000 s f PCs Maintaining user data in the data center, nt n the PC

4 4 Desktp prblems Reduce the desktp lifecycle management cst Desktp management flexibility Nw that the prblem has been defined as an applicatin r desktp prblem, the next step is t determine which type f wrkers has this prblem. Step 2: Which wrkers have this prblem? Depending n usage scenari and business need, getting the right level f balance between user flexibility and centralized cntrl is different acrss user grups within each rganizatin. Therefre, it is imprtant t identify the target wrkers and their usage scenaris t best meet the needs f the business. Knwledge wrkers, which accunt fr up t 55% 1 f an rganizatin s wrkfrce, require mre persnalizatin and cntrl f their desktps. Mrever, they demand using the mre familiar Windws XP r Windws Vista desktp OS. In the past, there was n cst-effective way t centralize and manage the delivery f XP r Vista desktps fr these wrkers. Desktp virtualizatin changes that. Task Wrker -- Call center representatives and retail emplyees are examples f task wrkers. They use bank branch teller sftware, terminal-based applicatins, CRM r even line-f-business applicatins. They usually d nt have a dedicated wrk statin and must be able t access their applicatins and data frm any device within their wrkplace. Frm the rganizatin's standpint, the mst imprtant capabilities fr task wrker scenaris are ensuring a highly secure, lw-cst slutin and enabling raming in an always-cnnected envirnment s that users can wrk prductively frm shared client devices, while data is stred securely and centrally. Office Wrker Financial analysts, lawyers, and designers typically run applicatins which require a rich user experience t ensure high prductivity. These applicatins run n the lcal PC. T prvide greater prductivity fr these wrkers, it is imprtant that rganizatins enable them t have access t their highly persnalized set f applicatins and data. It is als imprtant t prvide the same applicatins frm different PCs acrss rganizatin r in situatins where the wrkers need t cntinue uninterrupted wrk as in the case f bad weather, natural disasters, etc. Mbile Wrker Wrkers wh must wrk frm different lcatins n the crprate campus, visit branch ffice lcatins, r wrk frm htel rms, require access t their data and applicatins anywhere, anytime when nline r discnnected frm the netwrk. These users expect t have their data with them wherever they g. It is IT s rle t make sure data are available anywhere, whether securely stred n the lcal device r accessed frm the crprate netwrk, and t reduce dwntime. Nw that the prblem has been identified as either an applicatin r desktp prblem and the wrker type has been defined, the apprpriate Citrix slutin can be identified. 1 Citrix Market Research, 2008

5 5 Step 3: Identify the slutin The ptimal slutin can be identified in the fllwing table: Hsted & Streamed Applicatins Shared Desktp Persnalized Desktp Wrker Type Descriptin Mbile Wrker (traveling salespersn, dctr) Hsted apps are accessed frm Web Interface, Start Menu, r the desktp n lcally installed OS Streamed apps run in an islatin envirnment n lcally installed XP r Vista Task Wrker (call center, retail sales) XenApp is used t deliver a WS2003 r WS2008 desktp. The desktp is accessed frm Web Interface, Start Menu, r the desktp n the lcally installed is OS Applicatins are accessed nly frm the XenApp-delivered desktp Office Wrker (financial analyst, lawyer, designer) The OS, applicatins, and user settings are virtualized and then re-assembled at run-time XenApp used t create hsted applicatins which are delivered t the virtual desktp (XD-E, P nly) XenApp used t stream applicatins, which run in an islatin envirnment n the PC (XD-E, P nly) A glden OS image is shared acrss multiple users and is prvisined nthe-fly each time a virtual desktp sessin is started Strengths Fastest way t deliver and maintain applicatins in an rganizatin Lw TCO fr delivery f applicatins Streamed apps prvide ffline access Lcked-dwn user envirnment Lwest TCO thrugh desktp and app virtualizatin Better User Acceptance than XenApp- Delivered Desktp -- Feels like a lcally installed XP r Vista OS t users Less Applicatin Cmpatibility Testing if the app runs n XP r Vista, then it shuld run n an XP r Vista virtual desktp OS Islatin OS crruptins/errrs caused by ne user d nt affect ther users Persnalizatin Users can select wn wallpaper, brwser favrites, mapped drives, etc. Lcal App Installatin allwed, but apps remain nly fr duratin f sessin Limitatins Traditinal management f desktp OS Server OS Desktp WS2003/2008 desktp is different than familiar XP r Hardware Csts -- Higher cmpared t XenApp-delivered desktps Vista desktp N OS Islatin OS crruptin/errrs caused by ne user may affect all users TCO $ $ $ $ $ $

6 6 Step 4: Justify with Cst Analysis The ttal cst f acquisitin and ttal cst f wnership f using XenApp and XenDesktp is summarized in the tables belw. Ttal Cst f Acquisitin (per user; based n 1,000 users) Required Items XenApp Shared Desktps fr Task Wrkers XenDesktp Persnalized Desktps fr Office Wrkers XenApp App Delivery t Office/Mbile Wrkers Endpint Device $300 $300 $1,000 Mnitr $200 $200 $200 Server $50 $350 $50 Strage - $20 - Micrsft VECD - $110 - Micrsft TS CAL $150 $150 $150 Citrix Licensing $450 $295 $450 TOTAL $1,150 $1,425 $1,550 Ttal Cst f Ownership (per user; based n 1,000 users) Required Items XenApp Shared Desktps fr Task Wrkers XenDesktp Persnalized Desktps fr Office Wrkers XenApp App Delivery t Office/Mbile Wrkers Traditinal Desktps Supprt, Training $685 $780 $1,400 $2,730 SW Admin Operatins $215 $215 $440 $880 Subscriptin Advantage $50 $45 $50 - Server and Strage Admin $10 $50 $10 - Micrsft VECD - $ TOTAL $960 $1,200 $1,900 $3,610 Determining the best applicatin delivery infrastructure invlves understanding the ttal cst f wnership acrss slutins. XenApp cntinues t prvide the lwest TCO fr task wrkers, while XenDesktp with XenApp fr Virtual Desktps, prvides the best TCO fr ffice wrkers. Be separating applicatins and desktps, yu benefit frm imprved applicatin management, better capacity planning, and reduced strage and server requirements.