Opinion

Opinion

• NComputing vSpace in focus after company ditches DaaS

  NComputing has been a solid, budget VDI and app virtualization vendor for a while, but it nearly wandered off a cliff while pursuing desktop as a service. Now the company is back to concentrating on what it does best.  Continue Reading

• Future of Citrix looks clearer after turmoil

  Heading into Citrix Synergy 2016, the company is in much better shape than it was last year. Citrix pared down its product portfolio, but it didn't make any moves that will affect its end-user computing customers.  Continue Reading

• Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager makes me wish I was an admin again

  Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager is a tool that just about every systems admin can use to make their lives easier.  Continue Reading

• Which VDI vendors will fill the Dell vWorkspace void?

  Dell is no longer selling licenses to new vWorkspace customers. Other midmarket desktop and app virtualization vendors will be scrambling to earn a piece of vWorkspace's market share.  Continue Reading

• Plan the next 9 years of your life: EOL dates for all your favorite MS, Citrix, and VMware products!

  Knowing the End of Life dates for the products you use can help determine when to tackle certain projects.  Continue Reading

• Login VSI & VMware show simple tuning of Windows 10 settings can increase VDI density almost 50%!

  Windows 10 is great on the desktop, but in VDI it's been a beast. LoginVSI found some tweaks to bring it back down to earth.  Continue Reading

• Citrix Secure Browser is a new way to deploy Web apps

  Citrix's Secure Browser tool is a smart way for the company to repurpose existing technology to provide IT with full-service, hosted XenApp environments, available as Web applications.  Continue Reading

• AppSense-LANDesk marriage leads to a honeymoon for IT

  LANDesk has a product portfolio that includes nearly everything but the type of user environment management AppSense specializes in. The AppSense-LANDesk deal is too good a fit to not go well.  Continue Reading

• What is App Virtualization? Part 5: Streaming

  Application streaming is one of the oldest forms of application management. Old timers are probably familiar, but it's worth diving into what, exactly, streaming is all about.  Continue Reading

• What is app virtualization? Part 4: Cloaking

  In today's article, we're going to cover the technology called "cloaking."  Continue Reading

• What is app virtualization? Part 3: Layering

  In today's article, we're going to cover the technology called "layering."  Continue Reading

• VMware Horizon Air Hybrid-Mode bets big on cloud-based desktops

  VMware finally introduced its competitor to Citrix Workspace Cloud, but the company's new management offering is also a wager that Horizon Air cloud-based desktops will catch on.  Continue Reading

• VMware Horizon 7 Blast protocol provides a rival for PCoIP

  VMware made a pair of noteworthy changes in Horizon 7, adding its proprietary remote display protocol and the VM cloning feature it developed in Project Fargo.  Continue Reading

• Windows usage isn't coming to an end -- it's just changing

  Windows isn't in full decline, but a lot of devices now run other operating systems. That's part of the reason IT administrators should concentrate less on virtual desktops and more on Windows apps.  Continue Reading

• What is app virtualization? Part 2: Virtual "locally installed" apps

  In this article, we're going to cover what could broadly be defined as "locally installed" virtual apps.  Continue Reading

• What is app virtualization? Part 1: Remote Apps

  So we have a new boss at TechTarget, Josh. He's based in Boston but in SF for the week, and I asked him, "What's the one thing about our industry that's most confusing to you?  Continue Reading

• New remote desktop client offers a shortcut for mobile users

  There's a new remote desktop client on the block, and it integrates with Citrix XenApp. HopTo's Mobile App eXperience uses simple keyboard shortcuts to make Windows apps mobile friendly.  Continue Reading

• VMware announces Horizon Air Hybrid Mode, Horizon 7, and AppVolumes 3.0. Here's our full analysis:

  VMware apparently did not take much a winter break, because in the past week we've seen several huge announcements. This article is going to cover the desktop-related news, but Jack has also written about Workspace One and the new direction it is ...  Continue Reading

• Pricing adjustments position Citrix Workspace Cloud for success

  Citrix aimed high -- too high -- with its initial Workspace Cloud pricing. The company wisely announced it will lower CWC costs before VMware comes out with its competitor product Project Enzo.  Continue Reading

• Predictions revisited: Microsoft DaaS, app refactoring and HPE Moonshot

  Citrix and VMware both ignored application refactoring in 2015, and Microsoft focused on Windows 10 instead of developing a DaaS platform. Learn why things could change on those fronts this year.  Continue Reading

• Citrix news dominated busy year in desktop virtualization

  Citrix news stole the spotlight in 2015 with an internal struggle that included an activist investor, a revolving door at CEO and several notable product announcements.  Continue Reading

• Citrix Workspace Cloud pricing is an opportunity for VMware to pounce

  VMware is preparing a cloud-based centralized management product to compete with Citrix Workspace Cloud, and it won't be hard to beat the latter's price.  Continue Reading

• Bank on a Microsoft DaaS product in 2016

  Microsoft has its ducks in a row to release its own desktop as a service product, which could finally give DaaS the push it needs to become a mainstream technology.  Continue Reading

• Why now is the time to consider application refactoring

  Desktop virtualization on mobile devices often proves frustrating for end users. But with app refactoring, you can deliver mobile-friendly versions of the Windows apps workers need.  Continue Reading

• What does the Dell-EMC deal mean for vWorkspace?

  Dell's acquisition of EMC will also make it the largest stakeholder in desktop virtualization leader VMware. So what happens to Dell vWorkspace, the company's own VDI platform?  Continue Reading

• Top three draft picks for the next CEO of Citrix

  The next Citrix CEO is anyone's guess, but Citrix users and industry watchers alike repeatedly mention these three IT industry executives.  Continue Reading

• Why the Type 2 hypervisor is making a comeback

  Type 1 hypervisors used to provide a superior user experience, but advances in desktop and laptop technology have erased that advantage, and Type 2 client hypervisors are now back en vogue.  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenClient is going away, but what will replace it?

  Citrix's announcement that it will stop selling XenClient didn't include any plans to replace its Type 1 hypervisor. VDI shops are left wondering what's next.  Continue Reading

• Citrix leadership, strategy overhaul is good news

  One outspoken investor is making waves at Citrix, but after a few so-so years it makes sense to move on from some longtime services and chart a new direction.  Continue Reading

• To deal with end-user computing trends, try nothing

  There are a lot of directions you could take your IT shop next, but it's hard to know which one will be the right fit. Windows 10? RDSH? XenApp 7? Instead of hopping on one of those EUC bandwagons, try doing nothing.  Continue Reading

• Running Windows desktop apps on mobile devices gets easier

  Today, admins can choose from a combination of virtualization, refactoring, secure containers and GPU virtualization to deliver Windows apps on mobile devices with a decent user experience.  Continue Reading

• Kill boot storms with all-flash arrays, containers

  All-flash arrays are one of the best ways to meet VDI storage demands, and containers let servers boot a single OS image for multiple desktops. Both options improve performance and can help do away with boot storms forever.  Continue Reading

• Are high-density servers fit to support VDI deployments?

  High-density hardware might seem like a no brainer for your VDI deployment, but the servers you use to host virtual desktops aren't everything. You'll still need to consider storage, offload cards and more.  Continue Reading

• VDI storage optimization's secret sauce is software

  There are only so many hardware manufacturers in the world, so most hardware-based storage optimization products are very similar. Even when you buy hardware for storage optimization, you're really buying the software.  Continue Reading

• Server OS-based VDI official "feature" of Windows Server 2016. Microsoft screws us into the future

  Last week in a blog post on MSDN, Microsoft's Terminal Services team linked to a blog post by MVP Freek Berson called New RDS deployment model: Personal Session Desktops!  Continue Reading

• Glut of application management tools a sign of the times

  For desktop virtualization administrators, managing apps has become a difficult task. There are many apps and many users, and the old ways of updating and maintaining applications isn't working anymore. Enter: new app management tools.  Continue Reading

• What to expect at Citrix Synergy 2015

  Some of the products and tools Citrix touted at last year's Synergy have yet to come to fruition. Synergy 2015 could bring those products to life, and shed some light on recent acquisitions.  Continue Reading

• Desktop virtualization vendors don't need to manage your infrastructure

  Desktop virtualization vendors don't need to be able to manage images or provisioning anymore because shops can take care of that on their own. Vendors just need to focus on managing users and apps.  Continue Reading

• Looking for a replacement for VDI in a Box? Unidesk + XenDesktop VDI Edition might be your answer

  I spoke to Unidesk recently about their new Hyper-V product, and through the course of the discussion we hit on a very interesting use case that they've been running into: VDI in a Box replacement.  Continue Reading

• Will anyone buy Moka5?

  Client-side virtualization company Moka5 has laid off most of its staff, and word is that the company is looking to be acquired. Because of overlap, VMware and Citrix are non-factors, which leaves companies like Dell and ThinSpace as prime suspects.  Continue Reading

• VMware Horizon 6.1 comes with big upgrades, tiny name change

  Version 6.1 of VMware's Horizon 6 has a very small name change, but big improvements to the product, including vGPU support for Nvidia GRID and single-user RDSH.  Continue Reading

• Ericom Connect v7: A rewrite of its VDI product that seems more modern than Citrix or VMware!

  Yesterday Ericom released Ericom Connect v7, the latest version of their VDI & RDSH desktop and app virtualization solution (formerly known as AccessNow). Connect is a complete rewrite which was two years in the making.  Continue Reading

• Deconstructing hyperconverged infrastructure risks and rewards

  Hyperconverged infrastructure helps break down data center silos, but it comes with personnel and vendor lock-in issues, and it might not be the right fit for every environment.  Continue Reading

• Benefits and disadvantages of virtual mobile infrastructure

  Virtual mobile infrastructure lets you run mobile applications in your data center and take advantage of some of the same benefits as VDI, but it also comes with similar drawbacks, such as offline access issues.  Continue Reading

• IaaS, PaaS pave the way for DaaS adoption

  As companies host more resources and infrastructure in the cloud, trust in providers grows. That could help make DaaS viable sooner for many shops.  Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2003 support is ending. What are your options?

  Windows Server 2003 support will come to an end in July, 2015. If you moved your pesky XP apps there, you could have a big migration ahead of you.  Continue Reading

• What went wrong for Citrix VDI-in-a-Box

  VDI-in-a-Box is on its way out, but killing the product wasn't always Citrix's intention. Technical problems, development time and a poor sales strategy are all to blame for the product's death.  Continue Reading

• Nimboxx acquires Virtual Bridges VERDE to build SDDC

  Hyperconverged infrastructure vendor Nimboxx will use VERDE from Virtual Bridges to compete with Nutanix, SimpliVity and VMware in the software-defined data center market. But will the Linux-based offering take hold in a predominantly Windows world?  Continue Reading

• Citrix X1 Mouse could be a boon for iOS users

  The new Citrix X1 Mouse is big news for iOS users because Apple doesn't support Bluetooth mice. But Citrix's device communicates with Receiver, making remote Windows apps on iOS devices a reality.  Continue Reading

• Citrix acquires Sanbolic, fires shot at VMware VSAN

  To kick off 2015, Citrix acquired storage virtualization vendor Sanbolic. The buy could help Citrix compete against VMware's VSAN.  Continue Reading

• Big-name DaaS providers will help increase adoption in 2015

  Many DaaS providers have name recognition on their side -- VMware, Amazon and Microsoft, for example. That clout has helped the DaaS market expand in 2014, and it will increase DaaS adoption in 2015.  Continue Reading

• What is Docker and what does it mean for virtualization?

  Docker uses Linux containers to make virtualization deployments easier to manage and scale. The concept isn’t new or revolutionary, but it has implications for the future of virtualization.  Continue Reading

• At last! Microsoft fixes Windows VDI licensing

  Microsoft has finally changed its licensing model for VDI from per device to per user. This will save your shop some cash, and it's a serious win for Microsoft customers.  Continue Reading

• VDI vs. RDSH doesn't matter if users don't need full Windows desktops

  Most companies don't need to publish full Windows desktops anymore -- users mostly just need their applications. That means there's no reason to discount RDSH in favor of VDI.  Continue Reading

• Linux VDI desktops are a niche in a niche

  Moving to Linux VDI desktops could save you from Windows licensing headaches, but there aren't many enterprise situations where virtual Linux setups fit. For the most part, Linux VMs only suit a small number of virtual desktop users.  Continue Reading

• Where is Citrix Desktop Player for Windows?

  Back in May Citrix announced that they would be releasing a Windows version of their Desktop Player software that, as of now, is only available for Mac. This would be big news to anyone interested in running local corporate desktops on unmanaged ...  Continue Reading

• Why nonpersistent VDI hasn't taken off

  Nonpersistent VDI sounds great in theory, but beneath the surface lay management and application compatibility nightmares. For these reasons, many shops look to persistent VDI, but new tools could make shared images easier to implement and manage.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft Office on a tablet is 'just as good' as traditional desktop

  Getting a good user experience from Microsoft Office on a tablet doesn't require virtual desktop or applications. One user who's gone tablet-only gets a great desktop experience on her Surface 2.  Continue Reading

• Citrix Workspace Services negates VDI vs. DaaS dilemma

  Forget about VDI vs. DaaS. With Citrix Workspace Services, desktops can live in the data center, a colocation facility or in the cloud. You can mix and match where they reside and manage them through one console.  Continue Reading

• In the future, will DaaS desktops be a “free” value-add from cloud providers?

  The margins on DaaS desktops are already razor thin for many providers, which they compensate for with volume. But as the amount of compute power we have rises, density (or the number of desktops we can run on a given amount of hardware for a ...  Continue Reading

• 3D graphics for Virtual Desktops Smackdown

  Virtualization industry experts Benny Tritsch, Ruben Spruijt, and Shawn Bass have produced a comprehensive and up-to-date document covering exactly what technologists need to know about "3D Graphics for Virtual Desktops."  Continue Reading

• How a VDI migration changed my life

  A VDI migration doesn't just change the way you access applications; it affects simple things like printing and how often you work.  Continue Reading

• Google ChromeBook + VDI/DaaS = Awesome! (Even for the enterprise!)

  I've been meaning to write about this for awhile, but with yesterday's announcement that Google & VMware are high-fiving each other over Horizon DaaS (Desktone) and ChromeBooks, I figured might as well jump in now. The idea they're pushing (and that...  Continue Reading

• Are homebrewed thin client devices worth the effort?

  You certainly can do it yourself when it comes to thin client devices, but assembling one might not be worth the effort to save a few bucks.  Continue Reading

• Do Google Chromebooks have a place in the enterprise?

  For Google Chromebooks to gain steam in the enterprise, applications need to perform better and prices need to come down.  Continue Reading

• Why you have until 2020 to figure out your desktop delivery strategy

  Don't buy the hype. You have until 2020 to figure out your application and desktop delivery strategy.  Continue Reading

• Why VMware Mirage is NOT the same as virtual desktop layering

  Disclaimer: I am the Chief Solution Architect for Unidesk and an obvious Layering fan boy. I have done my best to present the differences between layering and how VMware Horizon Mirage operates, without turning it into an "us vs.  Continue Reading

• How Windows 8.1 changes could make Windows 8 VDI more viable

  A few changes in Windows 8.1, including a new boot option, help make Windows 8 VDI more feasible in the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Storage design and sizing guidelines for VDI

  When people started building VDI environments, they approached the storage design the same way they had always done with server environments: VDI vendor lab tests gave some indication about the required IOPS and all was well. How wrong they were!  Continue Reading

• VDI graphics delivery and storage performance -- solved

  Storage and graphics delivery are no longer annoying snags when it comes to VDI. See what NVIDIA and Atlantis did to smooth things out.  Continue Reading

• How Windows XP end of life will affect your desktop applications

  It's time to get rid of XP, but there are some ways to keep desktop applications running smoothly despite the upcoming Windows XP end of life.  Continue Reading

• Nonpersistent vs. persistent desktops: Why VDI should persist

  Using persistent desktops for VDI makes application delivery more flexible; plus, they're similar to the physical desktops you already have.  Continue Reading

• With Citrix AG and CSG going away, how far can you get with NetScaler VPX? The answer: pretty far!

  If you are following Citrix's networking product line I guess that you are already familiar with a fact that Citrix has finally decided to "End of Life" the Access Gateway product line in 2014. While we can debate for hours if this decision makes ...  Continue Reading

• How persistence affects security: VDI and TS are not more secure than physical desktops, Part 5 of 5

  If you read the last part of my "VDI and TS are not more secure than physical desktops" series, I left off discussing the various ways of performing isolation and how each approach works. I spoke about some of the challenges with each of these ...  Continue Reading

• VDI and TS are not more secure than physical desktops, Part 2/5: Centralization helps in other ways

  If you read Part 1 of my "VDI and Terminal Server is not more secure than physical desktops" series you may have noticed I left off discussing how VDI/TS doesn't improve data security. So if centralization doesn't help with security, what does it ...  Continue Reading

• VDI and TS are not more secure than physical desktops, Part 1 of 5: There's only two types of data!

  For almost 20 years now, I've been implementing Terminal Services and VDI solutions. During that time, I've spent a good deal of time speaking to people about the benefits of these solutions as well as implementing it for customers.  Continue Reading

• Why VDI? (5 Reasons people really use VDI)

  I've recently posted a few negative articles about VDI. (Well, I don't think they're negative, but I've definitely been accused of being a VDI hater.)  Continue Reading

• HP demos performance difference between new t610 thin client and the model you just bought

  Last month when we visited HP, we got a chance to check out some thin client technology that we couldn't write about until this week. We managed to shoot a few video demos, but here's a quick overview.  Continue Reading

• A deeper look at Ericom's "AccessNow" HTML5 client. Why wait for Citrix & VMware?

  Gabe wrote about how HTML5 clients work almost a year ago, and he mentioned Ericom's HTML5 client in his review of his Chromebook. Put simply, Ericom AccessNow is an HTML5 client for using remote desktops through web browsers.  Continue Reading

• Can you connect to a Terminal Server via RemoteFX? Yes! (Here's what you need to know.)

  We've been writing about RemoteFX for over a year now, although most of the focus has been using it to connect to Windows 7 VMs running on Hyper-V for VDI scenarios. But did you know that you can also use RemoteFX to connect to Remote Desktop ...  Continue Reading

• Understanding how storage design has a big impact on your VDI (updated September 2011)

  Note: This article has been updated a few times since originally published back in December 2009, updated in December 2010 and September 2011; Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI, is hot. It's cool, secure, centrally managed, flexible--it's an IT...  Continue Reading

• "Advanced Format" 4k disk drives and performance: How will this impact your virtual disks?

  Oh those disk drive guys... you'd better pay attention to what they are doing!  Continue Reading

• Emulation, paravirtualization, and pass-through: what you need to know for client hypervisors

  Since desktop virtualization is fairly new, no one's really started out their careers from scratch focusing on this space. Instead, people start in another area of IT and kind of "fall into" (or are forced into) desktop virtualization after they've ...  Continue Reading

• XenApp 5 Feature Profile: Special Folder Redirection

  Now that the early adopters have had their fun with XenApp 5, the path has been cleared for the wait-and-see crowd to get their hands a little dirty in the sandbox. Citrix has announced over 50 new features and enhancements, and we're going to take...  Continue Reading

• Remote display protocols for VDI: will RDP be enough?

  It seems like hundreds of VDI solutions are popping up now. Some are more complete than others, but all share one common fact: they are server-based computing.  Continue Reading

• Updated: Lanmanserver and Lanmanworkstation Tuning

  Follow Michel Roth's advice on how to tune fileserving environments; a complicated endeavor not everyone can handle on their own.  Continue Reading

• How to use hot-pluggable client USB storage devices with Citrix Presentation Server

  A lot of people have been complaining about USB disk support in Citrix Presentation Server.  Continue Reading

• Configuring and Securing Citrix Shadowing

  Shadowing is a valuable tool released with Citrix Presentation Server, however, taking time to implement and delegate this ability to support personnel often falls to the bottom of the priority list.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Slow Citrix and Terminal Server Logons

  Follow my steps to figure out what's causing slow logons in your Terminal Server.  Continue Reading

• Graphing Citrix Session use with open source tools

  In a previous article, I explained the steps taken to configure a Linux Syslog server for collecting and processing Citrix logs for weekly reporting. This article will explain how I enhance the weekly reports with graphs using MRTG (Multi Router ...  Continue Reading

• How to Load Balance two Citrix Web Interface Servers

  Citrix’s Web Interface (WI) is a popular way for users to connect to their ICA applications running on Citrix Presentation Servers. Unfortunately, if a Web Interface server fails then users lose access to their applications.  Continue Reading

• Understanding Application Isolation Environments (AIE) in Citrix Presentation Server 4

  One of the new features in Citrix Presentation Server 4 is AIE (“Application Isolation Environments”), which makes it possible to install and/or run applications in a so called “Isolation Environment.” How does AIE work?  Continue Reading

• The Ultimate Guide to Windows 2003 Terminal Server Licensing

  Licensing isn't fun for any organization. Use this paper to understand how third-party apps get licensed in Terminal Server.  Continue Reading

• The Ultimate Guide to Terminal Server Printing - Design and Configuration

  Enjoy an excerpt from Brian Madden and Ron Oglesby's book "Terminal Services for Windows Server 2003: Advanced Technical Design Guide."  Continue Reading