Markus ErlacherTechnial Solution Professional, Microsoft Switzerlandmarkus.erlacher@microsoft.com

Applikations Virtualisierung und Flexibilität auf dem Desktop

Desktop Workload(OS, Apps, Data)

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (or VDI) is an architectural model where a client OS runs in a server-based virtual machine environment and interacts with the

user via a network connection. Its benefits are similar to those of session virtualization with RDS

The storage and execution of a desktop workload (OS, apps, data) is centralized on a virtual machine in the datacenter

Presentation of the UI is managed via a remote desktop protocol (such as RDP or ICA) to client devices

What is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) ?

It’s just another way to deliver Windows

The Microsoft VDI Technology Stack

Desktop and Session

Delivery for Enterprise

Deployments

PartnerTechnology

VDI Suites

For IntegratedManagement

Desktop and Session Delivery

User Profiles and Data

Roaming Profiles Folder Redirection

Application Delivery

Virtualization Platform

Partners such as

Why the need for layers?

Hardware

OS

Data, User settings

Applications

Roaming ProfilesFolder Redirection

Microsoft Application

Virtualization

Microsoft Virtual Desktop

Infrastructure Desktop Delivery

Focus: Reducing Costs

Focus: Increasing Flexibility

Microsoft Session Virtualization

Traditional Client Computing

Peeling back the layers

VDI considerationsRoaming Profiles and Folder Redirection

Why do I need to do this?Minimization of user state being stored in the VMEspecially relevant for pooled scenarios

VM is usually reverted back to snapshot

Failure to do this means:User State is created each time (increased time to logon)Pooled scenario value is compromised

Data & User Settings

VDI considerationsRoaming Profiles and Folder Redirection

• Roaming Profiles and Folder redirection have been around since Windows 95• Incrementally improved through Windows 2000• SMB 2.0 and NTFS File system efficiencies have incrementally improved the

scenario• Enabled through Windows Group Policy• Important to ensure VM bloat does not occur

Partners provide enhanced capabilitiesCitrix provides Profile Manager

http://www.citrix.com/site/jumpPage.asp?pageID=1453077

AppSensehttp://www.appsense.com/uservirtualization/

Data & User Settings

VDI considerationsApplication Virtualization

Why do I need to do this?• Minimize the application servicing within the VM• Minimize the IO due to servicing• Minimize the app duplication footprint per VM

Failure to do this means:• Extra Disk IO per VM to service the same app• Extra overhead of Guest VM update management• Especially painful in pooled scenarios

• Apps are duplicated per Guest VM• Additional disk storage required

Applications

VDI considerationsApplication Virtualization

App-V is not just for VDI • Desktops and Session Virtualization too!

App-V separates the application installation and servicing from the VDI VM• Use in conjunction with Roaming Profiles• Also separates servicing IO from the VMs

App-V 4.6 now has Shared Cache! • Central application store to prevent VM bloat• Also reduces time to delivery for app packages

• Increased performance

Applications

VDI considerationsWhat about apps that don’t virtualize?

Anti-Virus/Antimalware/Agents• Apps that don’t/can’t work virtualized

For Persistent/PVD Use:• System Center Configuration Manager• Antivirus/antimalware management tools• Existing Management Infrastructure

For Pooled: • Semi manual and may require manual image updates!

(Lets talk more about that in a second…)

Applications

VDI RecommendationsWindows 7: A viable choice for VDI

VDI is typically memory and disk IO constrained

• Windows 7 generally has less disk IO than Windows XP• Windows 7 generally requires more RAM than Windows XP• Windows 7 is faster to provision than Windows XP• RAM is an temporal artificial limit

Recommendations:• Minimize unrequired system services• Minimize network traffic• Screensavers and screen redraws impact network IO• Ensure that applications are checked for disk IO efficiency• Ensure latest drivers are being used

http://blogs.msdn.com/rds/archive/2009/11/02/windows-7-with-rdp7-best-os-for-vdi.aspx

Operating System

VDI RecommendationsWindows 7: User Experience

Aero Glass for Remote Desktop Server• Provides the same new Windows 7 look and feel when using RDS

Multimedia Support & Audio Input• Provides a high-quality multimedia experience with multimedia

redirection capabilities

True Multiple Monitor Support• Allows users to view their remote desktop on multiple monitors

configured the same way as if their desktop or applications were running locally

Enhanced Bitmap Acceleration• Allows rich media content, such as portable graphics stacks

(Silverlight, Flash) and 3D content, to be rendered on the host and to be sent as accelerated bitmaps to the remote client

RemoteFX for VDI (Enabled through SP1)• Next Gen User Experience powered by the server graphics card

• Only supported on Windows 7

Delivery Platform choices

Windows Server 2008 R2: The core of VDI - Remote Desktop Services and VDI Architecture

RD Web Access

RD GatewayRD Connection

Broker

Active Directory®

Licensing Server

RD Virtualization Host

RD Session Host with

RemoteAppRD Client

System Center and

App-V

Desktop centralization choices

Session Virtualization scales more users per server than VDIApp-V works in both VDI and SessionsThe same RDP connection protocol is used in bothMuch of the service infrastructure is shared

Upsides for VDI:VDI offers better user operating system isolationVDI has better native application compatibilityVDI allows users to be admins of their own images

Upsides for Session Virtualization:Session Virtualization requires less hardware than VDISessions are cheaper than VDI desktopsServer management is less than VDI

Remote Desktop Services enables both session virtualization and VDI!

Windows Server 2008 R2:Desktop Centralization ChoicesWindows Server 2008 R2 Session Virtualization

Windows 7 Desktop orVirtual Desktop (VDI)

Operating System One

Operating System Two

Windows RDS has up to 5x the scalability over VDI

Building the BaseWhat do I need to start?

Hardware required:One or two appropriately specified servers for the number of users required

Example: Preferably dual quad Nehalem or equivalent AMD based processorOptional: Second server purely for client VM’s16-32GB or more of RAMRAID 5 (preferably RAID 0+1) disk subsystem

One or more hardware clients (to the scale of the POC)

Software required – VDI Standard Suite and/or:One Windows Server 2008 R2 EnterpriseOptional: HYPER-V Server 2008 R2One or more copies of Windows 7 Enterprise Edition

VECD required

Any applications required (Microsoft Office etc)Add App-V for rapid application management and deliveryAdd System Center Virtual Machine Manager for improved VM management

Configuration details available at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd941616(WS.10). aspx

Guest VM ConsiderationsDeployment Choices

• Provides virtual machine-based, centralized desktops for individual users that can be fully customized based on user profiles

• Allows users to perform specialized tasks that require administrator access to their desktop

• Enables users to access their personalized desktop from any computer while retaining the last saved state

Personal Virtual

Desktop

• Provides virtual machine-based, centralized desktop based on a pool of virtual machines that are shared by multiple users

• Allows users to perform standardized routine tasks and have access to common applications (such as Microsoft Office)

• Rolls back the state upon logoff to provide a “clean” desktop for the next user’s session, but the previous user’s state can be saved offline

Pooled Virtual

Desktop

Guest VM ConsiderationsThe case for Personal Virtual Desktops

Its all about the user

Specifically suits knowledge workers (typical office worker profile)Those that walk away/disconnect and then want to reconnect

Considerations:Assign image through Active Directory Users and ComputersProvide an individual dedicated image per user

Minimize image duplication using SAN de-duplication if image storage is a concern

Minimize direct image managementRoaming ProfilesFolder redirectionUtilize Application Virtualization (App-V) or RemoteApp for application delivery and servicing

Service the operating system with your enterprise management tools and leverage single tooling

Result: Easier to manage, more personalized and integrated with current tools

Guest VM Considerations

The case for Pooled Virtual Desktops

Its all about the user

Specifically suits task workers (typical call center profile)User logs off, the VM resets and then just connect to the next VM to use applications

Considerations:Same scenario can also be delivered through Session Virtualization, cheaperUser just connects to pool of VM’s through the BrokerClustering generally doesn’t matterWith Citrix, the SAN doesn’t even matterMinimize direct image management

Roaming ProfilesFolder redirectionUtilize Application Virtualization (App-V) for application delivery and servicing

Guest VM Operating System updates can be very painfulIf pooled is the best choice for you, ensure you consider Citrix XenDesktop on Hyper-V

Also consider RDSH as this provides similar scenario support and scales better

Result: Potentially less complicated, but less personalized and more difficult to manage

Guest VM ConsiderationsWhy is Pooled more difficult?

Will a single master image and separation of the user state with linked clones work?

What happens when you need to service the image? Can the user state differencing tolerate change of the master image?

When the Master Image needs to be serviced the corresponding linked clone suffers a catastrophic break

Solution is to duplicate the master, update it and create new pool with new linked clones - also known as “recompose”

This is required every time a single master is updated with

Operating System patchesAnti-malware UpdatesAnything else on the OS

Guest VM ConsiderationsWhy is Pooled more difficult?

Will a single master image and separation of the user state with linked clones work?

Customer reports are highlighting that updating single master/linked image desktops without pool recreation aren’t working as expected

Nasty corruption problemsCustomers cant do a “recompose” at allSome customers switching from pooled to PVD

Bad story: switching and leaving the linked clone architecture in place

Citrix XenDesktop on Hyper-V does the pooled model very well with its provisioning server

DEMO

How to Get Started with VDI

Here are some instances in which our customers have deployed VDI:

Windows-based desktops for contractors Centralizes IP within your business, rather than at the contractor place of business

Windows-based desktops for task workersVery useful for common shared desktops or such as call center/data entry staff

Windows-based desktops for non-mobile users in vertical industries where data security is important Windows-based desktops for remote offices with good connectivity

VDI can significantly benefit your organization, but it is only one component of your desktop strategy.

It is important to also consider building out a broader desktop management strategy. For this, Microsoft offers a wide range of desktop virtualization technologies that can be deployed concurrently to give customers the choice and flexibility they need to be successful.

Thank you for your Attention!For more Information please contact

Markus ErlacherTechnical Solution Professional - DataCenter

markus.erlacher@microsoft.comTel: +41 78 844 64 28 Mobile: + 41 78 844 64 28

Microsoft SwitzerlandRichtistrasse 38304 Wallisellen

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