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RingCube vDesk over VDI: Next Generation Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y

VDI provides customers with a server-based computing solution that enables them to centralize desktop management in the data center. As enterprise customers have tried to implement the first and second generation of VDI, they have found significant barriers to adoption that have prevented them from realizing the benefits of desktop virtualization across the entire enterprise.

RingCube vDesk is a high-performance enterprise desktop virtualization solution that simplifies the creation, access and management of Windows desktops through Workspace Virtualization. The vDesk solution increases user productivity, lowers desktop management costs and eliminates the performance and resource overhead of legacy virtualization technologies.

RingCube vDesk can be used with VDI:

• Alternative: As a lower cost alternative that has no upfront infrastructure costs

• Complement: As a complement for user segments that require offline mobility

• Enhancement: As an enhancement to reduce storage costs and support of user-installed application, personalization, and offline mobility on non-persistent VM (virtual machine) pools.

RingCube vDesk Overview RingCube vDesk is a high-performance enterprise desktop virtualization solution that simplifies the creation, access and management of Windows desktops through Workspace Virtualization. The vDesk solution increases user productivity, lowers desktop management costs and improves desktop virtualization performance.

Users can run their virtual desktop at the office or on unmanaged PCs – at home, or at a client site. When users start their vDesk workspace, it transforms any PC into their own familiar and personalized workspace

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

RingCube vDesk Overview 1

VDI Overview 2

First Generation of VDI 2

Second Generation of VDI 3

The vDesk VDI Solution 3

Architecture 5

When should I use vDesk over VDI? 5

How does vDesk over VDI work? 5

Summary 6

About RingCube 7

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where users can access their files, applications, settings and entire desktop just as if they were on their own PC.

VDI Overview Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a solution for server-based virtual desktop computing that improves control and manageability while providing end users with a familiar desktop experience. VDI introduces a new way of managing user environments, allowing IT administrators to host and administer user desktops on Virtual Infrastructure in the data center. Users access their desktops using a remote desktop protocol, which presents the screen of a virtual machine running in the data center to the end user.

Problem As enterprise customers have tried to implement the first and second generation of VDI, they have found significant barriers to adoption that have prevented them from realizing the benefits of desktop virtualization across the entire enterprise.

First Generation of VDI Enterprise customers deploying the first generation of VDI found that there are three barriers to success:

1. Cost (Server Infrastructure, Storage, Licensing)

2. Licensing Complications (Windows Operating System)

3. Offline Mobility

Diagram 1 – Traditional VDI Deployment

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VDI customers were forced to choose between two deployment methods: persistent desktop pools and non-persistent desktop pools. With persistent pools, a new VM is provisioned automatically upon first use and then users can customize their desktops, install applications and create data, and have those changes persist between sessions. With non-persistent pools, any changes made to the desktop environment including installing applications, personalized settings and user-created data are removed at the end of the session and the VM is returned to the pool, often restricting VDI use to very specific cases in enterprise deployments. Unlike VDI non-persistent pools, VDI persistent pools are desirable for most enterprise desktop virtualization cases, but the storage requirements can be cost-prohibitive. This is because such a deployment requires each named user’s VM image, including the 2 to 10GB of data for the virtual machine’s operating system to be stored for each user, whether or not the user is logged into the VDI environment. Furthermore, end-user VMs must be stored on a Storage Area Network (SAN), which is a significant cost increase as compared to typical PC storage and even that of network attached storage (NAS).

Second Generation of VDI The second and latest generation of VDI architectures attempts to eliminate barriers to adoption of the first generation of VDI by integrating application virtualization, application streaming, roaming user profiles and “linked clone” technology. However, the second generation of VDI adds complexity and creates new application compatibility and desktop management barriers to adoption. The “linked clone” approach to reducing storage utilization makes sense conceptually as it essentially allows a common master template and small differential snapshots for each individual user’s customized desktop. However, enterprises quickly realize that the caveats of second generation VDI include restrictions on updating the master template once linked clones are in place and scalability limitations of a few hundred users. Also, second generation VDI does not support the

combination of linked clone and offline, forcing customers to choose between mobility and storage optimization. Because the master template to linked clone relationship has various limitations, the proposed implementation for user-installed application support and provisioning is to virtualize and stream all applications into the user’s VDI desktop. However, many applications cannot be virtualized using application containers. The second generation of VDI requires that organizations make compromises on scalability, application support and automated provisioning to eliminate the problems of the first generation of VDI.

With either the first or the second generation of VDI, there is no way for a user to take their entire desktop offline to work at home or on a plane. With a generation of workers who have come to rely on laptops and expect mobility, VDI in its current form will continue to be limited to a specific segment of enterprise users.

The vDesk VDI Solution RingCube vDesk can be used with VDI:

• Alternative: As a much lower cost alternative that has no upfront infrastructure costs

• Complement: As a complement for user segments that require offline mobility

• Enhancement: As an enhancement to reduce storage costs and provide personalization, mobility and deeper application support

vDesk over the network as an Alternative to VDI: Eliminating Server Infrastructure Costs

vDesk over the network offers a centralized virtual desktop alternative to VDI that delivers the operational cost reductions, productivity, provisioning and manageability benefits of VDI without the upfront server capital costs and long deployment times. With vDesk over the network, IT organizations can achieve the centralization and management they desire while using the computing power of the existing PCs, eliminating

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computing power of the existing PCs, eliminating the need to purchase additional hardware.

(For more information, see the vDesk over the network Solution Brief)

Using Gartner’s cost assumptions, the server capital cost alone for a 2,500 user HVD deployment is approximately $750,000 USD. For those customers who wish to avoid these types of upfront capital costs associated with VDI deployments, vDesk offers three additional deployment modes (PC, Drive and Network). In order to run vDesk with centrally stored virtual workspaces, customers need to deploy two windows-based server or virtual machines. Using Gartner’s TCO model of a $6,000 USD for a dual-socket, dual-core server, the estimated cost for a 2,500 user vDesk deployment

without VDI is approximately $12,000 USD which translates to a 98% capital cost savings on servers when compared to VDI.

vDesk Alongside VDI: Satisfying Diverse User Requirements

Many organizations have deployed VDI to a limited subset of users such as task workers, outsourcers or for disaster recovery. However, due to the mobility, personalization or management challenges of VDI, they have not been able to deliver a viable desktop virtualization to users such as knowledge workers or mobile professionals. In this case, vDesk on a PC, Drive or over the network can be used as the primary desktop virtualization method. If those users want to access their desktop through VDI, they can do so seamlessly and synchronize their

Diagram 2 – vDesk Alongside a Traditional VDI Deployment

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virtual desktop between all the deployment options automatically using RingCube MobileSync technology.

vDesk with VDI: Reducing Cost, Providing Personalization & Mobility, Increasing Application Support

By integrating vDesk with VDI non-persistent pools, customers can deploy the less costly non-persistent desktops in combination with vDesk over the network to achieve a personalized desktop user experience including unique applications, files and settings. The integration of VDI non-persistent pools with RingCube vDesk will dramatically reduce costs, reduce operating system licensing complexity and provide mobility to virtual desktop users. In addition, vDesk provides much deeper application support than application virtualization technology, enabling organizations with VDI to virtualize and provision applications that requires drivers and security services in a VDI environment.

Architecture The integrated vDesk and VDI solution starts with a standard VDI implementation that includes the Virtualization Management Server, a non-persistent pool of virtual machines, and an Active Directory domain controller. vDesk builds on the VDI infrastructure and simply requires a vDesk

Administration Server (Windows Server 2003 or 2008) and a File Server/NAS be added to the architecture. All of these components can be run inside a single physical server using server virtualization. The vDesk Administration Server is used to provision, manage and apply policy to vDesk workspaces. The Windows File Server is used to store vDesk Master Workspaces and Workspace Instances.

When should I use vDesk over VDI? vDesk over VDI is designed to provide a completely centralized virtual desktop option. While the infrastructure cost of VDI is much higher than using other vDesk deployment options (Network, PC, Drive), some user groups have security and compliance requirements that can only be addressed by storing and executing the virtual desktop inside the data center. In addition, when organizations have to provide thin clients rather than PCs, vDesk over VDI is the only option for those devices.

Ideal Users: Campus and Mobile with High Security and Compliance Requirements

In cases with high security and compliance requirements, vDesk over VDI provides centrally stored and executed virtual desktops that can deliver the desktop management, provisioning and productivity improvements without any information leaving the datacenter. Unlike traditional VDI, users also maintain the same personalized user experience as their existing PCs, their own applications and the same performance.

How does vDesk over VDI work? Logging into vDesk over VDI

When users log into vDesk over VDI, they are connected via a remote desktop protocol to the non-persistent pool and randomly assigned an available virtual machine from the pool. VDI will automatically log them into the Microsoft Windows operating system of the virtual machine and vDesk will automatically log them into their vDesk workspace, which is run over the network from the

“For many organizations, capital costs will remain a barrier to adoption of HVDs [VDI], due to the infrastructure costs associated with servers, networks and storage.”

Mark A. Margevicius Gartner Research VP

August 4, 2008 TCO Comparison of PCs

With Hosted Virtual Desktops ID Number: G00155498

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File Server or NAS. A flash screen will appear for a few seconds with progress indicators letting the users know that their vDesk workspace is being loaded. Then, the users will see their familiar Microsoft Windows desktop environment. At their first login, they will see the standard desktop that was configured by the administrator as part of the vDesk master workspace. Users can customize their vDesk workspace as they would a standard PC by installing applications, changing settings (wallpaper, plug-ins, VPN settings) and creating their own data files (documents, presentation, spreadsheets). In subsequent logins to VDI, users will be randomly assigned any virtual machine and automatically logged into their same personalized vDesk workspace.

Taking vDesk Workspaces Offline with MobileSync

vDesk delivers virtual desktops to users anytime, anywhere through four flexible deployment options:

1. PC – vDesk is stored and runs locally on the user’s PC

2. Drive – vDesk is stored on portable drives such as USB

3. Network – vDesk is stored on a network file share and runs locally

4. VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) – vDesk is stored in the data center and accessed remotely using VDI

vDesk MobileSync enables users to synchronize their vDesk workspace between any of the four vDesk deployment options and work offline. While offline, users become truly mobile by being able to access their virtual workspace anytime, anywhere. For example, users can access their vDesk through VDI while in the office and check out their vDesk workspace to a laptop or portable drive for a business trip or to work at home. When they come back to the office, they are prompted automatically to check in and synchronize their vDesk workspace

to the network. Once checked in, users can access their vDesk workspace through VDI and have all the

changes that were made offline reflected in their online vDesk workspace.

Using vDesk MobileSync for Desktop Backup and Disaster Recovery

vDesk MobileSync enables rapid backup or “hot standby” for disaster recovery for users who have hardware failures or lose their laptop or portable drive. If a laptop or portable drive is lost or fails, users can check out their vDesk workspace from the network to a new laptop or portable drive and be up and running in minutes with their latest applications, data and settings.

Provisioning Updates

When administrators want to provision new applications, upgrade existing applications, add data files, or change settings, they simply make an update to the vDesk master workspace and those changes are automatically provisioned to the user at their next login, without any changes the virtual machine template.

Summary Organizations have tried to implement desktop virtualization for years but had limited success in finding a viable alternative to traditional PCs both in terms of cost savings and user experience. VDI is useful to solve desktop computing problems for some users but also has barriers that prevent its adoption for large segments of users. Rather than piecing together existing desktop virtualization approaches, organizations that want to realize the promise of desktop virtualizations should consider using vDesk as an alternative, complement or enhancement to VDI deployments.

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© 2009. All rights reserved. RingCube and vDesk are trademarks of RingCube Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective holders.

About RingCube RingCube is the leading provider of the managed virtual workspace. The company’s innovative virtualization software platform, vDesk, enables enterprise users to securely access their complete desktop computing experience from any Windows PC anywhere in the world. With vDesk, organizations can increase user productivity, lower desktop management and support costs, and eliminate the performance and resource overhead commonly found with legacy virtualization approaches.

RingCube Technologies, Inc.

100 W. Evelyn Ave., Suite 210

Mountain View, CA 94041

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International: 650-605-6900

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