VDI
the Citrix XenServer, XenDesktop platform manufacturers to ensure adoption by providing facilities where
and the Citrix Provisioning server. architectural integrity and optimised the channel can come and replicate
The XenServer creates the virtualised application delivery. VMware has a lot customer environments and test
environment on the servers with the of experience deploying thousands of different configurations. We are also
ability to manage applications and virtual machines very quickly across providing technical training and front
dynamically move environments across the datacenter and are confident we line pre-sales support.”
servers. The XenDesktop enables the can support VDI across the largest This channel skills issue is also being
provisioning and personalisation of the organisations. We are also focusing on addressed by Horizon. Chris Whiteley
desktop for users and the provisioning providing the right management suite explains, “Horizon has not only training
server controls the whole desktop so that service levels can be monitored and demonstration facilities to help
delivery on the fly.” and adjusted.” channel partners but also blueprints for
A layered infrastructure is key Despite concerns the driving datacenters supporting VDI. We have
for delivering VDI solutions as forces behind VDI are substantial as already done a great deal of the work
Chris Whiteley of Horizon explains, organisations attempt to deliver IT to with different configurations and can
“Whether the customer is using support business process change and help our partners put forward proposals
VMware or a Citrix, Novell or Microsoft mobility. Matt Piercy explains, “The and provide proof-of-concept trials.”
virtualised environment on their servers timing for VDI is now as organisations It is alright for manufacturers and
it is important that the desktop is struggle with a whole range of desktop vendors to be bullish about VDI as they
provisioned and delivered in the most issues from application deployment, have technology to sell, but why and
effective and secure way as possible if security of devices and data as well as when should the customer adopt it and
it is to be accepted.” upgrading operating systems.” why should the channel get involved.
“Products like Sun Secure Global “When you add to this the deployment “The trigger for many companies
Desktop Software provide secure of new style applications in places such adopting VDI coincides with some
access to virtual desktops from a as hospitals and manufacturing the VDI strategic decision point such as a
wide range of popular client devices, approach to desktop delivery really comes planned refresh of the desktop,”
including PCs, Solaris OS Workstations, into its own.” according to Kevin Bland of Citrix.
thin clients and mobile devices.” “Security is one of the driving forces “VDI is not a tactical decision it is
“The important issue as far as the for many deployments. The fact that the very strategic. The company needs to
user is concerned is that the virtual whole desktop and data never leaves understand what they want from it and
desktop performs just as well as if they the datacenter and that all the traffic define this clearly up front.”
had their own PC.” from datacenter to desktop device can “The investment in infrastructure
This point is picked up by Owen be encrypted ensures that we won’t see in the datacenter can be huge. In
Cole, Technical Director UK&I for the embarrassing stories in the press of the past IT departments have tended
F5, “VDI is not hard to do as can lost data on stolen laptops or CDs.” to think in silos when it came to
be seen by the number of players in “Additionally, though thin client infrastructure. Decisions on servers,
the market. However it is important computing delivers much of what storage, networking and security often
not only to have performance but to VDI can do as far as the application unrelated.”
ensure that sessions are kept open no is concerned, there are many “When deploying VDI solutions the
matter whether the network session applications which do not work well in whole IT infrastructure has to be looked
times out.” thin client mode. With VDI, because at holistically. The IT department has to
“Users will not accept VDI if the user has their own O/S as well as look at end to end delivery.”
sessions are lost due to network or application delivered to them, there is This view begs the question whether
communications issues. This may a lot more flexibility.” VDI is right only for large enterprises.
seem a small issue but it has a massive With VDI seeming to be the answer Kevin responded, “Every business is
impact. At F5 we are working with to the IT managers prayers why are an enterprise. They all have the same
all the VDI vendors to ensure they they not all rushing headlong into challenges it is just a matter of scale.
can access all F5 products through its deployment. David Johnson, UK If an organisation has more than 50
our open APIs and thus lock the VDI Divisional Director at distributor Avnet, desktops or has multiple offices then
session until the user logs out.” gives his viewpoint, “There are lots of they are a potential user of VDI.”
This whole VDI performance issue proof-of-concepts going on at present “The difference is that the larger
is where all vendors are unsure. Matt because the argument for VDI is so organisations will have their own IT
Piercy, Channel Director for northern compelling. What is holding it back department to do the strategic planning
EMEA at VMware explains, “This is an for the present is the lack of real case whereas the mid market and SMB
evolving market and we are all learning studies, the architectural unknowns to organisations rely heavily on their
what the performance issues will be as support it and the scarcity of skill and channel partners.”
deployments start to roll out. We are experience across the channel.” Jill Henry marketing manager
working very closely with the server “Avnet is trying to accelerate its at Novell has strong views on
26 8020 EUROPA JUNE 2008
24,25,26,27.indd 3 13/6/08 09:43:13
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