Accelerating Desktop Virtualization Gains
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Feature section Lead with end-user computing Accelerating desktop virtualization gains By Rafael Colorado and Reed Martin Converging trends toward consumerization, thin-client rganizations today encompass deployment, enhanced security requirements, and wide a diverse range of end users, from mobile and remote adoption of cloud-based services are driving increased Oemployees using laptops and interest in desktop virtualization. smart devices to task workers performing routine, relatively predictable processes. Implementing a single approach to desktop virtualization may be an unrealistic goal for meeting the different requirements of these end users. Now, IT organizations have the opportunity to deliver the right desktops and applications for each end user, while addressing IT priorities such as cost, security, and ease of management. As the technology matures, some organizations have maintained a wait-and- see approach because of perceptions that the technology is complex and lingering concerns about data security, deployment performance, cost, and complexity. At the same time, many IT decision makers are accelerating adoption of desktop virtualization as the technology reaches an inflection point based on migration of consumer devices into enterprise environments, increased deployment of thin clients, server virtualization, and cloud computing. To facilitate the decision making with deployments that were more predictable than was previously possible, a powerful portfolio of desktop virtualization offerings is available from the Dell Desktop Virtualization Solutions (DVS) Group. These offerings are available in two primary variants—Simplified and Enterprise. They target infrastructures of varying scope, from the fast-and-easy, deploy-and-manage characteristics of the DVS Simplified solution to the increasingly robust and demanding environments well served by the DVS Enterprise solution. 22 2012 Issue 02 | dell.com/powersolutions Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2012 Issue 2. Copyright © 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2012 Issue 2. Copyright © 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Feature section Lead with end-user computing In addition, the Simplified and Enterprise models offer on-premises as well as hosted Virtualized desktop benefits Objectives during a 12-month period* delivery to meet specific organizational Enhanced • Enable the mobile workforce 23.4 percent reduction in desktop requirements. Dell provides preconfigured, end-user • Accelerate availability of applications downtime end-to-end infrastructure by leveraging its productivity and performance • Enhance service-desk support expertise in servers, storage, networking, clients, software, and services. And for Improved • Help ensure regulatory compliance 76.7 percent reduction in average security • Control access to data flow time to recover from data loss organizations that prefer to outsource • Provide virus protection • Help secure data records their entire desktop virtualization operation, DVS offers a virtual desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) Efficient • Enable OS migration, patching, and deployment 20.0 percent reduction in time data center • Help reduce downtime for routine maintenance platform founded on the Dell-provided management • Offer easy data backup powerful data center network and Dell Augmented • Extend desktop refresh cycles 11.7 percent reduction in desktop investments in the cloud. cost control • Provide desktop support cost support spending • Offer desktop scalability Centralizing device deployment * Source: “Analyst insight: Measuring the returns from a desktop virtualization program,” Aberdeen Group, Inc., September 2011. and management After achieving widespread success in server Figure 1. Desktop virtualization adoption drivers and associated benefits compared to deployments, IT organizations are now nonvirtualized desktops expanding virtualization to the end-user computing environment. Desktop virtualization an approach that is aligned with these enhances anywhere, anytime access to emerging demands. Successful deployments resources for executives, employees, and start with evaluating desktop usage in the contract workers as well as students, health organization and identifying target end care professionals, and other segments. users who may benefit immediately from Given the growing influence of consumers, desktop virtualization. Consumerization IT organizations must balance end-user in the enterprise needs with their own control and efficiency Understanding adoption indicators As consumer devices flood into requirements as they manage a range of client for desktop virtualization the workplace, organizations desktops, laptops, and handheld devices. Although the concept is not new, the following require flexible IT environments designed to enhance end-user A virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is four converging indicators have quickened the productivity. This video explores one of many desktop virtualization options. pace of VDI adoption: progression of desktop how IT decision makers can It enables enterprises to cost-effectively virtualization technology, consumerization, design and implement VDI deployments tailored to meet centralize desktop and mobile device acceleration of thin-client deployment, and specific end-user needs. deployment and management. VDI is a form wide adoption of server virtualization and cloud qrs.ly/mq1tjdk of desktop virtualization in which the desktop services. According to IDC, the total number OS is hosted within a virtual machine running of virtual desktop seats shipped is estimated on a server in a data center. A VDI strategy to grow from 11 million in 2010 to 37 million helps improve security and regulatory by 2014, which represents 7 percent of all compliance, increase IT flexibility and business enterprise-installed PCs1—meaning traditional PCs agility, and strengthen business continuity should continue to make up the majority of the and disaster recovery. enterprise client world for a long time. Although Adoption drivers for desktop virtualization these growth projections are a good indicator can be categorized into four groups (see of intensifying desktop virtualization penetration, Figure 1). The Dell DVS Group—composed of a series of industry developments points to the virtualization experts who can perform in-depth 2012 time frame as a possible inflection point assessments of desktop environments—offers for VDI adoption. 1 “Market analysis perspective: Worldwide enterprise virtualization software – client virtualization,” by IDC, Doc #227494, March 2011. Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2012 Issue 2. Copyright © 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2012 Issue 2. Copyright © 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. dell.com/powersolutions | 2012 Issue 02 23 Feature section Lead with end-user computing Indicator 1: Progression of desktop Delivery system Dell launches desktop as a virtualization technology Brokering and session management service End-user experience management A prominent indicator of accelerated VDI VDI management and storage optimization VMware acquires Endpoint device adoption is the degree to which new RTO Software Monitoring Citrix Systems technologies attract innovation and capital. Dell launches acquires thin clients This metric is increasingly valid during RingCube Citrix Systems Xangati periods in which the economy is stressed acquires founded and investors are less risk-tolerant than in Kaviza Atlantis Liquidware better economic times. Computing Labs founded founded Pillars of expertise can be used to Red Hat Virtual Bridges Kaviza 2005 acquires classify and filter these investments. The founded founded Qumranet following pillars are defined as key factors Wyse Technology Unidesk Desktone acquires Netier VMware launches Corporation founded IT managers need to consider when Technologies VDI suite founded deploying desktop virtualization. Pillars Citrix Systems Microsoft launches AppSense MokaFive vCompute launches Citrix Terminal Services founded founded founded of expertise define industry sectors XenDesktop® software with high influence on the growth of 2000 2005 2010 VDI because of their emphasis on areas critical to the end-user experience, Figure 2. Organizations investing in desktop virtualization between 2000 and 2010 cost, or efficiency: • Delivery systems: Innovation that Several organizations that were To balance the sometimes facilitates the hosting and delivery of founded or aligned through acquisitions conflicting goals of end users with the virtual desktops, applications, and data toward desktop virtualization during a important security, management, and including DaaS and appliances 10-year span are shown in Figure 2. After resource constraints of organizations, • Brokering and session management: an early cycle of innovation, acceleration IT departments are opting to deploy Efficient management and allocation of investment toward the end of the same desktop virtualization to enable the of virtual machines 10-year span was evident, which supports productivity benefits of consumerization.2 • User experience: Policy and the increased total available market that These virtualization approaches require personalization management typically precedes acceleration in the rate deployments that include hardware, • System monitoring: End-user and of adopting new technologies. software, and services with predictable infrastructure performance management cost and performance to help achieve •