DESKTOP VIRTUALIZATION

Desktop virtualization has become a catch all phrase for various mechanisms that simplify the management of the user’s desktop environment. VDI is a concept that has been around for some years. The basic concept is to host the desktops in the datacenter rather than on the user’s desk. This concept was pioneered by Hewlett-Packard about 5 years ago. The first iteration of the idea involved taking a rack of blade computers, and installing Windows XP on each blade; users then accessed their assigned blade using a standard Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) client. As a concept, it worked for some high-end requirements. The advent of server virtualization into the mainstream has meant that we can now host 30+ desktops on a single server,A such that this technology is now far more affordable. Figure 1.1 is a diagram of a basic VDI. The Client Hypervisor is another desktop virtualization technology. The Client Hypervisor entails installing a hypervisor on a laptop or PC, which is used to host one or more desktop operating systems. This technology should not be confused with “Type 2” hypervisors like virtual PC or VMware workstation that execute on top of a guest operating system. This differs from a server hypervisor insofar as it allows the guest operating system to be accessible from the device itself.