Consolidate desktops into the data centre through virtualisation

Sun's Virtualisation Solutions Architect, Matthew Legg and Virtual Desktop Solutions Architect, Daniel Cifuentes, recently spoke with Laurie Wong, Sun's Software Product Manager about how Virtual Desktop solutions can reduce the management of the traditional desktop environment.

Read the interview transcript below.

Q. We're here today to talk about Virtual Desktops. Matthew could you start with an overview, a thumbnail sketch, of VMware's virtual desktop infrastructure initiative?

A: The first thing to say is that from a VMware perspective, we're not actually talking about a product. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or vdi, is a concept or a technical approach to delivering virtual machines to desktops.

Traditionally we've used virtual machines for delivering server operating systems. There's a continuing focus to provide desktops to developer sessions or to allow for desktop refresh. I'll talk on exactly where these applications are.

From a VMware perspective, what we're really talking about is a back-end infrastructure running around an enterprise class virtualisation solution such as VMware's ESX Server.

Typically, Standard Operating Environment (SoE) workstation builds such as Windows XP or Solaris - or any desktop operating system that can be remotely controlled - are simply loaded in as virtual machines and they're remotely connected to some kind of remote desktop protocol or RDP. In Windows machines obviously this is simply RDP in its lowest form.

Over the past few years RDP has been used for a number of things. For example, organisations that are seeking to go though a large desktop refresh process, and perhaps do not want to invest in large amounts of new desktop hardware, can retain their old hardware or move to a thin client solution and host their desktops in a central data centre location.

In today's environment that has fantastic ramifications for delivering Vista to the desktops. A lot of organisations are worried about delivery of processor intensive operating systems to old hardware. Delivering operating systems via server infrastructure at the back end and just remotely connecting via internal server or RDP session will greatly reduces the amount of overhead needed at the desktop. So they can stay on their existing hardware with a simple desktop software refresh rather than a full hardware replacement.

Another typical application is offshore development. Many organisations who are moving their developers to India typically don't want to manage the developer workstations. They can centralise desktops in a SoE fashion in a centralised data centre. These are then delivered via RDP to the developer to use the SoE exactly as though they are located locally in the data centre - with fast access to data and code sources.

Probably the final one to mention is the multiple developer desktop situation.

In the last few years it has become commonplace for organisations to equip their developers with VMware workstations. We can now actually give those developers a number of desktops and complete environments - such as server environments - mixed in with desktop development platforms and deliver them as a complete set of virtual machines.

Q: That's pretty interesting. Daniel, how does Sun's strategy in SunRay and Secure Global Desktop play with the VMware environment?

A: What's really appealing about the picture Matt has painted is that businesses are finally able to push all the management of their desktops to the data centre using VMware.

However that still leaves one question unresolved. How do you deliver that desktop to a device that is also unmanaged.

That's exactly where Sun comes in. We will be talking about two solutions that can help you manage this.

First I'll start with the software piece that allows you to deliver that centralised machine that is running your desktop. It's a software solution called Secure Global Desktop which can centralise and deliver not just desktops but even individual applications.

The beauty about this model is that you don't need a managed client. All you need is a Java enabled web browser, to simply point yourself to the point of access that can then find your desktop within the data centre.

By doing so, you are doing two things:

1. Re-using existing applications on your desktop
2. Making the most of existing hardware resources

By the sheer fact all you need is a Java enabled web browser it means you don't need to have a powerful machine. As Matthew mentioned, you can actually deliver a Vista desktop to such a machine.

Then, when you are comfortable with the whole experience of running a desktop remotely, at some point you will decide you don't need the physical asset anymore.

You can simply replace the managed desktop with something as simple as the SunRay. This is a Thin Client appliance that sits on your desk. Through technology that Sun has put together with VMware, you can find your desktop in the data centre and publish it to a desktop appliance like a SunRay without ever needing to configure anything at all.

Q: How would I actually bring these two things together?

A: Sun, in conjunction with VMware, has produced a piece of software or collection of software called, a Virtual Desktop Access Kit or VDAK.

This software has a number of components which are designed specifically for end users who want to have their desktops distributed onto a SunRay platform.

This allows users with Smartcards or just single password access to be authenticated and redirected to their appropriate desktop within the virtual infrastructure.

That's always been the problem before. It used to be the case that when you wanted to connect to a workstation, you had to know the name of your workstation, so you fired up your RDP client and pointed yourself.

With the VDAK, we're allowing end users to be in a position where they just plug in a Smartcard and it automatically passes them through to their appropriate desktop session.

Q: Where would I find more information about this VDAK, the Virtual Desktop Access Kit?

A: Sun's Virtual Desktop Access Kit for VMware is actually available through our website.

  Listen to Laurie Wong's interview with Matthew Legg and Daniel Cifuentes