1. SOLUTION BRIEF
Table of Contents RingCube vDesk over VDI:
Executive Summary 1
Next Generation Virtual
RingCube vDesk Overview 1
Desktop Infrastructure
VDI Overview 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
First Generation of VDI 2
VDI provides customers with a server-based computing solution that
Second Generation of VDI 3 enables them to centralize desktop management in the data center. As
enterprise customers have tried to implement the first and second
The vDesk VDI Solution 3
generation of VDI, they have found significant barriers to adoption that
have prevented them from realizing the benefits of desktop virtualization
across the entire enterprise.
Architecture 5
RingCube vDesk is a high-performance enterprise desktop virtualization
When should I use vDesk over solution that simplifies the creation, access and management of Windows
5
VDI? desktops through Workspace Virtualization. The vDesk solution increases
How does vDesk over VDI user productivity, lowers desktop management costs and eliminates the
5
work? performance and resource overhead of legacy virtualization
technologies.
Summary 6
RingCube vDesk can be used with VDI:
About RingCube 7 • Alternative: As a lower cost alternative that has no upfront
infrastructure costs
• Complement: As a complement for user segments that require
offline mobility
• Enhancement: As an enhancement to reduce storage costs and
support of user-installed application, personalization, and offline
mobility on non-persistent VM (virtual machine) pools.
RingCube vDesk Overview
RingCube vDesk is a high-performance enterprise desktop virtualization
solution that simplifies the creation, access and management of Windows
desktops through Workspace Virtualization. The vDesk solution increases
user productivity, lowers desktop management costs and improves
desktop virtualization performance.
Users can run their virtual desktop at the office or on unmanaged PCs – at
home, or at a client site. When users start their vDesk workspace, it
transforms any PC into their own familiar and personalized workspace

2. SOLUTION BRIEF
where users can access their files, applications, Problem
settings and entire desktop just as if they were on
their own PC. As enterprise customers have tried to implement
the first and second generation of VDI, they have
VDI Overview found significant barriers to adoption that have
prevented them from realizing the benefits of
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a solution for
desktop virtualization across the entire enterprise.
server-based virtual desktop computing that
improves control and manageability while First Generation of VDI
providing end users with a familiar desktop
experience. VDI introduces a new way of managing Enterprise customers deploying the first generation
user environments, allowing IT administrators to of VDI found that there are three barriers to success:
host and administer user desktops on Virtual
Infrastructure in the data center. Users access their 1. Cost (Server Infrastructure, Storage,
desktops using a remote desktop protocol, which Licensing)
presents the screen of a virtual machine running in 2. Licensing Complications (Windows
the data center to the end user. Operating System)
3. Offline Mobility
Diagram 1 – Traditional VDI Deployment
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3. SOLUTION BRIEF
VDI customers were forced to choose between two combination of linked clone and offline, forcing
deployment methods: persistent desktop pools and customers to choose between mobility and storage
non-persistent desktop pools. With persistent optimization. Because the master template to
pools, a new VM is provisioned automatically upon linked clone relationship has various limitations, the
first use and then users can customize their proposed implementation for user-installed
desktops, install applications and create data, and application support and provisioning is to virtualize
have those changes persist between sessions. With and stream all applications into the user’s VDI
non-persistent pools, any changes made to the desktop. However, many applications cannot be
desktop environment including installing virtualized using application containers. The second
applications, personalized settings and user- generation of VDI requires that organizations make
created data are removed at the end of the session compromises on scalability, application support
and the VM is returned to the pool, often restricting and automated provisioning to eliminate the
VDI use to very specific cases in enterprise problems of the first generation of VDI.
deployments. Unlike VDI non-persistent pools, VDI
With either the first or the second generation of
persistent pools are desirable for most enterprise
VDI, there is no way for a user to take their entire
desktop virtualization cases, but the storage
desktop offline to work at home or on a plane. With
requirements can be cost-prohibitive. This is
a generation of workers who have come to rely on
because such a deployment requires each named
laptops and expect mobility, VDI in its current form
user’s VM image, including the 2 to 10GB of data for
will continue to be limited to a specific segment of
the virtual machine’s operating system to be stored
enterprise users.
for each user, whether or not the user is logged into
the VDI environment. Furthermore, end-user VMs The vDesk VDI Solution
must be stored on a Storage Area Network (SAN),
which is a significant cost increase as compared to RingCube vDesk can be used with VDI:
typical PC storage and even that of network
attached storage (NAS). • Alternative: As a much lower cost
alternative that has no upfront
Second Generation of VDI infrastructure costs
The second and latest generation of VDI • Complement: As a complement for user
architectures attempts to eliminate barriers to segments that require offline mobility
adoption of the first generation of VDI by • Enhancement: As an enhancement to
integrating application virtualization, application reduce storage costs and provide
streaming, roaming user profiles and “linked clone” personalization, mobility and deeper
technology. However, the second generation of VDI application support
adds complexity and creates new application vDesk over the network as an Alternative to
compatibility and desktop management barriers to VDI: Eliminating Server Infrastructure Costs
adoption. The “linked clone” approach to reducing
storage utilization makes sense conceptually as it vDesk over the network offers a centralized virtual
essentially allows a common master template and desktop alternative to VDI that delivers the
small differential snapshots for each individual operational cost reductions, productivity,
user’s customized desktop. However, enterprises provisioning and manageability benefits of VDI
quickly realize that the caveats of second without the upfront server capital costs and long
generation VDI include restrictions on updating the deployment times. With vDesk over the network, IT
master template once linked clones are in place and organizations can achieve the centralization and
scalability limitations of a few hundred users. Also, management they desire while using the
second generation VDI does not support the computing power of the existing PCs, eliminating
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4. SOLUTION BRIEF
Diagram 2 – vDesk Alongside a Traditional VDI Deployment
computing power of the existing PCs, eliminating without VDI is approximately $12,000 USD which
the need to purchase additional hardware. translates to a 98% capital cost savings on servers
when compared to VDI.
(For more information, see the vDesk over the
network Solution Brief) vDesk Alongside VDI: Satisfying Diverse User
Using Gartner’s cost assumptions, the server capital Requirements
cost alone for a 2,500 user HVD deployment is Many organizations have deployed VDI to a limited
approximately $750,000 USD. For those customers subset of users such as task workers, outsourcers or
who wish to avoid these types of upfront capital for disaster recovery. However, due to the mobility,
costs associated with VDI deployments, vDesk personalization or management challenges of VDI,
offers three additional deployment modes (PC, they have not been able to deliver a viable desktop
Drive and Network). In order to run vDesk with virtualization to users such as knowledge workers
centrally stored virtual workspaces, customers need or mobile professionals. In this case, vDesk on a PC,
to deploy two windows-based server or virtual Drive or over the network can be used as the
machines. Using Gartner’s TCO model of a $6,000 primary desktop virtualization method. If those
USD for a dual-socket, dual-core server, the users want to access their desktop through VDI,
estimated cost for a 2,500 user vDesk deployment they can do so seamlessly and synchronize their
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5. SOLUTION BRIEF
virtual desktop between all the deployment Administration Server (Windows Server 2003 or
options automatically using RingCube MobileSync 2008) and a File Server/NAS be added to the
technology. architecture. All of these components can be run
inside a single physical server using server
vDesk with VDI: Reducing Cost, Providing
virtualization. The vDesk Administration Server is
Personalization & Mobility, Increasing used to provision, manage and apply policy to
Application Support vDesk workspaces. The Windows File Server is used
By integrating vDesk with VDI non-persistent pools, to store vDesk Master Workspaces and Workspace
customers can deploy the less costly non-persistent Instances.
desktops in combination with vDesk over the
network to achieve a personalized desktop user
When should I use vDesk over VDI?
experience including unique applications, files and vDesk over VDI is designed to provide a completely
settings. The integration of VDI non-persistent centralized virtual desktop option. While the
pools with RingCube vDesk will dramatically reduce infrastructure cost of VDI is much higher than using
costs, reduce operating system licensing other vDesk deployment options (Network, PC,
complexity and provide mobility to virtual desktop Drive), some user groups have security and
users. In addition, vDesk provides much deeper compliance requirements that can only be
application support than application virtualization addressed by storing and executing the virtual
technology, enabling organizations with VDI to desktop inside the data center. In addition, when
virtualize and provision applications that requires organizations have to provide thin clients rather
drivers and security services in a VDI environment. than PCs, vDesk over VDI is the only option for
those devices.
Ideal Users: Campus and Mobile with High
“For many organizations, capital costs Security and Compliance Requirements
will remain a barrier to adoption of
HVDs [VDI], due to the infrastructure In cases with high security and compliance
costs associated with servers, networks requirements, vDesk over VDI provides centrally
and storage.” stored and executed virtual desktops that can
Mark A. Margevicius
deliver the desktop management, provisioning and
Gartner Research VP productivity improvements without any
August 4, 2008 information leaving the datacenter. Unlike
TCO Comparison of PCs traditional VDI, users also maintain the same
With Hosted Virtual Desktops personalized user experience as their existing PCs,
ID Number: G00155498 their own applications and the same performance.
How does vDesk over VDI work?
Logging into vDesk over VDI
Architecture When users log into vDesk over VDI, they are
connected via a remote desktop protocol to the
The integrated vDesk and VDI solution starts with a
non-persistent pool and randomly assigned an
standard VDI implementation that includes the
available virtual machine from the pool. VDI will
Virtualization Management Server, a non-persistent
automatically log them into the Microsoft Windows
pool of virtual machines, and an Active Directory
operating system of the virtual machine and vDesk
domain controller. vDesk builds on the VDI
will automatically log them into their vDesk
infrastructure and simply requires a vDesk
workspace, which is run over the network from the
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6. SOLUTION BRIEF
File Server or NAS. A flash screen will appear for a
few seconds with progress indicators letting the
users know that their vDesk workspace is being
loaded. Then, the users will see their familiar
Microsoft Windows desktop environment. At their
first login, they will see the standard desktop that
was configured by the administrator as part of the
vDesk master workspace. Users can customize their
vDesk workspace as they would a standard PC by
installing applications, changing settings
changes that were made offline reflected in their
(wallpaper, plug-ins, VPN settings) and creating
online vDesk workspace.
their own data files (documents, presentation,
spreadsheets). In subsequent logins to VDI, users Using vDesk MobileSync for Desktop Backup
will be randomly assigned any virtual machine and and Disaster Recovery
automatically logged into their same personalized
vDesk workspace. vDesk MobileSync enables rapid backup or “hot
standby” for disaster recovery for users who have
Taking vDesk Workspaces Offline with hardware failures or lose their laptop or portable
MobileSync drive. If a laptop or portable drive is lost or fails,
users can check out their vDesk workspace from the
vDesk delivers virtual desktops to users anytime,
network to a new laptop or portable drive and be
anywhere through four flexible deployment
up and running in minutes with their latest
options:
applications, data and settings.
1. PC – vDesk is stored and runs locally on the Provisioning Updates
user’s PC
When administrators want to provision new
2. Drive – vDesk is stored on portable drives
applications, upgrade existing applications, add
such as USB
data files, or change settings, they simply make an
3. Network – vDesk is stored on a network file
update to the vDesk master workspace and those
share and runs locally
changes are automatically provisioned to the user
4. VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) – vDesk
at their next login, without any changes the virtual
is stored in the data center and accessed
machine template.
remotely using VDI
Summary
vDesk MobileSync enables users to synchronize
their vDesk workspace between any of the four Organizations have tried to implement desktop
vDesk deployment options and work offline. While virtualization for years but had limited success in
offline, users become truly mobile by being able to finding a viable alternative to traditional PCs both
access their virtual workspace anytime, anywhere. in terms of cost savings and user experience. VDI is
For example, users can access their vDesk through useful to solve desktop computing problems for
VDI while in the office and check out their vDesk some users but also has barriers that prevent its
workspace to a laptop or portable drive for a adoption for large segments of users. Rather than
business trip or to work at home. When they come piecing together existing desktop virtualization
back to the office, they are prompted automatically approaches, organizations that want to realize the
to check in and synchronize their vDesk workspace promise of desktop virtualizations should consider
using vDesk as an alternative, complement or
to the network. Once checked in, users can access enhancement to VDI deployments.
their vDesk workspace through VDI and have all the
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7. SOLUTION BRIEF
About RingCube
RingCube is the leading provider of the managed virtual workspace. The company’s innovative virtualization
software platform, vDesk, enables enterprise users to securely access their complete desktop computing
experience from any Windows PC anywhere in the world. With vDesk, organizations can increase user
productivity, lower desktop management and support costs, and eliminate the performance and resource
overhead commonly found with legacy virtualization approaches.
RingCube Technologies, Inc.
100 W. Evelyn Ave., Suite 210
Mountain View, CA 94041
United States
Main: 1-866-323-4278
International: 650-605-6900
Fax: 408-605-6901
© 2009. All rights reserved. RingCube and vDesk are trademarks of RingCube Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are
the properties of their respective holders.