Understanding Microsoft's Desktop Virtualisation

I was just pointed at this post on Springboard and it’s too good not to share…it’s written by  Dave Trupkin, Senior Product Manager for App-V and Med-V and gives a nice overview of our desktop virtualisation technologies.  It includes  video interviews and breakdowns of the technologies that are worth a watch and read, a quick summary if you aren’t sure what the technologies offer, courtesy of the Windows for Business blog:

User state virtualizationenables user mobility and fast recovery of data in the event a device is lost. Because the data is stored centrally and delivered on demand when the user logs in, they get their Windows experience immediately regardless of the location they log in. If they lose their primary device, IT delivers a “vanilla machine” without needing to copy any data. Microsoft offers roaming profiles and folder redirection to address user state virtualization.

Application virtualization enables IT to deliver applications much faster to their end users with fewer interruptions. With streaming, applications are delivered on demand when the user needs them, not when IT decides to push them. Application updates happen automatically on launch without the requirement of installation or rebooting. Overall, it reduces IT labor effort in all aspect of the application lifecycle to deliver higher-quality, more responsive services to the business. Microsoft offers App-V and RemoteApp for local & hosted virtual application delivery.

OS Virtualization offers benefits in two areas. When installed on a local PC it allows you to run two versions of Windows simultaneously on the same device to address legacy application compatibility issues. I described this in my MED-V 2.0 Beta post last month.