Desktop Virtualization

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Desktop Virtualization: Key Implementation
Considerations
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Impact Research
1
Executive Summary
See the Impact Report “Desktop
Virtualization: Assessing
Organizational Appropriateness”
to determine organizational fit.
The majority of stakeholders achieved satisfactory success with their implementation.




Ideally desktop computing users should see an improvement in service or at least no change at all.
The total cost of virtual desktops is less than traditional desktops in the most cases.
A successful implementation will deliver a long-term reduction in desktop management costs.
Implementers saw few budget and schedule variances in their projects.
Proof of concept pilot is a valuable first step.

A pilot provides the organization with the IT and end-user experience and executive buy-in necessary
for successful deployment.
Build the desktop virtualization deployment back to front.



Desktop virtualization deployment begins at the server where desktop OS and software are
implemented.
Next up is the network assets and the brokering software that will connect the end user to their desktop.
Finally there is the access device. This could be a desktop computer, laptop, or thin client device.
Focus on service delivery in your communication strategy.

There is only one question that really matters in any IT communication strategy: How will this initiative
impact service?
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Impact Research
2
Research Method
Research Method
Deployments/Plans by Industry

The desktop virtualization Impact Reports are based on
results from 204 surveyed IT managers and in-depth
interviews with 30 IT leaders.
 All major industry segments, sizes of organizations, and
revenue brackets were represented.
 Organizations at all stages of implementation or
consideration of desktop virtualization were represented.
Organizations by FTE
Planning on Implementing
& Implementers by FTE
1 - 100
(10%)
5000+
(13%)
5000+
(13%)
101 - 250
(16%)
1001 - 5000
(28%)
1 - 100
(14%)
1001 - 5000
(22%)
Primary
Industry
(5%)
Wholesale/
Retail
(4%)
Manufacturing
(18%)
Education
(6%)
Government
(11%)
Business
Services
(14%)
Trans/Utilities/
Comms
(13%)
Healthcare
(14%)
Financial
Services
(15%)
101 - 250
(17%)
251 - 500
(13%)
501 - 1000
(20%)
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501 - 1000
(17%)
Impact Research
251 - 500
(17%)
3
Success in Desktop Virtualization
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4
Success of Desktop Virtualization
Challenges of Desktop Virtualization
Majority of stakeholders satisfied with desktop virtualization
implementation

The majority of stakeholders achieved satisfactory success with their desktop
virtualization implementation.
 Ideally, end users should see a slight improvement in performance of their desktops,
or no change at all.
Satisfaction in DV Implementation
IT management very
satisfied with project
23%
IT operations very satisfied
with project
64%
18%
Business management very
satisfied with project
68%
14%
End users very satisfied
with project
14%
64%
10%
20%
Strongly Agree
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14%
73%
9%
0%
14%
30%
Agree
40%
Disagree
27%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
“Overall I would rate
the implementation
successful. The
most pleasing thing
to me is that
customers are
happy. When they
are happy, I am
happy.”
IT Director, State
Government
Strongly Disagree
Impact Research
5
Success of Desktop Virtualization
Desktop virtualization costs less than traditional desktops

Desktop virtualization was found to cost less than traditional deployment more than
75% of the time.
 In terms of cost savings and efficiency improvements, desktop virtualization has a
greater potential in longer term desktop management operations (desk side support
reduction, apps delivery and maintenance, upgrade deployment and management).
 Pitch desktop virtualization as a small savings now, but a larger savings later.
Total Cost of Virtual Desktops is
Less Than that for Traditional Desktops
Mini Case Study
A mid-sized organization deployed virtual desktops to
a subset of their users without additional funding.
Their existing budget included a refresh allowance of
$2000 per laptop for six home office remote users. By
implementing VMware View starter kit with ten allinclusive licenses at a cost of $2000 in total, the need
to buy new laptops was eliminated and $10,000 was
saved.
Strongly
Disagree
(5%)
Disagree
(18%)
Strongly
Agree
(27%)
Agree
(50%)
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Impact Research
6
Success of Desktop Virtualization
Few budget and schedule surprises in DV projects

Implementations meet
Desktop Virtualization Project Success
the planned budget.
Most projects met their
VDI project was on
budget. One variable
82%
budget
that impacts the cost
per virtual machine is
the density of VMs that
VDI project was on
59%
could be stored per
time
server. If this turned out
to be less than what
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
was promised by the
% of implementations
vendor, the budget was
impacted.
 Most projects were completed on time. Implementers had often spent time piloting
small installations of virtual desktops. By piloting a small virtualization deployment,
organizations were better prepared for the full implementation.
 Experience plays a role in meeting budget and time estimations. Users who had
implemented server virtualization were far more likely to select the same vendor for
desktop virtualization. In these cases, the organization can leverage the skills,
experience, and tools developed in managing virtual infrastructure for servers for the
deployment and management of virtual desktops. This ability increases the accuracy of
budget and time estimations.
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Impact Research
7
Success of Desktop Virtualization
The implementation plan needs to include steps to address the
most common DV implementation challenges

A good implementation plan will take into account key potential challenges that
have been identified by other organizations.
 For more about the main challenges to virtualization, refer to the Impact Research
Report, “Desktop Virtualization: Assessing Organizational Appropriateness.”
Desktop Virtualization Implementation Challenges
Licensing and back end infrastructure costs
27%
23%
23%
Support for desktop peripheral devices
Application compatibility
14%
Offline access to virtual desktops
14%
Increased latency to users
14%
Potential for outages to users
9%
Changes to tech support processes
9%
End user resistance
9%
50%
41%
27%
24%
36%
59%
62%
23%
64%
50%
32%
36%
41%
59%
55%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100
%
Significant challenge Somewhat of a challenge Not a challenge
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Impact Research
8
Implementing Desktop
Virtualization
Project
Planning &
Piloting
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Step 1:
Server
Considerations
Step 2:
Network &
Broker
Connection
Impact Research
Step 3:
Access
Devices
Communication
Strategy
9
Project Planning & Piloting
Proof of concept pilot a valuable first step

Conducting a proof of concept pilot provides the organization with the IT and end-user
experience and executive buy-in necessary for successful deployment.
 Piloting with a small group of users was rated as the most important activity to ensuring
project success.
Important Activities Identified by Implementers
Piloting with a small group of
users
67%
Gaining executive support
29%
58%
Training IT staff
25%
54%
Using consultants or third party
help
10%
29%
46%
20%
30%
40%
Very important
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17%
38%
21%
0%
8%
38%
29%
Testing more than one desktop
virtualization solution
13%
38%
29%
Conducting an ROI analysis
4%
50%
Important
25%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
One organization
deliberately
choose users
needing
performance for
their pilot based
on the premise
that this was the
group that had to
become regular
users of VDI for it
to be successful.
Not important
Impact Research
10
Project Planning & Piloting
Look for low hanging fruit for pilot project
For early stage pilot projects, look for low hanging fruit scenarios. These will provide proof
of concept while also achieving short-term cost savings. Some of these scenarios include:

Virtual Test Lab. Create a test lab of server-hosted virtual
PCs to test a new application or an operating system upgrade.
By doing so, a separate set of test PCs is not required. This is
especially useful if the test requires memory and processing
capacity greater than that of the testers' machines.
 Alternative for Laptops for Remote Desktop Deployment.
Instead of deploying company laptops to secure remote
computing end points, provide remote users access to virtual
desktops from their own device, such as a home PC
 Pilot with Users Ready for a Hardware Refresh. These
users will likely be more willing to participate in the pilot, and
may see a performance boost which will increase user buy-in.
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Impact Research
“The 15 people for
the pilot were folks
who were due for a
new computer, so
some of their PCs
were considerably
old. The
performance boost
that they felt on the
VDI was enough for
them to buy in. The
feedback was, ‘sign
me up.’”
IT Director, Financial
Services
11
Project Planning & Piloting
Other key planning steps include gaining support, training,
third-party help, ROI analysis, and testing
Planning Step
Gaining
executive
support
Why it’s important
Formally gaining executive buy-in will help mitigate any potential user
resistance later on.
Training IT staff
Help desk, remote, support and self-serve needs to be effective and
responsive. To accomplish this, staff may need to be trained. This is especially
true for organizations new to server virtualization.
Using
consultants or
third party help
Generally external consultants are used by larger enterprises deploying over a
large number of end users. Typically these are Citrix shops that have used
consultants in the past for large scale projects. In more complex cases, such as
those requiring peripheral support or organizations new to virtualization, third
party help should be considered.
Conducting an
ROI analysis
Conducting a formal ROI analysis is useful for organizations that need help
gaining executive buy-in or are unsure if desktop virtualization will actually save
them money. For help with this, use the ITA Premium “Virtual Desktop
Infrastructure TCO per Desktop Tool.”
Testing more
than one
solution
Organizations that do not have an incumbent vendor should test more than one
solution to see which one offers needed features at a reasonable price point.
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Impact Research
12
Server Considerations
Build the desktop virtualization deployment back to front

Traditional desktop implementation begins with what hardware and software will be
required on the desktop followed by what network services the desktop will require
for accessing additional back end services (e.g. an e-mail server and shared
network storage).
 Desktop virtualization deployment begins at the server. The required desktop OS
and software are implemented on virtual machines hosted on the server.
 Next up is the network assets and the brokering software that will connect the end
user to their desktop computing environment.
 Finally there is the access device. This could be a desktop computer, laptop, or thin
client device.
1
3
2
Server and Virtualization
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Access Device
Network and Broker
Impact Research
13
Server Considerations
Server considerations: provision generously
1




Server and Virtualization
Plan 5 to 6 VMs per Processor Core
Server requirements will include a virtualization hypervisor
(e.g. VMware ESX, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer).
Multicore and multiprocessor (two or more) servers are
best. Plan for five or six VMs per processor core. Mileage
will vary greatly depending on VM usage.
Don’t skimp on memory. At least 512 MB of RAM allocated
per active virtual PC. For example, 16 VMs on a host at
512 MB each would require 8 Gigabytes of memory.
Storage (e.g. DAS or SAN) is also a critical consideration.
However total storage impact is being mitigated by
changes in DV software.
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Impact Research
The number of VMs that will run on a
server will vary greatly depending on
applications and workload. VMware, for
example, estimates up to 42 “light duty”
VMs can be hosted on a dual processor
dual core system (10.5 per core). Info-Tech
finds that for planning, a more
conservative estimate of 5 or 6 per core is
more realistic.
Using a dual processor dual core server, a
6 per core estimate yields a VM density of
24 VMs on the server.
6 VMs X 4 Cores = 24 Desktops
The majority of DV evaluators and
implementers are leveraging
previous experience in server
virtualization for virtual desktops.
14
Network & Broker Connection
Make the connection: brokers, protocols, bandwidth
2




Remote Connection:
It’s All the Same
Network and Broker
The desktop virtualization solution will use a remote
connection protocol to link the end user to the hosted
virtual desktop over the network link – typically Remote
Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Citrix ICS.
Connection broker software authenticates the user and
establishes the connection. Connection brokers are
normally included with desktop virtualization solutions.
Broker software typically can connect users not just to
virtual desktops but also to blade PCs, server hosted
applications, and virtualized applications.
For network bandwidth, plan for 25Kbps of dedicated
bandwidth for each virtual desktop. So, for example, for
16 virtual desktops per server, 400Kbps of dedicated
bandwidth would be required.
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Impact Research
A remote access connection differs
little whether the user is being
connected to a Virtual PC, a server
based application, or a blade PC or
workstation.
If usability of an application is affected
by remote access issues (e.g. latency
in graphic refresh), the problem will be
the same regardless of where it sits.
In other words, you won’t fix these
kinds of problems by moving the
application from, for example, a
Terminal Services server to a virtual
desktop.
15
Network & Broker Connection
VMware and Citrix lead the vendor pack by a large margin
Over 75% of organizations don’t consider vendors outside of VMware and Citrix.
 Most of these implementers don’t consider other vendors because they find it a
natural progression to go with the vendor they use on the server virtualization side.

Vendors Evaluated and Selected for Desktop Virtualization
Vmware View
15%
Citrix XenDesktop
11%
Virtual Iron
5% 3%
Paralells
Sun Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
16%
20%
4% 4%
0%
15%
27%
11%
26%
78%
12%
79%
12%
10%
8%
77%
83%
20%
Selected
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33%
16%
3% 7%
Provision Networks 3%
28%
30%
Evaluated
40%
50%
Evaluating
Impact Research
60%
Plan to evaluate
70%
80%
90%
100%
Did not/will not consider
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Network & Broker Connection
?
Visit VMware for more
product information.
VMware: leveraging server virtualization to the desktop
In 2009, VMware launched an updated product called
VMware View, which combines the former VMware
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Virtual Desktop
Manager (VDM), and elements of VMware ACE for
offline “checking out” of VMs to disconnected laptops
and desktops. In addition to virtual desktop management
and connection brokering, the Premier edition of
VMware View also includes VMware ThinApp for access
to application virtualization. View can also connect users
to remote PCs and blade workstations.
VMware View Highlights
Improved Storage for VMs
To reduce storage overhead, View uses master
VM templates. Each user desktop is essentially a
thin clone of the master, which only stores
differential data such as user settings. This leads
to a 70% decrease in storage requirements and
streamlines desktop management for quick
provisioning of new desktops as well as fast
patches and upgrades.
More About VMware View
VMware Positive
VMware View Brochure
Solid pricing, improved management, new
innovations like offline desktops (though not yet
ready for prime time).
VMware Negative
Solution Pricing


View Enterprise ($150 per Desktop)
View Premier ($250) – Includes ThinApp and
Offline Desktop
Rapid development making it somewhat of a moving
target for implementers.
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Impact Research
17
Network & Broker Connection
?
Visit Citrix for more
product information.
Citrix: taking application delivery to new territory
Citrix has expanded on its history of “application
delivery” to the desktop (via Terminal Services and Thin
Clients) to hosting full virtual desktops. XenDesktop
manages virtual desktops on Citrix’s XenServer
hypervisor but also on VMware ESX Server or Microsoft
Hyper-V. XenDesktop integrates with Citrix’s application
presentation and virtualization (XenApp) and a
provisioning server for dynamic assembly of user
desktop (e.g. OS, applications, settings) for lower
storage requirements and a “new desktop” at each
connection.
Citrix Highlights
Dynamic Desktop Assembly
Citrix’s approach is to have the virtual machine,
OS, applications, and user settings automatically
assemble at start-up. This lowers storage
overhead as complete VM hard drive files need
not be maintained for each user.
More About XenDesktop
Citrix XenDesktop Enters the Ring
Solution Pricing

Citrix Positive

Dynamic provisioning, Hypervisor agnostic. Low entry
price.



Citrix Negative..
Express (Free)
Standard ($75)
Advanced ($195)
Enterprise ($295)
Platinum ($395)
Cost concerns from implementers. Deluxe editions
include XenApp licensing.
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Impact Research
18
Network & Broker Connection
There are other emerging desktop virtualization vendors
Vendors
Description
Microsoft
Enterprise
Desktop
Virtualization
(MED-V)
Microsoft has traditionally partnered with Citrix to provide application and desktop virtualization.
With MED-V they are leveraging Microsoft Virtual PC to provide virtual desktop infrastructure.
However Microsoft is focusing most of their attention on application delivery to the desktop. MEDV availability is limited to Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) which is itself only
available as an option to Software Assurance customers.
Oracle
(Sun & Virtual
Iron)
In 2009, Oracle purchased both Sun Microsystems and Virtual Iron. Sun has a competitive VDI
product in Sun VDI. Virtual Iron has also been used for the back-end virtual infrastructure for
various VDI options, including Provision Networks, Ericom and 2X. The acquisitions consolidate
the number three and four players in the virtual desktop market and create a potential new
enterprise class competitor in the space.
Parallels
Parallels uses Parallels Virtuozzo Containers for its virtual desktop infrastructure and Quest
Provision Networks for its management. Using containers as opposed to hypervisor-based virtual
machines means that one Windows instance is partitioned and shared (as opposed to multiple
virtual machine-based OS instances). This has potential for more efficient management of OS
maintenance and licensing.
Quest
(Provision
Networks)
Quest entered the desktop virtualization space with its acquisition of Provision Networks. The
now rebranded Quest vWorkspace offers combined virtual desktop brokering, management, and
application publishing. It is also compatible with the major server and OS virtualization solutions.
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Impact Research
19
Access Devices
The access device: multiple options available
3
Access Device
The end user access device is the last consideration in the desktop
virtualization roll-out. The desktop equipment is essentially an access
point for the centrally hosted desktop service. It can be a thin client
device but it can also be a re-purposed PC or laptop. Desktop
virtualization and thin client hardware are not synonymous. There are
a number of scenarios where real benefit can be gained from
accessing virtual desktops from regular PCs and laptops.

Using DV to delay PC refresh. Where clients receive a
workstation upgrade via virtual machine but continue to use legacy
hardware. This approach is used when the organization wants to
save money on hardware and are able to extend the life of the
hardware by using VDI.

Providing Offsite Access to Full Desktops. As noted earlier,
desktop virtualization can enable off-site access (e.g. from a user’s
home PC) to secure desktops via VPN connection.

Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) programs. Where employees
bring their own laptop to work and use it to access a secured virtual
desktop separate from their own personal desktop.
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Impact Research
Fully 91% of
implementers plan
to use some thin
client hardware
though only 7% plan
to use all thin clients
– the rest use a
combination of thin
clients with fat
clients and/or
laptops.
20
Access Devices
Where appropriate, thin clients have benefits

Reduced costs of electricity per desktop as there
is no longer a disk and cooling fan to spin.

Deskside support costs are driven down. No
moving parts means less maintenance. Less wear
and tear means lifecycles can also be extended
further than PCs.

Improved user experience. If the user is accessing
a virtual desktop from legacy hardware, thin client
hardware with better media handling (e.g. sound,
graphics) will improve the end user experience.

Reduced hardware costs for desktop refresh.
Thin clients could provide 5 to 10% overall per
desktop cost reduction when a refresh becomes
necessary.
“Because of the economy right now, we’ve been
buying clearance stuff. We go to the CDW
Outlet, or if they have a return, we just buy them
up, and we've been getting thin clients under
$100 each.”
IT Executive, Non-Profit Organization
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Impact Research
ITA Premium Thin Client Series
 “Together at Last: Virtualization and Thin
Clients”
 “Building VDI Thinfrastructure Top to
Bottom”
 “Long-Term Return Is Key to Thin Client
Deployment”
 “The Future of Thin Client Deployment”
Planned % of VDI Deployment
Using Thin Clients
76 - 100
thin clients
(24%)
51 - 75%
thin clients
(26%)
No thin clients
(9%)
5 - 25%
thin clients
(19%)
26 - 50%
thin clients
(22%)
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Access Devices
HP and Wyse clear leaders in thin client selection

HP and Wyse are clear market leaders among those evaluating and selecting
thin client solutions.
 Others contenders include: iGel, ChipPC, ClearCube, PanoLogic.
Thin Client Hardware Vendor Selection
Wyse
11%
Other
ClearCube
5% 4%
Pano Logic
4% 3%
0%
20%
71%
20%
71%
10%
20%
Selected
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74%
74%
17%
6%
Sun
65%
18%
3%
18%
4% 3%
ChipPC
25%
37%
14%
14%
11%
HP
24%
28%
14%
16%
17%
40%
30%
Evaluated
Evaluating
50%
60%
Plan to evaluate
Impact Research
70%
80%
90%
100%
Did not/will not consider
22
Access Devices
There are many viable thin client options to choose from
Vendor
Details
Chip PC
Chip PC offers innovative form factors for their thin clients. The Jack PC, for example, fits all of the
components of the thin client into a box that can be mounted in a wall mount. Peripherals ports such as
the monitor, keyboard, and USB appear as wall sockets.
ClearCube
HP
ClearCube’s strength is in virtualization using PC blades, a market it entered in the 1990s. While
ClearCube is a blade provider, the user ports will work with other manufacturers’ blades.
The acquisition of Neoware in 2007 launched HP into the top two of thin client market share. With this
addition, HP also improved its software offering and added a thin laptop model to the line-up. HP offers
the most comprehensive server to desktop solutions.
IGEL
IGEL is a German-based company that has been in the thin client market since 1997. IGEL’s TC Card
allows enterprises to extend the life of legacy desktop PCs by replacing the hard drive with the TC
Card.
Pano Logic
Pano Logic offers one simple, zero-client model. The sleek Pano desktop cube provides a full range of
connection ports and has no internal operating system. A separate Pano Management Server acts as a
connection broker and monitors performance.
Wyse
Technology
Founded in 1981, Wyse is one of the longest-running thin client vendors. It is also the market leader,
with HP running a close second. Wyse’s TCX Suite boosts performance of graphic’s intensive
applications accessed via thin client.
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Impact Research
23
Communication Strategy
Focus on service delivery in your communication strategy
There is only one question that really matters in any IT communication strategy: How will this
initiative impact service?
How Not To Communicate DV
Key Messages For DV Project Success





Desktop Virtualization will make life
much easier for IT. More important is how
it will impact the work of end-users.
This will save the company money. Good
news to be sure but will the true cost be
borne in a poor use experience and
reduced service?
This initiative will user proof tech
assets. Suggests that primary goal is
protecting assets from users. Speaks to an
asset service rather than end user service
focus.
We’re coming for your PC this week.




DV provides a full Windows desktop. Will not
require a change from familiar desktop environment
regardless of access hardware.
Less downtime, faster application loading, and
improved performance. This is particularly true of
data-intensive applications.
Desktop performance will not degrade over time.
A virtual desktop generated from a master template
does not accumulate system junk over time.
Rapid deployment for new applications and
upgrades. Such as an upgrade to Office 7 or
Windows 7 without desktop hardware replacement.
Access your desktop from multiple points.
Also . . .
 Develop and communicate contingency plans for candidates that are not a good fit. How will those who
find that DV does not perform well enough be served?
 Be clear about implementation glitches that might occur. For example, pilots where an “it might be slow
at first” message was communicated had better success than where end users were left to make snap
first impression judgements.
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Impact Research
24
Key Conclusions
The big savings are longer term.


Focus on measuring longer term operational and capital savings from desktop virtualization.
Pitch small short term savings to start, larger savings over life of solution.
The implementation starts on the server side.



Build the desktop virtualization solution back to front.
Traditional desktop provisioning projects start with meeting requirements at the desktop with
deployment of hardware and configuration of software.
Desktop virtualization is about delivering desktop services from a back end server.
Communication must focus on service.

Focus communication strategy on service to the end user. Convey how it will improve service or at
least not lead to reduced service.
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Impact Research
25
Case Studies
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Impact Research
26
Case Studies
Happier end users were the result for a manufacturing
organization’s implementation
Desktop Virtualization Status: Implemented
Industry
Manufacturing
Total planned VDs
100
Employees
170
Current number of VDs
50
IT Staff
3
Revenue
$100M


Issues with terminal services on thin clients - application performance was a pain.
User driven demand.
Vendor

VMware VDI
Vendor Selection Criteria

Previous experience with VMware
Main Drivers for VDI
OUTCOME
OVERALL EXPERIENCE

Top Benefits
Top
Challenges


Excellent performance.
Control of desktop environment while
providing end users flexibility.
Found VMware and entire solution complex
compared to earlier terminal services
architecture.
“I’ll be the first to admit it, but I’m actually
surprised by how well Microsoft products run
when you remove hardware from the factor.”
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Overall pleased with the move to virtual desktops. Users
were the most satisfied because of the switch to VDI. The
CIO defined success as “quieter users”. One of the
challenges has been underestimating the costs
associated. Did not get the density of virtual desktops per
server as had expected.
“We implemented it with Wyse clients and I
was shocked how well the products ran –
performance is great, no blue screen of
death and stability is great.”
Impact Research
27
Case Studies
Consultant used for implementation to resolve peripheral
device issues and ROI calculation
Desktop Virtualization Status: Implemented
Industry
Government
Total planned VDs
200
Employees
300
Current number of
VDs
20
IT Staff
5
Revenue
$25M

Main Drivers for VDI

Consolidate spread out desktop infrastructure
Provide high performance users (without local
processing needs) with a flexible full desktop.
Vendor

VMware VDI
Vendor Selection Criteria

Previous experience with VMware Server virtualization.
OUTCOME
Top Benefits
OVERALL EXPERIENCE



Top
Challenges
“We're very happy with
the VDI environment. We
have drank the VMware
Kool-Aid and we're
certainly on side with that
product. Working with the
consultant as well as with
VMware, has just been a
fantastic relationship and
they've done a wonderful
job.”

www.infotech.com
Centralized management.
Improved performance for users.
Supporting peripheral devices was
very difficult due to specialized
environment.
Gaining a true understanding of costs
involved. ROI and TCO calculators
from vendors had obvious biases.
Started with a focus on the higher performance users and piloted
for 6 months to work out issues. Acknowledged high performance
users with GPU processing would not be suited for initial
deployment. The key success enabler for the organization was
the relationship with their consultant and support from VMware.
Peripheral device support issues were resolved by consultant.
Consultant designed an objective ROI/TCO tool for the client to
get budget approval.
Impact Research
28
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