Michael Chavez, Sr. Technical Lead at U.S. Federal Agency Joint Task Force North and Nick Brown of Thin Technologies discuss how their Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) based on Unidesk and VMware software, HP servers, NetApp storage, and ClearCube and Dell Wyse zero clients has improved edge security, reduced administrative overhead, and eased compliance with configuration management guidelines.

1. Joint Task Force North’s
Virtual Desktop Deployment
Michael Chavez Nick Brown
Sr. Technical Lead Sr. Solution Architect
Joint Task Force North Thin Technologies

2. Who are we?
• Joint Department of Defense Organization
• Tasked to support our nation’s federal law enforcement
agencies in the identification and interdiction of
suspected transnational threats within and along the
approaches to the continental United States.
• Transnational threats include:
– International terrorism
– Narcotrafficking
– Alien smuggling
– Weapons of mass destruction
– As well as the delivery systems for such weapons that
threaten the national security of the United States
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 2

3. Our IT Staff
• Michael Chavez – Sr. SA Technical Lead
• 6 Additional Systems/Network Administrators
– Server Management
– Desktop and Peripheral Management
– Help Desk
– Application Management
– IT Security
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 3

4. Thin Technologies Inc.
• Professional Services for VARs and Vendors
• Women-owned Certified Small Business
• VDI since 2007
• Virtualization and Storage since 2003
• Strong team of diverse but augmenting
skillsets
• Delivered by MicroTech - Vienna, VA
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 4

5. Our User Base
• Two Networks Consisting of NIPR/SIPR
• ~ 200 Users at any given time frame with
accounts on both NIPR/SIPR
• ~ 500 Endpoints to include
Laptops, Desktops, Thin Clients, Printers, and
Digital Scanners
• Mix of static but mostly mobile users on NIPR
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 5

6. Why VDI?
• Reduce administrative overhead for small staff
• Centralize configuration management of
operating
systems, applications, upgrades, updates and
patches (IA IAVAs, IOIs, etc.)
• Deploy Windows 7, Office 2010
• Reduce storage footprint
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 6

7. Why VDI?
• Scale hardware technical refresh cycles
• Offer Cloud-based computing; Connect Any
Time from Anywhere
• Single Image Management based on function,
not platform
• SECURITY, SECURITY, SECURITY
• Robust Disaster Recovery
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 7

8. Unique Challenges
• Security
– Desktop in Data Center
• Government Mandates
– Patches and Updates
– Host Based Security System
– Data at Rest
• GOTS
– Gov’t Vertical Apps (e.g. DCO – Adobe Connect)
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 8

9. Our Current Environment
• Hardware
– HP c7000 Server Chassis
• HP BL460c G7 CTO Blade Servers
– NetApp 3140
• 10Gb NFS on High Speed Fiber Channel Drives
– Xsigo Virtual I/O High Speed Data Distribution Switch
– Cisco 6509 Distro/3750e Access Layer Switches
– ClearCube I9424 CAC enabled PCoIP Zero Client
– Dell Wyse RS6000 Zero Client Terminals
– Dell 4600/4400 Laptops with VMware View Client
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 9

10. Our Current Environment
• Software
– VMware ESXi 5.1
– VMware View 5.1
– Unidesk 2.0
– Windows 7
– Windows Data Center
• Enterprise Server 2008 R2
• Exchange 2010
• SQL Server 2010
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 10

11. Management Approach: Layers
• Easiest way to create and • Easy to package and
manage desktops that version apps, no isolation
are different issues
• Storage-efficient • 1 Gold OS image
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 11

12. Deployment: How’s it going?
• Phase 1
– Procure
• Phase 2
– Plan Deployment
– Deploy Backend Infrastructure
– Vet Gold Image
• Phase 3
– Deploy by Directorate
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 12

13. Demo
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 13

14. What’s Next?
• VMware View Security Server
• F5 Load Balancer
• Client Access from Commercial Internet over
SSL View Client
• Unmanaged Laptop with View Client
• Apple iPad Test Bed
• SOHO, Remote Office, Deployed Office
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 14

15. Lessons Learned
• Do NOT turn on Host Caching in View
• Get User Buy-In
– Sell as Windows 7 Upgrade versus VDI
– Drill into user base that IT staff is a limited
resource
• Keep Learning, stay informed
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 15

16. Questions
Michael Chavez Nick Brown John Le
Sr. Technical Lead Sr. Solution Architect Solution Architect
Joint Task Force North Thin Technologies Unidesk Corporation
Michael.Chavez.ctr@jtf nbrown@thin-tech.com jle@unidesk.com
n.northcom.mil 509-295-8000
• Want to learn more about Unidesk?
– Technical Webinar: Thursday, Dec 20th at 2 PM ET
– Register: www.unidesk.com/demo
12/19/2012 UNCLASSIFIED 16