Basic issues encountered in desktop virtualization implementation

Today's end-user computing has come to a revolutionary era, and a common vision is to access your apps and data wherever and whenever you use them. Desktop virtualization is a step closer to this vision.

I've been focusing on desktop virtualization since the end of 2008. There are also four or five desktop virtualization projects that have been directly involved in the next few years. Although a lot of media analysis every year is noisy this is the trend, can not see a large-scale popularization. To think carefully, many of the user's concerns are also understandable. This article will take you through some of the user's concerns, to explore a number of possible ways.
A big upfront investment
Whether the user wants to work on a project, the amount of input and proceeds must be counted. Server virtualization, the benefits are obvious, investment income than even I bought the food is not clear the money also see plainly. Desktop virtualization to save the cost of this card is not good to make.
Hardware inputs
Data center facilities, servers, networks, and storage are not the least. In particular, desktop virtualization requires a high level of storage. Items that fail frequently are folded on the storage. For example, take a virtual desktop 30 IOPS For example, 3,000 virtual desktops is 90,000iops. Storage devices that can support this IOPS demand are not cheap. Network bandwidth, latency, and security also need to be met, in some cases to purchase network-optimized devices, load-balancing devices, secure access control, bandwidth expansion, and more. And the cost of a thin terminal, and so on.
Software inputs
In addition to desktop virtualization software, Microsoft's licensing fees are not low. Some people will not understand that I do not already have a license to use Windows. This refers to the licensed VDA that accesses the terminal equipment used by the virtual desktop. Microsoft's licensing of desktop virtualization is complex, not the focus of this article. Especially the service providers who want to provide desktopas a service should be careful more than.
Human resources: The complexity of design and implementation requires a strong ability to take this job, have the ability to not cheap, the cost of manpower is a piece.
Recommendation: With respect to traditional storage scenarios, there are many emerging storage scenarios that can significantly reduce the storage costs required to implement desktop storage. such as distributed storage solutions, plug-in SSDs to reduce storage array IOPS requirements, storage tiering, and so on, the master image optimization can also greatly reduce the IOPS, in some cases network optimization equipment can greatly reduce the demand for bandwidth;

Two management is not simple
Is it bob to move the desktop from the local to the data center? Management can be a little sloppy.  First of all, how do you manage Master Image? How to ensure timely updates can also not affect users. Second, how to let the virtual desktop users use the application.  Is Appvirtualization? The Xen App? or pre-installed in the masterimage. Often using desktop virtualization is a large enterprise, which is bound to be a physical desktop and virtual desktop coexistence environment, you are to adopt a consistent strategy, or each tube.
Suggestions:
It is best to have a holistic view of the physical PC and Virtual PC in management. Although it is not necessarily the same scenario. But it's better to be forward-looking. When the technology matures, the physical environment and the management of the virtual environment can be integrated together.
Desktop is not the purpose, the application is the user's real concern. How to install and manage applications, preferably with a strategic consideration. For example, some enterprises regard applicationvirtualization as the first strategic consideration.
Extension to be cautious. The expansion of the desktop virtualization system is not to say that hardware is as simple as that, and it is possible to create bottlenecks somewhere. Need to have a perfect capacityplanning and reporting system, let the manager know the current hardware can support the maximum number of users, if more than the current design capacity of the new users, the need to invest much.

Three users are not satisfied
We have been using Windows for nearly 20 years and have formed our user habits. We have personality settings, we can install software, we want to enjoy video audio, we want multiple large screens, network printing and so on. These are not problems on the physical desktop, and now the most basic hardware can meet the needs of most people.  But after desktop virtualization, how much computing and network resources can you have on a virtual desktop? Users regardless of your set, the expectations will not be reduced, how the virtual desktop can achieve expectations is a very small challenge.
Suggestions:
The user needs to be thoroughly understand during the project validation phase. A large enterprise often has a variety of different user groups, the focus is also different. A virtualized solution needs to be tailored to different user groups, rather than fits. Persistentdesktop, pooled desktop, published desktop, etc. all have their own appropriate user base.
GPU virtualization can be considered when the application has a high demand for graphics processing power. This avoids the cost of CPU resources for graphics processing.
In user personalization, many vendors have a plan for user profile management. In recent years, the concept of user environmentvirtualization has been proposed.
In addition to special environments such as call center, most users would like to have permission to install their own software, which requires a more detailed view of the rights management.

Summary
The above recommendations only address some of the possible approaches to user concerns. I never thought a scheme would suit all situations. Desktop virtualization is no exception. But as technology and the market matures, it may be possible to see more users actually realize the series of changes that desktop virtualization brings. Like BYOD, anytime, anywhere access, and more.
The best is only just beginning.