Microsoft Virtualization: MED-V
Microsoft provides Virtualization Solutions from Desktop to Datacenter, Virtualization doesn't only means Server Consolidation or Server Virtualization,
Today, I am going to discuss about Microsoft Virtualization Solution in Desktop Space.
MED–V or Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization.
So Ifti, what is MED-V and why it is required??
When you want to upgrade to a new OS, you are required to go through a certain process, verifying that all applications work in the new OS, migrate those applications that do not work, or get the approval for making those unavailable to users, and only then you can start upgrading the end users desktops. This process can takes months to complete, and meanwhile your users cannot benefit from the benefits of the new OS. The process requires a lot of investment in testing and migration, even for application that are not used extensively, and eventually delays the upgrade.
With MED-V you can change this cycle – you can first upgrade to Windows Vista as soon as you want, and then deal with testing and migration at your convenience.
How this can be done?
Lets say, you have an Business Application which is not compatible with Windows Vista and it works only on Windows XP.
Now you can go ahead and upgrade all your clients OS to Vista and let Med-V takes care of your legacy application till developers redesign it to work with Vista.
The admin creates a virtual image using MS VPC, installs Windows XP OS and all those apps.This VPC image is then delivered to end users and they can use the applications. This solution can actually be achieved by just using VPC.
But to do that in a corporate environment and enterprise scale, admin cant just run VPC, he needs a centrally managed solution – and this is where MED-V is introduced.
MED-V is what makes VPC deployable in scale for end-users throughout the enterprise and beyond it.
With MED-V has 4 functions:
- Virtual images creation, repository and delivery
- Centralized management and monitoring.
- Usage policy and data transfer control like access permissions
- End-user experience like taskbar customization
The architecture of the Med-V looks like this.
So with MED-V, your legacy application will pin to your task bar of your Vista and will run seamlessly as if its installed on Host operating System (VISTA) though its installed on a Virtual Machine (Win XP).
Here is the screenshot of MED-V desktop
Isn’t it Great!!!! MED-V is currently in Beta and will be released in first half of Year 2009
Register and download MEDV v1 Beta and nominate for early adoption
https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=665
Additional Resources
Read about Microsoft Desktop Virtualization
Watch an Introduction video or demo
Listen to a Technical Springboard session about MED-V
Let me know what you think.
Technorati Tags: MED-V,Virtualization,Windows Vista,Windows XP,Beta