Windows MDOP 2010, Why this matters to you!
You have probably heard the term MDOP before and wondered what it is and why it is important to you. MDOP stands for the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, and it will help take your Windows 7 deployments to the next level. MDOP provides value to your existing infrastructure, but more important can offer you some key efficiencies. With the 2 new recently released components (App-V 4.6 RTM and MED-V 1.0 SP1 RC) in MDOP, this will help you to deploy Windows 7 and Office 2010 faster and easier. Both of the two new enhancements provide great virtualization enhancements that allow you get your enterprise desktops up and running quickly.
In the case of App-V 4.6 (Application Virtualization), it literally allows your users to access their applications from anywhere. App-V 4.6 also has the added benefit of providing you easier deployment and improved management capabilities. I really like this quote from Ron Reye, Director of Technology, Bethel Park School District about App-V 4.6 and the efficiency it can offer you and your business:
BPSD has much greater control over its application environment. A virtualized application is a managed application. Using the App-V management console, we have visibility into applications that we never had in the past. This helps us to address issues immediately instead of having to send a technician out to troubleshoot and fix problems.
With MED-V, this gives you a solution to help with compatibility in the deployment of your applications. This is some cases will allow you to get around traditional deployment blockers, like application or hardware compatibility. This quote from David Feng, IT Director, Sporton International sums up the value of MED-V and compatibility nicely:
“Without MED-V, we wouldn’t be able to deploy Windows 7 enterprise wide. Now, we don’t have to worry whether an older application is compatible with Windows 7. We just run it with MED-V, and it works. While Windows XP Mode is great for small implementations, it isn’t designed for an enterprise environment because it does not include centralized deployment and management capabilities.”
When you combine MDOP with your Windows 7 deployments, not only will it help your deployments go faster. It will have the added benefit of streamlining future software deployments and give you enhanced management capabilities.
- Cost Savings
- Business Efficiency
- Compatibility
MDOP is designed to help you with business efficiency and compatibly but what about your checkbook! You need to show real and tangible business value. You need to take a look at the ROI Calculator. We worked with Alinean to create an that enterprises can use to find out the savings Windows 7 may offer their company. This well help show serous savings for Windows 7. The results of the calculator may surprise you.
We have also done several studies on cost savings. We did three in depth customer studies so far, we estimate customers may see overall Direct IT cost savings in the range of $111–to-$191 per PC per year. What does that mean? For each thousand PCs in the enterprise, this equates to $111-191K direct IT cost savings. To prove the point even further take a look a webcast Ben Gray and Jeffrey North of Forrester discussed the results of a Total Economic Impact (TEI) study here,
How do you get MDOP?
MDOP is available to Software Assurance customers only. So if your are an existing MDOP customer you can access App-V 4.6 by downloading MDOP 2010 at the Microsoft Volume Licensing Site (MVLS). If you would like to test MDOP 2010 before purchasing, it can be downloaded from your MSDN or TechNet subscriptions today!
In addition to App-V and MED-V mention above MDOP also includes:
- Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM) enhances governance and control over Group Policy through robust change management, versioning, and role-based administration.
- Microsoft Asset Inventory Service (AIS) is a hosted service that collects software inventory data and translates it into actionable business intelligence.
- Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (DaRT) reduces downtime by accelerating troubleshooting, repair, and data recovery of unbootable Windows-based desktops.
- Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring (DEM) provides insights into application and operating system failures, allowing helpdesk to be more proactive in managing PC problems, without installing an agent to the endpoint.
MDOP can help you get there, quickly, efficiently and with cost savings.
If you want to learn more take a look at two great posts:
- MDOP 2010 Opens Doors for Faster Windows 7 Deployment
- https://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=5338 (a good post written by Mary-Jo Foley)