What is desktop virtualization and what are the benefits of implementing desktop virtualization?

Desktop virtualization refers to the virtualization of your computer's desktop to achieve security and flexibility in desktop use. "Desktop Virtualization (or Virtual Desktop infrastructure) is a server-based computing model and borrows from the traditional thin-client model, But there are two ways that administrators and users can get the benefits of hosting and managing all desktop virtual machines in a data center, while users can get a full PC experience.　　Users can gain a consistent user experience with a traditional PC through a thin client or similar device on a LAN or remote access.　　The computer virtualization technology can be divided into server virtualization, Application Virtualization, desktop virtualization and network virtualization from the use of types. Desktop virtualization from the implementation of the main three kinds of methods: 1, Remote managed desktop remote managed desktop is a simple desktop virtualization, a server running an operating system mirroring or application, many clients use the connection agent software to log on to this server. This software is part of the software on the client.　　The client operation only displays the mirror of the user-shared operating system on the monitor and transmits the keyboard and mouse input back and forth.　　Advantages: Low cost, high level of control over data and applications. Disadvantages: Performance depends on the quality of the network connection; display protocols often fail to handle complex graphics; Some applications designed for the desktop cannot be run on the server in shared mode, and lack of flexibility for users who cannot store data locally, users who use most peripherals, or users who use USB drives to carry data around.　　Cannot work when disconnected. Example of a manufacturer's product: Remote Desktop Connection for Windows. 2, remote operating system remote Operating system is a diskless workstation or thin client. Virtual machines can run on one server, share resources with other dedicated virtual machines, or run themselves on a single blade PC. Able to remotely host or transmit.　　In the case of transmission, both the application and the operating system can be routed to the client, download part of the software based on the user's needs, execute the programs on the client, use their processing power but do not use local storage.　　Benefits: The ability to run applications that cannot be run in shared mode, and to isolate each user's activities to prevent resource constraints. Disadvantage: Use more bandwidth than remote managed desktops, and use more hardware on the server. Performance depends on the quality of the network connection and the ability to display protocol processing graphics.　　Cannot work when disconnected.　　 Example of manufacturer's products: diskless workstation, Softhub of Chuang Hu Network, xendesktop of Si Jie.　　3. Local virtual OS local desktop operating system virtualization is a state-of-the-art virtualization technology that uses server virtualization technology on the desktop. The local virtual operating system has twoTypes of. 1 Host Type a virtual machine software running on the existing operating system, and then the software can be virtual out of multiple virtual machines.　　The virtual machine works like a completely self-contained device, isolating itself from the hardware and software on the client outside the virtual machine.　　Advantages: Flexible use, at any time to create, modify, edit virtual machines.　　Disadvantage: The security is completely dependent on the host, if the host operating system poisoning, crash, the virtual machine does not exist.　　Example of manufacturer's product:: VMWare WS. 2 Bare-metal type virtual machine directly manages the hardware, the operating system runs on the virtual machine. This is the exact same technology and server virtualization technology.　　However, because the terminal computer and the server can not be compared to performance, so the implementation is more difficult. With this type of desktop virtualization, it is possible to isolate each virtual machine from the hardware, to achieve complete isolation between virtual machines on storage, computing, and external devices, so the security is very high. At the same time, in order to facilitate the safety of the terminal, the use of operating system reuse technology, that is, do not have to install on bare metal, but after the installation of virtual machine directly running on the bare metal. Virtual machines use the original operating system shadow of the native, and do not need to install the operating system in the virtual machine.　　This mechanism, for the server virtualization technology on the general PC to promote the use of creating a possibility.　　Benefits: Complete security, flexible use, can extend to network virtualization.　　Disadvantage: Technology to achieve high difficulty. Examples of factory products: far for Virnos. The benefits of implementing desktop virtualization virtualization technology can significantly reduce the time and cost of managing desktops, but the choice of technology and solutions is confusing. The biggest benefit of desktop virtualization is the ability to use software from a centralized location to configure PCs and other client devices. It can manage a large number of enterprise clients in the data center, rather than on each user's desktop, reducing onsite support and strengthening control over application software and patch management. Managing PCs has always been tricky, and endless application upgrades, patches, and threat updates make this work difficult. Even with web-based installation and patch management tools to ease the burden, IT departments spend too much time on the desktop, dealing with many of the problems caused by personal software, multiple versions of ActiveX controls, drivers or DLL conflicts, malware infections, improperly configured hardware, and so on. Desktop virtualization technology is expected to centralize application software in the datacenter, simplifying management and configuration-leveraging hardware resources and minimizing annoying software conflicts. In some cases, this same technology helps to achieve these three aspects, bringing greater control and flexibility to the IT department, and users will not lament about losing their desktop. At first glance, desktop virtualization technology sounds like the Terminal Services offered by companies such as the Citrix system, where servers run applications to provide remote access to users. The user's terminal or PC is justDisplays updates on the screen and allows you to enter content through the keyboard and mouse. Desktop virtualization, on the other hand, is a new way to provide a personal PC environment that white-collar employees need and enjoy. In fact, the server hosts the entire desktop environment dedicated to each user. Earlier versions of desktop virtualization technology, such as ClearCube technology and IBM Blades, simply moved the PC's processing capabilities to the data center, leaving input and display functions on the user's desktop. But the latest version of the technology uses the PC at the user's desktop to do most of the processing. This approach, called Desktop distribution (desktop streaming), retains the benefits of centralized management without the ability to discard the desktop. The required code is distributed to the disk and memory cache that is used only for that session, ensuring that nothing is left for the user to disrupt or tamper with. Several providers are not content with desktop distribution and are involved in application distribution: IT departments can allocate runtime caching for individual applications as needed. This reduces the number of unique user mirrors to maintain and more clearly understands which application licenses are really needed. The biggest benefit of building a better thin client desktop virtualization is the ability to use software from a centralized location to configure PCs and other client devices. It can manage a large number of enterprise clients in the data center, rather than on each user's desktop, reducing onsite support and strengthening control over application software and patch management. Humphreys, an analyst at IDC, said that, from the simplest, application server-side virtualization could reduce hardware costs by having a single desktop client, rather than having a single server for every desktop client. Virtualization technology also adds the ability to move the desktop environment and the applications stored on it as needed to achieve load balancing or fault replacement. To enable existing Terminal Services and blade systems to work together, Citrix and ClearCube these well-known providers have developed agent (broker) technology that allows IT personnel to manage the mapping of virtual resources. Today, Citrix, ClearCube, and Wyse technology support the use of virtual machines with Microsoft on Blades and other application servers. VMware also provides virtual Desktop infrastructure (VDI) software that enables users to access virtual machines hosted on a server via Remote Desktop (RDP)

Source: http://www.trunhoo.com/faq/about_vdi.asp