Dell Virtual Remote Desktop Featuring Vmware View 4

Reference Architecture Brief: Dell Virtual Remote Desktop Featuring VMware View 4

To help simplify enterprise desktop management, Dell and VMware have created a flexible, highly scalable desktop virtualization reference architecture based on Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers, Dell EqualLogic™ PS Series iSCSI SAN arrays, and powerful new VMware® View 4 technology.

oday’s challenging economic environment is Working together to provide forcing many organizations to revisit their a comprehensive solution IT infrastructure strategies. Exploring cost- Dell and VMware have worked together to create T ™ effective alternatives to manage the enterprise desk- the Dell Virtual Remote Desktop reference archi- top environment is high on the agenda of many CIOs, tecture featuring VMware View 4 as part of the given escalating maintenance and support costs, fre- Dell Flexible Computing initiative. By bringing the quent security patches and software upgrades, and comprehensive Dell portfolio of server, storage, an explosion of remote and mobile user devices. In client, support, and professional service offerings addition, CIOs must address data security and compli- together with cutting-edge VMware virtualization ance issues on remote devices, plan for rapid recov- technology, the two companies have created an out- ery in the event of a disaster, and be able to deploy standing end-to-end framework to address a com- client applications and services quickly and easily. To prehensive range of client virtualization needs. address these challenges, many are evaluating virtu- VMware View Dell Edition—the combination of alization technology to deliver desktops as a man- Dell servers, storage, and client devices with the aged service. VMware View 4 client virtualization solution—is The benefits are compelling. Hardware-independent designed to greatly simplify the design, deployment, desktop environments allow IT organizations to management, and support of Dell Virtual Remote create a standardized, centrally managed desktop Desktop Flexible Computing solution deployments image, helping reduce costs by avoiding the need for through a single point of contact. Combined with Dell’s administrators to be in physical proximity to update strong traditional client management and deployment and patch each device. Also, by moving data storage services, the Dell Flexible Computing initiative enables from local devices susceptible to theft or loss to a organizations to leverage an exceptional mix of virtual centrally managed location, this approach can help and traditional computing capabilities. significantly increase security. VMware View 4 is a key component of the Dell IT organizations are seeking ways to gain these Flexible Computing architecture, and the Dell Virtual benefits while minimizing startup costs, complexity, Remote Desktop solution is designed to offer the ben- and risk. Dell and VMware have partnered to create efits of VMware View in a highly flexible design that a scalable reference architecture model that helps can scale from dozens to thousands of virtual desktops. organizations size and build out the IT infrastructure The reference architecture is general enough that orga- using a flexible building-block approach that can be nizations can easily adapt it to help meet diverse end- implemented in a repeatable, predictable fashion. user requirements in a wide range of use cases.

1 For enterprises that require additional assistance, the Dell ProConsult team offers Why PCoIP makes a difference VMware View 4 supports Teradici PC-over-IP (PCoIP) technology, which enables a high-quality desktop an End User Profiling assessment service that helps organizations define user groups experience designed to surpass legacy application delivery systems. The PCoIP display protocol helps and their workloads before building their deliver virtual desktops efficiently over the network by optimizing low-bandwidth, high-latency connec- own virtual desktop architecture—a step tions. Advantages of VMware View 4 with PCoIP include the following: designed to save significant time and expense. The profiling service utilizes ■■ Consistent, high-performance end-user desktop experience over a local area network (LAN) or wide online surveys and remote auditing of end- area network (WAN) user devices to gather data. Usage pat- ■■ Multi-media redirect, USB redirect, and multi-monitor configuration support for a familiar desktop terns are then compared with Dell-validated experience configurations. Matching user profiles to ■■ Desktop access from a wide array of devices, allowing increased availability in virtualized configurations not only helps increase effi- environments ciency for IT staff, but can also enhance ■■ Use of progressive build technology to display images productivity throughout the organization. ■■ Support for Microsoft® ClearType® fonts

Dell Virtual Remote Desktop The PCoIP protocol compresses, encrypts, and encodes a comprehensive user configuration at A vital component of the Dell Flexible the data center and transmits it “pixels only” across a standard IP network to PCoIP-enabled desktop Computing framework, the Dell Virtual devices. This approach contributes to a successful virtual desktop infrastructure deployment by offering Remote Desktop solution featuring VMware a desktop computing experience designed to meet or exceed user expectations—including streaming View 4 enhances IT efficiencies from the data center to the desktop through a video and high-resolution graphics. powerful combination of VMware View virtualization software together with optimized Dell hardware and comprehensive virtualization—creating a flexible storage to provide advice, readiness assess- Dell services and support: pool that helps dramatically simplify ments, design, and implementation ser- deployment and management. vices, while the Dell technical support ■■ Dell PowerEdge servers: Cost-effective ■■ Dell OptiPlex™ clients: The Dell OptiPlex team is ready to assist with hardware- 11th-generation Dell PowerEdge servers family addresses a wide range of and software-related questions. offer a simplified, high-performance security, workload, and remote access platform for enterprise data centers. requirements—including the OptiPlex VMware View 4 Dell has optimized the standards-based FX160 thin client, which provides an VMware View 4 offers a tightly inte- PowerEdge server family for virtualiza- embedded OS for simple virtual desk- grated, end-to-end solution built specifi- tion to help meet enterprise density, top implementations. The OptiPlex cally for delivering desktops as a flexibility, and performance needs with- FX160 is also certified as part of the managed service. It is designed to create out locking organizations into proprie- VMware Ready™ Program. simplified, automated desktop work- tary infrastructures. ■■ Dell services and support: Dell service flows that help reduce operational costs ■■ Dell EqualLogic storage: Dell EqualLogic and support teams use innovative tools and increase control for IT staff, while Internet SCSI (iSCSI) storage area net- and automated analysis to help organi- providing end users with a rich, flexible work (SAN) arrays provide a virtual- zations understand and optimize their desktop experience regardless of device, ized storage infrastructure designed virtualized environments. Dell consul- network, or use case. to maximize the advantages of server tants work with organizations worldwide Built into VMware View 4 is an innovative display technology specifically devel- oped for virtual desktop delivery. The Teradici® PC-over-IP® (PCoIP®) protocol is “VMware View 4 offers a tightly designed to dynamically detect and adapt integrated, end-to-end solution built to end-user network connections, enabling specifically for delivering desktops IT organizations to provide a high-quality desktop experience regardless of user as a managed service.” location (see the “Why PCoIP makes a difference” sidebar). VMware View 4 with

2 PCoIP supports a variety of software and hardware configurations. For example, Centralized virtual desktops users can play rich media content, choose from a range of monitor configurations, and seamlessly access locally attached VMware vSphere peripheral devices such as printers, scan- ners, and mass storage. Microsoft In addition, VMware View 4 is tightly Active Directory integrated with VMware vSphere™ 4 Uniﬁed access virtualization software. Building on the Rack workstations power of the widely deployed VMware Dell PowerEdge servers Infrastructure virtualization platform, vSphere helps bring the benefits and enterprise features of data center virtualization Terminal servers VMware View VMware vCenter Dell EqualLogic Manager Server PS6000XV arrays to the desktop environment. Extending features such as VMware vMotion™, VMware Clients High Availability (HA), VMware Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), and VMware Physical PCs Fault Tolerance (FT) technology to the Dell OptiPlex Dell Latitude™ Dell OptiPlex FX160 desktop facilitates built-in disaster recov- desktops laptops thin clients ery and business continuity. Figure 1. VMware vSphere remote desktop virtualization delivery architecture Creating the Virtual Remote Desktop reference Dell PowerEdge servers of VMware View storage as administra- architecture The 11th-generation Dell PowerEdge server tors scale the deployment. For example, To help simplify deployment and scalability, family is optimized for integration with thin provisioning features on the Dell and VMware have designed the Dell VMware vSphere 4, including increased EqualLogic arrays allow overprovisioning Virtual Remote Desktop reference architec- memory capacity, more integrated I/O than of storage to help reduce costs during ture with VMware View 4 using a building- previous-generation PowerEdge servers, rollout; new arrays can be added nondis- block approach. This model provides the and the innovative Intel® Xeon® processor ruptively as users consume disk space, flexibility to create a comprehensive virtual 5500 series. A common design and com- allowing cost-effective, just-in-time, desktop infrastructure that can be tailored ponents used across the PowerEdge server linear growth. EqualLogic arrays can also to specific organizational objectives while family help simplify management and help minimize desktop downtime, by maintaining a straightforward architecture maintenance while helping reduce cost and taking snapshots of logical units (LUNs) designed to simplify IT while advancing complexity. As a result, PowerEdge servers at specific points in time and providing enterprise efficiency. This reference archi- are quick to deploy and easy to integrate them to VMware View as new writable tecture comprises four main layers, each with vSphere 4. data stores. building on the previous layer and all work- Tight integration between EqualLogic ing together to provide a comprehensive Dell EqualLogic iSCSI SAN arrays PS Series arrays and VMware software pro- platform for VMware View 4 deployment. The iSCSI protocol enables VMware View vides additional capabilities. For example, environments to support cost-effective the EqualLogic PS Series is tightly inte- VMware vSphere infrastructure and easy-to-manage storage such as the grated with VMware vCenter™ Site Recovery VMware vSphere 4 provides the founda- Dell EqualLogic PS Series, which provides Manager, which can enable failovers of the tion for the virtualized infrastructure. a high-performance iSCSI SAN built desktop infrastructure to a designated vSphere abstracts processor, memory, on fully redundant, hot-swappable hard- disaster recovery location as well as granu- storage, and networking resources into ware. Software functionality built into lar control over how desktop recovery is components that serve multiple virtual EqualLogic arrays includes automatic handled. Also, VMware View Composer’s machines (VMs), enabling optimal hard- load balancing, single-volume and multi- Linked Clone technology helps to increase ware utilization and flexibility. Figure 1 volume snapshots and replication, multi- storage efficiency and dramatically sim- shows the vSphere remote desktop virtu- path I/O, storage tiering, and more. plify virtual desktop provisioning and man- alization delivery architecture. Additional options help minimize the cost agement. By managing user-unique virtual

3 desktop data separately from common management includes integration with Mapping out a 1,000-node data, VMware View Composer efficiently existing desktop infrastructure services to reference architecture integrates storage deduplication. maintain user and computer accounts. Earlier this year, Dell and VMware engi- Support for tiered storage using In addition, VMware View Manager not neers studied the performance charac- EqualLogic PS Series arrays can also help only acts as a connection broker to VMware teristics of VMware View on a single ensure high desktop computing perfor- vSphere 4 virtual desktops for both thin and server. The team ran a randomized work- mance while maintaining virtualization’s fat client devices, but can also manage one- load designed to represent a typical task- economies. Because of their I/Os per to-one connections between thin worker profile using a common set of second (IOPS) characteristics, virtualized clients and dedicated data center–based business productivity tools, and made the desktops can benefit from high- desktops such as Dell Precision™ R5400 rack following general observations: performance Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) workstations. By providing a single connec- disks such as those incorporated in the tion broker that manages software-to- ■■ Memory overcommit contributed to EqualLogic PS6000XV array. A trade-off software, software-to-hardware, and efficient memory usage and enhanced exists, however, between storage optimized hardware-to-hardware virtual desktop con- density, enabling the server being for capacity and storage optimized for per- nections, VMware View 4 Dell Edition aims observed in this study to host an formance. Many enterprises can therefore to greatly simplify virtual desktop deploy- increasing number of VMs up to an benefit from the arrays’ ability—particularly ments, helping avoid the need for multiple expected limit. in mixed-array SANs—to automatically connection brokers to handle different types ■■ The number of storage IOPS for the task- assign storage resources to the most appro- of virtual desktop implementations. worker profile in this study was mea- priate workloads. This intelligent automa- sured in a standard acceptable range. tion provides IT administrators with a simple VMware View Composer The team observed this value to be inde- means to use high-performance SAS disks VMware View Composer is a key compo- pendent of the virtualization platform in VMware View infrastructures while lever- nent of VMware View 4 that works with and infrastructure because IOPS perfor- aging economical Serial ATA (SATA) disks VMware View Manager to help reduce mance typically results from the type of for applications less sensitive to perfor- storage requirements and enhance the workload on the storage system. Each mance factors, such as file shares. image management capability of virtual- virtualized desktop with this profile used ized desktops. When deployed in a approximately 5 IOPS, which served as VMware View and VMware View Manager VMware View environment, it can offer a guide for sizing the storage and user VMware View Manager is an enterprise- significant benefits—helping to dramati- profiles for a 1,000-node deployment. class desktop management server designed cally reduce storage costs, management, to securely connect users to virtual desk- and desktop provisioning time. Armed with these observations, Dell tops residing in the data center, and pro- Administrators can use VMware View and VMware engineers then created a vides an easy-to-use Web browser–based Composer to manage hundreds of desk- building-block reference architecture interface for managing VMware View envi- tops from a single central image, and can designed to support up to 1,000 virtual ronments. VMware View Manager can use retain end-user settings when updating or desktop users running a common set of an existing Microsoft Active Directory® patching service packs, applying applica- business productivity tools (see Figure 2). infrastructure for authentication and user tion updates, or even performing OS The following recommended components management. Moreover, VMware View upgrades. And by enabling virtually instan- were selected for this architecture model, Manager integrates with VMware vCenter taneous rollback, it helps administrators to identifying servers and storage with the Server software to manage virtual desk- streamline management and ensure that requirements of the task worker in mind: tops running on VMware hosts. Session end-user systems are up-to-date. ■■ Sixteen Dell PowerEdge R710 servers with quad-core Intel Xeon X5550 pro- The Dell Virtual Remote Desktop cessors at 2.66 GHz, 64 GB of RAM, “ an 8 MB cache, and a 2.5-inch, 73 GB, solution is designed to offer the benefits 10,000 rpm hot-pluggable hard drive of VMware View in a highly flexible ■■ Two Dell EqualLogic PS6000XV iSCSI design that can scale from dozens to SAN arrays with sixteen 600 GB, 15,000 rpm SAS hard drives thousands of virtual desktops.” ■■ A VMware View Manager server running in a VM configured with two

4 the Dell Flexible Computing initiative, VMware View cluster 1 VMware View cluster 2 Dell EqualLogic and VMware View 4 is tightly integrated PS6000XV arrays with the Dell Virtual Remote Desktop approach—enabling enterprises to leverage exceptional hardware and software innovations resulting from the Dell and VMware collaboration. The Dell Virtual Remote Desktop solution, featuring VMware View 4 and virtualization-optimized Dell hardware, enables administrators to rapidly provi- sion virtual desktops and provide end Dell PowerEdge R710 servers Dell PowerEdge R710 servers users with personalized desktop environments while helping eliminate the VMware View Manager need for retraining and application shar- ing. This approach can help boost enter- Figure 2. Building-block design for the Dell Virtual Remote Desktop reference architecture featuring VMware View 4 prise efficiency, reduce total cost of ownership for the desktop infrastruc- virtual processors, 4 GB of RAM, and a Transitioning to ture, and enable organizations to 20 GB virtual hard drive centralized desktop respond quickly and flexibly to ever- management and delivery changing business needs. Based on the user profile workload, By leveraging the Dell Virtual Remote this model is built to support up to 1,000 Desktop reference architecture featuring virtual desktops. Testing is underway with VMware View 4, IT leaders can easily and VMware View 4 and vSphere 4, and Dell cost-effectively evolve their organizations and VMware expect complete perfor- away from the era of distributed PC image mance and usage details on this reference management and toward the delivery of architecture to be available in the first user desktops as a managed service within quarter of 2010. their own IT infrastructure. The Dell Services QUICK LINKS This building block has been designed team is ready to help assess, design, imple- with both Dell and VMware best practices ment, and maintain desktop virtualization in VMware View 4: in mind. When designing a specific enter- specific organizational environments while www.vmware.com/view prise implementation, administrators offering a single point of contact for ongo- Dell PowerEdge servers: should deploy the first building block ing hardware and software support. DELL.COM/PowerEdge as a proof of concept with a group of With its Flexible Computing initia- Dell EqualLogic PS Series: pilot users. This approach offers an tive, Dell continues to pave the way for DELL.COM/EqualLogic DELL.COM/PSSeries opportunity to take baseline performance comprehensive, scalable solutions Dell Services: measurements on the system to help designed to satisfy diverse user profiles DELL.COM/Services ensure sizing estimates are in line with in a wide variety of enterprises and actual usage as the solution scales. industries. VMware is a key partner in

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