The present situation and development direction of desktop virtualization

Hardware and software procurement needs to be as strategic as possible as the current global market uncertainty and corporate scrutiny of IT budgets are stricter than ever. Many companies have turned to virtualization to do more with limited IT budgets and to reduce technology costs. Organizations are recognizing that storage and server virtualization can significantly reduce the benefits of hardware, power, space, and management costs. Another emerging virtualization application is managing desktops. Desktop virtualization will provide significant cost benefits to the enterprise IT department.

The current status of desktop virtualization

In view of the fact that users are becoming more and more mobile and applications are growing, touching every desktop, installing, setting up, and updating applications for end-user systems is a very onerous task. On the other hand, users are increasingly asking their PCs to run as fast as possible, both online and offline, while ensuring that their computing environment is secure.

Desktop virtualization is designed to isolate the workplace (end-user applications, data, and settings) from the architecture layer below it, providing new management and deployment options for the enterprise. The benefits of desktop virtualization, however, are not excessive:

· The Gartner Total cost report, published on August 4, 2008, says the deployment of virtual desktops can reduce the maximum cost of 2800 dollars (including approximately 1200 dollars in hardware/software costs) and eliminate most of the technical support costs.

• Extend PC life up to 7 years, increased disaster recovery, security, and flexibility, and can provide desktop computing in a secure and controllable environment anytime, anywhere.

At Ringcube, we see that in every vertical industry that people can think of from Fortune 1000 companies to banking/finance to call center providers, higher education and technology companies are actively applying desktop virtualization to dramatically reduce the cost of managing desktop computers, Centralized management and technical business continuity for security computing.

Barriers to Desktop virtualization applications

While the promise of desktop virtualization is tempting, it is more complicated to provide desktop virtualization. The barriers to application are slightly different for users. Many technology decision makers have done other virtualization technologies in the server or storage area. They regard desktop virtualization as the "core" technology of the future. However, because of concerns about the maturity of the product/solution, they are often reluctant to apply virtualization technology on the desktop, although desktop virtualization is the means to keep businesses streamlined and focused on business. Complexity, such as management, configuration, backup, and application technical support, is a key issue for users to consider, as is the security of applications, data, operating systems, and the target PC itself.

Smart desktop operators also worry about licensing problems with the operating system and applications. These problems are often easily overlooked. Some solutions, including managed virtual desktops, have very large storage costs. Storage costs are primarily used to maintain a user's personal environment. Finally, some solutions are available only when users are online, and this application is limited to very mobile professionals. They are driving this growth in demand.

On the other hand, business decision makers use desktop computers to have total cost as a key factor in pushing desktop virtualization. Many desktop virtualization solutions require significant upfront spending, especially in the case of managed virtualization methods. Managed virtualization methods require server, storage, and delivery mechanisms. When faced with a lot of upfront spending, it's hard to say that the total cost of virtual desktops is reasonable compared to the current desktop/laptop solution. Business leaders are reluctant to invest heavily in desktop virtualization until cost, license, and technology maturity issues are addressed.