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Virtual Desktop Components - You must make considerations about the following desktop components prior to integrating a virtual desktop solution:
FlexCast Delivery Technology Overview - Workers throughout the enterprise need different types of desktops. Some workers require simplicity and standardization, while others need performance and personalization. XenDesktop can meet all these requirements in a single solution with its unique Citrix FlexCast delivery technology. With FlexCast delivery technology, IT can deliver any type of virtual desktop, to any end user, on any device. Each desktop is tailored to meet the performance, security, and flexibility requirements to provide the best desktop for every end user, every time.
Use Cases - With FlexCast delivery technology, IT can deliver any type of virtual desktop in a single, integrated solution. By applying XenDesktop to the following use cases, IT can provide each type of end user with a virtual computing environment suited to their requirements while optimizing security, performance, personalization, and cost.
Task Workers - Task workers perform a set of well-defined tasks. They access a small set of applications and have limited requirements of their end user devices. However, since these workers are interacting with your customers, partners, and employees, they have access to your most critical data. XenDesktop enables IT to provide standardized desktops and applications to task workers while keeping data secure.
Knowledge Workers - In the past, office workers performed their duties in the office; however, today's knowledge workers don't just work in their offices all day. They attend meetings, visit branch offices, and work from home and even coffee shops. These workers expect access to all of their applications and data wherever they are. XenDesktop enables these workers to move seamlessly among their various physical environments.
Mobile Workers - Mobile workers need access to their virtual desktop from anywhere, regardless of their ability to connect to a network. In addition, these workers expect the ability to personalize their virtual desktops by installing their own applications and storing their own data. XenDesktop allows end users to retain control over their personal computing environment while allowing IT to control the corporate computing environment.
External Contractors - External contractors are increasingly part of your everyday business. They need access to your applications and data, yet you have little control over the devices they use and the locations they work from. Consequently, IT has to make difficult compromises on the cost of providing these workers with a end user device against the security risk of allowing them access from their own devices. XenDesktop provides access to the applications that the external contractors need while enforcing security policies.
Shared Workstations - Maintaining even the most state-of-the-art university and business computer labs, conference rooms, or training centers has its challenges. The primary challenge is the constant requirement to re-provision desktops with the latest operating systems and applications as the needs of your organization change. XenDesktop provides the tools to provision new environments from a single, easily managed image.
Virtual Desktop Models - FlexCast allow IT to tailor the type of virtual desktop to the performance, security and flexibility requirements of each end user. FlexCast includes five virtual desktop models.
I. Local Virtual Machine - Local virtual machine extends the benefits of centralized, single instance management to mobile workers who need to use their laptops offline. When they connect to the network, changes to the operating system, applications, and end user data are automatically synchronized with the datacenter. This model is ideal for knowledge workers, mobile workers, and external contractors. Use XenClient to enable this model.
II. Streamed Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) - Streamed VHD uses the local processing power of the end user device while providing centralized single-image management of the desktop. This approach keeps datacenter overhead to a minimum. Use Provisioning Services to enable this model.
III. Hosted Virtual Disk Image (VDI) - Hosted virtual disk image offers a personalized Windows desktop experience, typically needed by office workers, which can be securely delivered over any network to any device. The desktop might be dedicated to a particular end user or part of a resource pool available to multiple end users. This option combines the benefits of centralized management with the ability for end users to personalize their desktops. This model is ideal for task workers, knowledge workers, external contractors, and shared workstations. Use XenDesktop and Receiver to enable this model.
IV. Hosted Shared - Hosted shared provides a locked-down, streamlined, and standardized desktop with a core set of applications, which is suited for end user groups in which personalization is neither needed nor allowed. This model is ideal for task workers. Use XenApp and Receiver to enable this model.
V. On-Demand Apps - On-Demand apps allows any Windows, Web, or SaaS application to be centralized and managed in the datacenter and instantly delivered as a service to physical and virtual desktops. Citrix Receiver provides a native, simple, and consistent end user experience for access to your virtualized data, applications, and desktops on any device - desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Citrix CloudGateway provides
IT with a single point of control for remote access and Single Sign-on with on-demand provisioning and automated workflows. This model is ideal for all use cases. Use XenApp and Receiver to enable this model.
Streamed Operating Systems - You must look at several different factors when deciding whether or not an operating system can be streamed using Provisioning Services, such as:
Network Speed - Streaming an operating system on a network that is already fully consumed would negatively affect existing systems and the streamed operating systems.
Network Topology - Site locations and site-to-site WAN links affect whether or not streaming an operating system through Provisioning Services should be considered. If the servers running Provisioning Services cannot be located throughout the environment in close proximity on a LAN to where the target devices will be located, or the WAN links are either too slow or too small, then streaming might not be the best option.
If it is determined that an operating system should not be streamed, then it should be installed as a virtual machine with its own virtual hard disk. Installing the operating system on a virtual machine makes the operating system more static. All of the changes will be saved to it, unlike a standard image mode vDisk that can restart the operating system to a clean reference image upon restart.
IntelliCache - If you are running virtual machines on hosts with local storage, you can consider using XenServer IntelliCache as an alternative to using Provisioning Services with XenDesktop. IntelliCache is integrated into the XenServer installation and virtual machine creation process. Provisioning Services is primarily designed for physical machines starting across a physical LAN and can be more complicated than IntelliCache to maintain.
XenServer IntelliCache combines the ability to maintain NAS with VHD or raw files, use snapshots, and copy virtual machine images locally to each virtual machine host. One master VHD file is built and stored on a NAS, which is less expensive than SAN, and then multiple virtual machines can be configured to read from it. XenServer then automatically makes use of local storage for an intelligent cache, creating better performance and protecting the NAS. You can configure the location of the local IntelliCache on a physical disk or in memory.
For example, there are 50 virtual desktops on a single XenServer 5.6 FP1 host sharing the same virtual hard drive file on a NAS. The first one to start up would access 100 percent of the initial disk blocks from the NAS. After the initial virtual machine starts, the IntelliCache feature caches it locally. The subsequent virtual machines that start request the same blocks from the same disk image. IntelliCache retrieves those from local cache instead of the original remote virtual hard drive source file.
- FlexCast
- Streamed operating systems
- IntelliCache
- XenClient
- Bandwidth considerations
- Required privilege level
- Workload profiles
- Profile management
- User data
- Web Interface
- License considerations
FlexCast Delivery Technology Overview - Workers throughout the enterprise need different types of desktops. Some workers require simplicity and standardization, while others need performance and personalization. XenDesktop can meet all these requirements in a single solution with its unique Citrix FlexCast delivery technology. With FlexCast delivery technology, IT can deliver any type of virtual desktop, to any end user, on any device. Each desktop is tailored to meet the performance, security, and flexibility requirements to provide the best desktop for every end user, every time.
Use Cases - With FlexCast delivery technology, IT can deliver any type of virtual desktop in a single, integrated solution. By applying XenDesktop to the following use cases, IT can provide each type of end user with a virtual computing environment suited to their requirements while optimizing security, performance, personalization, and cost.
Task Workers - Task workers perform a set of well-defined tasks. They access a small set of applications and have limited requirements of their end user devices. However, since these workers are interacting with your customers, partners, and employees, they have access to your most critical data. XenDesktop enables IT to provide standardized desktops and applications to task workers while keeping data secure.
Knowledge Workers - In the past, office workers performed their duties in the office; however, today's knowledge workers don't just work in their offices all day. They attend meetings, visit branch offices, and work from home and even coffee shops. These workers expect access to all of their applications and data wherever they are. XenDesktop enables these workers to move seamlessly among their various physical environments.
Mobile Workers - Mobile workers need access to their virtual desktop from anywhere, regardless of their ability to connect to a network. In addition, these workers expect the ability to personalize their virtual desktops by installing their own applications and storing their own data. XenDesktop allows end users to retain control over their personal computing environment while allowing IT to control the corporate computing environment.
External Contractors - External contractors are increasingly part of your everyday business. They need access to your applications and data, yet you have little control over the devices they use and the locations they work from. Consequently, IT has to make difficult compromises on the cost of providing these workers with a end user device against the security risk of allowing them access from their own devices. XenDesktop provides access to the applications that the external contractors need while enforcing security policies.
Shared Workstations - Maintaining even the most state-of-the-art university and business computer labs, conference rooms, or training centers has its challenges. The primary challenge is the constant requirement to re-provision desktops with the latest operating systems and applications as the needs of your organization change. XenDesktop provides the tools to provision new environments from a single, easily managed image.
Virtual Desktop Models - FlexCast allow IT to tailor the type of virtual desktop to the performance, security and flexibility requirements of each end user. FlexCast includes five virtual desktop models.
I. Local Virtual Machine - Local virtual machine extends the benefits of centralized, single instance management to mobile workers who need to use their laptops offline. When they connect to the network, changes to the operating system, applications, and end user data are automatically synchronized with the datacenter. This model is ideal for knowledge workers, mobile workers, and external contractors. Use XenClient to enable this model.
II. Streamed Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) - Streamed VHD uses the local processing power of the end user device while providing centralized single-image management of the desktop. This approach keeps datacenter overhead to a minimum. Use Provisioning Services to enable this model.
III. Hosted Virtual Disk Image (VDI) - Hosted virtual disk image offers a personalized Windows desktop experience, typically needed by office workers, which can be securely delivered over any network to any device. The desktop might be dedicated to a particular end user or part of a resource pool available to multiple end users. This option combines the benefits of centralized management with the ability for end users to personalize their desktops. This model is ideal for task workers, knowledge workers, external contractors, and shared workstations. Use XenDesktop and Receiver to enable this model.
IV. Hosted Shared - Hosted shared provides a locked-down, streamlined, and standardized desktop with a core set of applications, which is suited for end user groups in which personalization is neither needed nor allowed. This model is ideal for task workers. Use XenApp and Receiver to enable this model.
V. On-Demand Apps - On-Demand apps allows any Windows, Web, or SaaS application to be centralized and managed in the datacenter and instantly delivered as a service to physical and virtual desktops. Citrix Receiver provides a native, simple, and consistent end user experience for access to your virtualized data, applications, and desktops on any device - desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Citrix CloudGateway provides
IT with a single point of control for remote access and Single Sign-on with on-demand provisioning and automated workflows. This model is ideal for all use cases. Use XenApp and Receiver to enable this model.
Streamed Operating Systems - You must look at several different factors when deciding whether or not an operating system can be streamed using Provisioning Services, such as:
Network Speed - Streaming an operating system on a network that is already fully consumed would negatively affect existing systems and the streamed operating systems.
Network Topology - Site locations and site-to-site WAN links affect whether or not streaming an operating system through Provisioning Services should be considered. If the servers running Provisioning Services cannot be located throughout the environment in close proximity on a LAN to where the target devices will be located, or the WAN links are either too slow or too small, then streaming might not be the best option.
If it is determined that an operating system should not be streamed, then it should be installed as a virtual machine with its own virtual hard disk. Installing the operating system on a virtual machine makes the operating system more static. All of the changes will be saved to it, unlike a standard image mode vDisk that can restart the operating system to a clean reference image upon restart.
IntelliCache - If you are running virtual machines on hosts with local storage, you can consider using XenServer IntelliCache as an alternative to using Provisioning Services with XenDesktop. IntelliCache is integrated into the XenServer installation and virtual machine creation process. Provisioning Services is primarily designed for physical machines starting across a physical LAN and can be more complicated than IntelliCache to maintain.
XenServer IntelliCache combines the ability to maintain NAS with VHD or raw files, use snapshots, and copy virtual machine images locally to each virtual machine host. One master VHD file is built and stored on a NAS, which is less expensive than SAN, and then multiple virtual machines can be configured to read from it. XenServer then automatically makes use of local storage for an intelligent cache, creating better performance and protecting the NAS. You can configure the location of the local IntelliCache on a physical disk or in memory.
For example, there are 50 virtual desktops on a single XenServer 5.6 FP1 host sharing the same virtual hard drive file on a NAS. The first one to start up would access 100 percent of the initial disk blocks from the NAS. After the initial virtual machine starts, the IntelliCache feature caches it locally. The subsequent virtual machines that start request the same blocks from the same disk image. IntelliCache retrieves those from local cache instead of the original remote virtual hard drive source file.