It has almost been one year since I started being able to use the PCoIP software implementation we have been collaborating on. There has been a lot of questions about how is PCoIP for WAN delivered desktops?

There is no doubt or question delivering a desktop experience across the WAN is one of the most challenging aspects of virtual desktops. From extremely low bandwidth, high latency environments to wildly imaginative ideas of what it takes to deliver a rich PC like experiance. The great part for customers is loads of R&D dollars have been going into this area for the last few years and every day the possibilities expand further. PCoIP was one of the first technoliges to tackle the most demanding needs of high end users across the WAN by delivering 3D initially with their hardware solution.

Putting aside religion for the moment; regarding what realistically can be delivered across a WAN, what it really takes to do it and the pros and cons of any given approach. I simply wanted to share a day in my life. I have been working from some type of WAN delivered desktop for 8 plus years now. Sure, I have a laptop and it sits right beside me in my case waiting for my next trip. Even when traveling, I primarily connect to my remote virtual desktop.

One exmple of walking the talk, at VMworld 2009 I delivered my presentation using a early beta version of PCoIP from the same remote virtual desktop I work in everyday. Not something I personally have seen done at other large events That is just how natural it comes to me, though. If you have a VMworld login you can watch that session here.

For a little bit of background. I primarily work remotely from my home office in Boise. My Virtual Desktop is hosted somewhere in Palo Alto. Currently, it resides in what I call the wild wild west because it is our engineering View Manger environment that is always running the most recent beta or released version of View Manager. Client and agents are always mismatched and I never know when one of the offline engineers is checking out one or more VMs. No, I am not recommending you do the same. I just have not gotten around to having my VM moved .

My home connectivity is cable with a standard 10MB down, 1MB up connection. My VPN connection to Palo Alto is limited to 1MB.

I share this connection with another full time work from home user.

My typical latency is to my virtual desktop in Palo Alto is 45ms depending on what is going on. It was 400ms the other day during a large FTP transfer.

While writing this blog entry and recording the video below my connectivity was well below my subscription with my uplink only reaching 255Kbps. While working CSI on CBS.com was being watched by someone else.

I have dual line Vonage VoIP service shared across the same cable connection.

My thin client is a WES based thin client with dual 19" monitors at 1280x1024 32bit color

My Virtual Desktop is configured with a single vGPU and 785 Mbytes of RAM

My desktop current has themeing turned on and my desktop settings are set to maximize for appearance not performance.

My daily activity is connecting to my remote virtual desktop from my thin client across the standard VMware Juniper SSL VPN. Their policy is to limit each connection to 1MB.

This is a day in the life of my virtual desktop experience. I do all my day to day work in my virtual desktop along side the barrage of conference calls. Web Browsing, Email, Instant Messaging. All my product requirements docs, presentations, even this blog are all done remotely.

I have made a short video below demonstrating my remote virtual desktop in Palo Alto connecting from here in Boise using the GA version of VMware View with PCoIP. Because could be hard to see here is an inventory of what I have had running over the last few weeks ( I am really bad about cleaning things up)

• Outlook with 24 open / draft emails
• 8 Word Docs
• Two PowerPoint presentations
• 17 Firefox tabs
• 1 instance of calculator
• 8 Internet Explorer tabs
• 1 Command Window
• 2 instances of Paint
• 1 instance of Pidgin IM

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Complexity is one the most important factors and considerations as people move more of their physical desktops toward virtual desktops. Complexity inherently introduces risk and increases the chance for failure and additional cost. One thing I have always said, is we are building and designing a solution from the ground up to enable a new way do doing things in a virtual world. We are not trying to retro fit legacy products to work in a virtual world.

One of the things that impresses me the most about the engineering talent at VMware is the level of effort and willingness to listen to customer needs and requirements and wring out the complexity ultimately simplifying things for the customer. This comes at price to us, it takes time, effort, willingness to listen, and a desire to provide customer focused service. All well worth the price.

Recently we worked with an "independent performance consultancy The Tolly Group" to compare the differences of what it takes to get a mission critical solution such as a Virtual Desktop solution up and running using VMware View or Citrix XenDesktop in a timely, efficient, cost effective manner.

The independent Tolly Group invited both VMware and Citrix to support them as they built VMware View 3 Premier and Citrix XenDesktop Enterprise 2.1 side by side to understand the level of effort required to get each solution deployed and up and running. Initially accepting the invitation, Citrix later decided not to participate. To help ensure the highest level of success we pointed Tolly to the Getting Started with Citrix XenDesktop 2.1 guide and other documentation publicly available on the Citrix web site.

Attached is the findings report and results from Tolly, which can also be obtained from the Tolly Group web site.

Citrix XenDesktop 3 was recently announced and mostly is comprised of adding more of the SpeedScreen technologies to PortICA as it lags in comparison to the feature functionality available from XenApp ICA. It also encompasses enhancements of other technologies such as MMR, called HDX MediaStream and USB enhancements, things we have been shipping with VMware View for some time now. Nothing in the announcement or the XenDesktop 3.0 documentation currently availalbe indicates any improvement of the complexity detailed in this Toll report.

For anyone that was not able to attend VMworld this year; I want to take a second and share with you some exciting news that came out though several announcements.

We are entering the second phase of a long term strategy as VMware continues to add value and evolve the way we use desktop and personal computing as we know it today.

The vClient initiative continues to build on the VMware VDI efforts that were pioneered by VMware several years ago to help solve desktop challenges faced by all IT organizations with distributed PC and traditional server based computing solutions. As Enterprises have rapidly moved toward adopting VMware VDI as their standard for server side hosted desktop deployments, cusotmers are now ready to expand the same value and benifits they have received from VMware VDI to client virtual desktops.

VMware View is a suite of products that deliver users a single consistent personalized view of all their applications and data called "myview".

As part of the vClient initiative, VMware View will include new technologies such as client virtualization, image management using VMware View Composer and offline desktop.

Client Virtualization runs on laptop and desktop
computers and provides a robust layer that tightly manages user devices
cost-effectively while providing a PC-like end-user experience. Client
virtualization will also provide a centralized management solution to
administer, deploy and update applications and operating system images
across desktops and laptops.

VMware View™ Composer, an advanced desktop image
management solution, allows customers to reduce storage requirements by
up to 90 percent while reducing desktop provisioning time from hours to
just minutes. VMware View Composer will make updating and patching
seamless to desktop users and efficient for IT administrators while
retaining individual user data and settings. Now IT staff can
streamline management and manage thousands of desktops while
guaranteeing that all use systems are up to date.

Offline Desktop provides an innovative new way for
organizations to operate in a virtual desktop environment by enabling
users to access their server hosted desktops offline. Offline Desktop
will let users run their virtual desktops locally for the best user
experience, while simplifying life for IT staff by enabling desktops,
whether run locally or centrally, to be managed through the same
administration framework.

For more information visit VMware View

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

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!

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

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

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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.

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:

1. Client Access – Fat Clients, Thin Clients, Repurposed PCs and or Mobile / Remote
   users.
2. Virtual Desktop Management Services – Connection Brokering, Session Management and desktop provisioning such as what’s provided with VDM 2
3. 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.
4. Virtual Desktop Instances – Such as Windows XP and Vista
5. Infrastructure Services – Such as Active Directory, File and Print, Email, employee portals etc.
6. 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.
7. Management Services – Such a VirtualCenter and other existing desktop management tools for patch management and software distribution such as Altiris, and SMS.
8. Storage Services – The storage infrastructure for storing and managing the desktop images and data being centralized.
9. 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.