20100630_EDGE support visits. The deployment of Thedeployment visits. support local reducing thereby groups, user out to entire them roll and centrally of applications) new or introduction (patches changes to make The ability costs administration and support Lower breaches. security and usage rogue or stolen devices, lost by posed threats the minimizing while department, IT of the hands the into back firmly data corporate Bring data of security and centralization Improved vaunted: much and many are – business the and IT to both – benefits The operated. and for paid provisioned, is experience IT user end the way the transform to promises and changer’ ‘game a as heralded been has virtualization desktop businesses, For landscape. user end the of understanding our changed have practices, work towards attitudes evolving and globalization as such developments, broader with combined market, (OS) System Operating the of landscape changing the and devices ultra-portable sophisticated, of use increasing the computing, cloud and virtualization as such technologies of emergence The experience. user end less-than-satisfying a cases, many in and, inefficiency spending, over in resulted regularly it process, decision-making the from complexity the of much removed choice of lack this While desktop. or laptop – environment user end the provisioning when choice simple relatively a faced have organizations recently, Until is delivered. delivered. is experience user end way the the in a transformation enable to challenges and benefits the Understanding Desktop Virtualization from multiple devices and locations, locations, and multiple devices from experience desktop their to access users awhole. enabling By as business and department IT of the footprint carbon corporate the improving as such objectives business pertinent increasingly fulfilling in to play arole has virtualization desktop addition, In environment. user for end the of ownership cost total reduced to asignificantly contribute benefits these realized, When disruptions. unanticipated by implied downtime the reducing dramatically thereby device, user or on, to, end the happens what of independently and up quickly backed be can data and profiles User capability recovery disaster and continuity business Enhanced multiple devices. from accessible being theoretically experience desktop to the thanks improved is level user at end Flexibility divestitures. and acquisitions complete mergers, can business the at which speed the improving thereby possible, previously than more quickly users de-provision to provision/ ability to the thanks boosted be can agility Business flexibility Improved failure. IT by caused of downtime likelihood the reducing simultaneously role, and while user end of the characteristics and needs to the experience user Tailor the productivity user Increased side. user at end failure of device incidence the reduces dramatically also units conventional of place in devices low-function the way we see it see we way the desktop virtualization facilitates difficult to know how each works work-from home initiatives, while the and differs from the others. Different potential to replace conventional PCs solutions provide better fits for some with low-function, energy-efficient user groups than others, yet the thin-client devices reduces energy wealth of information and a less- consumption down and extends than-comprehensive understanding of the period of time between CapEx- user groups within the organization intensive hardware refreshes. In can make the task of identifying the the shorter term, certain desktop right solution, or combination of virtualization compute models enable solutions, difficult. As if that were existing PCs to be re-deployed as not enough, the rising number of ‘thinner’ clients, thus extending their vendors competing the desktop lifespan and reducing the volume of virtualization market, each with their capital investment required to begin own terminology, marketing speak reaping the potential benefits. and value promises, serves to muddy the waters further still. The aforementioned benefits, combined with evolving work In addition to the confusion practices such as work-from-home or arising from the wealth of options bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) available, the perceived high capital initiatives, mean that desktop cost of transforming the desktop virtualization – and the suite of environment and the different Total technologies it encompasses – will Cost of Ownerships (TCO) and challenge the dominance of the CapEx-OpEx structures implied by traditional laptop and desktop the various models mean that despite approach the benefits being clear, for many to end user provisioning, or, in other organizations, a decision to proceed words, the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. remains difficult to justify.
However, as compelling as the This document seeks to provide “IT managers understand benefits appear, there is currently a insight and perspective on some the value of client great deal of confusion surrounding of the issues around desktop virtualization. They cite how best to deploy desktop virtualization and the questions that virtualization technology. There need to be asked when considering a improved data security and are many delivery models and it is desktop virtualization strategy. centralization, increased user productivity, lower Defining desktop virtualization. support costs, improved The desktop experience is made up of several components. In the prevalent desktop- employee satisfaction and or-laptop-for-all model, all of these components are bound together and to the access device. Desktop virtualization is the act of decoupling one component of the desktop flexibility, and stronger from the others and from the device itself without compromising the ability to deliver business continuity and the end user experience. It is this reduced interdependency, this flexibility, that opens the door to many of the benefits commonly associated with desktop virtualization. disaster recovery” 1
Traditional Desktop Decoupled Desktop Forrester Research, Inc. People People
User Settings User Settings
Apps Apps
Desktop OS Desktop OS Laptop-Desktop Laptop-Desktop
Tightly coupled and locally Installed Virtualized and isolated components
Defining desktop Virtualization – Decoupling the Desktop
2 the way we see it
Formulating a desktop Who? on the road or at client locations. Anytime, anywhere access to virtualization strategy The first step is to understand the end IT services is a prerequisite, user landscape. An organization will as is access to a variety of If we consider the question of ‘why typically comprise many different communication tools. desktop virtualization?’ to have types of users, each with their own Once a comprehensive been answered at the outset of needs and requirements. The variety understanding of the different this document, there are four key of solutions falling under the umbrella users across the organization questions that should be considered of desktop virtualization and the has been established and user before embarking on a desktop differences between them dictate groups, or families, have been virtualization strategy: that, in the majority of cases, no identified, the next steps should single solution will be appropriate be to look at the different forms of for the entire end user environment. Who? desktop virtualization and begin As such, an end user profiling study End user environment considering which solutions, that assesses work patterns and roles and requirements or combination of solutions, is an essential part of building the provide the best fit for the users comprehensive view required to What? while addressing IT and business identify how, where and what type Compute models and virtual layers objectives. of desktop virtualization technology should be deployed across the end What? Where? user landscape. Location of virtualization execution Desktop virtualization can be Here are some examples of roles that separated into three distinct layers: How? will be common – or at least familiar Use r state virtualization is the Delivering virtual desktops to – to most businesses: simplest layer of virtualization. end users Information worker Here, user data and user settings For example, a customer service are separated from the end user assistant. This user is typically device. Data is stored centrally desk-based, has little exposure to and is accessible from any end “A combination of sensitive data and requires access user device. technology and market to just a handful of applications. Operating system virtualization developments means Offline information worker is the adoption of hypervisor that enterprises face This could be a shift supervisor technology to abstract the significantly more or field engineer. This user’s operating system from underlying hardware. choices in how they daily tasks require little interaction with IT; access to work with user devices Application virtualization refers voice communication tools is the to the adoption of application and how they deliver primary IT requirement. virtualization technologies that applications to those Knowledge worker enable applications to run in their devices.”2 For example, an engineer or own specific environments. software developer. This user is primarily deskbound but requires access from both the Gartner Inc. office and home. Duties require rich, sophisticated applications and ‘read and write’ access to corporate data and processes. This user will have a large peer network and so access to a wide range of communications tools is a must. Mobile knowledge worker. This might be a sales agent who spends most of the working day
Desktop Virtualization 3 Where? The next step in adopting desktop virtualization technology is to decide where the virtualization should occur. Virtualization can take place either client side (the end user device) or server side (in the data center).
Client-side virtualization refers to software instructions being performed locally on the client device and includes the following compute models:
Client Hypervisor Often referred to as client desktop virtualization, this is a type of machine virtualization technology that separates the operating system from the physical hardware and enables a single laptop or desktop to run virtual machines side by side. These can run on either a host operating system, such as Windows 7, or a native (otherwise known as ‘bare metal’) hypervisor that interacts directly with the desktop hardware. Ideal for... Mobile users dependent on access even in offline mode.
Note: Streaming technologies are commonly classed as a form of client-side virtualization, however, as they rely on both server-side and client-side compute resources to deliver the user experience, they can, strictly speaking, be considered to be a hybrid of client- and server-side virtualization. Streaming technologies also provide the opportunity to extend the lifespan of existing PCs by redeploying them as devices to which applications or the Operating System (OS) are streamed.
Application Streaming Applications are managed and reside centrally on a server. When required, they are streamed to end user devices and executed on the device in much the same way as a locally installed application. This method provides the advantage of centralized manageability and security, while the ability for applications to be cached when in offline mode helps preserve the end user experience and capability to cater to mobility requirements. Potential drawbacks with application streaming include the need to resolve possible issues surrounding compatibility and interdependencies between applications as well as possible complexity around user licensing. Ideal for... Mobile users dependent on both a rich user experience and offline access.
Operating System (OS) Streaming Here, the client access device redirects to the server for booting the end user device OS. The OS and/or associated applications are streamed from the server to the user device’s main memory for local execution, thereby delivering the benefits of centralization and a rich user experience. In comparison with application streaming, this method adds a higher level of security by removing the state of the client, thereby achieving a higher level of regulatory compliance. In addition, the elimination of the hard disk drive from the equation improves the device’s service level. OS streaming models do, however, require that the access device be connected to the network, making them ill suited to user groups with mobility requirements. Ideal for... Data-sensitive environments where both security and user experience are priorities.
4 the way we see it
Server-side virtualization models operate on the basis that software instructions – though ordered by the end user device – are performed remotely, typically in the data center. As such, the client device must be connected to the network in order for the full end user experience to be delivered. All computation is performed centrally and all data resides on centralized storage devices. Server-side virtualization includes the following compute models:
Hosted Shared Desktops Hosted Shared Desktop (or Terminal Services) is the original incarnation of server-based computing for a Microsoft Windows experience. Here, both the desktop operating system and applications run on a central server farm and the access device acts strictly as a display and input device. This architecture provides strong cost, security and centralization benefits for the organization but is unsuitable for environments where end users have personalization and mobility requirements. Thin clients are seen as an obvious choice of access device, although conventional PCs can also be deployed in this architecture, thus increasing their useful life. Ideal for.. Task-based workers, such as call-center operators.
Hosted Virtual Desktops Also referred to as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI, this model is a derivative of server virtualization and comprises a desktop operating system and applications running on a server hypervisor. The server hypervisor ‘remotes’ graphics (or screens), mouse and keyboard instructions to the end user device connected to the network. Importantly though, Hosted Virtual Desktop architectures enable each user to benefit from their own virtual machine, and so personalized desktop experience (OS, applications and user settings). Though the concept of Hosted Virtual Desktops seemingly reconciles the needs of both IT (centralization, security, etc) and users (personalized user experience), it does require that all compute, graphics and memory resources be provisioned by the data center, which potentially implies high capital cost. Ideal For... Office-based knowledge workers.
Hosted Blade PC A Blade PC is a physical desktop with hardware condensed onto a single, integrated system board. This board can be inserted into a server chassis within the data center. End user devices connect to the Blade PC on a one-to-one basis to access the desktop operating system and applications. This model facilitates the customization of the user experience (in this case, an assigned blade), while ensuring no data resides at client side. Drawbacks of this architecture include the need for devices to be connected to the network at all times as well as the potentially high costs implied by the specific nature of the architecture and the need to accommodate all compute, storage and graphic-display capacity within the data center. Ideal for... Graphic designers, engineers or any users with particularly heavy compute requirements.
Desktop Virtualization 5 “The strengths and How? Ultra Thin Client (UTC) – Very similar to Thin Clients, but with weaknesses of the various As the picture around user groups no local storage. These devices client architectures almost and delivery options becomes clearer, usually run a propriety operating guarantee that no one the question of how to deliver the system from firmware. architecture is a perfect fit virtual presentation to the end user Zero Client – Similar to Ultra can now be considered. for all requirements” 3 Thin Client, but with no local Generally, server-side virtualization processing capabilities; only is delivered using a remote display custom application specific Gartner Inc. protocol (RDP). This is the method integrated circuits (ASICS). used to present the virtualization layer to the end user device. Examples of these protocols are ICA (Independent Computing Architecture), RDP (Microsoft) and PC-over-IP. The client access device is the hardware that runs or displays the user’s desktop experience. Today, there are many types of access devices available and the number of options continues to rise rapidly. These devices have different selling and price points, and vary in level of user experience, mobility and sophistication offered. Aside from conventional laptop (including netbooks) or desktop options, newer device options can be divided into the following categories: Mobile Client – This category includes smart phones, iPhones, tablet devices (e.g. iPad) and also USB-bootable devices. These devices are ultra portable and provide quick, on-the-move and on-demand access to the most essential productivity and communication tools. Though this segment is rapidly evolving and expanding, these devices are currently limited in their usage to less-sophisticated applications. Thin Client – These are devices that typically contain just a processor and flash memory and run a local cut-down operating system such as XPe or Linux. The benefits of these devices include improved security, low power consumption and reduced maintenance requirements due to having few or no moving parts.
6 the way we see it
The benefits and challenges of deploying desktop virtualization technology
Centralization enables Thinner clients Reduced OS TCO savings of quicker incident consume less energy refresh costs thanks to Limited offline up to 60% resolution than ‘thicker’ centralized roll out capability counterparts
Better lifespan Simpler, quicker Improved flexibility Fewer service desk Increasing data & MTBF (mean time provisioning & for BYOC (Bring Your calls thanks to central center capacity Challenges between failure) for deprovisioning of Own Computer) users management implies high CapEx thin access devices users
Self-deployment Initial CapEx to Server-side solutions Benefits Increased data security Reduced overall implement very high dependent on and resilience capability for support costs developers (some models) connection to network
Enablement of Reduced need for ‘hotdesking’ and Requires more-skilled Complex licensing Bandwidth latency desk-side service visits work-from-home support personnel scenarios affects performance initiatives
The benefits of desktop virtualization Existing IT infrastructure desktop virtualization model, in some technology are both clear and capacity and potential future cases this may contravene existing compelling, however, as the diagram requirements license agreements. Though licensing above illustrates, there are several models are maturing to reflect the potential barriers to adoption. Depending on compute model, or interest in desktop virtualization, in models, selected, the adoption of the meantime usage and agreements Looking at the challenges outlined desktop virtualization technology should be monitored to ensure above, some can be considered to implies an increased demand on data compliance. be short term in nature and with a center resources. Existing storage, solution already in sight. That being service and network capacity will Without due consideration for the said, there are challenges that will need to be ascertained and planned challenges above, implementation require due consideration: carefully to take into account the attempts may fail to deliver the increased burden implied by higher benefits promised, however, the Communication, education and compute demand, users logging in compelling overall argument for organizational change ‘en masse’ and entire desktop images implementing desktop virtualization being stored centrally. suggests that these challenges, if dealt Introducing desktop virtualization with correctly, will provide little technology will require a re-definition User license agreements long-term impediment to of existing IT support roles. Data mass adoption. center and desktop IT support staff While there may be little in terms will see their roles overlap and there of technical limitations to prevent will be a demand for new skills to existing applications from accompany the new technologies. being delivered At end user level, changes to device through a provisioned and user experience must be accompanied by adequate support and clear communication of the benefits.
Desktop Virtualization 7 www.capgemini.com/its
Desktop virtualization as Understand the technology a step towards the cloud Understand the differences between the Desktop virtualization holds various types of desktop virtualization the promise of bringing management, security and Virtualization represents a crucial technologies and how they fit – or do control back to IT, while step towards the adoption of cloud not fit – with business and IT objectives. generating efficiencies technologies and the consumption of Despite apparent similarities, each of through a centralized, the desktop experience ‘as a Service’. the solutions falling under the banner of desktop virtualization has its own virtualized infrastructure Sourcing the desktop experience– advantages and drawbacks – poorly and delivering a highly either in part or in full – using cloud informed deployment decisions can satisfying – and productive computing will emerge as an attractive prove costly. – user experience. alternative to conventional, and often Simply put, it presents complex, efforts to transform the Develop a roadmap organizations with the desktop environment. Whether this A road map that incorporates where and opportunity to change be in the form of sourcing services when to deploy each technology option the way the end user from privately owned or operated identified should be generated. Any such experience is provisioned, infrastructure, or the procurement of roadmap needs to consider the existing paid for and operated. web-based services supplied on an IT estate and be sufficiently flexible to on-demand, ‘pay as you go’ basis, the accommodate some of the uncertainties benefits to businesses – large and small of working with emerging technologies. – are clear. For larger businesses, the option of sourcing the desktop experience on an ‘as a Service’ basis, 1 “Predictions 2010: Client Virtualization”, Forrester Research Inc. has the potential to free up internal 25 January 2010. IT resources to focus on facilitating 2 Gar tner Inc: “Choosing From 10 Client Computing Architectural Options”, Brian the pursuit of business objectives. For Gammage, 18 February 2010 smaller organizations, cloud-based 3 Gar tner Inc: “Choosing From 10 Client Computing Architectural Options”, Brian services hold the promise of making Gammage, 18 February 2010 a wider variety of technologies and services available to end users than would be possible if entirely reliant on proprietary IT. About Capgemini and Sogeti The Capgemini Group is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology Conclusion and outsourcing services, enabling its clients to transform and perform through the use of technologies. Present in over 30 countries, the Capgemini Group reported 2009 The benefits of desktop virtualization global revenues of EUR 8.4 billion and employs over 90,000 people worldwide. Sogeti, are both clear and compelling – the wealth its wholly-owned subsidiary, is a leading provider of local professional services, bringing of options available, though potentially together more than 20,000 professionals in 15 countries and is present in over 200 overwhelming, renders the existing locations in Europe, the US and India. ‘one size fits all’ approach to end user IT services sub-optimal and, ultimately, Together, Capgemini and Sogeti have developed innovative, business-driven quality tantamount to competitive disadvantage. assurance (QA) and testing services, combining best-in-breed testing methodologies (TMap® and TPI®) and the global delivery model, Rightshore®, to help organizations However, as with any emerging technology, achieve their testing and QA goals. Capgemini and Sogeti have one of the largest dedicated there is much to consider before testing practices in the world, with over 6,400 test professionals and a further 11,000 implementation and the following steps application specialists, notably through a common center of excellence with testing should be followed to ensure maximum specialists developed in India. benefit: Martin Snellgrove Capgemini Sogeti Assess the end user landscape Global Head of Virtualization No. 1 Forge End 6-8, Rue Duret An end user assessment or user profiling [email protected] Woking 75016 Paris Surrey France exercise should be seen as a ‘must- GU21 6DB Phone +33 1 58 44 55 66 do’ task when considering desktop Phone +44 1483 764764 Fax +33 1 58 44 55 70 virtualization. Only by understanding the needs and characteristics of the different user families can the correct Rightshore® is a registered trademark belonging to Capgemini. TMap®, TMap® NEXT, TPI® delivery methods be chosen. and TPI® NEXT are registered trademarks of Sogeti. Copyright © 2010 Capgemini and Sogeti. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be modified, deleted or expanded 20100630_EDGE by any process or means without prior written permission from Capgemini.