Virtual Desktop: The trend of enterprise transfer will be slow

While almost all of the hot topics of the VMworld Congress this year are cloud computing, virtualization and the focus on small and medium-sized businesses, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Vendors are gearing up to start raising concerns.

Citrix, Dell and Hewlett-Packard launched virtual desktops last week, including new software for Citrix, and new hardware components from Dell and Hewlett-Packard. One analyst said the suppliers ' preparations for VMworld showed the growing importance of VDI technology in the cloud computing and Mobile world.

Enterprise Strategy Group analyst Mark Bowker predicts that over time, employees ' it workspaces will be dynamically combined in several places. Some applications store locally on a device that the employee is running, other IT services will be in the Enterprise data center, and some will be hosted outside the company-a third party public cloud. Users will be able to access all of this information, whether personal or work, through the devices they use (computers, smartphones, or tablets). "We see a shift from a device-centric model to a user-centric model," says Bowker. ”

This transformation has the potential to be extremely attractive: all devices are synchronized and can access all information anytime, anywhere. The key to achieving this is the virtual desktop, but we haven't come this far, although suppliers are moving in that direction.

Last week, Citrix launched the company's latest Vdi-in-a-box software update, version 5.1, which has historically been targeted at the SME market. With this upgrade, Citrix has added features that were originally available only in XenDesktop and other midrange markets. Specifically, the 5.1 version of the software repository Citrix called personal vdisk, it can create a master copy of a virtual desktop, and then can be distributed across the enterprise. This will include many of the features that enterprise employees need, such as pre-installed e-mail or CRM applications, which users can then define themselves. This product has enhanced Citrix's virtual desktop products in all segments of the market.

At the same time, Dell unveiled the integration technology acquired from Wyse earlier this year, including the new upgraded client device class. These hardware enable IT departments to centrally configure and maintain desktops.

Waldman, a senior research analyst at IDC Cloud and virtualization Systems software, said that Dell's acquisition of Wyse was not long before he expected Dell to continue to innovate, especially after Dell recently acquired IT System management company Quest software. "If you can combine quest and Wyse software, you will be able to create real value," he says. Traditionally, VDI requires servers, storage, networks, and management programs. Dell will be able to deliver end-to-end products through its recent acquisitions.

Hewlett-Packard also wants to be a VDI one-stop supplier. The company last week announced enhancements to its thin client and 0 clients to support Vmwareview and better mirroring performance. Although HP is not active on the takeover and merger stage, he says HP still has the opportunity to combine its thin client and 0 client products with desktop management tools.

Patterns Waldman that the trend towards a business moving to a virtual desktop will be slow.

"More and more businesses want to provide cloud and mobile apps, which will drive the market," Waldman said, "but it may take a long time." "It is challenging to configure systems and integrate systems with legacy applications." If employees use thin or 0 clients as their primary desktop, this will require their mobile devices to remain connected to the Internet to access the desktop. Although the mobile connection is good, "there are still some problems here," he said, leading some CIOs to worry about deploying the solution. More and more vendors are starting to provide end-to-end hardware and software solutions that will help companies meet these challenges.