Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) and HTML5

Virtual Desktop Interface as a term, may confuse with the usual mechanism for monitoring remote display. Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) generally requires some form of client application, which currently does not support for every possible end-user client device. So, Virtual Desktop Interface is not universally supported on mobile devices, although it is possible that probably many users wish to have Virtual Desktop Interface on their mobile device – Tablets and Smartphones. Previously we published an article on the advantages of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), which can be a good point to start for relatively new users.

Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) and HTML5

WSX is a prototype of a new web interface of VMware Workstation, that allows the users to access their virtual machines shared via a web browser on a tablet, smart phone or PC without installing any additional application or browser plug-ins. This service renders an HTML5 web page, that can connect to the host Workstation, list the virtual machines available and allow the users to activate and interact with the desktop. WSX comes as Windows MSI package and Linux package. Bundles are available for download along with VMware Workstation 9.0. WSX is currently not supported in production environments, as declared on the official website.

 

Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) : The Possibilities

WSX is actually a web server, which uses a proxy to allow port 80 (that is from the browser) to access to the users’ virtual desktop. The environment must be based on vSphere, to allow and validate the request. Client can interact via HTTP and as anyone can understand, the environment is translated to HTML5 standard to make it readable on any browser.

The importance of WSX lies on the point that, mobile virtualization in future can developed from this basic model. As it is not for production environment, a considerable time is needed to get enough data to proceed towards further development.