Public Cloud Desktop: the first step towards "cloud" in Shanghai Telecom

At present, with the development of IT industry, cloud computing has become a hot technology trend in the future, and it is also the key to differentiate service among operators. China Telecom Shanghai Company is mainly engaged in fixed telephone, mobile communications, satellite communications, Internet access and application of integrated information services business. With the development of the business, Shanghai Telecom is keenly aware of the changes in its customer needs and has launched its public cloud desktop business for its customers.

The public cloud Desktop is a virtual desktop and virtual application service based on cloud computing and virtualization technology, users can access their own cloud desktops anytime, anywhere through the networked PC, notebook, Tablet PC, smartphone, thin terminal, etc., which can effectively solve the customers ' needs in the off-site office, unified management and data security. As a result, it has become an important business innovation for Shanghai Telecom to implement cloud computing business.

At the same time, the market application and deployment of cloud desktop, to the operational service provider posed a serious challenge: the Cloud desktop will be provided as a public service, enterprises or individual users of the Cloud desktop service quality requirements strict; a Chiyu cloud desktop, a large number, respectively, provided to the call center, corporate customers and individual users. Shanghai Telecom hopes that these desktops can be quickly deployed and implemented, and need real-time monitoring and management of the cloud desktop back-end support system, and hope that the cloud desktop system in the overall investment more cost-effective.

XenDesktop on Flexpod Perfect support solution platform architecture

In order to create a high-quality cloud desktop, rapid deployment, flexible scheduling, comprehensive monitoring management, cloud services unified security release and use, is an essential condition. Therefore, Shanghai Telecom chose cloud computing solution Provider Cloud Technology as its strategic partner, for its overall deployment. High-performance service response demands higher support for the platform architecture, through multiple rounds of technical validation, and a comparison of the application practices of global Solutions, by NetApp, Cisco, Citrix XenDesktop on The Flexpod solution can perfectly support the platform architecture requirements of this overall scenario to play an important role in Shanghai Telecom's business requirements for rapid deployment of high-quality cloud desktops.

In this scenario, NetApp's fas3240a storage array combines the Cisco B200 series UCS Blade Server, the UCS 6100 series Interconnect matrix Flexpod solution, with Citrix Company's XenDesktop Enterprise Desktop virtualization software, Provide customers with a complete virtual desktop and server resource pool for front-end Chiyu cloud desktop to provide background computing resources. NETAPP fas3240a storage arrays as a unified storage resource pool, through the Cisco MDS 9000 Series Storage switch, UCS 6100 series interconnect matrix and UCS server for unified connectivity, The different types of data generated by cloud desktop operations are stored in storage space through the most appropriate storage protocols. With NetApp VST virtual tiering technology, Cloud desktop system effectively avoids a large number of cloud desktop users at the same time login/boot/patch generated access to the storm, while through the duplication of data deletion and flash cache and other advanced technology, to achieve the storage resource utilization maximization and performance maximization.

Help quickly deploy thousands of high quality public cloud desktops

In this project, through the seamless integration of NetApp with several other outstanding products and solutions, Shanghai Telecom has gained a more competitive cloud desktop service, the highlights of the project include:

Rapid deployment of public cloud desktops: integrated and standardized integration, skycloud-xendesktop on flexpod is very suitable for operators of the virtual desktop infrastructure and secure multi-tenant environment, such as the different environmental platforms to build a cloud desktop rapid implementation and deployment.

Based on the experience of the global cloud Desktop deployment, it will take at least 3 months to deploy and debug the Chiyu public cloud desktop. And it takes only 1 months to complete the entire business deployment--while significantly reducing the duration of the project, it also saves the number of projects and the overall cost of the project.

These benefit from the simplification of the data center platform architecture in the Skycloud-xendesktop on Flexpod scenario. FCoE is the most representative of the latest technology applications: UCS 6100 series interconnect Matrix Fusion FCoE technology, the data center Ethernet network and storage network unified, further implementation of server to storage End-to-end integration, customers do not have to spend extra time to separate storage switch configuration , with the help of the FCoE connection behind the UCS server, the connection configuration of the cable is reduced, and the overall deployment time is shortened, exceeding the customer's imagination.

Flexible Desktop Delivery Model: In the public cloud business model, you need to provide different types of desktops for different scenarios and different needs. Some users require a simple, practical and standardized desktop, while others value performance and personalization. Skycloud-xendesktop on Flexpod solution through Flexcast delivery technology, carrier public cloud desktop not only provides VDI mode services, but also provides virtual applications and virtual desktop mode for users to choose, thereby enhancing user satisfaction.

End-to-end Security Assurance: Security is the core of the successful implementation of the public desktop cloud Platform services. Skycloud-xendesktop on Flexpod provides desktop security virtualization technology, storage security features, and system security authentication features. In addition to the IT manager's full control of centralized access authorization, the establishment of a secure access network, enhanced user authentication and audit monitoring, but also to different users and business tenants to provide a sound security isolation ... The security aspects of the design, for those who want to expand the application access to the organization to provide the appropriate level of protection, to the desktop cloud users to create a secure use of the environment.

Significant savings in customer investment costs: Traditional operators public cloud desktop back-end systems typically have both storage and IP networks, and their deployment mode requires increased storage switches and network switches, resulting in increased and increasing cost of IT equipment. Skycloud-xendesktop on Flexpod provides a server-and-storage-integration architecture that helps operators save on device costs and simplify network architecture. With NetApp deduplication and Flash cache technology, you can achieve the largest and most stable and secure data storage requirements with minimal storage space and cost. For example, NetApp de-duplication technology is disruptive to use on primary storage, helping Cloud desktop systems achieve up to 80% of space savings, reducing cloud desktop operating costs, and helping operators achieve maximum savings in storage device investments. In addition, with the comprehensive price comparison, users find that using Skycloud-xendesktop on Flexpod will be more advantageous in overall cost than the traditional deployment mode.

Flexible scheduling, monitoring management Cloud Desktop resource pool: The project provides the cloud resources of the unified scheduling and monitoring management system, has been in the industry, especially the domestic operators have a wide range of applications, the whole system of cloud desktop and background computing, storage resources, fine scheduling is the essence of cloud computing resource scheduling embodies, Be able to unify the publishing and service of the virtual desktop, ensure the operation and maintainability of the whole system business.

At present, Shanghai Telecom, the first phase of external cloud desktop has been deployed, Shanghai Telecom Cloud desktop Services customers have come to feel the convenience of this new cloud computing business: for example, in some manufacturing industry customers, information from the staff computer to the back-end server, making information more secure, no longer worry about data leakage , staff travel without notebook equipment, and so on, only need to use a tablet and other clients through the most advanced borderless network technology, to achieve convenient mobile office, to ensure data security; For individual users, in the future also through the IPTV set-top box or small terminal access to background data, and enjoy the integration of cloud storage, including a series of cloud desktop applications. This will further enhance the stickiness between Shanghai Telecom Service and users, and further enhance the service competitiveness of Shanghai Telecom by providing differentiated services for different customer types.

It is worth mentioning that NETAPP, Cisco and Citrix three vendors have been instrumental in ensuring their smooth implementation throughout the project deployment process. As a global leader in storage and data management, NetApp is committed to working with world-class vendors to continuously improve their partner ecosystems and continuously deliver more efficient and manageable IT solutions to our customers through strong alliances and technological innovations.