virtualizing desktops

[wb2]

Can anyone tell me if virtualizing desktops is becoming common yet? What's the typical setup? Any popular virtualized hardware clients out there?

[JohnADCO]

We are in test phase on it, but only for RDP sessions. Testing seems to be going fine on it. I am impressed at how XP doesn't seem add any real appreciable additional load on the system. Even with my cheapo san XP VM's boot in under 10 seconds.

On performance? If every thing server wise used is stored on the same san, performance seems screaming as there is very little traffic traversing the lan.

[azn2kew]

Its being common now since new VDI solution View 3.0 + Composer Linked Clone makes thing more flexible and easier on management and administration especially with NetApp gear it won't go wrong. If you use VMware View 3.0/ESX 3.5/NetApp NFS + memory cache to boost power on all desktosp faster) and Rapid Deployment Utility 2.0 which makes it quick and easy when provision new desktops. You saves tons of disk space with this solutions, so depends how large your environment, it would be nice to plan it thorougly and choose the right solutions. Typical setup would 512MB for XP client, Wyse thin client and use seperate drive for user data and use general GPO settings and it would be good enough.

You can test it out with POC trial and use steps by steps guide on www.vmware.com ->resources ->View Evaluator guide.

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

VMware vExpert 2009

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

[azn2kew]

Aware that vSphere 4.0 will not compatible with SRM, View 3.0 or Lab Manager as its newly released but there are working on it as it comes and expecting next 3+ months so its something to think about. Some organization wait for the compatibility support others chose to implemented View 3.0 with ESX 3.5 U4 and upgrade later if needed.

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

VMware vExpert 2009

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant