Guides

VMware View guide

In this special report on VMware View, you'll learn about the pros and cons of this virtual desktop infrastructure product, how to install it and tools for managing a View environment. Also, read news following the evolution of this product and the major issues the server virtualization innovator has had in delivering virtualization to desktops.

Client Hypervisor Guide

There are a number of ways to virtualize desktops, and one technology that's finally gaining maturity is client hypervisors. This type of desktop virtualization provides the benefits of VDI without the back end infrastructure costs and complexity.

A client hypervisor resides on a laptop, PC or other client device and runs virtual machines on a desktop host. This is useful for isolating OSes from hardware to make the OS hardware-agnostic. This desktop virtualization technology also runs different versions of operating systems on the same machine to parse out corporate and personal computing environments.

This guide covers the types of client hypervisors on the market today from vendors including Citrix Systems Inc., Virtual Computer and VMware and Microsoft's plans to deliver a client hypervisor as part of Windows 8.

Guide to low-cost desktop virtualization

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure hasn't taken the desktop world by storm because the infrastructure requirements make large-scale VDI projects more expensive to deploy than traditional PCs.

VDI vendors are working to lower the cost of server-hosted virtual desktops, but there are ways to virtualize desktops today without incurring astronomical infrastructure and licensing costs.

In this guide, we cover the desktop virtualization technologies that provide the flexibility and security of VDI at a much lower price tag. We also lay out some of the ways to cut costs when using server-hosted VDI products, such as XenDesktop and VMware View, and the latest VDI cost-saving news.

Cloud-hosted desktops and applications guide

Cloud-hosted VDI provides companies a way to deliver virtual desktops to remote employees on any device without incurring the infrastructure costs of an on-premises virtual desktop infrastructure. But cloud isn't appropriate for all types of desktops and applications.

In this guide, learn about cloud-hosted virtual desktops versus VDI, using hosted applications and the integration of cloud-based technologies with enterprise desktops. Also, read how vendors are merging the cloud and on-premises desktop worlds.

Guide to calculating ROI from VDI

Virtual desktop infrastructure can decrease hardware costs, increase end user productivity and mobility, and provide more flexibility for applications and operating systems. But to decide whether implementing virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) will be worth the price tag, you need to determine the potential return on investment (ROI).

Numerous factors go into calculating VDI ROI, including the cost of virtualizing workloads, purchasing or repurposing hardware, adding storage or network resources, and training IT employees and end users. VDI isn't necessarily a money-saving opportunity, but figuring out the possible ROI -- and when you might achieve it -- will help you plan your deployment.

This guide to calculating ROI from VDI provides resources on VDI costs, ways to implement VDI in the most cost-effective way for your organization and the important factors that go into ROI calculation.

VDI assessment guide

Before you dive straight into the desktop virtualization pool, dip your toes in and make sure it's right for your organization.

Start with a VDI assessment. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) doesn't make sense for all organizations, and your virtualization and management teams need to be up to the task. Even if everyone's ready to take the plunge, you still need to determine who will benefit from VDI and figure out what resources and technology you'll need.

Your VDI assessment may indicate that you won't save money with a VDI environment. The real benefits of implementing VDI technology will be simpler desktop management, less hardware and increased mobility and flexibility for end users.

Deciding whether to implement virtual desktops can be a challenge, but it will be smooth sailing if you know your goals and needs ahead of time. This VDI assessment guide can help you determine if VDI technology is right for your organization.

Citrix Synergy 2012 conference coverage

Citrix Synergy 2012 painted a picture of a changing workforce and the future of desktop computing: movement away from device management and toward mobile app management using virtual desktops and the cloud.

Citrix Systems Inc.'s annual conference in San Francisco emphasized mobile app management offerings such as CloudGateway 2 and Citrix Receiver, with Citrix desktop virtualization products such as XenDesktop and XenApp getting a little less face time. Those products will fit into Project Avalon, however, which provides Windows app and desktop delivery from the cloud -- a step toward greater flexibility for virtual desktop admins.

Other vendors also stepped into the spotlight. Citrix announced its acquisition of Virtual Computer, and Dell and Hewlett-Packard announced new VDI client hardware.

Check out all the news from before, during and after the show below. And if you missed out, read Brian Madden's live blog of the Citrix Synergy 2012 keynote.