Hosted Virtual Desktops or Hosted Virtual Delays?

Advice 2010-06-30 13:03

HVDs see the traditional ‘fat’ client replaced with a ‘virtual

For all the potential benefits, HVD is a demanding technology which requires a considerable commitment from the IT organisation. Andy Wood, head of consultancy practice at Kcom, outlines one of the most important elements in any such deployment — the network.

The hosted virtual desktop (HVD) is a technology which promises organisations a liberating experience – with applications, data and files accessible anywhere for the user. The IT department should benefit greatly from the reduced management requirements of its PC fleet. However, for all their potential benefits, HVD is a demanding technology which requires a considerable commitment from the IT organisation.

HVDs see the traditional ‘fat’ client (a desktop PC which locally runs an operating system and business applications) replaced with a ‘virtual desktop.’ The virtual desktop takes the entire end-user environment and places it on a server which is based within the data centre. This allows the user to access their profile from many locations, while each of these virtual desktops is managed from the data centre. In addition to this flexibility, HVDs can reduce security concerns, help ensure compliance and facilitate easier PC backup and data storage. All-in-all, the promises made by HVDs will ensure that many organisations – particularly those with an extensive PC fleet or highly mobile ways of working – will examine the possibility for a deployment.
However, the HVD model is not an easy-win for the IT organisation. Networks are designed for the fat client, with software running locally – within the PC. Running a virtual desktop can significantly increase bandwidth requirements, pressurising the network, and potentially also resulting in latency issues. IT organisations looking to move to an HVD architecture must give serious consideration to their network – ensuring it can cope with the challenge HVDs pose to it. Failure to do so can result in sluggish application performance, network outages, and ultimately a frustrated workforce.
None of these outcomes will help advance the business, or indeed the IT department’s profile within it. Despite being a technology that is supposed to drive performance improvements and act a showcase for what IT can achieve within the business, a poor deployment can rapidly become a barrier to efficiency. The moral of the story when thinking about a hosted virtual desktop strategy is to take a holistic architectural approach. It is essential that organisations include the WAN & LAN in their plans and undertake an independent audit and health check.