Channel Strategies for the CIOThere's a ton of information out there about desktop virtualization software. This guide compiles the best virtual desktop management resources to help solutions providers better serve their customers. The topics in this guide include virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) tools, the benefits of using VDI, how VDI compares to desktop virtualization and more. Learn how to help customers choose the right infrastructure approach and virtual desktop management tools by reading up on the various VDI deployment methods and management issues.
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Virtual desktop infrastructure benefits and concerns•Virtual desktop infrastructure tools and deployment
•Virtual desktop management and performance
•Virtual desktop infrastructure and desktop virtualization software
•More virtual desktop management resources
Virtual desktop infrastructure benefits and concerns
Implementing VDI can be extremely beneficial for your enterprise customers, but it can
be a burden. Hardware consolidation and security are some key VDI benefits, as well as improved
power efficiency. But solutions providers should also be aware of VDI concerns that can affect
customers, such as the amount of bandwidth support needed and poor graphics.
Virtual desktop infrastructure explained
Do you know about the many VDI
advantages as well as the requirements for successful implementation? This article delves into
a detailed account of VDI's capabilities, which include the ability to create a virtualized desktop
and manage virtual machines (VMs). Learn the advantages of a centrally hosted VDI, including
hardware consolidation and security.
Virtual desktop software pros and cons
Knowing about virtual
desktop software pros and cons is essential before recommending VDI to your customers. There
are many VDI benefits, including improved power efficiency and greater cost savings. VDI makes
desktop management much less of a hassle for both solutions providers and their customers. But you
need to be aware of the numerous VDI disadvantages, including the amount of network bandwidth
needed to support traffic at each endpoint device. There are also issues with high-end graphics in
virtual desktop software and the amount of storage needed.
Virtual desktop infrastructure tools and deployment
As a solutions provider, helping customers sift through native management and
third-party VDI tools is a significant aspect of deploying VDI. This section will help you learn
all you need to know about native management tools from VMware, Citrix and Microsoft. You should
also be aware of the third-party tools available to customers, such as VDIworks.
Native management tools for VDI: VMware vs. Citrix and Microsoft
This tip offers information on the available virtual
desktop infrastructure tools that can assist you with the management and deployment of your
customer's VDI. VMware has several VDI management tools and platforms, including VMware View 4 and VMware Assured Computing Environment (ACE). Citrix's
XenDesktop VDI platform includes support for desktop appliances and desktop performance
monitoring. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Services and System
Center Virtual Machine Manager can also help manage VDI.
How to choose third-party desktop virtualization software and management tools
When selling virtual desktop infrastructure tools to customers, you should also be aware of third-party
desktop virtualization management tools and the advantages they offer. Learn about the various
components of the virtualization management tool VDIworks and find out which kinds of back-end
hardware the product can handle. ClearCube Technology's Sentral 5.6
offers flexible architecture as well as support for various servers. The information on these and
other available tools can help you with managing multiple VDI products and also assist you with
selling these products to your customers.
Ten steps for smooth desktop virtualization software deployment
Read through these guidelines for a smooth desktop
virtualization software deployment and find out how the VDI approach fits into the process. As
a solutions provider, you need to know what your customers' needs are and you also have to be well
informed about deploying VDI or using remote access terminal services. These resources provide
information on desktop virtualization software costs, storage concerns and backup services.
Virtual desktop management and performance
Before performing virtual desktop management services, you need to know about common
problems and the best ways to optimize VDI performance. From licensing issues to compatibility
problems, this section has advice and solutions to these roadblocks. You'll also find a study guide
that offers information and resources on deployment and third-party management tools. And our top
five tips will help you improve your customers' VDI performance and ensure their servers are
running at peak efficiency.
Top five virtual desktop environment management issues
These top virtual
desktop environment management issues show which aspects of VDI to keep in mind prior to
desktop virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure implementation. These issues include
improving the desktop virtualization end-user experience and properly considering licensing for
desktop virtualization and VDI. Learn how to address these issues and be prepared when your
customers need your assistance.
Top five virtual desktop management problems
Take a look at these top virtual
desktop management problems that solutions providers need to be aware of before and after
deployment. If you're unaware of the common VDI management issues, you can run into poorly defined
desktop virtualization standards, which can create compatibility issues for customers. Ensuring
proper virtual desktop management and performance is crucial to generating ongoing business with
customers.
Desktop virtualization software and VDI management study guide
Take this desktop
virtualization and virtual desktop management quiz to see how much you know about desktop
virtualization software and VDI. When you're done, read about the best ways to ensure smooth
desktop virtualization deployment and the major areas of concern in virtual desktop management.
Virtual desktop infrastructure: Five tips for improving virtual desktop performance
These top five tips can help you to improve virtual
desktop infrastructure performance for your customers. One common VDI performance issue is the
prevalence of overused servers or networks. Therefore, solutions providers need to know about
server performance monitoring tasks. Another way to improve VDI performance is to reduce desktop
display demands, which can be done by controlling the visual requirements of the application.
Virtual desktop infrastructure and desktop virtualization
software
Learn the basics of VDI and desktop virtualization with the resources in this section.
Our experts answer questions about thin-client hardware and best practices for VDI deployments. You
will also find out whether customers should use VDI or desktop virtualization software, and you'll
get information on the pitfalls of each approach.
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) FAQ
Listen to this podcast or read our expert's answers to questions about VDI
services. Find out about the cost benefits of a VDI deployment, whether thin-client hardware
can replace existing desktops and the best way to address network performance issues. Our expert
also describes how long a virtual desktop infrastructure deployment should take and ways to ensure
that adequate resources are available.
FAQ: Desktop virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure
There are times where it makes sense for a customer to use desktop virtualization
software and times where virtual desktop infrastructure is appropriate. This FAQ provides all of
the necessary information about comparing desktop
virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure. Take a look at the user requirements for VDI
and read about the best ways to implement it. Find out how to build a service offering around
desktop virtualization software and VDI and become an expert on the various pitfalls of each
approach.
More virtual desktop management resources
Virtual
desktop infrastructure architecture
Seven benefits of
virtual desktop infrastructure
Virtual
desktop infrastructure introduction
Virtual
desktop infrastructure for early adopters
This was first published in January 2010