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I D C A N A L Y S T C O N N E C T I O N

Ian Song Research Analyst, Enterprise Virtualization Software

The Benef i ts o f C l ient V i r tua l i za t ion April 2010

After a tremendous amount of growth in the use of virtualization within data centers to enable such things as server consolidation, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery, virtualization is now also being used as a desktop computing platform. Client virtualization moves the execution, storage, and management of desktop environments from a distributed environment to a centralized environment, where the environments are accessed by end users typically through PCs or thin clients. Client virtualization technologies can enable organizations to simplify and improve desktop management capabilities such as software and hardware upgrades, patching, disaster recovery, and operating system migrations. Through utilizing hypervisors (virtual machine software) on either servers or desktops, IT organizations can decouple a client software environment (including operating system, application, and data) from its host hardware while isolating it from other software running aboard that device. These decoupled software environments can be hosted on either x86 servers or x86 PCs. In addition, to ease management, desktop virtualization can help organizations reduce the costs associated with desktop computing as well as improve security.

IDC uses the term "client virtualization" to describe all technologies associated with virtualizing the end-user computing experience, while the term "desktop virtualization" caters to technologies that virtualize only the end-user desktops. For example, application virtualization is a client virtualization technology, but not a desktop virtualization technology, according to IDC.

The following questions were posed by Microsoft to Ian Song, research analyst for IDC's Enterprise Virtualization Software practice, on behalf of Microsoft's customers.

Q. Why is client virtualization important as part of a desktop strategy?

A. Client virtualization offers several benefits compared with traditional desktop management:

Lower IT TCO: Virtual desktops can measurably reduce overall IT operational costs — from prolonging hardware replacement cycles (capex) to reducing desktop maintenance and service time (opex).

Desktop management: IT administrators can centrally manage all virtual desktops in the data center environment, thus improving IT support efficiency. In addition, administrators can quickly set up new virtual machines, ensuring virtually zero downtime.

Continuity planning/disaster recovery: Virtual machines can be quickly deployed to most PC hardware, which can be factored into organizational business continuity planning, allowing enterprises to return to operation quickly after disasters.

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Security and regulatory compliance: Virtual machines allow for policies that can remove physical connections (such as USB drives), improving overall enterprise network security. Also, when end users connect to a virtual or session-based desktop hosted in the data center, the applications and data associated with that desktop never leave the data center; this helps organizations keep intellectual property highly secure and simplifies regulatory compliance.

Hardware independence: Connected virtual desktops can run on most computers and thin clients without concerns about incompatible hardware or device drivers, as long as the client system can be connected to the data center to access the image.

Additional benefits: Organizations can choose to deploy virtual machine endpoints with thin clients or other energy-saving devices, thus complying with green IT and reducing energy footprints. Additionally, improved computing reliability can increase the operational efficiency of end users/non-IT business units.

Having a well-planned, well-documented, and well-implemented client virtualization strategy can bring many benefits to any organization. While some benefits can be realized in the short term to justify the initial investment, organizations should really have a long-term view when evaluating the viability of moving into a virtualized desktop infrastructure.

Q. Can you define the different client virtualization components?

A. Application Virtualization

One popular virtualization technology is called application virtualization. This technology focuses on virtualizing individual applications instead of the entire operating system (or virtual machine). According to IDC, application virtualization technology is being rapidly adopted because it can be deployed without significant costs or complexity, and it also can address certain business cases very effectively.

Application virtualization can reduce the complexity of application installation, simplify management and provisioning, and reduce compatibility issues. Each virtualized application is encapsulated within its own virtualized container — isolated from the operating system — and thus requires no installation or changes to the system. Additionally, virtualized applications can be either streamed or locally accessed depending on specific need, offering true flexibility (see Figure 1).

F i g u r e 1

Locally Accessible Virtual Applications

Source: IDC, 2010

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Centralized Virtual De

A common desktop virtwhat IDC refers to as cmany organizations are

The concept of CVD is machines are hosted onvirtualization and CVD endpoint (traditional comreduction of desktop infmanagement and improcan also be realized by

F i g u r e 2

Centralized Virtual De

Source: IDC, 2010

User Session Virtualiz

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similar to that of traditional server virtualization in than a server in the data center. The difference betweeis that the CVDs are piped to the clients via connectmputer, thin clients, and so on). The value propositiofrastructure operational expenses through centralizinoving support efficiency. Additionally, certain hardway this technology (see Figure 2).

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tion (USV), also known as user state virtualization, isyed desktop virtualization technologies. USV separatendpoint desktop and enables IT to store the data ane data center, while making them accessible on any n clients). This technology also simplifies user data bcentrally on servers. (This feature also applies to CV

either side by side with other virtualization technologrtualization technologies. USV and application virtuaal desktop virtualization solutions (see Figure 3).

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F i g u r e 3

User Session Virtualiz

Source: IDC, 2010

Distributed Virtual De

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F i g u r e 4

Distributed Virtual Des

Source: IDC, 2010

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top (DVD) is different from CVD in that it leverages hient and provides CVD types of benefits in terms of htrewn across the organization. DVD is very effective roviding them with a managed virtualization solution

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hypervisor how effectively IT in addressing (see Figure 4).

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Q. How do customers know which client virtualization technology to use?

A. Depending on the need of the organization, different virtualization technologies can be applied to achieve the best results.

Knowing what needs to be addressed is very important when picking a technology or combination of technologies. Organizations can solicit help from vendors or consultants, but they must make up their own minds in the end.

In most cases, user session virtualization and application virtualization are the easiest places to start and can return the most value for the investment. In addition, they can be applied across many different scenarios.

One thing to keep in mind is that CVD is not the be-all and end-all of client virtualization. Different business cases can be addressed by different virtualization technologies.

For example, CVD is great for desktop-centric organizations when consolidating unmanaged desktops into a managed infrastructure; it can also lead to a more effectively managed desktop network. However, CVD cannot address disconnected users because of the requirement of an always connected workspace. In this scenario, a DVD solution might be a better choice.

Another use case example is when an organization is looking to reduce application management complexity. This case is best addressed by going with application virtualization instead of a full-blown client virtualization solution.

Typically, organizational structure and virtualization needs are always different. So it's hard to pick a product off the shelf that can satisfy everything. Essentially, organizations looking to virtualize desktops would need to "build their own" by evaluating business needs, cost constraints, and vendors' solution limitations. It might be necessary to create a solution by utilizing multiple vendors/products. This individualized approach could offer more flexibility and cost savings in the long term than an off-the-shelf end-to-end solution.

Q. If an organization decides to do application virtualization, can it also do VDI (and vice versa)?

A. Absolutely! Client virtualization technologies are not mutually exclusive. Depending on the business needs of the organizations, one or all of the technologies can be effectively deployed. In most cases, application virtualization can be adapted across multiple environments and thus should be the starting point for organizations when considering client virtualization. This is because application virtualization is a relatively uncomplicated technology to implement, yet it is flexible and scalable enough to be deployed to traditional local PC, session virtualization, and CVD/VDI scenarios from a single instance.

Case in point: Application virtualization can reduce costs associated with CVD by reducing test cycles because applications no longer conflict, simplifying management and reducing administrative requirements. By having virtualized applications, an administrator can manage the provisioning of applications to only those individuals who need them, thus reducing the size of the virtual machine images (which leads to costly data center storage upgrades) and potentially reducing the licensing cost of applications. Data center storage can also benefit from application virtualization. Multiple virtual desktops can be redirected to an application virtualization location to access the requested applications, thus eliminating the need to build applications into the virtual desktop images and reducing storage requirements. Depending on the business and use cases for each organization, mixing and matching virtualization technologies can yield the best results.

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Q. How do I get started with client virtualization?

A. First, organizations need to create solid business cases that they hope client virtualization can help them address. Buy-in or sponsorship from senior management could prove useful in this stage.

Second, it is vital to understand both the technical limitations and the business value of each of the currently available virtualization technologies. Begin planning the pilot program and define the user groups that can benefit the most by going virtual.

Third, evaluate different vendors and their solutions with pilot programs. The programs should focus on how well specific solutions address the issues at hand and how reliable, flexible, and scalable the solutions are.

Finally, begin deploying virtual desktop solutions to the selected user groups. Deployment should be a staged process in order for the data center to maintain proper capacity management. Depending on the success of initial deployment and results, scale the project up or down.

A B O U T T H I S A N A L Y S T

Ian Song is a research analyst for IDC's Enterprise Virtualization Software program. In this role he examines virtualization software products deployed within the enterprise, focusing on software designed to virtualize the client environment. Mr. Song researches and produces studies related to centralized virtual desktop software, distributed virtual desktop software, and application streaming and virtual user interface software.

A B O U T T H I S P U B L I C A T I O N

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