Microsoft VDI : Whitepapers and FAQs

With the words like VDI catching up real fast in IT world, Curosity among customers and partners about this new way of deploying Windows has increased. About 40 percent of the time whenever I am in a conversation with customer and partners that relates to Virtualization, we talk about VDI and what are the best use case for VDI,

Here is Microsoft Definition:

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is an alternative desktop delivery model that allows users to access desktops running in the datacenter.                                                           In short, VDI is another way to deploy Windows desktops for your users.

partner network

Here are few whitepaper and other resources that we have released recently to help customers understand the VDI solution, Identify if VDI is the best solution for your organization and if it is, then how to do the capacity planning and deployment.

1. Achieving Business Value through Microsoft VDI Together with Session Virtualization:                                                                                                                                                This whitepaper discusses the benefits and considerations when planning a Microsoft® Windows Server® Remote Desktop Services solution and the choices associated with a lowest cost deployment for both Session Virtualization and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). DOWNLOAD NOW                                                                             

2. RD Virtualization Host Capacity Planning in Windows Server 2008 R2                                                                                                                                                                          This white paper is intended as a guide for capacity planning of RD Virtualization Host in Windows Server 2008 R2.  DOWNLOAD NOW                             

3. Remote Desktop Services Deployment Guide                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This guide provides instructions for deploying Remote Desktop Services in a production environment running the Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating system.  This guide provides instructions for deploying Remote Desktop Services in a production environment running the Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating system. It is intended for information technology (IT) professionals who want to implement an end-to-end, Remote Desktop Services solution. This guide covers deployment best practices for configuring Remote Desktop Services.     DOWNLOAD NOW

4. VDI Licensing: There has been some changes made in VDI licensing from Jul 1, 2010 with respect to VECD, its now known as VDA (Virtual Desktop Access), Lets understand when do you need VDA.

Scenario 1: If you are running Windows OS on the endpoint devices and its covered with Software Assurance, You dont need VDA anymore as accessing a Virtual Desktop is now a added benefit of Software Assurance.

Scenario 2: If the endpoint devices are running non Windows OS or its a thin Client terminal, then you need to purchase VDA for those endpoint devices

Below are couple of resources which can help you with understanding of VDA and VDI Suites.

VDA and VDI suites FAQs

VDA Licensing brochure

Hope it helps, please feel free to send in your feedback and questions.

Bye for now!