Virtual Desktop Integration, the Answer to Cost Saving Measures
Going green, saving operating expenses, cost cutting in a down economy, placing projects on hold. Everyone is waiting out the financial storm, seeking the light ahead. Yes, it would be nice to shrink the server farm, but the initial investment and the time frame until the returns are realized may frighten all but the most resilient of managers and departments.
Rather than turn to the server side of virtualization, consider the desktop realm of virtualizing your resources. Local and remote employee devices, from desktop systems, laptops, notebooks, and mobile phones are increasing the market in methods of accomplishing work tasks and responsibilities. Two vendors are leading the field, recognizing the need for consolidation and access of desktop resources. VMware has its VMware View, while Citrix's desktop virtual technology is named XenDesktop.
Some companies have already adopted some 'proof of concept' projects of their own in discovering the advantages of virtualized desktops. A thirty five to forty percent reduction in desktop operating costs, an improvement in security, and a heightened user experience and environment can be realized in leveraging the powers of the network, data center and desktop assets. After all, it isn't a secret the cost of desktop maintenance, upgrades, system patches and overall management has increased. Instead of possessing many separate systems with their own inherent problems as they age and become less valuable or obsolete, virtualize the desktop machines and provide user access to the virtual images over the local or wide area network. The end user transparently runs their applications and individual settings as if they were on their physical machines. Security can be easily administered in this configuration, as well as user access, authentication and policy changes and enforcement.
VMware and Citrix have successful cases in play where thin to zero clients have been installed. One example would be the VMware implementation of their virtual solution at Huntsville Hospital with a sixteen hundred desktop conversion. Thin clients lend a lower cost for new systems, increased security and lowered cost of ongoing management. Savings and safekeeping everyone desires, especially in industries where security is vital, such as health care and financial services. How many laptops currently carry crucial, personal information and other sensitive data, only to end up lost or stolen. Virtual desktop structures provide heightened security because the data isn't stored on the laptop itself, it resides in the virtual environment. As other heavy hitters in the industry, including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and Sun continue to push the technology forward and innovate, the virtual desktop will emerge from other names entering the field, such as Pano Logic, NEC Corp and Wyse Technology.
An overlooked area interested in virtualization is the Federal Government. Green computing is an initiative being pushed in order to save the cost of powering data centers and other office infrastructures. An efficient use of power consumption leads to a reduction in oil expenditures, and a decrease in the disposal of assets. The federal government uses a three to four year cycle for desktops and a three year cycle on servers. Asset waste can be lessened by converting to a greener strategy and lengthen the life cycles of hardware resources.
It is estimated the average server utilization percentage is approximately thirty percent, resulting in wasted idle time and power consumption leading to an unproductive server during non-peak usage. Replicate the servers virtually, provision them as workloads vary, and decrease the number of physical servers running at all times. Now your repartitioned servers operate at sixty to seventy percent utilization and you reap the green savings.
Virtual desktop integration works with the proper planning, virtualization utilities and training. Lower support and maintenance, enhanced functionality, greater security, lower inventory costs, increased performance such as dynamic load balancing and disaster recovery and other benefits yield great returns on the investment of creating an efficient data center.
About K Alliance:
K Alliance is the leader in educational solutions designed to enhance the proficiency level of your work force. VMware 4 training within K Alliance details information you need to know before deploying your own virtual system, the best methods and applications to use, and how to gain the most benefit, flexibility, and management of your streamlined data center. With a high quality collection of IT training videos, IT certification training courses, soft skills and desktop application training, K Alliance has the class materials to satisfy your particular training requirements. Contact a K Alliance representative and inquire about the K Alliance catalog of e-learning solutions.
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