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1 TechTarget Data Center Media E-Guide Desktop Virtualization: Goals, Options, Approaches and Solutions Desktop virtualization is the use of virtual machines to let multiple network subscribers maintain individualized desktops on a single, centrally located computer or server. In this E-Guide from SearchServerVirtualization.com, read the approaches to desktop virtualization including options and solutions available to you and the good and bad of utilization. Sponsored By:

2 Table of Contents E-Guide Desktop Virtualization: Goals, Options, Approaches and Solutions Table of Contents: Resources from HP Sponsored by: Page 2 of 7

3 Anil Desai, site expert Quick: Name a task that s less enjoyable than managing client operating systems and applications! I have a feeling that if you re a seasoned IT pro, you had to think for a few seconds (and, I ll bet that many of you came up with some very creative responses). Clearly, the challenges of keeping end-users systems up-to-date can be a thankless and never-ending ordeal. Vendors have heard your cries, and various solutions are available. At the risk of sounding like a flight attendant, I do understand that you have a choice in choosing virtualization approaches. In this series of tips, I ll describe details related to the pros and cons of desktop application and OS virtualization. Let s start by defining the problem. Desktop management challenges There are many reasons that desktop computers can be more painful to manage than their server-side counterparts. Some important issues include: Analyzing administration: Desktop and notebook computers are often located in the most remote areas of your organization (or outside of it altogether). Performing systems administration tasks can sometimes require physical access to these machines. And, even with remote management tools, the client-side machine has to be online and connected to the network. The result is significant time and effort requirements for keeping systems optimally configured. Mitigating mobile mayhem: Traveling and remote users can be (quite literally) a moving target: It seems that as soon as you ve deployed a system for their use, changes are required. While some users can t avoid working offline, there s a subset of the user population that might need to access their OS and applications from multiple locations. Managing multiple pieces of hardware or shared desktop machines can be timeconsuming and tedious. Dealing with distributed data: Security and regulatory compliance requirements necessitate the management of data. It s far easier to secure information and prevent data loss or theft when everything s stored in the data center. While stolen laptops can be costly, it s far cheaper than dealing with stolen data. Application anarchy: Deploying and managing desktop applications can be a struggle. While deployment tools can simplify the process, issues like managing application compatibility problems can lead to a large number of support desk calls. Other issues include tracking license usage, ensuring that systems remain patched, and providing the right applications on the right computer at the right time. Bumbling backups: Ensuring that data remains protected on desktop and notebook computers can be problematic. Even with the use of backup agents, there s room for error. And, getting users to consistently save their important files to network shares can seem futile. Hardware headaches: Managing desktop and notebook hardware can be time-consuming. Add in the costs of technology refreshes and verifying hardware system requirements, and the issue can quickly float to the top of an IT department s list of costs. Sponsored by: Page 3 of 7

4 From a technical standpoint, the issue is that applications are tightly tied to their operating systems. And the operating systems, in turn, are tightly tied to hardware. Solving these problems can help alleviate some of the pain. Choosing a virtualization approach There are several different approaches to addressing desktop-related challenges. One caveat is that the terminology can be inconsistent. I ve taken a shot at categorizing the different approaches, but vendors descriptions do differ. Here s a breakdown: Presentation virtualization: Some users require access to only one or a few applications (think about call center and point-of-sale users). The main idea behind presentation virtualization is that all applications are installed and executed on a specialized server that can then redirect video, keyboard, and mouse signals between a small client application or a thin client device. Since applications are installed centrally, deployment and management is less of an issue. OS and application virtualization: For some portion of the user population, such as traveling employees or power-users, there s a real need to run an operating system directly on individual computers. In these scenarios, it s still desirable to simplify the deployment and management of applications. Application virtualization solutions provide a way to either compartmentalize or stream programs to the computers that need them. The process is quick, safe, and can happen with little IT involvement. VM-Based Virtualization: Also known as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), among other names, the idea here is to allow users to run their own desktop OS s except that they are physically stored in the data center. Typically, the operating system and applications are run within a dedicated virtual machine which is assigned to a particular user. Employees use either a thin client computer or a remote desktop connection to access their environments. In addition to these options, there s an implicit fourth choice: None of the above. As I described in my VDI Benefits without VDI series, you can reduce problems to some extent by utilizing IT best practices. You can also use a combination of these approaches (for example, VM-based virtualization with application virtualization) to meet different needs in the same environment. Looking for solutions In this tip, I presented some of the problems that desktop virtualization attempts to address. It s important to understand your pain points before you start looking for a remedy. Then, I described three high-level approaches for solving common problems. In the next part of this series, I ll present information about the pros and cons of each approach, along with specific products to consider. About the author: Anil Desai is the author of numerous technical books focusing on the Windows Server Platform, Virtualization, Active Directory, SQL Server, and IT management. Most recently, he has written The Rational Guide to Managing Microsoft Virtual Server and The Rational Guide to Scripting Microsoft Virtual Server. He has made dozens of conference presentations at national events and is also a contributor to technical magazines. Sponsored by: Page 4 of 7

5 Anil Desai, site expert Visualize the unglamorous task of crawling behind a dusty desktop computer to check for an unplugged cable. This is in response to a report that a user s computer is broken. You have only the soothing sounds of an employee complaining to a friend about how IT is taking forever to solve the problem. Finish the job quickly, as you ll soon be off to troubleshooting an application compatibility problem on an executive s notebook computer. Assuming you haven t left the IT industry altogether after reading this paragraph, I think you ll agree that there are many compelling reasons for addressing desktop and application management issues. In the first tip in this series on desktop virtualization, I defined the goals and problems that we were trying to solve. I provided an overview of the various approaches (and noted that there s often some disagreement over specific terminology). Here, I ll cover the pros and cons of specific approaches, along with applications you might want to consider. Presentation virtualization solutions In presentation virtualization, user input and application output are managed using a network connection. Applications run on the server, and screen updates are sent to a thin client or desktop computer. Some solutions can virtualize individual applications, can work securely over Internet connections, and can be integrated with a variety of network-level access methods. Benefits: Scalability is a big one: Up to hundreds of simultaneous application sessions can be created on a single server. Applications management can be simplified since deployment to desktops is no longer a requirement. Access to applications can be managed centrally, and data may be stored securely on back-end systems. Drawbacks: Applications must be compatible with the virtualization solution. While utilities are available for assisting in this area, they re far from foolproof. Additionally, all users will be using the same OS version on the server side. Reliability is also a concern, especially when running business-critical client applications, due to the number of sessions that must be maintained. When running on slow connections, slow application responses can hurt the end-user experience. Products and solutions: Citrix Presentation Server Microsoft Windows Server Terminal Services Application and OS virtualization solutions Realizing that the primary purpose of desktop computers is to allow users to run applications, some vendors have focused on using application deployment and management solutions. The goal here is to allow many different applications to coexist on a single operating system that runs on users hardware. Benefits: Users can run their operating systems and applications locally, leading to better performance and support for disconnected scenarios. IT departments can avoid application compatibility and deployment Sponsored by: Page 5 of 7

6 issues and can more easily keep track of licensing. Overall scalability is often far higher than that of virtualizing entire desktop operating systems. Drawbacks: Applications may need to be modified (or at least tested) when running with these solutions. The base OS is shared among all applications and application environments, so all applications must run on the same basic platform. Products and solutions: SWSoft Virtuozzo Server Virtualization Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization Virtual machine-based virtualization solutions There s no reason that the benefits of server virtualization can t be extended to desktop machines. VM-based virtualization involves the creation of VMs (either on-demand on permanent) for users on data center hardware. Users access their individual VMs using a thin client device or a remote desktop solution. On the server side, a connection broker layer is able to ensure that the right VMs are available and that users connect to their own systems. Benefits: All OS s and user data are stored within the data center (presumably on fault-tolerant, high performance hardware). This enables centralized management and increases average utilization on all of the systems that an IT department supports. Security risks are decreased, as are costs related to managing client-side computers. Drawbacks: Entire operating systems are running for each user. This can limit scalability and increase costs related to storage. Additionally, users require a network connection in order to access their computers. Finally, server-side hardware resources can be far more costly than their desktop counterparts. Products and solutions: VMware s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) initiative Summary It is important to note that these solutions are not exclusive of each other. For example, you could choose to virtualize a desktop OS and then use application virtualization products to deploy and manage applications. Realistically, most organizations will find all of these options to be suitable for simplifying some aspect of overall desktop operations. This area is evolving rapidly (in terms of both real technology and hype), so be sure to thoroughly research options before deploying them. Overall, knowledge is power, so keep these options in mind the next time you spend 30 minutes repairing a mouse-related problem! About the author: Anil Desai is the author of numerous technical books focusing on the Windows Server Platform, Virtualization, Active Directory, SQL Server, and IT management. Most recently, he has written The Rational Guide to Managing Microsoft Virtual Server and The Rational Guide to Scripting Microsoft Virtual Server. He has made dozens of conference presentations at national events and is also a contributor to technical magazines. Sponsored by: Page 6 of 7

7 Resources from HP Resources from HP How Desktop Virtualization and SaaS Are Revolutionizing Manufacturing and Financial Services Manufacturing Case Study Improving Thin Client Security and Efficiency Podcast Virtualization Moves From the Back Office to the Front Office in the Financial Sector Podcast About HP Hewlett-Packard is one of the world's largest computer companies and the foremost producer of test and measurement instruments. The company's more than 29,000 products are used by people for personal use and in industry, business, engineering, science, medicine and education. In addition, the company makes networking products, medical electronic equipment, instruments and systems for chemical analysis, handheld calculators and electronic components. HP sells its products and services through about 600 sales and support offices and distributorships in more than 120 countries, and through resellers and retailers. Sponsored by: Page 7 of 7