User virtualization provides a standardized component-based model for desktop virtualization. It treats the user environment as a separate component that can be managed independently of the operating system and applications. This allows for a single standardized desktop image while still providing personalized environments for users. User virtualization solves issues like profile management, roaming profiles, and application compatibility that arise in non-persistent virtual desktop environments. It manages user policies, personal settings, applications, and data to deliver a consistent user experience across different delivery methods.

1. User VirtualizationGuy Leech, Systems Architect

2. The traditional PC modelUser EnvironmentApplicationsOperating System

3. The component desktopUser EnvironmentApplicationsOperating System

4. Why Implement Desktop Virtualization?To Reduce Desktop TCO?To Centralize Desktop Management?To Improve Security?To Increase Agility?Why Standardize Virtualized Components??To operate at lowest possible desktop TCO

5. To decrease desktop administration

6. To enable greater agility and flexibility??

7. A Standardized Component Based Model

8. Why Personalize The Desktop?Desktop Virtualization targets the Knowledge/Power user - working historically on physical devices – otherwise SBC such as Citrix XenApp for task based usersUsers are ever more demanding, expecting fully personal environments - acceptance is key to adoptionWithout Personalization, users will experience a default, sterile environmentPersonalization is a major part of DVManage it correctly and reduce risks in DV adoption

9. Technical Challenges for migration (1)The “.v2” profile issueDifferent profile folder structuresDifferent installation pathsDifferent methods of personalisation, e.g. App-VDifferent data types, e.g. WallpapersPermissionsOne time/one way or bidirectional?

10. Other Technical ConsiderationsPerformance – hypervisor has no insight into OSApplication provisioningLocal administrators?Application access– licensing, LOB only“Instantly” usable & familiar environmentLock down

11. Roaming profilesMay be good enoughLow complexity, low volume environmentsNot platform, or build, independentStorage spaceTransfer & logon/logoff timeFolder redirection can help mitigateCorruptionReset one app, resets them all

12. Considerations for non-persistent desktopsWhere the TCO savings are, apparentlyEverything comes from a single “Gold” imageEntire VM (delta disk) discarded at logoffSo what about the customisations/changes to C: ?It’s all in the user profileNo! If only Badly behaved applications – HKLM & c:\blahThe “Save it to C:” brigadeUser installed applicationsBut we (probably) don’t need %SystemRoot% changes

13. In-built profile management technology to optimize user profiles

14. Prevents profile corruption

15. Reduces user logon times

16. But, for more complex environments, you may need more than profile management…A Standardized Component Based Virtual Desktop

17. Does Profile Management enable Lowest Cost DV?Can reduce cost related to profile management issues, such as support deskDoesn’t enable complete configuration and personalization of complex DV environmentsMeaning it does not make the Single OS & App image possibleProfile Management is not the means to Lowest Cost DV…. So what is?

18. So how does AppSense do it?PolicySet up and maintain a desktopPersonalizationEnable the user to make it their desktop

19. The User EnvironmentPersonality Store for JohnJohn’s Policy:User RightsApplication AccessDrive / Printer AccessInstallation AccessDesktop SetupJohn’s Personalization:Desktop CustomizationsApplication Customizationse.g. Wallpaper, language settings, email signaturesJohn’s Applications:Non-packaged appsNon-corporate appsBrowser plug-insAll stored independent of the corporate desktop and provisioned as needed across any delivery mechanism and into any Windows OS.

20. User VirtualizationCross-platform, cross-delivery environment – the component desktopThe new desktop estate will be a combination of delivery technologies

21. The desktop is moving towards a component model

22. The user is one of those componentsVirtualized User InfrastructureIn the same way the OS and applications are managed through a corporate infrastructure, the user now has to be treated the same way

23. Enterprise-scalable user management infrastructure

24. Based on user virtualization technologyAppSense and VMware VMware View (Awaiting) Profile MgtReduced user logon times