Are You Ready for VDI?

More companies are investigating the benefits of implementing a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).  If you are one of those companies then you need to ask yourself, “Am I ready for VDI?”  The first step is identifying exactly what VDI means to your organization.  VDI actually encompasses several types of delivery, but is most commonly associated with what Gartner classifies as hosted virtual desktops (HVD).  VDI can also include implementations of server-based computing (SBC), hosted shared desktops (HSD) and client-side virtualization.  For the sake of simplicity, we will focus on the hosted virtual desktop model for VDI since that is the most common assumption of a VDI deployment.

As a virtualization architect, I have been involved in numerous VDI implementations ranging from proof of concepts to full production lifecycles.  In the process of design and implementation engagements, one thing is clear: many companies are not ready for VDI.  Some simply do not need VDI, but think they want it.  Others may need it, but have a long road to travel to get there.  The question then becomes how to determine if VDI is right for you and how to make it a reality.  This is not about deciding which solution is right for you, but understanding what should go into that decision making process.

Do You Need VDI?

While VDI stands for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, that does not need to be limited to delivering a desktop operating system (such as Windows 7 or Windows XP) from a VDI management suite (such as Citrix XenDesktop or VMWare View).  VDI can also include hosted shared desktops, including Windows Server 2003 or 2008 published desktops (such as Microsoft Remote Desktop Services or Citrix XenApp) -- traditionally referred as server-based computing (SBC).  SBC can also be used to simply deliver a virtualized application to the end point desktop instead of an entire desktop, using either hosting or streamed methods.

Determining the need between a more traditional server-based desktop and a virtualized desktop is based on various factors such as application compatibility, performance, management, scalability, storage and costs.  Other factors for consideration are reliability, recoverability, flexibility, ease of use and security.  In the end, your decision should be service-centric, not technology centric; any technology solution should be there to support the business, not for the business to support the technology.  When analyzing if VDI is right for you, it is important to understand what roles SBC fulfills, as it could become the total solution.

Preparing for VDI

Once a decision has been made to proceed forward with a VDI project, the real work must begin.  Before successfully implementing a new solution, your computing environment must be analyzed and prepared.  Among the concerns to make sure your environment is ready for VDI, the following points should be considered:  user data, personalization, application management, image management and device management.  All of these aspects will be impacted by the project and may ultimately drive the technology solution chosen.