VMware Revs Desktop Virtualization Offerings

Published: February 6, 2008

by Alex Woodie

VMware last week delivered a new release of its software for deploying and managing virtual desktops from the comfort of a server. The offering, called Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), now includes Virtual Desktop Manager 2, a new release of its virtual connection broker, which brings new options for how virtual desktops behave in the field.

While virtualization has had a big impact on servers, it's now beginning to have a similar effect on how big organizations deploy and maintain groups of PCs. Virtualization market leader VMware is best known for ESX Server, which can carve physical X64 servers into virtualized servers running Windows, Linux, or Unix operating systems. And now, the EMC subsidiary is looking to the desktop to keep its virtual ball rolling as the industry heats up with new virtual desktop startups and established players like Microsoft looking to improve their offerings.

To that end, VMware last week announced a new release of VDI, its end-to-end virtual desktop offering for enterprises and other larger organizations that need to mange large groups of PCs for their users. VDI is based on the VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3) stack, the name that VMware has for the complete ESX Server software stack, and now includes Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM) 2, a new release of its connection broker that manages users' access to their virtual desktops.

Under VDI, customers repurposes their client PCs as virtual desktops, which are really running on servers using VMware Infrastructure 3 (or ESX Server). The VirtualCenter component of the VDI solution manages the virtual infrastructure, while\r\nVDM 2 (which requires Microsoft Active Directory) manages user access to virtual Windows, Linux, and Macintosh PCs or thin clients. End users can log on using the Windows client-based component, or from a Web browser, allowing them to access their desktop from anywhere in the world.

VMware says organizations benefit from VDI in several ways, including: through simpler roll-outs and provisioning; through easier on-going administration of tasks such as performing back-ups; through fewer compatibility problems (thanks to the isolation that virtualization provides); and through greater reliability, since desktop apps are running on servers. Users can access the same applications they used before, and no changes need to be made to the applications, according to VMware.

The addition of VDM 2 (which is also new and can be purchased separately from VDI) to VDI gives users more options when deploying and managing virtual desktops, according to VMware. For starters, VDM 2 gives customers more desktop persistence options, such as allowing an organization to control whether a virtual desktop remains with a given user or returns to the pool when the user logs out. Security is also improved with the addition of VDM 2, which brings support for SSL tunneling, ensuring that all connections can be encrypted. Also, support for RDP extensions brings users better access to local devices such as printers, PDA, and smart cards. VDM 2 requires that the RDP protocol be used.

VDM 2 isn't required to use VDI--any connection broker can be used, according to VMware. But VMware encourages customers to use VDM 2 because it has been tested and proved compatible with the underlying VI3 technology.

With last week's launch, VMware has lined up support from some of the biggest names in the X64 industry. A Dell product manager hailed VDM for its capability to give customers more flexibility accessing their computers, while maintaining centralized control and administration. Hewlett-Packard says the new VDI offering boosts manageability, security, and reliability, and complements its Remote Client Solutions portfolio. An IBM executive lauded VDI for its roll in Big Blue's Virtual Infrastructure Access (VIA) service product and that solution's capability to boost manageability, mobility, reliability, and security, while NEC extolled VDI's compatibility with XPe, the embedded version of Windows XP. Thin client maker Wyse Technology, with whom VMware has a special relationship that allows support for dual-display setups in VDI environments, also chimed in with a word of support.

VMware is selling two main VDI packages: the VMware VDI Starter Edition and the VMware VDI Bundle 100 Pack. Both bundles include the VI3 Enterprise Edition technology and VDM 2. The difference is the VDI Starter Edition enables 10 virtual desktops for a price of $1,500, while the VDI Bundle 100 Pack supports (you guessed it) 100 virtual desktops for a cost of $15,000. Customers can expand their VDI environments by purchasing additional licenses in increments of 10, based on the list price of $150 per concurrent user. For more information, visit www.vmware.com.