Desktop Virtualization with VMware focuses on the details of the technical functioning, economic benefits for businesses and advantages of the software. We published an article on Desktop Virtualization with Oracle VirtualBox before. The basic target of this article is same.
Introduction to Desktop Virtualization with VMware
VMware Global Inc was founded in 1998, in Palo Ato, California, USA, now the world’s leading software provider for virtualization solutions. All products offered are of the server virtualization (VMware ESX Server, vSphere) runs on application virtualization (VMware ThinApp) until complete desktop virtualization (VMware View) arrived. For the end users with VMware Player, VMware provides an inexpensive option.
For the system administrator, the option of desktop virtualization is of great benefit. A centralized management of all available resources is possible. When updating the operating system or application, it is sufficient to bring the base image in the virtual environment to the latest version. New software need not be distributed to each desktop, but is updated once centrally. A switch between New Age and software version on failure is possible without much delay.
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Further advantages result from the central database. This allows companies to reduce the cost of storage and put the focus on a few, high-performance and highly available storage components. The backup data is also centrally in the data center, which can increase data security.
Since version 4.5, tVMware View Local Mode supports to work with the desktop without being connected to the data center. This possibility is interesting for users who often have to work with slow or no connection, such as users of laptops or an employee in an office with poor network connectivity to the data center.
When in local mode, the virtual machine will be downloaded to the local PC and started from there. Requirement here is that the local PC has enough hardware resources to run the virtual machine.
The following are the advantages of this mode for Desktop Virtualization with VMware:
- The desktop is downloaded, regardless of network connectivity, poorly served locations or no connection is not a barrier to work with the desktop.
- Default system properties of the desktop in vCenter Server, such as number of CPUs or amount of memory can be adapted to the hardware of the local PC. The desktop can consequently have more power than he had been assigned in the data center.
- There is no latency.
The local mode of Desktop Virtualization with VMware is available only when VMware View is of Premier Edition.
Notes on Desktop Virtualization with VMware
The clients (thin client, desktop and laptop) connect to the VMware View Manager (or VMware View Connection Server) that the requests to the resources assigned (virtual machines, terminal servers or desktops on physical machines). Some components are discussed here.
View Agent
View Agent installed on each desktop to serve as a source for a View Desktop that can be installed. This is indivisible from it if this is kept physically or virtually. The agent is required for example, print function on the local client and the connection of the locally connected USB devices connected to the desktop.
View Client
For Windows or MacOS, there is the possibility to connect the VMware View client to a desktop. This client is installed on the system and provides for the authentication of the assigned to the user desktop. View Client also supports the local mode to the desktop operate without a permanent connection to the data center .
View Composer
View Composer linked clones is needed which are installed as an add-on to the vCenter Server. With this tool, desktops can be based on a base image clone quickly.
View Connection Server
The VMware View Connection Server is the central mediator between the clients and the available resources.
View Manager
The View Manager is in itself not a separate product package, rather it is a summary of the many components.
View Portal
With VMware View Portal, an additional opportunity to have access to hosted desktops is added.
View Security Server
To the end user to ensure safe delivery of desktops via the Internet View Security Server will be placed before the View environment in a DMZ (demilitarized zone). All requests that are coming from outside the company passed over these servers. As a result, an additional safety zone is created, so that made a direct access to deployed desktops. By curing the appropriate firewall systems a very strictly controlled access to the corporate network is guaranteed.
Conclusion on Desktop Virtualization with VMware
Desktop Virtualization with VMware is a complete solution. It is not possible to explain all components of Desktop Virtualization with VMware Components. We have mentioned only the few. For specific important functions, we have separate articles. Moreover the official website is well documented and has good support.
