Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
VDI is used t host desktop environments on a centralized location. In this, specific desktop images run within Virtual Machines (VMs), that is accessed by end clients over the network. Those end points could be PCs, tablets, phones…etc.
How does VDI work?
Virtual desktops are accessed by individual clients via software platform called a connection broker that determines which client connects to which VM. There are two main aspects of every VDI implementation.
Virtual desktops are centralized on a “host server” or “host servers”, depending on the requirements. Each VM has an OS image, such as Windows or Linux and is allocated access to limited hardware resources connected t the server.
Network connection between the client and server should be stable. Assigning a suitable virtual desktop from the central source to each client is the job of the connection broker while the hypervisor handles each VM that encapsulates each individual VDI environment.
Types of VDIs
There are two types wherein a VDI can be deployed. Those are persistent and non-persistent.
- Under a persistent VDI, a client always gets the same personal desktop image, with all the changes made by the client in the previous session retained, thus giving the clients familiarity to their own desktops in every session. This requires IT to maintain many customized OS images, which invariably adds to the cost.
- In contrast, under a non-persistent VDI, the desktops allocated to clients starts fresh in every session. Whatever changes the clients do on their desktops in their previous sessions are lost once they terminate the session. In this scenario, IT need not maintain many customized OS images which allows for simplified management and reduced costs.
Benefits and disadvantages
Benefits
- Centralized management
- Increased security
- Scalability
- Mobility
- Consistent and flexible user experience
Disadvantages
- Additional costs
- Complex infrastructure
- Licensing issues
Virtual Desktop Access (VDA)
This is basically a license to access a VDI desktop. It is the license each user owned requires for accessing a VDI desktop.
Benefits
Having a VDA coverage enables the client to access the desktop from any device that is not associated with the organization. It also greatly increases the flexibility of the organization’s VDI infrastructure. As opposed being locked to a set number of machines owned by the organization, the VDA coverage gives the flexibility to allow any licensed device to access the VDI from anywhere.
