Comparing Application and Desktop Virtualization Technologies. Comparing Application and Desktop Virtualization Technologies

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1 Presented by: James Engelhard mindshift Technologies, Inc. Ben Di Marco Heenan Blaikie LLP Table of Contents Application Virtualization What is Application Virtualization? Advantages of Application Virtualization Virtualization Technology Vendor Offerings Desktop Virtualization What is VDI? Vendor Offerings What Problems Does a VDI Solve? What Problems Still Exist? What New Problems are Presented? Sample Solution Architecture What is Application Virtualization? Application virtualization is an umbrella term that describes software technologies which h improve portability, manageability and compatibility of applications by encapsulating them from the underlying operating system on which they are executed. A fully virtualized application is not installed on the workstation in the traditional sense, although it is still executed as if it was. Instead, the application is fooled at runtime into believing that it is directly interfacing with the original operating system and all the resources managed by it when in reality, it is not. 1

2 What is Application Virtualization? In a normal computing environment, applications are installed directly into the operating system. Since they all write to shared system files, applications will often conflict with one another often leading to system crashes and instability. What is Application Virtualization With application virtualization, each application runs in its own protective runtime environment, isolating them from each other and the underlying OS. What is Application Virtualization? There are 3 approaches to application virtualization: Standalone: Applications are encapsulated in a single executable. These executables can run instantly from USB, CDROM or local disk. The applications can also be deployed using a management tool such as Microsoft SMS. Streaming: Applications are encapsulated in a single file and are located on the network. When starting the application only the blocks needed to run the application are copied to a local drive (cache). When additional features of the application are used, additional blocks are copied to the local cache. Streaming can be available for standalone virtualized applications accessed from the network or when the virtualized applications are presented with a locally installed agent. Centrally controlled access: Virtualized applications are distributed through a central deployment tool. A locally installed agent is required. The applications can be deployed (executables are copied locally) or shortcuts to the applications (located on a networkshare) can be presented. When using shortcuts, streaming is used to cache files locally. 2

3 What is Application Virtualization Advantages Leverage and enhance existing infrastructure and management tools. Applications will no longer have to be installed on the clients Conflicts between applications are a thing of the past It eliminates the need for regression testing It is possible to use different versions of applications simultaneously Support for Web, Client-Server and Server Based Computing applications Fast roll-out and upgrade of applications Application Virtualization Vendor Offerings There are three serious developers of application virtualization technology. Microsoft Application Virtualization VMWare ThinApp Citrix XenApp Microsoft Application Virtualization Microsoft Application Virtualization (also known as App-V; formerly Microsoft SoftGrid) is the Application Virtualization solution from Microsoft. The architecture is composed of the following layers: Microsoft Systems Center Virtual Application Server, also called SoftGrid Application Server, which hosts virtualized application packages and streams them to the client computers for local execution. Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization for Desktops, also called SoftGrid client, is the client side runtime which requests the application server to stream the application and executes the applications locally. SoftGrid Management Console, the management tool to set up, administer and manage SoftGrid servers. 3

4 Microsoft Application Virtualization Microsoft Application Virtualization is composed mainly of two components - SystemGuard and SoftGrid Sequencer. SystemGuard tracks and analyses configuration repositories and resources used by the application and intercepts the use of these resources, redirecting them to the virtualized instances of the resources. SoftGrid sequencer is the server side component which packages an application for virtualization and streaming. It analyzes the application for the resources that it requires and creates the SystemGuard runtime environment that it will require. It also packages specific DLL files that it might require at the client side. Microsoft Application Virtualization Advantages Microsoft Application Virtualization Real-time centralized administration of application licenses Sequencer uses Active Watch, which ensures that only the application code needed is transferred. As a result, applications will start up quicker for the user Low overhead (~2%) of SystemGuard on client Disadvantages Applications that are directly incorporated into the operating system, such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, cannot be virtualized. IE plug-ins, however, can be virtualized. Applications needing product activation that use hardware characteristics cannot be virtualized. When the application is started on another machine, the hardware characteristics will have been changed. Applications using advanced functionality such as COM, DCOM or DDE (enabling components to communicate) must be sequenced together, or parts of it must be made available in the source OS. 4

5 VMWare ThinApp ThinApp - is the Application Virtualization platform solution from VMWare which allows for the deployment of complex software as a self-contained EXE file which can run instantly without installation from any data source. ThinApp requires no pre-installed software on physical or virtual PCs and no new deployment infrastructure or management tools. ThinApp packages applications in familiar formats (.MSI or.exe) that can plug into existing infrastructure for software license management, deployment, audit and compliance. The core of ThinApp is the Virtual Operating System, a small light-weight component which is embedded with each ThinApped application. This VOS merges a virtual system environment with the real system environment. The ThinApp Virtual OS consists of the Virtual File system (VFS), and Virtual Registry (VREG). The VOS works exclusively in user mode. It can run applications in managed and unmanaged Windows environments without requiring elevated security rights. 5

6 Advantages VMWARE ThinApp Client- and Server-less: client or agent installation is necessary on the host PC. There is one secure executable: which contains the virtualized application and the associated files and registry data. Various ThinApp runtimes can run simultaneously and be used on the same platform: ThinApp is the only virtualization solution that offers support for multiple simultaneously deployed ThinApp clients on the same PC. Portable Deployment: Application and user specific settings can be used completely from a removable storage medium (USB stick/dvd/cd-rom). Add or Remove program integration: Virtualized applications are reproduced in the Add or Remove Programs control panel function. Application Link Free-flowing communication between interdependent virtual applications. Application Link allows interdependent applications to communicate with one another (such as Java,.Net, IE, Office) to eliminate conflicts, reduce application size, and maintain continuity and tracking of software licenses. Disadvantages VMWARE ThinApp Application licensing management is not present: the enforcement of application licensing policies is not yet possible with ThinApp. central management platform or console. Application streaming via the internet is not possible: The streaming of applications via the internet whereby only the necessary data is sent and secured via SSL is not yet possible. Citrix XenApp Citrix XenApp, a member of the Citrix Delivery Center product family, is an end-to-end Windows application delivery system that offers both client side and server side application virtualization ti Applications are managed in a centralized application hub, but are streamed to the user s machine and run in an isolation environment. Applications become an on-demand service which is always available and up to date. Client Side caching technology makes the application available even when not connected to the network 6

7 Citrix XenApp Client Side Client Side - How it Works: Record, Download and Play Citrix XenApp - Client Side Record Applications are packaged using the Profiler, which determines the components and the system resources the application requires and then defines a set of rules for running the application in isolation on the endpoint device. The resulting package is a standard cabinet (.CAB) file that is transparent and is easy to work with and debug. Download The application package is published to a regular network file share. proprietary tools or storage systems are required. Authorized users can start streaming the application simply by clicking on their desktop icon. The application is cached locally, but it is not installed. It runs in isolation, without interfering with other applications on the same device. Play Applications behave just like they were installed locally, but without any of the problems of installation. Files are saved locally and individual settings are preserved. Every time the application is run, it checks for errors or updates and delivers them automatically. The application is managed centrally, but can be used when it is disconnected from the network. Citrix XenApp Server Side Server Side - How it Works: 7

8 Citrix XenApp Server Side The application user interface is delivered to the end user virtually by passing only screen pixels, keystrokes and mouse actions between the client and server over the network. This is done without the need for pushing actual data or software, increasing security especially for users connecting from an extranet or from the internet. This virtualization technology, combined with having both client and server components running together in the data center, typically results in less bandwidth use and faster application performance. During this process, 100% of the application s logic (for both client and server components) executes on the server and, regardless of whether it is Windows, UNIX, Java or Web based, the application can now be accessed from any device or location over any network. With XenApp application virtualization technology, users access applications running on the server the same way they would if the applications were running on the local device (e.g. through desktop icons or the start menu) making this process transparent. Advantages Citrix XenApp Centralized administration: applications are offered to the end user transparently as a service and their usage can be tracked and monitored. Reports can be created. Centrally Administered License management Support for Web and Client-Server applications Good integration with other Citrix solutions. Caching Ability: Application is cached locally but not installed so it loads faster on start-up. Disadvantages Citrix XenApp High initial investment: However, for existing Citrix Server users, Citrix has a lower TCO due to the overlap with the existing Citrix Access Infrastructure. application Interconnectivity or Binding: Virtualized applications, which are isolated, cannot be connected to each other. Virtual Services: Applications which include the installation of a service cannot be virtualised. 8

9 Product Application Streaming Installfree Bridge Softgrid Appstream ThinApp Virtual Application Studio Company Latest version SP Release date March 8th 2007 April 7th 2008 July 2nd 2007 December 4th 2007 June 27th 2008 March 1st 2008 Technology Stand alone Virtualized applications can run on clients without agent locally installed. Streaming Launch the application instantly from a remote location. The first blocks needed to start the application are locally cached on the client. When more features are used, more blocks are cached. Centrally controlled access Management software is included that can manage authorization on application delivery. Agent locally installed on the client is required. Off Line Usage Applications can be launched even when a user is off line (for example on a laptop). The streamed application is completely cached locally. Application Interconnectivity / Binding Virtualized applications, which are isolated, can be connected to each other. For example,.net 2.0 framework is packaged once. Applications that needs.net framework connect to the virtualized.net package. Executes in user mode only There is no interaction with the kernel of the OS. Therefore, applications cannot crash the OS. License Management Can the usage of the applications be controlled? How many licenses do you have of an application and how many times is the application (concurrently) in use? Tracking and reporting The usage of applications can be tracked and monitored. Reports can be created. Memory consumed by runtime What is the impact of the virtualization layer on memory usage? Size of runtime What is the size of the runtime of the virtualization layer? Unknown approx. 15% extra Unknown Unknown < 2MB 400 kb Unknown 1060 KB Unknown Unknown 400 KB 400 KB Supported Infra Company 16 bit application supported (only run on 32 bit OS) 64 bit application supported Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows Server 2003 (TS) 32 bit Windows sserver er2003 (TS) 64 bit Windows Vista 32 bit Windows Vista 64 bit Windows Server 2008 (TS) 32 bit Windows Server 2008 (TS) 64 bit Terminal Server Citrix Packaging Company Packaging method How is the software packaged as virtual application? Streaming profiler: an installation is recorded in a stream JeOS: the application is installed in a mini OS Snapshot: a before and after snapshot is taken. All changes made during installation are in the package MSI: The MSI installation file is analysed and compiled into a package. NO clean PC required If this is set to then a clean PC is NOT needed for snapshotting a new application because the technique used does not use the OS on which the software is being captured. Streaming Profiler Install in JeOS Streaming Profiler Snapshot or MSI Snapshot Snapshot Packaging Company Save as EXE The virtualized application can be saved as an executable. Save as MSI The virtualized application can be saved as a MSI. This MSI can be distributed with various software deployement solutions. Application Add ons as modules Add ons like plugins for internet explorer can be packaged separately and then attached to other packages. Compression The virtualized application can be compressed to decrease the bandwith usage. Patching with additional/incremental files Patches can be build in to sepereate (patch) files so that you don't need te repackage the original virtual application. Reboot supported Are reboots supported when creating the virtualized application? Scripts supported Is is supported to run scripts before or after launching the application? Embedded security on AD User Level (for standalone use) When a package is created AD authorization based on Active Directory User rights can be implemented so that only users that are authorized can start the application. Embedded security on AD Group Level (for standalone use) When a package is created AD authorization based on Active Directory Group membership can be implemented so that only users that are authorized can start the application. 9

10 Packaging Company Embedded security on AD OU Level (for standalone use) When a package is created AD authorization based on Active Directory OU's can be implemented so that only users that are authorized can start the application. Virtual COM and DCOM Virtual applications access virtual COM and DCOM objects in order to keep the local OS clean. Virtual filesystem Virtual applications access a virtual filesystem in order to keep the local OS clean. Virtual registry Virtual applications access a virtual registry in order to keep the local OS clean. Virtual services Virtual services can be created for the virtualized application in order to keep the local OS clean. Deployment Company Deploy to AD groups Assign the application to groups in Active Directory. Deploy to AD Domain / OU's Assign the application to an OU or Domain in Active Directory. Deploy to AD users Assign the application to a user object in Active Directory. Pre stream/cache to clients Ability to prepopulate a desktop or server with an application so it loads faster on start up. Runs from CD ROM Launch a Virtual Application from CD ROM. Runs from HTTP Launch a Virtual Application from a webserver using HTTP. Runs from network share Launch a Virtual Application from a fileshare (no agent needed). Runs from USB Launch a Virtual Application from a USB stick. User Experience Company Run without additional privileges Logged on as a default Windows User. Runs on locked down PC For example on a kiosk PC where there is no agent available. Shell Integration out of the box Shell integration is available without the need for any additional handling during the install/package process. This comparison chart is courtesy of virtualization technology experts Sven Huisman and Matthijs Haverink of What is VDI? Virtual Desktop Infrastructure It s a brand VMWare s product is called VDI It s a Technology Solution Consisting of Many Parts Thin Client hardware / software environment Connection broker Connection broker Pool of Virtual Machines Remote Presentation Protocol ICA, RDP Other tools for creating, configuring, and managing VMs An Isolated, Dedicated Operating System Presented Across the Network via Remoting Protocols (RDP, ICA) One to One, not Many to One 10

11 Server Based Computing Model Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Model VDI versus Server Based Computing (SBC) VDI Each User has Unique Instance of OS Dedicated Virtual Resources (CPU, RAM) Dedicated Virtual Disk Multiple Copies of Applications Unique Application Set Complete Desktop Presented Remotely Local Impact SBC Users Share a Multi-User OS Shared Physical / Virtual Resources Shared Physical / Virtual Disk Single Installation of Each Application Common Application Set Applications / Desktop Presented Remotely Widespread Impact 11

12 Hypervisors The Top 3 Offerings VMWare VDI First To Market Created The Term VDI Most Mature Offering And Hypervisor Considered By Many To Be The Gold Standard Citrix XenDesktop Built On Xensource Open Source Project Started In 2002 Lightweight Paravirtualization Architecture Requires Virtualization Support In Hardware To Run Windows Most Mature Presentation Protocol - ICA Microsoft Hyper-V Newest Entry RTM On July 9 th, 2008 Complete VDI Product, Virtual Infrastructure Only It Runs On Windows! Hypervisors Compelling or Commoditized? It s All About the Management Tools! Complete Solutions VMWare Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM) Citrix XenDesktop Qumranet Solid ICE Bolt-on Provisioning / Management Solutions Provision Networks Virtual Access Suite (VAS) VDIWorks (ClearCube Sentral) DynamicOps Ericom PowerTerm WebConnect Server What Problems does a VDI Solve? Replaces expensive PCs with less expensive Thin Clients Extends lifecycle, and thus reduces cost, of existing desktop hardware Rapid Provisioning and Deployment (Did I mention I need 5 new Desktops tomorrow morning?!) Centralizes OS Management and Support Reducing Support Costs Doubles as a Secure Remote Access Solution Enhances Data Security and Protection Isolated as Opposed to Multi-User Environment Improves Compatibility / Stability and Reduces Impact Potential 12

13 What Problems Still Exist? Offline Access Interfacing with Local Devices Scanners / Cameras / Printers Multimedia Challenges Bi-Directional Audio, Streaming Video Weak Graphics Performance Graphics Intensive Applications might require traditional / bladed desktops Each Virtual OS still needs to be maintained, though centrally SMS (SCCM) Altiris, ZenWorks, LANDesk WSUS, Anti-Virus Updates Desktop Authority, Group Policies, Scripting What New Problems are Presented? Offline Access Massive / Costly Centralized Infrastructure Required Does not Scale As Well as Multi-User Solutions High Performance Network is Vital Data Migration P2VD Requires New Skills / Training Sample Solution Architecture Centralized Enterprise Storage (SAN) Fast and Flexible Scalable, Highly Redundant De-Deduplication / Cloning Host Servers Blades / High Density Servers Fast Access to SAN Virtualized I/O Hypervisor / VM Management Many VMs across Many Servers Pooling of Resources / Hot Add Resources Live Migration 13

14 Sample Solution Architecture Connection Broker Who Gets Which Machine Security / Identity Services Auto-Provisioning Virtual Machines Copies or Pointers? Templates Persistent or Temporal Sample Solution Architecture Applications Part of Template VM (Image) Packaged and Deployed (AD / Zen / SMS) Virtualized (Streamed / Traditional Application Presentation via SBC) Settings & Data Roaming Profiles Locally Stored / Redirected to Network Temporary Management Patching / Updates Security / Anti-Virus Questions? 14