Deliver Desktops from the Data Center

VMware VDI is an integrated desktop virtualization solution that delivers enterprise-class desktop control and manageability while providing end users with a familiar user experience. VMware VDI is built on VMware’s industry leading and proven VMware Infrastructure 3 platform alongside VMware Virtual Desktop Manager 2 (VDM) to provide new levels of efficiency and reliability for your virtual desktop environment.

VMware Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM) is an enterprise-class desktop management server that securely connects users to virtual desktops in the data center and provides an easy to use web-based interface to manage the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments. VMware VDM is included as a component of VMware VDI but can also be purchased separately by existing customers running VMware Infrastructure 3 Enterprise Edition.

With the addition of VMware Virtual Desktop Manager, VMware VDI now delivers an integrated solution for centralized virtual desktop computing. Here’s a quick review of just some of the great capabilities:

• Desktop persistence options, enabling organizations to configure if desktops remain with a given user or return to the pool on log-out.
• SSL tunneling so that all connections are securely encrypted.
• RDP extensions for access to local devices such as printers, PDA, smart cards, etc.

With VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, companies can run desktops inside virtual machines that are located in a central data center. Users access these desktops remotely from a PC or a thin client over a remote display protocol (e.g. RDP) using the VMware Virtual Desktop Manager. By centralizing desktops in the data center, organizations benefit from improved manageability and control. Individual end users benefit from the ability to access their familiar corporate desktop from any location.

VMware VDI is an end-to-end solution for any company, large or small. A typical VMware VDI environment encompasses the following components:

• VMware Infrastructure 3: The VMware VDI solution leverages the proven VMware Infrastructure 3 software to consolidate desktop environments on to servers in the data center.
• VMware Virtual Desktop Manager: Administrators run an enterprise desktop management server that connects remote clients to centralized desktops and manages virtual desktop environments.
• Clients: Users can log into their centralized virtual desktop images from a Web browser or by using the VMware VDI Windows-native client.

Additionally, Microsoft Active Directory is required to run the VMware Virtual Desktop Manager software.

VMware customers are transforming the way they manage their desktops, replacing traditional PCs with centralized virtual desktops that can be more effectively managed and controlled. VMware VDI is used in a variety of ways by the hundreds of VMware VDI customers in place today. Among the popular uses are:

• Desktop Replacement and Centralization: organizations are addressing short PC refresh cycles by replacing traditional PCs with centralized desktops using VMware VDI to better control and mange desktops in the enterprise while providing end users the flexibility to access their personalized desktops from multiple devices.
• Desktop Business Continuity: VMware VDI desktop customers provide continuous availability of desktops to end users by making high availability and disaster recovery solutions more cost effective, simpler and more reliable.

VDI is a server-based computing technology but it offers some compelling advantages compared to terminal services or shared application solutions:

• VMware VDI desktops running on a centralized server are completely isolated which helps prevent unauthorized access of desktop images, unlike application sharing technologies, as well as improve reliability.
• VMware desktops can be easily deployed using virtual machine templates and automated provisioning capabilities. There is no need to make changes to applications because users are simply accessing the same desktop running over a remote connection.
• Organizations can leverage VMware Infrastructure 3 components such as VMware Consolidated Backup, along with shared storage, to provide desktop disaster recovery not readily available in terminal services solutions.
• VMware VDI still enjoys some of the compelling benefits of server-based computing technologies including simplified management of desktops with the ability to upgrade and patch systems from a central location.

VMware VDI also avoids some of the disadvantages of most blade PC technologies, which are another server-based computing technology. Blade PCs that do not leverage VMware virtualization technology require a dedicated blade PC for every desktop which can be costly. With VMware VDI, organizations can realize the same great consolidation and efficiency benefits of virtualization technology for their desktops while still giving end users their own personal desktops they can customize.

We recommend converting a standard desktop to a virtual machine and trying a VDI implementation with our free 60-day VMware VDI evaluation, which includes VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3 and VMware Virtual Desktop Manager 2. You will additionally need Microsoft Active Directory to run the VMware Virtual Desktop Manager software included with the VMware VDI evaluation.

Applications run out-of-the-box with VMware VDI because end users are simply accessing the same (virtual) desktop over a remote connection. There is no need to make modifications to any applications to run VMware VDI.

VMware VDI supports a wide range of operating systems when accessed from a Web browser and it includes the ability to log in from a VMware Windows Client. While VMware VDI works over other remote protocols, the VMware Virtual Desktop Manager connection broker software requires RDP. VMware has partnered with thin client manufacturers such as Wyse to provide even VDI tighter integration to support multi-monitors. For a complete listing of platforms, protocols and thin clients supported, please refer to the VMware Infrastructure Resource Management Guide.

With this release of VMware VDI and Virtual Desktop Manager, organizations can perform the installation and operations of all VDI components themselves. VMware Professional Services and VMware accredited partners have several years of experience implementing VDI for customers. Organizations may wish to seek their expertise to expand and optimize a VDI installation and achieve rapid time to market. For those interested in learning how to install, configure and manage VMware VDI using VMware Virtual Desktop Manager, VMware Education Services offers hands-on training courses to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to implement and deploy.

Organizations may use any connection broker with VMware Infrastructure 3 to support a VDI environment. You will however find VMware Virtual Desktop Manager ideal for your VDI environment for these reasons:

• VMware Virtual Desktop Manager comes with a Windows client, web access, Smart Pooling, an optional proxy server for encrypted WAN connections, optional RSA SecurID®, tight integration with Microsoft AD, and other features to simplify management and provisioning of desktops.
• In addition to VMware Virtual Desktop Manger’s comprehensive features, it is tested for large environments and tightly integrated with VMware Infrastructure 3 for improved reliability, disaster recovery and data protection.
• The entire VMware VDI solution comes from the same vendor – the makers of the market’s proven virtualization platform. Support is seamless regardless of the component and you can leverage your own VMware infrastructure expertise inside your company for your desktop infrastructure without retraining because the administrative interface is the same from servers to desktops.
• VMware Virtual Desktop Manager is priced competitively to help organizations achieve year-over-year operating cost savings on their investment. Visit our TCO desktop calculator or this page to learn more: send them to the pricing section where we discuss TCO.

VMware VDI supports a number of devices on the client such as local printers, storage, etc. through extensions to the RDP protocol. Additionally, VMware Virtual Desktop Manager 2 extends USB device support for some devices not supported by RDP such as PDAs. Any device that is USB 1.1 or 2.0 compatible may be used with the VMware VDI solution, provided they are running the VMware Virtual Desktop Manager Windows client.

One of the many inherent benefits of moving your desktops into a virtual environment in the data center is the desktops no longer reside on employee-owned PCs, laptops in the field or remote machines that you can’t control. When your desktops are centrally managed in a secure data center, you can more easily apply virus scanning software and the other standard security policies of your company. You can also lock down access to various network drives or shut a user off instantly when they leave the company. VMware desktop virtualization technology lets you leverage the “sandbox” capabilities of a virtual machine that is fully contained, isolated from the host operating system, and designed by desktop administrators to be a good citizen of the desktop community.

One of the reasons WTC Communications deployed a VDI solution years ago was because it was so easy and quick to deploy their desktops: “We can provision a desktop environment for a user in 15 minutes, “ said Jim Jones, Network Administrator for WTC Communications. WTC and many others use VMware Infrastructure 3 templates instead of taking the time to set up computers from scratch with physical hardware. VMware VDI goes a step further in enabling you to leverage “Smart Pooling” capabilities to automatically provision and assign desktops as needed when users log into VMware VDI environments.

VMware has many companies running VDI for a variety of uses with performance that meets or exceeds their needs. VMware VDI makes use of VMware Dynamic Resource Scheduling (DRS) to give each individual user just enough resources to meet their needs in the centralized data center. End users, especially those with heavy CPU requirements, may see an improvement in performance because their centralized desktops are running off more powerful hardware at the backend.

We encourage organizations to evaluate VDI to ensure it satisfies their requirements. Customers can immediately begin evaluating VDI using the 60 day evaluation license or by buying the VDI Starter Kit.

Many organizations use ACE in conjunction with VMware VDI to round out their desktop virtual infrastructure. VMware VDI provides a solution for the cases where desktops can be connected to the network. VMware ACE provides a secure locked down environment for mobile, employee-owned PCs and training environments that are sometimes offline. Evaluate VMware ACE by downloading the software today.

Yes, VMware VDI and Virtual Desktop Manager 2 have been fully tested with VMware Infrastructure 3, and includes support for VMware ESXi. VDM requires VMware ESX 3.0.1 or above and VirtualCenter 2.0 and above.

Yes, VDM can be run as a virtual machine and share the same virtual infrastructure. Although it is a server workload and only desktop workloads are allowed with the VMware ESX license included in the VDI bundle, there is an exception in the End User License Agreement (EULA) that allows for the VDM workload.

Your VMware Sales team can help you identify a VMware reseller in your area with VDI experience or you can search the listings of VMware resellers, consultants, distributors and direct resellers using our Partner Locator.

The VMware VDI Starter Kit, 100 Pack VDI Bundle and Virtual Desktop Manager software are all sold through the VMware Store as well as through participating VMware partners and resellers. For more information, including pricing, refer to How to Buy VDI or contact VMware directly at 1-877-4VMWARE (outside of North America dial +1-650-427-5000) or send a message to sales.

VMware VDI is licensed per concurrent desktop virtual machine. Unlike VMware Infrastructure which licenses per socket, the VMware VDI 100 Pack Bundle is a special bundle of VMware Infrastructure 3 with different licensing terms. The VMware ESX for VDI software provides the same functionality as Virtual Infrastructure 3 Enterprise, including HA, DRS, VMotion, etc. but the licensing terms restrict organizations from using VMware Infrastructure software within the VDI Bundle or VDI Starter Kit for server workloads. The VMware VDI Bundle enables customers to run desktop environments using the same proven VMware Infrastructure software they have used for their servers at an affordable desktop price. The VMware Virtual Desktop Manager software is also licensed for desktop use. For more information, refer to the EULA which comes with all VMware VDI products.

The VDI 100 Pack Bundle includes VMware Infrastructure 3 Enterprise for VDI software (which includes VMware ESX, VirtualCenter and all VMware Infrastructure Enterprise Edition components), VMware Virtual Desktop Manager, and licenses for 100 users. The VDI Bundle is priced effectively for desktop environments, enabling organizations to maintain consistency across their data center server and their enterprise desktop environments, using VMware’s proven virtualization platform.

VMware Virtual Desktop Manager, which does not include VMware Infrastructure 3 Enterprise, may be purchased a la carte by organizations that have enough capacity on their existing VMware Infrastructure 3 servers or by smaller environments that demand a VMware Infrastructure 3 environment that is interchangeable between desktops and servers.

VDI bundles price a concurrent virtual desktop at US list $150, and includes Virtual Infrastructure 3 Enterprise for VDI and VMware Virtual Desktop Manager. Purchasing the components separately will likely result in a higher per virtual desktop cost depending on the number of desktops virtual machines that can be hosted on a customer’s configured VMware ESX server. Due to these varying desktop consolidation numbers, each customer must evaluate bundle versus a la carte pricing for their own environment.

The VMware VDI Starter Kit is a great way to get started with VMware VDI and it offers the complete VMware Infrastructure 3 Enterprise software for 10 concurrent virtual desktops. You can continue to use the underlying VI3 Enterprise and VDM software when you expand your VDI deployment.

You may only purchase one VDI Starter Kit per company (requests for multiple departments in a large corporation may be accepted) but you are free to deploy it in a production environment and purchase add-on packs to expand capacity to additional desktops. VirtualCenter Foundation is included with the VDI Starter Kit and is limited to 3 hosts, so for large VDI deployments, please purchase the VDI Bundle – 100 pack instead to receive the VirtualCenter Management Server, which does not have a host number limitation.

VMware requires Gold (12x5) and Platinum (24x7) Support for all components of the VDI end-to-end solution including Virtual Infrastructure 3 for VDI and VMware Virtual Desktop Manager. In addition, customers can purchase Business Critical Support to compliment Platinum Support. VMware’s Business Critical Support offers access to a dedicated account team who will build and maintain a profile of your VDI installation and provide regular account reviews. VMware’s Professional Services Organization is also available for VDI consultations or to deploy VDI in your organization.

Supporting over 10,000 companies in over 100 different countries, VMware delivers world class 24x7 technical support so you can take full advantage of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, no matter where you are in the world. With more than nine years of exclusive experience in virtualization, VMware has the largest virtualization support organization with the most experience supporting critical applications in a virtual infrastructure.

A minimum purchase of one year of Gold Support and Subscription is required for your VDI purchase. To upgrade to Platinum Support, contact your reseller or visit the VMware Store.

To ensure that you realize the benefits of VDI quickly, a minimum of one year of Gold VMware Support and Subscription is required with the purchase of VMware VDI products: VDI Starter Kit, VMware VDI Bundle or VMware Virtual Desktop Manager. You may upgrade to Platinum Support and then elect to add Business Critical Support. Multi-year discounted offerings for all of our VMware support levels are also available.

In general, virtual machines need to be properly licensed like a physical machine. VDI, in particular can create different licensing situations for a customer because an end user can access a virtual desktop from either a PC or a thin client. In addition, a customer can access multiple virtual desktops from that same client.

To help clarify Windows licensing in a virtual machine, Microsoft has published a brief.

Microsoft licensing terms for operating system licensing can vary by organization as well as the type of license purchased and may have different implications for a VDI environment. We encourage you to contact your Microsoft sales representative to verify your licensing options with VMware VDI software.