Virtualization: The Emerging Desktop

Tracking software licenses and scanning ports
Keeping up with licenses is a lot easier in virtualized environments because changes to clients are highly controlled. However, scanning for licenses might not work on virtualized desktops. Make sure that scanning software supports the environment before recommending it to clients.

Neoware sells an image manager utility to stream down full operating systems to devices. The utility eliminates duplication of virtual XP images in a SAN environment. For instance, if 20 users can use a standard XP desktop configuration, copies of the same image do not need to exist on 20 separate spots in a SAN. Only what users create as data needs to be maintained in separate storage locations. The utility can save companies a lot of money on SAN space.

Receiving support for the thin client device
At this time, Neoware works with large consultancies that have a significant amount of experience deploying virtualized environments. With the HP deal, Neoware will be able to provide extensive training services and other packages for partners, but for now the company recommends using large VMware partners.

Neoware recommends that solution providers with little or no experience deploying multitier virtualized servers should subcontract more experienced Neoware partners because large-scale thin client installations on virtual servers are complex and expensive.

Before making recommendations to clients, solution providers should develop simple pilots using straight RDP connections into ESX to showcase the thin client technology, just like the one in this review. In addition, solution providers need to find out if a client's infrastructure can support a large-scale deployment. Neoware sells a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) edition of its e140 thin client. The VDI client arrives with an integrated thin client broker with them. In addition to VMware connection brokers, Neoware's VDI technology can connect to the Citrix Dynamic Desktop technology. The company is now testing VMware's Desktop Manager (VDM) solution and plans to support it in the near future.

Beyond RDP, deploying virtualized desktops in the enterprise
Under the hood, brokers make the RDP protocol more functional for virtual environments. Connection brokers provide the connection between virtualized OS instances and thin-client devices. Brokers also manage resources needed to stabilize virtual server connections.

Connection brokers are analogous to software APIs, in the way APIs manage communication between internal software services and end-user applications. In a virtualized environment, brokers provide connectivity between virtual host solutions and specific resources such as guest OSes.

Typically, brokers will generate the resources in a SAN environment that are necessary to have a full XP Pro experience, regardless of the storage needed for each user. Storage requirements for virtualized desktops are more flexible than server-based computing configurations. End-user needs and local applications dictate virtual desktop configurations, so administrators do not have to follow a strict deployment configuration plan.

Connection brokers play an important role in managing connectivity between virtualized environments and physical clients. In addition, connection brokers provide scalability by managing connections on separate servers. Brokers also can make static virtual images more dynamic by providing failover and redundant connectivity.

Because redundancy is crucial in the enterprise, connection broker vendors generally provide their own techniques. On most implementations, however, clients connect to one or more brokers in a failover list, while the brokers have their own failover lists that they can access. Essentially, the brokers extend a lot of the redundancies built inside VMware into the end-user space.

Connection broker space is evolving rapidly due to the crucial role the technology plays in desktop virtualization. VMware and Citrix, for instance, compete with independent software broker vendors such as Leostream and Provision Networks.

While most brokers are usually deployed inside virtualized domains, they are separated by a physical tier. The Leostream solution, for instance, is sold as a VMware virtual appliance. Solution providers can use the appliance or install the Leostream software as a VMware host on a server and turn it into a broker. There is little distinction between brokers and virtual hosts. It is simply a matter of function that distinguishes the two.