ROCKING THE CLOUD VDI AT SAINT PAUL COLLEGE. Najam Saeed Lisa Nguyen Rob Reiter

Transcription

1 ROCKING THE CLOUD VDI AT SAINT PAUL COLLEGE Najam Saeed Lisa Nguyen Rob Reiter

2 VDI Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Desktop Delivery Model User has access to a full desktop environment using Virtual Machine Operating system Applications User profile and data All on a Server

3 Advantages of using VDI Reduce administrative and support cost in local host since all data resides in the servers Reduce the PC hardware upgrade cost since all applications are running from the servers Simplified & predictable budgeting Easier to manage 1 configuration vs. multiple PC configurations Easier to troubleshoot the problems since you only have one system to manage Same image for all users Easier to apply patches, drivers, applications More secure since user data resides in the server and not local host Ability to install applications when needed in a short period

4 Disadvantages of using VDI Significant upfront investment in server hardware, storage and network infrastructure If the server goes down, all user connections will fail. VMotion will help to mitigate, Load balancing Master Desktop image preparation can be time consuming and challenging Small VDI implementations are not cost effective

5 In this project we researched two VDI solutions: Microsoft VDI and VMware View Tested Microsoft VDI solution for 30 days Tested VMware VDI solution for 45 days At the conclusion, we decided to implement VMware View VDI after exploring all the pro s and con s between the two products Worked with SAGE Consulting initially

6 Pros and Cons of Microsoft VDI Pros Much less cost due to Microsoft Campus License Agreement Cons Need to build more servers than VMware to configure VDI solution. Slow performance since it doesn t fully support PC over IP. Does not support 3 rd party BYOD such as Mac, ipad, Android. Look and feels like Remote Desktop with associated lag time Limited flexibility in provisioning virtual desktops and does not support generic user account

7 Pros and Cons of VMware View Pros Users can t notice they are using virtual desktop; Quick & Fast Implementation not difficult Ease of virtual desktop management- such as applying patches, updates or provisioning new desktops pools for users. Support 3 rd party BYOD such as Mac, ipad, Android. Cons Requires knowledge & familiarity with VMware technologies Connection based subscription cost Full Support for PC over IP. Very flexible to increase the number of virtual desktops when needed. Desktop Checkout

8 Initial Investment in VMware solution Software (5) VMware View 5 Premier Bundles. That gave us (50) client access licenses, unlimited ESX hosts Hardware New Dell SAN (3) Dell servers; (1) vcenter and (2) ESXs (50) Thin Desktop client to enhance user friendly environment. More detail will be shown in the demo

9 1. Build vcenter and (2) ESXi 5.0 Servers 2. Install View Connection, View Administrator 3. Configure the VDI infrastructure in AD such as create group of users permitted to use VDI 4. Prepare master image with all the required software. 5. Provision desktop pools using the master image 6. Apply Group Policy to all hosts and virtual desktops to enhance security and provide friendly UI 7. Push out VMware View client to host devices 8. Roll out virtual desktops to multiple platforms such as ipad, imac, Android, and Windows

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11 1. vcenter 2. View Administrator 3. Master Image 4. Provision a Desktop Pool 5. VMware View Client Type 6. Thin Desktop software by ThinLaunch

12 2 ESXi 5.0 servers Master Images Snapshots Provisioned Desktops

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17 Install and configure master virtual image for linked clones Install all needed software and patches to master image including view agent Take a snapshot of completed master image

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19 * View client Works for all BYOD View client with local mode Used to checkout a virtual desktop that users can take with them Only works for Windows Both clients are free with VMware View license

20 Thin Desktop 3.0 by ThinLaunch Turns a Windows PC into a Thin Client Restricts the user to a single application The standard Windows desktop and start menu will be prevented from appearing Prevents user from ever accessing physical desktop

21 Questions Contact: Lisa Nguyen or Rob Reiter