Dynamic Desktop Deployment (D3) Architecture

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Desktop Challenges and VDI Benefits

The traditional PC as the corporate full-featured “thick client” has been the ubiquitous workhorse of desktop computing. For many use case scenarios, it has offered the best available compromise between price on one hand and performance and capabilities on the other. However, for most use case scenarios, full-featured PCs on the physical desktop, are less than ideal. Among those challenges:

• Desktop Management: Centralizing desktop management is an extremely difficult task in the face of a broadly distributed computing environment and the corporate workforce, who increasingly require secure on-demand access to their desktop environment from anywhere. Furthermore, desktops are notoriously difficult to standardize because of the variety of PC hardware and users’ needs to modify desktop environments.
• Total Cost of Ownership: The relatively low cost of PC hardware is often more than offset by the high cost of PC management and support. Ongoing PC management including deployment of software, updates and patches can be labor-intensive and time consuming because of the need to test and validate deployments for a wide variety of PC configurations. Likewise, the lack of standardization and the need for support personnel to troubleshoot issues in person and on-site raise support costs dramatically.
• Data Security: Ensuring that data on PCs is successfully backed up and can be restored when PCs fail or files are lost is a significant challenge. Even when data is successfully backed up, the risk of PC theft threatens the security of important data.
• Low Resource Utilization: The distributed nature of PCs makes it difficult to pool resources to improve utilization and reduce costs. As a result, PCs are often less than five percent utilized, remote offices require duplicate desktop infrastructures, and remote desktop solutions may be required for mobile workers

A Better Way with Provision Networks

Because of these challenges, organizations worldwide have evaluated and implemented alternatives to thick clients, such as our acclaimed server-based computing solution, the Virtual Access Suite (Enterprise Edition). A newer and emerging trend, is the ability to host desktop images on server systems to enable them to centralize resources, improve desktop management, while providing a secure access and application delivery mechanism. This is the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), whereby the entire desktop environment, including operating systems, applications and configurations, reside in virtual machines (VMs) running on servers virtualized by VMware ESX Server software.

The first major challenge facing VDI is the lack of comprehensive tools or essential building blocks needed to turn the virtual desktop into reality. The second challenge facing VDI is the “last mile.” A hosted desktop is in essence a single-user terminal server. As such, all the nuances encountered in a terminal server environment are also faced in a VDI deployment. Some of those challenges include printing, USB PDA redirection, multi-monitor support, seamless windows and session sharing. With a long history of solutions that enhance Microsoft Terminal services, Provision Networks is unique in its ability to provide a comprehensive solution that includes a Virtual Access Broker, “last-mile” session and user management, a secure access infrastructure enabling users to access their hosted desktop over SSL, and End Point Computing technologies providing users with a seamless computing experience whether they access their hosted applications via a browser, a purpose-built client interface, or via full local desktop integration.

Benefits

The benefits of a Provision Networks VAS-enabled Virtual Desktop Infrastructure are numerous. They include:

• Centralized Management: Corporate desktops adhering to the organization standards are “always-on” and easily managed from a central location.
• Total Access: Consistent and reliable access to full desktops or hosted applications is securely achieved and maintained through a centrally-managed “always-on” infrastructure.
• Resource Optimization: Eliminate the proliferation of high-powered, less-utilized PCs by hosting desktops in Virtual Machines on shared servers and dynamically manage resources across VMs.
• Environment Isolation: User environments are each contained in their own VM, eliminating any issues with applications that are not multi-user aware, while ensuring strict security.
• Service Orientation: Deliver the highest service levels and SLAs to users with instant provisioning, recovery, and issue resolution, while maintaining a personalized experience.