What is desktop virtualization?

The problem with traditional desktop delivery

Today, individual desktops are hard-coded combinations of OS, applications, and user settings, and managed one-by-one on an ongoing basis. Many IT organizations we speak to are looking at desktop virtualization to upgrade their entire approach to desktop management. IT executives are looking for a better way to address the varying needs of enterprise users.

How does desktop virtualization help?

Desktop virtualization replaces this hard-coded approach with a more flexible design in which one moving part doesn’t have to disrupt any of the other moving parts when changes are needed. That means the device, OS, applications, and user settings are all shielded from each other. These components can then be managed independently which eliminates redundant data, workload, and management processes. IT assembles desktops dynamically based on business roles, and delivers these resources in a way that matches the users’ requirements—whether that means hosting them in the datacenter or placing them to their device.
Embedded HD version of the Citrix Chromeless Video Player. Created by Jason Guerra.

Choosing the right desktop virtualization solution

To ensure that every user gets the optimal desktop, customers need solutions that don’t limit the options to one specific type of virtual desktop technology. With Citrix XenDesktop, customers can choose from any of the popular server-side virtual desktop models, including VDI and blade PCs, as well as server-based computing models that can host up to 500 shared virtual desktops on a single physical server. XenDesktop also supports client-side virtual desktop models that execute at the endpoint, freeing up server resources, extending the life of existing PCs and allowing laptop users to disconnect from the network and work offline. All of this is made possible through Citrix FlexCast delivery technology, offered in XenDesktop 4. FlexCast delivery technology delivers the right type of virtual desktop, to any user, on any device.

In addition, XenDesktop 4 significantly raises the bar for desktop virtualization performance and user experience through enhancements made to several Citrix HDX technologies. XenDesktop 4 provides superior user experience with Flash multimedia and applications, 3D graphics, webcams, audio, and branch office delivery, while using 90 percent less bandwidth than alternative solutions.