VMware Mirage is a desktop virtualization product that provides centralized management and recovery capabilities for physical or virtual desktops. It uses a layered approach to separate operating systems, applications, user data and settings. Mirage supports up to 1,000 endpoints per server instance and scales out by adding additional Mirage servers and storage. It provides capabilities such as OS migration, hardware replacement and self-service recovery of user files and desktops.

1. VMWARE MIRAGE OVERVIEW
Andrew Mauro – VCDX & vExpert
http://vinfrastructure.it/en/
02/04/2015
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VMware Mirage Overview

2. WHO AM I
 My name is Andrew (Andrea in Italy) Mauro
 My blog: http://vinfrastructure.it/en/
 I’m a proud member of the Italian VMUG
 vExpert 2010-2015, VCDX-DCV 3/4/5, VCAP-*,
VCIX-NV, VCP-*…
…also some MCSA and MCSE and others…
 You can find me on twitter as: @Andrea_Mauro
 Currently I work for Assyrus Srl as an IT architect
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3. END USER COMPUTING (EUC)
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4. VMWARE MIRAGE
 What is it? How does it fit in the VMware EUC vision?
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5. MIRAGE IN THE VCP6-DESKTOP CERTIFICATION
 Section 5 – Install, Configure, and Manage
VMware Mirage
 Objective 5.1
 Describe and Differentiate VMware Mirage Components
 Objective 5.2
 Manage Base and Application Layers
 Objective 5.3
 Configure and Manage Endpoints
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6. USER CASES
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Layered, Single
Image
Management
1 3
4 5
Automated
Windows 7
Migration
Desktop
Recovery (BC / DR)
Rapid Desktop
Repair
Hardware
Migration
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7. TERMINOLOGY
 Endpoint
 A device managed by Mirage (only Windows Client OS)
 CVD (Centralized Virtual Desktop)
 complete contents of each PC migrated to Mirage
 Reference CVD
 CVD used as “gold image” for base layer creation
 Base layer
 a template for desktop content, cleared of specific identity information, and made suitable for
central deployment to a large group of endpoints
 Application layer
 one or more applications that can be deployed to endpoints
 Driver profile
 drivers required by a specific vendor/model of endpoint
 Collection
 Endpoints with the Mirage Client Installed
 SIS – Single-Instance storage
 Image repository
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8. EUC ELEMENTS AND SCOPE
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Elements the End-User
wants to control
Elements IT wants to
manage
Operating System
IT installed
Applications
Device
Drivers
Data
Background
Wallpaper
User installed
Applications
Custom settings

9. LAYERS
 Mirage layers
 Layers are stored in the data
center
 Mirage performs granular
operations on endpoints
managed by Mirage
 Orange layers continuously
backed up from endpoints
 Green layers managed by IT
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End-User PC
Machine Identity Layer
(Identity and customizations)
User Personalization Layer
(User data, installed applications,
and profile)
Base Layer
(Operating system, infrastructure
software, and core applications)
Driver Library
Mirage Application Layers

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Applications not
installed by Mirage
User profile
User data
Machine
identity
Drivers
Base layer
Network optimized
synchronization and
streaming
Application layers
Mirage
servers
and single
instance
stores

11. DRIVER PROFILES
 Drivers required to support a specific
vendor/model of endpoint
 Decouples the hardware from the other layers
 Download drivers from vendor and import into
Mirage driver library
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12. BUILD A CVD FROM THE LAYERS
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 Logically layers each end user’s PC
 Layers managed separately but are
merged together at the endpoint
 Does not actually shift contents
around on PC
 Empowers IT to perform granular
operations some or all PC layers
 User-Installed apps are preserved
for use during migrations or
desktop recovery
Horizon Mirage™
End-User Controlled
User Data & Profile
Applications
Additional Applications
OS and Core Apps
Device Drivers
IT Managed

13. BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
 Single Image Management
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Single
Base Layer
Microsoft Windows 7
Antivirus
Common Applications
Dell Drivers
HP Drivers
VMware Drivers
Finance Apps
HR Apps
IT Apps
Up to 20,000
Endpoints

14. MICROSOFT WINDOWS OS SUPPORT
 Centralize and recover any Microsoft Windows desktop operating systems
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Overview
 File/full system recovery and rollback support for
Microsoft Windows XP (SP3 32 bit), Vista, Windows
7, 8 and 8.1 included Windows Embedded
 Self-service file recovery
 Dynamic layering of endpoints during centralization
Benefits
 End user downtime reduced from days to hours
 Simplified recovery process with flexible restore
options
 Fast recovery for any Microsoft Windows desktop
operating system

15. MIRAGE COMPONENTS
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Mirage
Client
 The Mirage “agent”, 10 MB MSI, deployed to all clients
 Mirage-related endpoint operations and file/folder recovery
Mirage
Servers
 Mirage Management server (interfaces with database)
 Mirage server (controls all operations and objects)
File Portal
and
Web Management
 Optional features used for web administration and file/folder recovery
 Must be on a server that is on the domain
 Can co-reside on the Mirage server itself
Management
Console
 MMC administrator console to connect to Mirage Management server
 Can be deployed on any desktop
Mirage Gateway
 Secure gateway supports centralized management of remote endpoints
without VPN
 Easy access for end users who never or rarely connect to the corporate
environment
Branch
Reflector
 “In-branch” device that can service base layers and updates, drivers, and
migration functionality, eliminating WAN traffic for certain Mirage operations
 No additional setup/installation required – designate an existing endpoint as
a branch reflector

16. DOWNLOAD THE BINARIES
 From MyVMware
 One package for all
 Except for the Gateway
 License?
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17. MIRAGE ARCHITECTURE
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18. TYPICAL MIRAGE DEPLOYMENT
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19. REQUIREMENTS
 For all «server roles»
 Windows Server 2008 R2, 2012 or 2012 R2
 Domain membership
 Gateway is an exception
 VA (Linux) for vSphere
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20. SCALE-IN MODEL
 One single Mirage Server «all in one»
 up to 1000 endopoints
 Minimum 8 GB RAM and 4 vCPU
 up to 1500 endopoints
 Minimum 16 GB RAM and 8 vCPU
 2 Gigabit Network interfaces
 Disk space
 «system space» 146 GB disk (100 of network cache)
 «SIS space» (local or all Windows supported storage)
 (ReFS volumes seems not working correctly)
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21. SCALE-OUT MODEL
 Separated roles
 More server nodes with an external
 load balancer (for endpoints connection)
 NAS (must be CIFS/SMB)
 DBMS (for the management server)
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22. POD MODEL?
 One or many Pod?
 Usually and recommended:
 Single cluster -> Single Management
 Bandwidth requirements and restriction to
define a multi Pod and multi-site architecture
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23. DATABASE
 External if you use multi roles-nodes
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24. MIRAGE STORAGE
 Single-Instance Storage (SIS)
 Where Mirage stores CVDs: 1000 per SIS
 Local storage or Microsoft Windows (CIFS) file share
 Mirage Servers are “stateless” if using share
 Multiple servers share SIS to form clusters
 File and binary (chunk) de-duplication, depending on file type
 Leverages Microsoft Windows file/folder security
 Must support Microsoft Windows Alternate Data Streams (ADS)
 Local Cache
 Caches endpoint synchronization
 One per Mirage server, 100 GB recommended (not shared)
 Reduces network and server utilization
 “Warm up” new Mirage servers by copying another’s cache
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25. MIRAGE NETWORKING
 Average of 15 Kbps per endpoint for steady-state
updates
 Other Mirage operations might demand additional
bandwidth
 Amount of unique versus de-duplicable content and
number of simultaneous centralizations impacts
bandwidth
 Bandwidth management integration
 Priority queuing, Class of Service (CoS), Quality of
Service (QoS) compatibility
 Leverage built-in Bandwidth Limiting Controls
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26. REQUIRED PORTS
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27. INSTALLATION FLOW
 Preparing the database
 Windows Authentication
 Prepare the Mirage Storage
 Install .NET Framework 3.5SP1!
 Install the Mirage Management server
 Install one or more Mirage server node
 Install the Management Console (MMC)
 (Optional) Install the Mirage File Portal (Web Access)
 (Optional) Install the Web Management
 (Optional) Install the Mirage Gateway
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28. CONFIGURATION FLOW
 Run the MMC
 Connect the Management Server
 Add the license
 Not implicit trial mode
 Install the Mirage Client on each endpoint
 Add the endpoint as «managed»
 Importing USMT and drivers
 Set all policies
 Enabling specific features
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29. ENDPOINT MANAGEMENT
 New client are in pending status
 Can become managed
 Or reference
 Image composer
 Merge all layers
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30. BASE LAYER
 How many?
 Similar to the linked clone «parent» image
 But different techology
 Similar consideration about what put inside
 OS
 Application??
 Other?
 About 15% of disk space must be planned!
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31. APPLICATION MANAGEMENT
 Different solutions:
 Add in the base image
 Create one or more application layers
 Note that you cannot specify dependency across layers
 Use ThinApp
 Use Horizon Workspace
 Use other solutions
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32. SNAPSHOT MANAGEMENT
 Like recovery points
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33. DATA INTEGRITY AND SECURITY
 SSL-enabled communications (optional)
 NTFS permissions used to secure files, folders,
and shares
 MD5 checksum is used on all data files (backup
and restore) for data integrity
 Support for Microsoft Windows encrypting file
system and BitLocker
 Mirage SIS file system written in proprietary format
 Cannot execute or read files from Mirage SIS
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34. CVD POLICY FEATURES
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 Added flexibility for IT to manage endpoints
 Manage images on endpoints without uploading
endpoint data
 Optimization option for LAN environments removes
LZ compression and block-level
de-duplication
 IT can control user throttling based on policy
 Mirage works faster in LAN environments
 Increased flexibility in managing endpoints
Overview
Benefits

35. WEB CONSOLE AND FILE PORTAL
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 Leverage automated management and self-service access
Overview
 Browser-based access for end users to download
folders and multiple files across devices
 Mass centralization capability and dashboard
drilldown into endpoints through the web console
 Endpoint centralization status, trends, and errors
available in dashboard view
 Edit upload policies, build collections, restore
endpoints, and much more
Benefits
 Follow-me access to files across devices for
enhanced productivity
 Monitor centralization process from single-pane
view dashboard
 Automated management for easy troubleshooting
and remediation, and scalable endpoint
centralization

36. BRANCH OFFICE
 Branch Reflector
 Reduces “downstream” WAN
network demands by caching frequently-accessed
content on designated endpoint
 Endpoints access data from branch reflector in local
office – not from Mirage server across WAN
 Can leverage any existing Mirage centralized endpoint
 Caches data used by base layers, base layer updates,
driver library, and operating system migrations
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37. MIRAGE GATEWAY
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 Manage branch office and remote endpoints without VPN
Overview
 Like the View Secure Server (SSL gateway)
 But NOT the same technology
 Secure gateway supports centralized management
of remote endpoints without VPN
 Supports up to 1000 endpoints per server
Benefits
 Easy access for end users who never or rarely
connect to the corporate environment
 Simplified endpoint management of distributed users
across the WAN
 Enterprise-grade scalability
 Linux based appliance
DMZ
Mirage
Gateway
Centralized Virtual
Desktops
Storage
Mirage
Server(s)
 DMZ deployment
 Single arm only!

38. MIRAGE – BANDWIDTH LIMITING
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s
 Server-side bandwidth limitation
 Overview of real time bandwidth usage use by Mirage
 Bandwidth per server driver by number of endpoints
Benefits
 Bandwidth limitation set on subnets and/or sites
 No need to set QoS on network equipment
 Bandwidth limitation applied immediately
Overview
 Client-side throttling
 Automatic bandwidth throttling
depending on user activity level
improves client experience
 End users can pause any Mirage
network operations

39. FINAL RECAP
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VMware Mirage Overview

40. OBJECTIVE 5.1
 Describe and Differentiate VMware Mirage Components
 Identify firewall requirements for VMware Mirage
 Install VMware Mirage Management server and console
 Install VMware Mirage Web Manager
 Install VMware Mirage server
 Install VMware Mirage Gateway server
 Install and Configure File Portal
 Configure Branch Reflector
 Configure role-based delegations
 Configure driver library and profiles
 Configure SSL
 Configure the User State Migration Tool (USMT)
 Configure storage volumes
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41. OBJECTIVE 5.2
 Manage Base and Application Layers
 Capture and update the Base layer
 Capture and update the App layer
 Assign Base and App layers
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42. OBJECTIVE 5.3
 Configure and Manage Endpoints Manage
Base and Application Layers
 Create and manage Upload policies
 Restore snapshots
 Create, manage, and archive collections
 Install the Mirage Client
 Migrate and centralize endpoints
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43. MIRAGE LIMITS
 It isn’t a backup solution
 Only 30 recovery points
 It works ONLY if Windows works on the endpoint
 No support for vPro or OOB solutions
 Cannot change the disk layout of the endpoint
 No partitions management, no formatting, …
 Driver only in .inf format
 Not «binary» compatible with View or ThinApp
 Are different products… with some kind of integration
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44. MIRAGE & VIEW – BEST OF BOTH WORLD
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45. THE PROMISE
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46. MANAGE VIEW DESKTOPS WITH MIRAGE
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 Manage “IT” layers of persistent desktop pool (full
clones) in VMware View® using Mirage
 Mirage layers allow for user-installed applications
and data to be preserved after image updates
 New upload policy allows minimal uploads to reduce
overhead of steady-state uploads
 View agent upgrade from VMware Horizon® with
View™ 5.3 to future releases using Mirage base or
application layer
 Flexibility in managing user-specific and
departmental applications
 Stateful – Images persist across sessions
 Mirage can now be used to manage both physical
and virtual endpoints at scale
Mirage Server
Base Layer
App Layer 1
App Layer 2
Desktop VM
Virtual Disk (full
clone)
User-installed
apps
User Profile
Overview
Benefits
Included in Horizon Advantage edition

47. HORIZON FLEX
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Windows XP / 7 / 8.1
Fusion Pro/ Player Pro
Mac OS X 10.8, 10.9 & Windows
User App Layer
(user installed
apps and drivers)
Corporate Apps
User
Personalization
Layer (user data
and profiles)
Corporate Data
Date-based expiration
Copy-paste
USB on/off
Permitted networks
Poison pill
Policies

48. MORE INFORMATION
 This slide
 http://professionalvmware.com/
 http://vinfrastructure.it/en/
 VMware site
 http://www.vmware.com/it/products/horizon-mirage
 https://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/mirage_pubs.html
 HoL
 http://labs.hol.vmware.com/HOL/#lab/601
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VMware Mirage Overview 02/04/2015

49. THANK YOU
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Andrew Mauro – VCDX & vExpert
http://vinfrastructure.it/en/
VMware Mirage Overview