Can VMware View be a good alternative for Terminal Services?

[pesinet]

Hello folks,

We running Terminal Services on Windows Server 2003 Ent. in a cluster environment. We have 4 TS that handle all the load. Now we are facing a high volume of users across the company. We have a main office (Headquarter) and 10 more facility, all of them connecting to the main office through RDC. We are try to find a better solution to handle the high volume in a better way and we are thinking about VMware View.

Do you think is a good alternative?

Any input, advice is really appreciate.

Thanks.

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

I think that Desktop Virtualization (on Datacenter side) and Terminal Virtualization (Citrix or TS/RDP) have pro and cons.

You have to deliver several environments or move the entire desktop on datacenter? Desktop virtualization could be better.

You have to deliver a single application (or a few)? TS or some kind of Application Virtualization solution (like ThinApp) could be better.

Check what you really need and how do access at those services.

Also consider licensing and where you can save costs.

Andre

[ChrisKubiak]

Simply put?

No.

Virtualizing full desktops require more resources than simple TS sessions. Virtual Desktops are more flexible and offers different benefits but if you are having performance issues View is only going to require more back end to support your users.

[spuluka]

I'm actually doing a pilot on this concept right now. The reason linked clones to replace terminal server is potentially attractive for us is CPU issues in the TS sessions. We see some functions of the terminal server application just consuming massive amounts of CPU and basically freezing out everyone else during those periods. The applications involved just to play nice with the TS session boundries. It remains to be seen in the test if these different approach translates into a better user experience or not.

For the conversion to be successfull the linked clone and single point of management for the application load has to work and work well. Otherwise the application updates will be unworkable.

Steve Puluka

JNCIA-ER Enterprise Routing

JNCIA-EX Enterprise Switching

Senior Network Administrator

Liberty Dialysis