Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
Presented to the
UBC IT – VDI Pilot Users
April 12, 2010
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
Agenda:
– Project Background [10 min John]
– Thin-Clients & VDI Demo [10 min Brent]
 Thin Client device
 Software Client
 Your Virtual Desktop
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–
–
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User Preparation and Deployment [10 min John]
How we will support you [5 min John]
Future
Q&A
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 Why: The Pilot Project (6 months: Oct/09 – May/10):
– Green:
 10w + 5w + 5w < 100 / 40w
 = less CO2 and < $$ kwh
– Reduce IT Support Effort & Standardization:
 Reduction in proliferation of hardware models and one-off PC
builds
 One standard desktop for general office usage
 Future: Standard desktop(s) for labs, student kiosks, office
researchers, some academics
– User Objectives:
 Goal => equivalent to average desktop performance
 Continue to be accessible from home PC with Internet
connectivity/VPN client + new VDI client
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 Who: The Pilot Project (6 months: Oct/09 – May/10):
Collaborative Project Teams:
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Steering:

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UBC IT (incl SIS, FRO, HR), Medicine, Science, Dept Comp Sci, Sauder, President’s Office
Project Team:

Architecture
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
UBC IT
Medicine IT
Computer Science
Jason Fiset, Brent Dunington, Duncan Gourlie
Dennis Chow
Sean Godel
Desktop Support
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–
OAB
UBC IT
Irina Zilbershtein, Eric Lai, Mike Ward
Robert Padwick
 Project Management
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UBC IT
John Mah, David Murray, John Cruz
Pilot Users:
– Approx 40 in the Old Administration Building
– Approx 40 in UBC IT LS Klinck building
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 What/When: The Pilot Project (6 months: Oct/09 – May/10):
 Back-End: entire server and storage infrastructure
 Front-end:
 Capture user desktop requirements in OAB, UBC IT
 Select, test, install thin-client devices on a subset of pilot users
 Install soft View client on remaining users/home access PC’s
 Support Process: develop a working model for VDI Desktop
deployment/support/image management
 Deployment: 100 users in UBC IT and OAB
 Financial: Develop a TCO model, energy saving model
 Communication: to UBC as a whole via IT.UBC website and
forums
Pilot Approach & Timeline (aggressive)
Training
VDI desktop support processes
User VDI lab
Prototype build testing
-user app testing
Lab
Architect /
design
confirm VD
technology
preference
-leverage other
project learnings
Oct
-VM’s
backend
-app backend
-user app
environment
-thin-client
front end
-network
Nov
-validate technical
design
-user environment
-user performance
testing
-user app install
troubleshooting
-VD fine tuning
-IMAGE BUILD
-APP VIRTUALIZE
-performance
-functionality
=current desktop
PC
Tech team fine
Tuning for prod
deployment
VD v1.0 production build, tested,
PTO
Financial model
UBC IT QA and UAT testing
User needs/desktop performance/functionality
Deploy & support to faculty or staff
of OAB
Deployment processes
Deploy & support to faculty or staff
UBC IT
User communication / engagement. Key stakeholder communication / awareness of outcomes
VD version 1
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Using Software View agents
Software or Firmware
View agent
Only Windows VM’s
Linux on 2010 roadmap
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 VDI demo (Brent)
– Thin-client device
– Software-based client
– What your Vista OS desktop looks like
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
How is it the same?
1. Windows Vista experience
2. Fast login, access to all the applications needed to do your
daily work
3. Same application performance as you currently experience
4. All your IE favorites, personal settings
5. Can network print as you normally do today
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
How is it different?
1.Low power consumption
2.All work files stored on a network H:\drive, not local C:\
3.No wallpapers
4.No screensavers
5.New required software must be installed by IT desktop support
6.Laptop users cannot use the ‘virtual desktop’ on a bus, car or airplane
(offline from the internet)
7.No Macintosh version yet
8.USB peripherals are not yet fully support until Sept/2010 eg. Local
printers, CD/DVD burning, web-cams.
9.Must use USB keyboards/mice
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
How is it better?
1.Able to connect to the same ‘virtual desktop’ from home or (any other
UBC workstation – future)
2.Your personal favorites & settings stay with your ‘virtual desktop’ no
matter where you access it from
3.Laptop users can chose to keep it at work, and use their personal
computer at home to access the same work ‘virtual desktop’
4.For IT, simplified support – now using a common ‘virtual desktop’
1. Longer lifespan for the thin-client device (>5 yrs)
2. Upgrades to windows & applications will be automatically
delivered to all users, without desk-side visits
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 How will we deploy to you throughout May? (~40 users)
– Survey by email: applications, printing, USB keyboard/mice
– Those who receive thin-client device (9 users)
 Scheduling
 Desktop resource visit
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Installing the thin-client device
Moving files
Setting up a new user profile
Capturing personal settings (favourites, drives, desktop settings etc)
Confirming the applications needed for day-to-day work
Confirming basic windows functionality
– Those who receive software client (21 users)
– Same except for installing a software client and testing as above
– When your existing computer lease expires in 2011 or 2012, you
will receive a thin-client device
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
Virtual Applications
Virtualized = Globally avail.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Office suite 2007
Adobe reader 9.31
Adobe Acrobat 9 pro
Adobe Creative Suite
Crystal Reports Std 10
Crystal Reports Pro 10
Visio Std 2007
Visio Pro 2007
Project Pro 2007
Firefox
Skype 4.1.x
Snagit 7
7-zip
Various media protocols
Flash
Nero Express & 7 (CD burning)
Tested Webapps
1.
2.
3.
4.
Peoplesoft
Sharepoint
SISC
UBC Webmail
Not Virtualizing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Viking
Peoplesoft legacy app
Google Chrome
Various photo capture
utilities (Sony, Canon)
Infuser
iTunes
VMWare roadmap
1.
2.
3.
July: Thin Win7 OS
July: Partial USB support on zero clients
Sept Full USB support on zero clients
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 What you need to do to prepare for the Pilot.
– Survey to confirm your current application, printing needs
– we will send you instructions on:
Scheduling a desk-side visit
IT will help you setup, backup and move files onto the network
Confirm your current application settings carry-over
we will install the software client
– You begin using your ‘virtual desktop’ and logout daily
– Give us your feedback. We will visit you and send a 10 Q survey.
 Or we will install the thin-client device (9 users)
– Show you how to login/logout daily
– Give us your feedback. We will visit you and send a 10 Q survey.
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
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
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 How will we support you during this pilot?
–
Contact Desktop Support
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 Currently:
– Deploying to ~40 users in OAB (19 users installed, +10 this week)
– Production environment stable
 We need your help (last half of April)
– UAT testers for the new ‘virtual desktop’ environment
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
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Tell us if it performs as your current computer
Look & feel acceptable
Applications work as expected
Application set is complete
– PM be soliciting volunteers who can ‘represent the needs of
everyone else in UBC IT’
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
 What’s Next: Beyond The Pilot Project
– Assess the Pilot: 1-month sustainment/support
 Monitor, metrics, support issues
 Feedback into design -> larger scale deployment to UBC
– Deployment Roadmap: Deployment to group of ‘early adopters’
 Medicine, HR, Science
 Sauder / Science & Dept. of Comp Science / Koerner / FRO / SIS
– More info on VDI:
 Go to
http://www.it.ubc.ca/projects/virtualdesktop.html
 Contact the Project Manager
johnsmah@exchange.ubc.ca
Virtual Desktop Pilot Implementation Project
Questions?