Desktop Virtualization is here to stay – when will you adopt it?

http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/comment/2191293/handle-virtualisation-care

ClearCube Technology’s move last month to offer VMware’s ESX Server pre-installed on its PC blade systems is just the latest in a raft of releases pertaining to desktop virtualisation. It would seem that this technology has a big future, but is it all being overblown?

Server virtualisation is fairly well understood by IT professionals, but recent developments have turned to virtualising desktop PCs into a server room or datacentre.

..The sceptics doubt whether desktop PCs can be got rid of quite so easily. They point out that thin clients linked to server-based user accounts were once extolled with equal enthusiasm, and yet the vast majority of office workers still sit in front of their own PC. Physical systems offer more flexibility, and users don’t like thin clients, according to the received wisdom..

No, no, we really do need to blade the pc or virtualize it or both. In the enterprise you tend to have two classes of users, the ‘performance/trader’ or the ‘standard’, so if you don’t say you’re a performance user you get the standard base build pc whatever IT buys at the time, typically a Compaq/Dell/IBM desktop, and performance users would get a ‘trader’ workstation. However with blade pcs, with desktop virtualization either with Citrix or VMWare, we can offer the same service, but and this is where it gets smart take it to the next level.

We need the blade pcs, its easier to give a trader a working blade pc to avoid potential performance issues, or at least limit them to a single pc. But at night could we not take those blade pcs between 10pm and 4am and switch them to reboot from SAN to a grid image, and have my trader pcs do some grid processing overnight? A separate image so its independent of the end user, avoiding any issues for the end user, and allowing the business to maximize the potential for the infrastructure.

For the ‘normal users’ we can buy either DL580 type servers or blades running either Citrix or VMWare with virtual desktop and move users around as necessary, this creates a floating IT infrastructure and moving the client pc off the desktop to the server should bring significant energy savings and support costs, it makes IT a bit more binary, it either works or you get a new desktop instance.

On the client side though, we do need to watch what the thin client footprint is, and how its managed, having it switched off at night is important, as is looking at its standard energy requirements, you might find during the process that the thin client is the desktop, but eventually a tranquil pc or a mac mini/chip pc might be the ideal replacement.

Is the delay not one of cost? That who pays for the virtualization of the desktop? That with the desktop I pay x million per year for everything, with virtualization of the desktop, I need real investment, I need some blade workstations bought, some more network infrastructure (during the switchover) thin clients, and what about the whole projects/support debate, who wants to pay for the desktop? I think as we scale out, as the carbon footprint of the data center, the IT becomes something that’s in the company report, the concept of virtualizing the desktop will happen but not as quickly in some banks/enterprises as others, its business buy-in, investment, again issues that are non-technical – who owns the infrastructure – who deems what is and isn’t supported – initial application and user testing, all the boring elements which require a degree of debate, management, diplomacy and sales pitch. – Isn’t the inevitable Vista upgrade the opportunity? You need Vista and you’re a trader, you need a blade pc. You’re back office and you need a new pc, here’s Vista through a thin client from your existing desktop – we’ll just rebuild it and lock it down.

On the statement users might not like the thin client, isn’t this where you use charging, as IT I am happy to support your desktop, it’s £900 a year or, £700 for a thin client – your choice – watch how many users actually have their manager sign off the extra £200 because they don’t like the thin client. Let’s not get emotional or concerned it’s a business transaction, also the average user might not be able to tell the difference between a thin client or desktop if you buy the right thin client.

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