IT@Intel Brief
Intel Information Technology
Client Virtualization
December 2009
Using Virtualization to Integrate Mac OS X*
into PC-centric Environments
Virtualization makes it possible to:
• Run multiple OSs on one computer
simultaneously.
• Share files between the host and
guest OSs.
• Support the VM running the guest
OS in the same way we support a
physical machine.
Intel IT has successfully integrated Apple Macintosh* computers into Intel’s
predominantly Microsoft Windows*-based enterprise computing environment
using client virtualization. Employees working on Macs can run Microsoft Windows
applications from their Mac OS X* desktop. Accessing both Mac and Windows
applications simultaneously allows users to do their primary work on the Mac while
also working with important enterprise applications that only run in a Microsoft
Windows environment.
We used virtualization software on Intel®-based Macs to create a virtual machine
(VM) running Microsoft Windows. Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT), built
into Intel® processors, works with third-party hypervisor technology to partition the
system and allow both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows to run on the same hardware
simultaneously (Figure 1).
We anticipate a growing number of Mac, Linux*, and UNIX* users at Intel in the future,
and using virtualization allows us to support the needs of this diverse user base while
improving productivity for all Intel employees.
Virtual Machine
Guest OS Applications
Third-party Hypervisor Technology
Multi-Core Intel® Processor with
Intel® Virtualization Technology
Apple Macintosh* Computer
Figure 1. Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) and third-party hypervisor technology enable
two OSs to run on the same hardware simultaneously.
IT@Intel Brief www.intel.com/it
Apple Macintosh*
Computers at Intel
Intel has always had a small base of employees
who use Macs, mostly for video creation and
editing within Intel’s video production group.
We also began deploying Macs to a small set
of employees who work directly with Apple.
To investigate the impact of using Macs in a
variety of job roles and physical locations, in
2006 we began a pilot deployment to 500
users across the enterprise.
Over time, employees who experienced
productivity gains working on Macs continued
to use them, while those for whom it was
not a good fit returned them. Employees who
see the most benefit from using a Mac in the
Intel environment include:
• Those who are more productive using Mac
OS X. This can include people with specific
physical limitations, new employees with
no Microsoft Windows experience, and
those who are primarily Mac users.
• Engineers using UNIX*, upon which Mac
OS X is based, in their daily work.
• Content developers working with graphics,
video creation, or video editing.
• Those working directly or indirectly with
Apple, or involved in work that Apple heavily
influences—primarily in sales, marketing, and
software development roles.
For these employees, using Macs greatly
enhances their levels of productivity. However,
they still need access to the enterprise tools
and applications that help them to function
every day at Intel that only run in a Microsoft
Windows-based environment.
Enterprise Applications
Previously, Microsoft Windows was the most
robust option for our enterprise business
and productivity applications, and there
was no need for us to design enterprise
applications to support multi-supplier client
platforms. Over time, client application
platforms such as Linux and Mac OS X have
achieved a robustness that makes them
viable and productive options for enterprise
use. Additionally, the enterprise client base is
rapidly diversifying—from the introduction of
new handheld devices such as smartphones,
personal digital assistants (PDAs), and
netbooks to Linux- and Mac OS X-based
PCs. Moving forward, it is imperative that we
evolve our application base to support this
increased client diversity.
Supporting Mac Users
Historically, supporting Mac users in an
enterprise environment based on Microsoft
Windows has been problematic. Two
imperfect solutions arose:
• Use a dual-boot configuration to
switch between OSs. Since this required
a hard restart to access either OS, it was
an inefficient and inelegant answer to
user needs.
• Carry two notebooks—one a Mac, the
other a PC. This meant twice the weight
to carry for employees—and twice the
expense to deploy and manage for Intel.
Because there were no software applications
on the Mac side to solve the issue, we could
only offer these two options to Mac users—
other than providing no Microsoft Windows
access at all.
In 2005, Apple started incorporating Intel®
architecture into their systems. Within six
months, a software company developed a
virtualization solution using Intel VT that would
allow Microsoft Windows to run on Macs. This
event paved the way for us to provide a much
better solution for Mac users at Intel.
INTEL® VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY
To help ease the challenges associated with
supporting client diversity and to maximize
employee productivity, Intel VT and third-
party virtualization software are providing a
useful and cost-effective bridge between the
homogeneous Microsoft Windows-centric
enterprise application base and the growing
multi-supplier client OS and platform base that
employees want to use. Using virtualization
technologies, we have been able to more
rapidly adapt to the needs of enterprise users
by allowing them to have a broader choice of
client platforms.
Implementing Virtualization
Intel IT currently deploys Macs with multi-
core Intel® processors enabled with Intel VT.
Intel VT allows Macs to run multiple OSs
simultaneously: Typically, we use Mac OS X as
the host OS and a guest VM running an OS
such as Linux, UNIX, or Microsoft Windows.
As was seen in Figure 1, the Intel VT
architecture inside the Mac host machine
enables third-party hypervisor technology to
map the client platform hardware resources
directly to the VM. The result is a VM that
operates almost like a standalone computer.
We performed minor updates to our standard
Microsoft Windows build so that it works

inside the VM environment, which provides
a seamless experience for users and Intel’s
Service Desk agents:
• Users have the same logon password,
drivers, and security checks.
• The user experience is the same as a
physical PC so no training is required.
• When OS or application problems arise with
the VM, we use remote management and
security patching—the same support we
provide to physical PCs.
Users see a window on their Mac desktop,
much like any application window; it displays
the Microsoft Windows desktop and provides
access to any software loaded onto the VM.
Many of Intel’s Mac users enlarge this window
to full screen and place it on a second
monitor. Unlike the prior dual-boot solution,
both OSs can run simultaneously and are
equally accessible. There are also advanced
usage modes that can make the Microsoft
Windows desktop completely invisible while
the Microsoft Windows-base application is
still visible within a Mac application window.
Users interact with the Microsoft Windows
Table 1. Benefits of Virtualization
Benefit
Increased productivity
One machine to access multiple OSs
Intel IT does not have to provide training
Data protection
Multiple VMs
Support for many OS combinations
application in much the same way as any
other native Mac application.
Because the virtualization software is loaded
directly onto the client, unlike server-based
desktop virtualization solutions, it does not
require a network connection. This allows
Mac users to access Microsoft Windows while
offline or traveling. PC performance levels
while working within the VM are far greater
than users anticipated, nearly matching that
of standard-issue laptops with Microsoft
Windows OS.
Benefits of Virtualization
The benefits of using virtualization to integrate
diverse client platforms into the enterprise,
summarized in Table 1, have been multifold.
We have also seen additional positive results:
• Simplifies support. As we began to
investigate supporting Macs in our
environment, we were not constrained
by legacy support models; this allowed
us to develop a simplified model for Macs
tailored specifically to Mac OS X.
How was this helpful?
New employees who are more familiar with Apple Macintosh* computers can ramp up immediately at Intel.
Mac users can access Microsoft Windows* without changing laptops or performing a hard reboot.
Users only need to understand the concept of using a virtual machine (VM).
If the guest OS crashes, the host OS is not affected.
More than one VM can be operated simultaneously if the host hardware is sufficiently robust.
Virtualization solutions can also be used for running Linux* or UNIX*.
www.intel.com/it IT@Intel Brief
• Enhances business engagements. Using
virtualization to deploy Macs and other
OSs provides the flexibility Intel needs to
conduct business seamlessly—regardless of
which OS other companies may use.
• Prepares us for other deployment
models. We expect that this experience
will shorten the development cycles for the
use of virtualization in the other aspects
of client platform management, including
situations in which employees receive a
stipend to buy their own computer for use
as a corporate tool.
• Establishes methods for faster OS
migrations. One factor that slows OS
migrations in the enterprise is the need to
modify internal applications to work with
the new OS version. Client virtualization
provides a way to migrate the user base
to a new OS rapidly, and applications can
be revised on a more methodical schedule,
thereby reducing costs.
There is no noticeable impact to performance
if the host computer has sufficient memory—
more than 2 GB of RAM.
Conclusion As the use of Mac OS X grows at Intel, we
Integrating Apple Macintosh computers will continue to explore ways to support a AUTHORS
into Intel’s computing environment has diverse client platform mix, providing more
Jim Ferguson
been a great success, enabled by Intel VT ways to enhance employee productivity Program Manager, Intel IT
on Intel architecture. Each subsequent and satisfaction. To this end, Intel software
developers are redesigning existing tools Patrick Salo
generation of Intel® processor improves
and applications to meet the challenge of Client Engineer, Intel IT
the user experience and increases overall
virtualization performance. deploying tools that are independent of OS
and browser type.
ACRONYMS
Intel® VT Intel® Virtualization
Technology

PDA personal digital assistants

VM virtual machine

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