DESKTOP VIRTUALIZATION

VIRTUAL SYSTEM AND SERVICES

Dr. Muhammad Usman Hashmi

 Table of Contents

• Introduction • Benefits of Desktop Virtualization

• System Architecture • Drawbacks

• How Does it Works? • Virtualization Desktop Vendors

• Type of deployment Models

• Choosing a Deployment Model

• Remote Desktop Virtualization

• Local Desktop Virtualization

 Introduction

• Desktop virtualization is replacing traditional physical

desktop environments with remotely controlled
computing environments.
• It allows the creation and storage of multiple user
desktop instances on a single host, residing in a data
center or the cloud.
• It is achieved by using a hypervisor.
• The hypervisor creates VMs that simulate the user’s
desktop environments.
• Users can remotely access as well as operate these
desktops from any endpoint device.
System Architecture
 How Does it Works?

• Desktop virtualization works by employing hardware virtualization technology.

• Users typically run a remote desktop protocol (RDP) client to access the virtual
desktop environment.
• This client attaches to a connection broker that links the user's session to a virtual
desktop.
• Typically, virtual desktops are non persistent, meaning the connection broker assigns
the user a random virtual desktop from a virtual desktop pool.
• However, some vendors offer an option to create persistent virtual desktops, in which
users receive their own writable virtual desktop.
• When the user logs out, this virtual desktop resets to a pristine, unchanged state and
returns to the pool.
 Type of Deployment Models

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)
Quiz 2
 Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is the hosting

of desktop environments on a central server.
• In this specific desktop images run within virtual
machines (VMs) and are delivered to end clients
over a network.
• Those endpoints may be PCs or other devices, like
tablets or thin client terminals.
• Two types of VDI deployments:
• Persistent VDI deployment.
• Non-Persistent VDI deployment. A thin client is a computer that runs from resources stored on
a central server instead of a localized hard drive
• In VDI deployment model, the operating system runs on a virtual
machine (VM) hosted on a server in a data center.
• The desktop image travels over the network to the end user’s device,
where the end user can interact with the desktop (and the underlying
applications and operating system) as if they were local.
• VDI gives each user his or her own dedicated VM running its own
operating system. The operating system resources—drivers, CPUs,
memory, etc.—operate from a software layer called a hypervisor that
mimics their output, manages the resource allocation to multiple VMs,
and allows them to run side by side on the same server.
 Remote Desktop Service (RDS)
• Remote Desktop Services, is a platform that lets
users share desktop environments between one
Windows computer and another over the Internet.

• Once you log into the RDS-hosted PC environment,

you can usually access all of the same local
resources.

• RDS can also be configured to make only certain

applications available to remote users, if admins
choose to set it up that way.

• The machine that hosts RDS runs in the same

physical location such as the same office building.

• It is also possible, however, to install RDS on a

server running in the cloud and share desktops
from the cloud.
• In RDS also known as Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH)—users
remotely access desktops and Windows applications through the
Microsoft Windows Server operating system.
• Applications and desktop images are served via Microsoft Remote
Desktop Protocol (RDP). Formerly known as Microsoft Terminal
Server, this product has remained largely unchanged since its initial
release.
• From the end user’s perspective, RDS and VDI are identical. But
because one instance of Windows Server can support as many
simultaneous users as the server hardware can handle, RDS can be a
more cost-effective desktop virtualization option.
 Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)

• Desktop-as-a-Service, is a type of cloud-based service that allows you to run a desktop

environment on a virtual machine that is hosted in a public cloud.
• With DaaS, you create a virtual machine using a public cloud service like Amazon
EC2 or Azure Virtual Machines, install a PC operating system on it, then use an
application like LogMeIn, GoToMyPC or Desktop Ready to access it.
• DaaS gives users access to all of the same applications and system resources that they
would be able to use if their virtual machine environment were a physical computer
instead of a virtual desktop running in the cloud.
• In DaaS, VMs are hosted on a cloud-based backend by a third-party
provider.
• DaaS is readily scalable, can be more flexible than on-premise
solutions, and generally deploys faster than many other desktop
virtualization options.
• Like other types of cloud desktop virtualization, DaaS shares many of
the general benefits of cloud computing, including support for
fluctuating workloads and changing storage demands, usage-based
pricing, and the ability to make applications and data accessible from
almost any internet-connected device.
• The chief drawback to DaaS is that features and configurations are not
always as customizable as required.
 VDI vs. RDS vs. DaaS
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Great for organizations that want to
build their own infrastructures.
High amount of labor and resources
required for setup.
Vendors offer different license models
based on persistent or non-persistent
desktop.
Involves fixed workload VM expenses.
Remote Desktop Service
Great for organizations that want
to develop their own
infrastructures.
Medium amount of labor and
resources required to setup
Window Server and RDS.
Requires a client access license for
each unique user that establishes a
connect with RDS host.
Involves fixed server expenses.
Desktop-as-a-Service
Great for organizations that
want to consume desktop
virtualization “as a service.”
Low amount of labor and
resources required for setup.
DaaS takes care of the licensing
as the part of the fees.
Involves pay-as-you-go pricing
schemes for VMs.
 Choosing a Deployment Model

• The primary decision that organizations must make when they choose a deployment
model is whether to deploy an on-premises VDI platform or subscribe to a cloud-
based DaaS provider.
• An on-premises platform is best suited to organizations that have already
acquired or have the budget to purchase server hardware. Also they are good fit
for organizations that lack the internet bandwidth needed to support a cloud
computing DaaS offering.
• A cloud-based option tends to be a good fit for organizations that do not have
the IT expertise or budget to support an on-premises virtual desktop
deployment. They also well suited to organizations that employ seasonal
workers because administrators can add or remove user capacity without
incurring a significant investment in server hardware.
 Remote Desktop Virtualization

• Remote desktop virtualization is a common

application of virtualization in a server
computing environment.
• It enables users to run operating systems and
applications from a server within a datacenter
while all user interactions occur on a client
device such as a laptop, thin client, or
smartphone.
• This type of virtualization provides IT with
more centralized control over applications
and desktops, as well as the ability to
maximize an organization's hardware
investment through remote access to shared
computing resources.
 Local Desktop Virtualization

• Local desktop virtualization entails running the operating system on a client device
via hardware virtualization, with all processing and workloads taking place on local
hardware.
• When users do not require a continuous network connection and can meet
application computing requirements with local system resources, this type of desktop
virtualization works well.
• However, because this requires processing to be done locally, local desktop
virtualization cannot be used to share VMs or resources across a network to thin
clients or mobile devices.
• E.g. Installing VM on your system
 Benefits of Desktop Virtualization

• Virtualizing desktops provides many potential benefits that can vary depending upon
the deployment model you choose. Some of possible benefits are as follows:

Support for a
Simpler
Cost Savings Broad Variety
Administration
of Device Types

Stronger Agility and Better end-user

Security Scalability Experience
 Simpler Administration

• IT teams may find it easier to manage employee computing needs with the help of
desktop virtualization.
• Instead of maintaining individual computers that must be reconfigured, updated, or
patched whenever software changes are required, the company can maintain a single
VM template for employees in similar roles or functions.
• This saves time and money on IT resources.
 Cost Savings

• Many virtual desktop solutions enable you to reallocate more of your IT budget from
capital to operating expenses.
• Desktop virtualization can extend the life of older or less powerful end-user devices
because compute-intensive applications require less processing power when delivered
via VMs hosted on a data center server.
• On-premise virtual desktop solutions may necessitate a substantial initial investment
in server hardware, hypervisor software, and other infrastructure, making cloud-
based solutions more appealing.
 Support for a Broad Variety of Device Types

• Virtual desktops can support remote desktop

access from a wide variety of devices, including
laptop and desktop computers, thin clients,
zero clients, tablets, and even some mobile
phones.
• One can use virtual desktops to deliver
workstation-like experiences and access to the
full desktop anywhere, anytime, regardless of
the operating system native to the end user
device.

Zero client, also known as ultrathin client, is a server-based computing

model in which the end user's computing device has no local storage
 Stronger Security

• Desktop virtualization enables centralized security

control by removing OS and application concerns from
user devices.
• Desktop virtualization providers avail layers of cloud
safeguards to protect one’s data and eliminate threats,
such as the highest quality encryptions, routers, switches,
and continuous monitoring to ensure one’s cloud remains
safe.
• Furthermore, if an employee leaves an organization, there
is no need to remove applications and data from user
devices.
 Agility and Scalability

• It’s quick and easy to deploy new VMs or serve new applications whenever necessary,
and it is just as easy to delete them when they’re no longer needed.
 Better end-user Experience

• Desktop virtualization provides a feature-

rich experience without sacrificing the
functionality they’ve come to rely on, like
printing or access to USB ports.
• For example, users can still access USB ports
or printing services on their end devices.
 Drawbacks of Desktop Virtualization

• Cap-ex (Capital Expenditure) intensive:

One needs to buy the Desktop Virtualization Software, Servers, Centralized Storage
infrastructure, Upgrade Network infrastructure to support more bandwidth, etc. in
addition to buying computers for each user.
• No Reduction:
There is no reduction in the number of end-user client machines that are needed in
the network.
• Licensing:
The licenses for Operating Systems, applications, still needs to be bought for each
user and there is no reduction of costs there.
• Display Quality:
If the bandwidth on the remote end is not sufficient, the display quality may not be as
good as processing and viewing applications right from a desktop.
• Graphics:
Its difficult to handle graphics with Desktop Virtualization. But there are some work-
around methods that vendors follow to overcome this limitation.
• Server Virtualization:
Some vendor Desktop Virtualization solutions work only with their Server
Virtualization counterparts, hence limiting the choices for the customers.
• Number of Operating Systems:
There is a limit to the number of Operating Systems that can be supported by
Desktop Virtualization products.
• Extra Bandwidth:
The network infrastructure needs to handle all that extra bandwidth that Desktop
Virtualization is going to introduce. Otherwise, it has to be upgraded. The WAN links
need to have sufficient bandwidth to handle all those remote DV users, as well.
• Thin-Clients:
The thin-clients are sometimes more expensive than individual computers as, with
huge volumes computer prices fall drastically as they are manufactured and
distributed in bulk quantities.
THANK YOU