Virtual Desktop Blog

VMware View Reference Architecture

wponder — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:35:40 GMT

I am well past do for a post and some might think we have fallen off the face of the planet. For the last six months I have been heads down planning, coordinating, validating and writing the first VMware View Reference Architecture.

This has been a lengthy project that had some very well defined scope from the beginning. Honestly, I allowed the scope to creep, as I felt the effort and output would go much further to benefit cusotmers and partners.

First, I would like to thank everyone who helped ensure the project was successful. I would like to especially like to thank our partners at EMC whom allowed us to leverage their Validation Facility in Santa Clara allowing us to build and validate the RA itself. In addition to providing us a place to validate future efforts. They have a world class facility where we can validate customer solutions as well.

Second, this effort is only one of many to come. The foundation we have laid allows us to rapidly change and add components or used cases based on the core architecture we have already validated. This first reference architecture effort primarily focuses on desktop replacement in the enterprise and other use cases will follow.

The first release of the reference architecture is availalbe from the following location - http://www.vmware.com/resources/techresources/1084

One of the documents that we intended to include but, were not able to finalize, was a document around the networking aspects of our efforts. We have received numerous requests for information on the networking specifically the load balancing and layer 2/3 configs and VLANs. Although we do not have a specific recomended design yet, we have been doing quite a bit of work in the labs in this area and have some information that might be useful to some. Later I plan to post some of the configs from some of our lab work here so check back.

Lastly, there are two other documents that I am working on and I hope to release those in the next few weeks.

vClient Initiative - Future Display Protocol Direction

wponder — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:13:00 GMT

As part of the VMware vClient initiative, VMware has announced a strategic partnership with Teradici to include Teradici's PC-Over-IP technology as part of VMware View.

VMware will license the Teradici PC-Over-IP display protocol and will work with Teradici to co-develop and expand PC-Over-IP.

The PC-Over-IP display protocol is breakthrough technology that truly delivers a PC experiance unlike any legacy protocol available today. Unlike traditional server based computing display protocols, PC-Over-IP was designed from the ground up to deliver a PC like experiance delivering capabilities that have challenged legacy display protocols for over a decade.

By working together, VMware and Teradici can deliver an uncompressed remote desktop experience over existing standard local area networks as well as high-latency wide area networks, and provide both integrated software and hardware implementations of Teradici's PC-over-IP solution.

This joint effort will enable IT organizations to include a broader set of use cases with their current desktop efforts using a single solution.

In effort to provide continued support for customer choice and heterogenous VMware View based solution offerings, VMware View and VMware, will also continue to support and collaborate with partners that offer alternative display protocol solutions such as HP - RGS, Microsoft - RDP, Sun Microsystems - Sun Ray and Panologic.

VMware VDI - VDM 2.1 Reviewer's Guide now available

wponder — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:33:00 GMT

I am pleased to announce the availability of the VMware VDM 2.1 Reviewer's Guide. I had the honor of working with Doug Brown, founder of DABCC, well known expert and long time contributor to the Server Based Computing, Application Delivery and Virtualization communities. Many of you might be familiar with Doug Brown's Methodology in Box (MIAB) deployment and install guides. Doug's MIAB takes a step-by-step approach to deploying and installing server based computing and virtualization products.

By taking a simple step-by-step real world approach MIAB can ensure audiences from all levels of technical aptitude and background are ensured a successful deployment.

Partnering with Doug for the creation of the VMware VDM 2.1 Reviewer's Guide just made sense. Who better to help create this guide. The VMware VDM 2.1 Reviewers Guide is a subset of a typical DABCC (MIAB), with the goal to provide a step-by-step guide for people interested in evaluating VMware VDI for their VMware based VDI deployments. By using the the VMware VDM 2.1 Reviewer's Guide new comer to VMware VDI and VDM 2.0 can quickly and easily get a full VMware VDI environment up and running for evaluation.

At a later date Doug will follow-up this work with a more extensive MIAB available from DABCC.

For more information about DABCC please visit - www.dabcc.com

The VMware VDM 2.1 Reviewer's Guide can be found here - VMware VDM 2.1 Reviewer's Guide

VMware Project North Star ( Thinstall )

wponder — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:51:00 GMT

I am pleased to share with everyone the first public Beta release of VMware Project North Star ( Thinstall ) is now available for download.

VMware Project North Star (Thinstall) will be the first branded version of Thinstall application virtualization technology.

This beta is the first step towards launch of a fully supported and widely available release of the technology as a VMware product. We are excited to enable VMware customers - both existing and new - to experience the benefits of application virtualization firsthand from within the VMware community.

Intrested in How to get the software? Go to http://www.vmware.com/go/thinstall

Beta Participant Support

There is no active support available for this Beta release of VMware Thinstall . However, VMware welcomes and appreciates your feedback. You can file any product suggestions directly onto the VMware community forum. If you run into problems installing or using the product, we suggest using the following excellent resources:

VMware community forum:

http://communities.vmware.com/community/beta/northstar

Product documentation:

http://www.vmware.com/products/beta/northstar/project_north_star_beta_manual.pdf

Sales Inquiries

Thinstall 3.3 is available for purchase today. All customers who order Thinstall 3.3 today are eligible for an automatic upgrade to the VMware Project North Star (Thinstall) product when it is generally available (GA). Please contact sales@thinstall.com, your VMware Sales team or VMware Partner for any sales inquiries on Thinstall 3.3.

Please stay tuned to www.vmware.com/go/thinstall There will be another beta shortly and it aims to include some very exciting features!

What will Citrix do?

wponder — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:49:00 GMT

I wanted to wait till the smoke cleared before sharing some thoughts regarding Microsoft opening the specifications on several of its APIs and communication protocols. Part of the released technology was the specification of RDP.

For VMware VDI, this is probably the most interesting of the released protocol specifications. The initial impact to customers may not be that obvious. However, over time, the benefits could be huge. RDP is the preferred protocol for accessing VMware VDI based desktops. Currently, this makes the most sense to leverage as there is no added cost in doing so which is typically the case with third party add on protocols.

Although getting the optimal performance in broad set of network conditions can be tricky, but it's quite adequate in the highest majority of desktop replacement use cases. RDP has always had virtual channels which allow a third party to add feature functionality to RDP. For example, with VDM 2 we developed a generic USB device redirector that allows you to connect most USB devices, not supported by RDP to a client access device and make them available for use with your VMware VDI virtual desktop.

In order for third parties to leverage virtual channels, you either needed a team of lawyers and a chunk of change or some really good engineers that could reverse engineer. For some time now there have been licensees of the RDP spec and others who reverse engineered it in effort to add value. This included people building feature add-ons as well as full RDP client implementations. Open Source efforts such as RDesktop and commercial efforts from companies such as WYSE, VMware, ThinAnywhere, Provision Networks, Sun Microsystems, Calista and others have all contributed to enhancing RDP.

Over three years ago I started researching the use of VMware virtualization as a way to better manage and deliver desktop computing and overcome traditional server based computing short falls. As we started meeting with customers and sharing the vision of VDI it was becoming clear Citrix had lost their seat at the table. Customers were concerned with the issues surrounding Citrix as a solution, such as complexity, application compatibility and loss of a personal computing experience.

VMware VDI was resonating with IT organizations and desktop management teams as an answer for more broad desktop deployments. I was a little surprised, as no one can take away Citrix's past contributions to server based computing. It's always been my opinion Citrix and Microsoft had become comfortable with their position and the direction they were leading customers and the market.

As VMware VDI emerged it was becoming clear this was what customers wanted. I had not seen such vast interest and adoption of a desktop solution in a long time. Despite Microsoft attempting to down play interest, VECD emerged. As Citrix lost ground trying to protect the Presentation Server stronghold, they finally broke down, did a 360 degree about face, and sank 500M on XenSource.

Since they have renamed their legacy products and are attempting to broaden their vision beyond just "Application Delivery". Here at VMware we are building things from the ground up with virtualization in mind, not trying to retro fit legacy solutions to fit in a virtual world. Since the emergence of VMware VDI, millions of dollars are going into the R&D of network delivered desktops and applications. The result is innovation that improves user experience, desktop management and choice for IT organizations.

What does this mean for Citrix? For years there have been the conspiracy theories that Microsoft will buy Citrix. Over the years I have seen less and less evidence or reason to believe this, but I guess it could happen. For some time now, I have said Citrix is getting squeezed from the top by VMware and squeezed from the bottom by Microsoft. The crown jewel for Citrix is ICA. Without that, there is not a lot there you can't get from other cheaper more simple alternatives.

With the acquisition of Calista by Microsoft, it's clear they intended to continue the enhancement of RDP. With the RDP spec now open, more and more engineers can come to the party and rapidly further enhance RDP improving its performance and features in a broad array of use cases. With the XenSource acquisition, Citrix has dipped a toe in the open source world. Now that Micosoft has openly published the RDP specification, will Citrix set ICA free? Do they have any other choice? What long term value does ICA have with so many big companies now able to enhance RDP and in fact, already doing so?

VMware - vmSight webcast

wponder — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:21:00 GMT

vmSight the leader in virtual network intelligence will be hosting a webcast detailing how VMware VDI and vmSight can be used to gain stronger and sustainable HIPPA and PCI compliance. The webcast will be hosted Feburary 26th and there is still time to register.

Executives, IT auditors and systems administrators responsible for validating security and compliance in virtual environments or others who are considering the move to a virtual environment and want to understand how they can benefit while addressing regulatory compliance concerns should consider taking the time to listen in.

For more information and registration please visit the following URL

Achieve Stronger and Sustainable HIPAA and PCI Compliance with Virtual Desktops

VMware VDI - XenDesktop success and failure

wponder — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:25:00 GMT

Currently I am traveling across Germany meeting with customers and partners. This morning, just after I finalized preparation for a presentation. I decided to hop over to dabcc.com for a quick peak at what is going on in the SBC and virtualization community.

The first article that caught my eye was an article from a system provider in South Africa, OAS. The OAS was offering a test drive of a VMware VDI virtual desktop, connecting through VDM 2 and a XenDesktop based desktop.

To set the stage here. When I am traveling I use a MAC. If I need to access my VMware VDI desktop I can remotely connect with it using Safari. I also have a local Windows based virtual machine I can use with Fusion if needed. Using my MAC from the meeting room, here in Germany I fired up Safari and browsed over to the the OAS site for XenDesktop access.

At first it appears XenDesktop could not detect what client I needed.

When the client detection failed I decided to try the manual client detection.

The client detection failed so I decided to go ahead and download it. It took about five minutes to download the MACICA_OSX.DMG.zip file. Once it competed, I decided to install it. At this point I got a little confused as the installer said it was installing the ICA client for Presentation Server. Am I connecting to Presentation Server or XenDesktop? I figured I would find out once the client was installed an I get the chance to connect with a desktop. Unfortunately, that did not happen though. For some reason the ICA client could not be installed?

After this, I decided to compare the out of box experience for VDM 2 delivering a desktop. First I put the VDM 2 URL in Safari. I was asked to accept a certificate from OAS as I have never been to their site before. After accepting the certificate I was presented with a login.

After entering the login info and launching the tunnel I was presented with a list of desktops I was entitled to use.

After selecting my desktop and connecting my desktop session was successfully connected.

In all fairness, MAC support for VDM 2 is only experimental. I am unsure and have not checked if XenDestkop is planning to support MAC clients once its released. It may have been unfair of me to expect XenDesktop to work from my MAC?

VMware VDI - Virtual Desktop Manager 2 Released

wponder — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:44:00 GMT

Last week at VMware we reached a major milestone in moving the next generation of desktop computing forward with the release of VDM 2. First I would like to thank the 1000’s of beta participants who took the time and downloaded, tested and provided enormous amounts of feedback. It’s all the tremendous feedback that will help us continue to deliver innovative features that help you execute and deliver your next desktop architecture.

Second I would like to thank the engineering teams that invested countless hours and sleepless nights to deliver a high quality product building a solid foundation that will shape the future of virtual desktop management. In 2005 VMware started executing on the VMware VDI vision. Since some of the biggest names in server based computing have completely changed their business models, rebranded their products, adjusted their message and spent 100’s of millions of dollars in effort to adopt the vision of VMware VDI.

VDM 2 was not a rebranding exercise of slapping a VMware VDM 2 logo on some legacy product. It was a completely new product built from the Propero technology acquired in 2007 with the vision of virtual desktop management in mind. Rather than taking the high road and fastest time to market a conscious decision was made to build a solid foundation from which the future of virtual desktop management could safely rest.

Some of the enterprise class features offered in VDM 2 included:

Support for multiple VirtualCenter instances
Support for existing individual virtual machines
Support for provisioning virtual desktops using persistent and non-persistent pools
Support for XP and Vista virtual desktops
Support for XPe, XP, Vista, 2000 Pro, Linux and integrated thin client devices
Advanced power control policies for automating suspending, powering off, powering on, destroying and resuming virtual desktops
Support for live migration of running desktops using VMware VMotion
Support for granular resource allocation using VMware DRS
Support for higher availability of virtual desktops using VMware HA

These are just a few features available in this release of VDM 2. In addition we have added a new community forum for VDM 2 that can be found here

Virtual Desktop Manager Forum

We also have started to release several deployment guides and tech notes to help with your virtual desktop deployments. If there are other topics you would like to hear about please feel free to send me your requests.

Using the Wyse V10L and S10 Thin Clients with VDM
Introduction to Virtual Desktop Manager

Windows XP Deployment Guide

VMware VDM 2 Load Balancing Guide

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vdm20_intro.pdf

Thanks again to all the VMware VDI customers for your support.

VMware VDI - Understanding VECD Licensing

wponder — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:58:00 GMT

Recently I read a blog explaining some of the early details of VECD. It described VECD as a hidden cost of VDI. There were also some snippets from a FAQ that was released by VMware, shortly after VECD was announced back in April. The blog makes some valid points, but there was one small detail that was not accurate. Not all VECD options require Software Assurance. Licensing Windows Desktop operating systems for use with VMware VDI falls in the top 10 questions I field on a day to day basis.

The initial white paper released explaining VECD. Created more confusion than clarity. I know I read it many times and each time, I came away with a new interpretation. Fortunately I have some close contacts at Microsoft I was able to sync up with, back in September, at VMworld. VECD was top of the list to get clarified. Who better to hear it from the horses mouth. At VMworld Microsoft was handing out a recently completed license brief that had yet to be published on the Microsoft web site.

This license brief as well as my conversation with the owner at Microsoft, went a long way in clarify things for me. Unfortunately, I failed to share it had posted when it did. I recommend, Anyone interested in better understanding VECD should read this license brief. It covers VECD for SA and VECD. The document is titled Licensing Vista for Use with Virtual Machine Technologies and can be found on the Volume Licensing Briefs site.

VMware VDI - Acquisition of ThinStall

wponder — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:13:00 GMT

Today is very exciting as we take another major step forward in effort to change the way we use and manage desktop computing today. At VMware we have been executing on the vision of VDI - Virtual Desktop Infrastructure for several years now. Today we are extremely excited to announce the intent to aquire ThinStall. ThinStall is an industry leading application virtualization company that pioneered agentless application virtualization.

For years now customers and IT visionaries have been planning their next generation desktop architectures. IT organizations have been stepping outside the traditional way of deploying desktop services and regaining the control of thier desktop environments by leveraging the power and benifits of VMware virtualization technology. Where server based computing solutions such as Citrix and Terminal services have allen short, VMware VDI has been able to step in and revive the promise of server based computing and dynamic desktop environments.

Where VMware VDI enables organizations to break the bind between the Desktop OS and physical desktops systems. Thinstall allows organizations to break the bind of the Desktop OS and the Applications. Combined organizations will be able to start delivering dynamic desktop environments and better manage desktop computing across the enterprise. With the ThinStall VOS - Virtual Operating System, organizations can easily package and deploy the most complex applicaitons without worrying about application conflicts or costly and challenging application sequencing operations.

Sorry guys, the bandwagon is full....

wponder — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:40:00 GMT

It seems since late 2007 and early 2008 some virtualization players are still trying to hop on the VDI bandwagon started by VMware back in 2005. Since 2007, Citrix has been feeling the squeeze from the top by Microsoft with 2008 Server and Remote App around the corner, and squeezed at the bottom by VMware and the momentum of VMware VDI. Citrix had to do an about face on the Application Delivery strategy and messaging by getting in the VDI game with the purchase of Xen Source; an attempt catch up by trying to deliver desktops.

It also appears based on the recent release of a White Paper titled Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, SWsoft would like to ride the VMware VDI tailwinds. After reading this short overview on VDI, I wanted to offer some additional things to consider for readers that come across this paper.

“There are five components that comprise the VDI solution.”

A properly designed VDI solution is going to include more than five components. At a minimum, a proper VDI solution will encompass the following:

Client Access – Fat Clients, Thin Clients, Repurposed PCs and or Mobile / Remote
users.
Virtual Desktop Management Services – Connection Brokering, Session Management and desktop provisioning such as what’s provided with VDM 2
Virtualization Services – Such as what’s provided by VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3 including tools such a HA, DRS and VMotion that simplify the operations of a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.
Virtual Desktop Instances – Such as Windows XP and Vista
Infrastructure Services – Such as Active Directory, File and Print, Email, employee portals etc.
Application Virtualization Services – The legacy tools such as Citrix and Terminal Server used for delivering applications as well as next generation Application Virtualization tools such as Softgrid, SVS and ThinStall.
Management Services – Such a VirtualCenter and other existing desktop management tools for patch management and software distribution such as Altiris, and SMS.
Storage Services – The storage infrastructure for storing and managing the desktop images and data being centralized.
Integration Services – The services and support provided to successfuly design, implement and integrate all
these components, such as those provided by VMware.

“The simple purpose of the connection broker is to manage the end user connection with the virtualized desktops.”

The purpose of a broker is not simple. The role of a broker is very important in enabling VDI. At a minimum, a broker's offering should include:

Virtual Desktop Management
Session Management
Desktop Life-Cycle Management
Desktop Provisioning
Desktop Pooling
User management and entitlement to virtual desktop resources
Providing secure encrypted connections across un-trusted networks

All these thing and many more will be provided by VMware VDM 2. Customer looking for other alternatives can also leverage solutions from our VDI Alliance
partners that closely integrate with VMware VI3.

“VDI is a new technology that gives IT departments some choice and control over how to manage their exploding desktop infrastructure.”

VDI is not new technology. VMware customers have been deploying VMware VDI based solutions since 2005. I would say most the IT organizations I meet with do a really good job managing desktop systems. Although, they are looking for a better way to deliver desktop services, gain more control over their desktop architectures and inprove deployment and management efficency. Distributed desktop architectures are difficult and costly to manage, but I do not expect any explosions.

One area glossed over in this paper were Virtual Desktop Instances. One of many key driving factors increasing the adoption in VMware VDI, is the ability to virtualize and deliver Windows XP and Vista desktops. Doing so allows IT organizations to overcome the shortcomings of typical server based computing solutions such as Citrix Presentation Server and Microsoft Terminal Services, where application conflicts and the loss of the personal computing experience often inhibit mass adoption as the desktop environment.

According to the following requirements http://kb.swsoft.com/en/1446, SWsoft does not support or deliver Windows XP or Vista desktops. Providing each user a Windows 2003 Server is a costly proposition. If the proposition is to virtualize each server instance and then use Terminal Services, most people have come to agree that is not VDI, but rather consolidating Terminal Servers which are typically underutilized. Although Terminal Servers can be of value and Remote App is showing a lot of promise in extending the value of a VDI architectue; alone they do not offer all the benefits of a true VDI solution, to organizations with complex applicaition environments.

VDM 2 - Beta2 now available

wponder — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:14:00 GMT

The VDM 2 - Beta 2 is now availalbe for download! Thanks to all the customers and partners that participated in the VDM 2 - Beta 1. Becuse of your participation, were able to collect a tremendous amount of feedback an input regarding what's most important for your VDI environments. The interest and response to VDM 2 has been tremendous.

With Beta 2 there is a lot to look forward too. The UI has a ton of improvements. The new web based administrator look and feel as well as the added visual notifications should be well received.

Based on all the feedback coming in from the beta participants the pooling has been revamped. It has been simplified while still allowing an option for advanced configuration if needed.

If you were not able to participle in Beta 1 or were waiting for Beta 2 you can still participate. Click the link below and register to download Beta 2.

VDM 2 - Beta 2 registration, go to the bottom of the page

VMware VDI - Riverside Medical Success Story

wponder — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:31:00 GMT

Recently I was privileged to have the chance in sharing another VMware VDI success story. Sumit Sehgal joined me to share his experiance's and success deploying a VMware VDI based solution at Riverside Medical Center. This continues the trend of VMware VDI success in the Health Care space as the increased flexibility and mobility provided by VDI benifits Doctors and Nurses across the globe.

Here are some of my favorite highlights:

VDI Client Devices - Once again, repuroposed PC's leads the charge. Riverside started down their VDI path converting existing PC's into VDI clients using a PXE booted image from the network. As the PC's are decommissioned they are replaced with thin clients .

Time Savings - Avg. time to deploy a new VDI desktop 20 minutes compared to 120 minutes in the Past.

Faster Recovery From Failures - Recently a blade power supply failure resulted in the disruption of 32 virtual desktops. With the implementation of VMware HA these virtual desktops were back up and running in 4 min 33 sec. That was faster than Sumit was able to remotely connect once he received the notification or the failure.

Cost Savings - Expected a 6-9 VM per core consolidation. Acheived 11-12. Reprovisioned old PC's as thin clients eliminating traditional desktop lifecycle. Labor costs reduced by improved process.

In addition to these highlights Sumit shares with us some of his real world experiance regarding their storage design. In addition he highlights how they were able to leverage memory over-commit to increase the overall consolidation ratio. The entire webinar can be found here.

Riverside Medical Center Saves Time and Money on PC management with VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

From there search for Riverside Medical

Virtual Desktop Blog is on the move

wponder — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:20:00 GMT

This week I returned from Holiday. Nine days in mostly remote areas across Idaho and no email. We have been planning to move to Idaho for
some time now. during this trip we spent some time looking at homes and getting more familiar with the Boise area.

I am still trying to dig out of the email an get back on track and just keeps piling on. While I was gone the VMTN team updated VMTN at vmware.com. With the new version there is now a blogging capability.

Last night I took on the painful task of migrating over to the new site. I did the best I could. I think I have all the entires. I know I have missed a few comments, but I did the best I could to get them all moved over. If I missed anyones comments I am sorry, it was not intentional. On that note, this will be the last post here. Eventually, I will cancel this blog.

The Virtual Desktop Blog can now be found at its new home Virtual Desktop Blog

VMware VDI - VDM 2.0 Beta now live

wponder — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:50:00 GMT

I was so slammed at VMworld over the last week that I have not had the
time to let everyone know the Beta 1 for VDM 2.0 is now available.

VDM 2.0 is a session broker for VDI deployments offered by VMware and is a new product built from the Propero technology we acquired back in April of this year. Over the last few months the team has been hard at work so we can deliver on the design goals we set for this release of the broker. At this stage we are really focused on simplicity and saleability. One of the biggest changes for the initial release from the original Propero technolog wasporting to Windows. This release is only supported on Windows 2003.

Technically, there are a lot of things that occur when VDM 2.0 is installed, but we have simplified that process in the installation procedure. The installation is a single MSI installer. It takes about five minutes to get the initial VDM server in a group installed and ready to configure using the web based administration. In the coming weeks I will be sharing more on the architecture and available features. Anyone thats interested in
participating in the beta can find the registration page this URL - VDM 2.0 Press Release