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Better business value from your
IT investment
Workspace Whitepaper
HTML-5 - enabling the next
generation of the user
workspace
This document has been written with the context of simplifying
and improving the experience of the user workspace; by
reducing the hardware and software footprint of the end-user
device, whilst maintaining flexibility, agility and security.
What is it?
HTML-5 is the latest evolving (non-proprietary) standards
based of Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML), the long
awaited successor to the ageing HTML 4.01 standard of 1999,
that consists of the following core components:
What is it?
What are the benefits?
What are the use cases?
Pros
Cons
What are the alternatives?
Conclusion
HTML: providing page definition and
structure
JavaScript: providing core functionality
Cascading Style Sheets: providing
content presentation
Note: additional dependencies exist for a successful
implementation of services deployed within the HTML-5
framework; including development suites, operating system or
pre-browser runtime environment.
What are the benefits?
The potential benefits to organisations looking to refresh or
transform their WorkSpace environments are only limited to
vision and development of architects, developers and future
browser support; however I believe the following to be key to
its successful longevity:
Authored by;
Peter White
Senior Enterprise Architect

2. • World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) defined
standard
• No (or reduced) browser plug-ins or additional
software agents required; supporting;
o Application delivery
o Multimedia delivery
o Legacy desktop delivery
• Simplify application and data access
• Browser only access devices
• Customisable collaboration environment; for
data, applications, static and user specific
content
• Browser and page integration / inter-operability;
between virtual instances
• Standard development environment and tool
integration
• Cloud ready; for “as a Service” service offerings
• Reduction in endpoint procurement and
operational costs
• Reduction in WorkSpace technology refresh /
deployment costs
What are the use cases?
The use-cases I envisage within WorkSpace environments include the following possibilities:
WorkSpace Operating Environment
• Direct application data access / presentation
• Centralised application presentation; virtual application, server based computing, Software-as-a-
Service
• Legacy desktop operating system based access; virtual desktop, server based computing,
Desktop-as-a-Service
• Virtual peripheral support
Multimedia Presentation
• Standards based multimedia presentation; including the following
• Conferencing capability; voice, IP telephony, video
• Remote access; desktop and application sharing
• Remote training, education services
Embedded Endpoint Content
• Active content presentation to the access device’s operating system
• Active content presentation as the access device’s user interface; direct data and application
access from the endpoint
Multi-Environment Support
• Consistent multi-platform support; desktop, thin-client, laptop, ultra-book, netbook, tablet, smart-
phones, smart-TVs and Mac
• Multi-browser support; Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera, Android's
• Consistent presentation within a multi-platform and multi-browser environments; including the
Internet, consumer and corporate

3. Pros
 “It does whatever you want it to do!”
 Cloud ready
 Multi-platform (browser) support
 Many software vendors’ and service
providers’ roadmaps include a transformation
plan to HTML-5; including:
o Citrix – August 2012
o VMware – August 2013
o Ericom – now, limited to RDP
o Guacamole – now, limited to RDP
 Non-royalty based development
 Anywhere, any device access; dependent on
security policies
 Web page annotation and description
 Improved coding capability; with rapid
development life-cycle
Cons
 Evolving standard, that will change in its
development
 Not all Browsers are equal; no single vendor
supports the current standard
 Endpoint environments have to be using a
compliant HTML-5 browser; and may require
a Browser specific to functionality
requirements
 Not 100% code compatible to its predecessor
HMTL 4.01; for porting code and
redevelopment
Ericom:
 Zero Client Software! No need to install:
Flash, Silverlight, ActiveX or any other
underlying technology on the end-user device
 Access and control your desktop from
anywhere! Use any HTML-5 enabled Device!
Smartphones, Tablets including iPad, iPhone,
Android devices, locked-down work stations
and from computers running Windows, Mac
OS X, Linux and Chrome OS.
 Extends the reach of VMware View, Citrix
XenApp / XenDesktop, Dell (Quest)
vWorkspace, Ericom PowerTerm
WebConnect, and Microsoft Windows
Remote Desktop (RD) Connection Broker, to
Chromebook and other HTML-5-enabled
devices and browsers
 Ericom Secure Gateway for secure,
encrypted, single-port entry into the
organizational network
 Supports the latest bring-your-own-device
(BYOD) initiatives
 Ericom's HTML-5 client integrates with
leading enterprise and home grown portals
Citrix:
 Google Chrome (version 19+) & Mozilla Firefox
(version 11+) browsers on Windows and Mac
desktops
 In-session Tool bar that can move and close
 Copy/Paste text
 Key to send Ctrl+Alt+Del to desktop session
 External access of XenApp applications and
XenDesktop via Access Gateway
 Direct internal access of XenApp applications
 Performance enhancements
 Storefront integration
Guacamole:
 Guacamole provides access to desktop
environments using remote desktop protocols
like VNC and RDP. A centralized server acts as
a tunnel and proxy, allowing access to multiple
desktops through a web browser.
 No browser plugins are needed, and no client
software needs to be installed. The client
requires nothing more than a web browser
supporting HTML-5 and AJAX.
VMware:
 Currently available using Ericom’s AccessNow
 VMware Horizon Desktop!
Conclusion
It is my opinion that HTML-5 will drive the next generation of online desktops, applications and data
access; meeting the expectations and demands of the commercial and consumer, enabling a less-
complex but improved delivery mechanism.
What are the alternatives?
What are the pros and cons?