DESKTOP TRANSFORMATION USING VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE (VDI)

Transcription

1 DESKTOP TRANSFORMATION USING VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE (VDI)

2 DESKTOP TRANSFORMATION Managing the desktop lifecycle continues to be one of the most demanding and costly elements of IT operations. SOLUTION CHOICES VDI solutions fall into two categories which are rapidly converging. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) has long promised to be the answer to this problem but has proven to be costly and complex to deploy resulting in IT managers parking VDI as a solution. However, the demands to refresh aging Windows XP estates and coping with BYOD has caused IT managers to think again and the ever improving price performance ratio offered by the latest Intel processors coupled with massive reductions in RAM costs has changed the dynamics of VDI. The first category is shared session technology now referred to as Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) which is based on Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and often referred to as Terminal Services. Citrix XenApp is an enhancement of Terminal Services for enterprise scalability. The second category is based on a user having a dedicated virtual machine (VM) running on a Remote Desktop Virtualisation Host (RDVH) running a hypervisor such as Microsoft Hyper-V or VMware vsphere. This dedicated VM can be non-persistent where a new VM is created each time a user logs on or persistent where a user s VM is permanently available.

3 VDI SOFTWARE Both RDSH and RDVH solution types requires VDI software to automate and secure the provisioning and brokering processes. The choice of VDI software is a key design decision and it is recommended that a specialist who has knowledge of all VDI types is engaged to guide through the options. Nviron can provide this advice. Nviron uses its own VDI options scoring tool complemented by in house expertise of all the major VDI solutions to help you make an informed decision. The following table details our best for rating for each solution: VDI INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTION Microsoft RDS Dell Quest vworkspace Citrix XenDesktop Citrix VDI in a Box VMware View BEST FOR Hyper-V optimisation, lowest licencing cost, RDSH and RDVH coexistence. Hyper-V optimisation, high latency links, clients for wide range of devices, performance optimisation, RDSH and RDVH co-existence. Wide hypervisor support, high latency links, clients for wide range of devices, RDSH (XenApp) and RDVH co-existence, existing Citrix users, large scale complex deployments. RDVH is only requirement, no SAN deployment, simplicity. RDVH is only requirement, existing VMware users seeking alternatives to Microsoft.

4 DELL DVS REFERENCE ARCHITECTURES To de-risk VDI projects Nvrion has adopted Dell DVS reference architectures as its primary engagement model. DVS reference architectures are available for Quest vworkspace, Citrix XenDesktop, Citrix VDI in a Box, VMware View and Microsoft RDS. The compute power required to support a given user base is defined in detail giving the re-assurance that the solution will deliver the required end user experience. Dell Wyse offers one of the most comprehensive range of thin clients and associated management infrastructures to further streamline the desktop experience and management processes. As a Dell Premier Partner Nviron has access to the full power of the Dell organisation and can offer a single vendor end to end solution based on appropriate DVS reference architectures. The IOPS required to support a VDI workload are a key design consideration. The Dell DVS reference architecture fully addresses this issue by providing for the IOPS via internal server or external SAN storage tiers.

5 LICENSING Licensing VDI is an important consideration and can account for a large proportion of the once off and ongoing costs. The Microsoft license costs apply regardless of VDI software chosen. At a high level the following rules apply: Each device or user connecting to a shared session running on a RDSH server must have a Microsoft RDS CAL. When a user based CAL model is in place a remote user can access from any device. When technically appropriate RDSH VDI offers the lowest cost license model. Each device connecting to a virtual machine running on a RDVH hypervisor must have either a full Windows desktop license with current Software Assurance (SA) or a current VDA subscription. Both these models provide access rights when the regular user of the corporate license is using a device external to the corporate network. This does not apply to BYOD devices brought into the workplace which must be separately licensed via VDA or a Windows 8 companion subscription. VDI Infrastructure also needs to be licensed. Microsoft RDS offers the most cost effective proposition, followed by Quest vworkspace in the mid-range with Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View still carrying a premium price. Licensing cost is not the only consideration and the ability to support the required end user experience and management functionality are also key.

6 APPLICATION VIRTUALISATION Application virtualisation technology is complementary to VDI and can simplify deployment where it is not feasible to include all possible application combinations into a single gold image. Application Virtualisation solutions such as Microsoft APP-V stream a user s application set into their session on an on demand basis after logon. Application virtualisation is also relevant to physical desktop sharing and is often deployed as a half-way house between traditional PCs with locally installed programs and full VDI.

7 TRUSTED PARTNER Nviron is accredited with all the leading VDI vendors and equally importantly is a Microsoft Gold Partner capable of integrating solutions with Active Directory and associated follow me file systems to support user state virtualisation which is key to the end user any device roaming experience. Nviron runs regular VDI technology events and workshops. Visit to find out more or call us on or info@nviron.co.uk.

8 CONTACT DETAILS Nviron Limited, Chester Road, Preston Brook, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 3FR, United Kingdom HOW TO FIND US From M56, leave Motorway at Junction 11, take the exit signposted A56 Preston Brook. Telephone : +44 (0) Fax : +44 (0) Follow this road for roughly 1 mile, go straight over the roundabout in front of the O2 building. General enquiries: info@nviron.co.uk Sales enquiries: sales@nviron.co.uk About 400 metres after this roundabout, there are a small number of office buildings on the right. Nviron Limited is the last of the brick built offices, immediately before a white building. FS32756