This document provides an overview of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and its key components. VDI allows centralizing desktops in a data center for easier management, security and updates. It discusses the virtualization layer, connection brokers, client devices and remote access options. Live demos show examples of VDI solutions from VMware and Citrix. Benefits include cost savings, security, mobility and disaster recovery. Requirements like network performance, storage and connectivity are also reviewed.

1. Virtual Desktop
Infrastructure (VDI)
Centralise the Desktop
Cam Merrett
Demonstrator

2. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Virtualisation
Connection Brokers
PC/Thin Client/Lockdown PC
Remote office options
Security Considerations
TCO Savings
What is VDI?

3. The Physical World
Data security and
compliance are at risk.
One-off fixes are costly.
Desktop refresh is
complicated and slow.
Applications conflict and
impact performance.

4. The Virtual World
Centrally control,
track and secure data.
Centrally fix and deliver patches
globally at a lower cost.
Rapidly update PCs
or operating systems.
Isolate applications to improve
performance and speed.

5. Virtualisation Layer
Hypervisor- Example • Runs directly on hardware
• Manages resource
allocations
• Strong fault and security
isolation
• Encapsulation
• Highly scalable architecture
• What’s available
• vSphere
• Microsoft Hyper V
• Xen Server

6. What is VDI?
Core appliance at
head office
Edge appliance at
remote office
Wide Area
Network
RDP
ICA
PC-IP
Remote office
devices
Connection brokers

7. Live Demo

8. VMware VDI Infrastructure Overview
VMware View
Manages connection from client to
hosted desktop.
Active Directory
User authentication
Internet
Access
DMZ
VMware vCenter
View manages the V4 platform
Clients
VMware vSphere Platform
Hosted virtual desktops

9. Citrix Infrastructure Overview

10. VIRTUALISATION
VIRTUALISATION
Microsoft Virtualisation Solutions
VIRTUALISATION
VIRTUALISATION
Xen Desktop Application Streaming
XenApp
XenServer
XenApp

11. VDI User Experience
Network Performance
Collaboration
WAN Optimization
3D Applications
Connectivity
Multimedia

12. VDI Connection Broker
 Generally a Windows Server VM(s)
 Web Server component
 Datastore containing VDI pool information
 Authenticates against Active Directory
 Communicates with VM Management Services
 Passes Connection details back to User

13. Benefits
Desktop costs
 Purchase price £399
 Maintenance £140
 Half day to install £105
◦ £35 per hour
 Admin – 15 hours £525
 Power usage £240
 Total £1,409
 Per annum £352.25
VDI Costs
 Thin client £240
 Maintenance £0
 One hour to install £35
◦ £35 per hour
 Admin £0
 Power usage £20
 Back Office £265,000 £530
 Total £825
 Per annum £206.25
Cost per user model (500 users)
40.3% saving – payback 16 months

14. Real-World Financial Examples

15. What made VDI produce such high savings
Storage was the most expensive part of VDI and priced the solution higher than
PC’s. Thin provisioning from Citrix, VMware or Netapp has cut storage costs by 80%

16. Additional Incentives/Benefits
 Green Computing Initiative
 Needs of a mobilised workforce
 HA/DR for Desktop estate
 Hardware Independence
 Smooth the transition to Windows 7

17. Power Savings with Client Consolidation
Client Consolidation uses much less power than traditional
desktop deployments
◦ e.g. Assume 200 users
 Traditional desktop power consumption:
◦ 200 users X avg 300 watts per PC = 60,000 watts
 Client Consolidation power consumption:
◦ 3 x3850 = 6,000 watts + DS4700 = 1,000 watts + 200 Thin Clients x 5
watts = 7,000 + 1,000 = 8,000 watts
 Cost savings is 260 watts per desktop
◦Estimated savings of £80 per PC per year!
◦ (assumes 10 pence per KW hour price for electricity).

18. Security Considerations
Secure Client device – End Point security
Connection to data centre - SSL VPN / Firewall
Secure virtual desktop – Hypervisor AV

19.  No real physical savings for laptop users - Yet
 Laptops can be replicated to backup virtual machine
 Laptop sometimes not needed (e.g. office to office)
 User can work from any location
 The Future :
◦ Client Hypervisor with Secure Partition
◦ Online and Offline Access
◦ Bare metal Performance
◦ Synchronization
Laptops

20. VDI and Remote Office Connectivity & Performance
Business Result:
- No IT staff at remote locations
- High speed access
- Data is protected
- “single instance of data”
- Less hardware, licenses, storage, tape
- None or less servers for branch office services
- Data is safe!!
SAN
LAN
Data
Centre
WAN
Wide Area
Network
Core
Edge
Edge

21. Very first phase of deciding on VDI
Discovery Tool Kit
Collect detailed information on current estate
OS versions and patch levels, CPU make, model, speed, Physical memory size
Age of device
Total number of displays and maximum resolution
Total number of local disks, total capacity of storage available, total amount of
storage utilized
Local printers
USB devices and peripherals (connected at scan)
Applications deployed
• The installed applications discovered on the end point, Application usage
• The average and maximum memory used by each discovered application
• The peak and average CPU usage of each discovered application
Local storage usage – the amount of disk space broken down by application

22. VDI Solution Stack Summary
Discovery Centrix
Connection
Brokers
Xen Desktop
VMware View
User profile
management
Appsense
Thin Clients Wyse
WAN Optimisation Blue Coat

23. Next steps
 Copy of these slides
 White paper on consolidation ratios
 No cost trial login
 Discovery tool to assess current estate
 Business case
 Proof of Concept options
 How to approach VDI document
User device
Connection
Bandwidth
Virtualisation
Hardware