desktopsites Tackles SMB Desktop Virtualization Challenges

Desktop virtualization is an exciting new way to connect users to their applications and data beyond the PC. Instead of maintaining individual desktops and core applications on PCs, IT can now deliver these desktops and applications to these users more efficiently and securely from a centrally stored location, on-site or off-site. Management of these resources becomes streamlined and efficient, improving productivity and boosting ROI.

SMBs are primed to adopt desktop virtualization as part of their end user computing strategy in 2012 – 2013. However, many SMBs continue to face tight budgets and shortages of available expertise and resources, and this is all coupled with the desire to manage deployments in-house. Therefore, SMBs need simple and affordable desktop virtualization solutions that will take them from proof of concept to production, quickly, efficiently and cost effectively.

While there has been substantial progress with Microsoft’s free desktop virtualization tools in Windows Server 2012, SMBs still struggle considerably with management approaches from Microsoft for mixed client, server and mobile device requirements – capabilities that just aren’t possible with Microsoft free tools. And without a team to install and maintain Microsoft’s enterprise-level solution, System Center and all of its management tools, neither solution becomes a viable option for SMBs. They need something in the middle, with powerful enterprise-level features, but simple and at a reasonable cost.

desktopsites’ virtualization solution, Konect Elite, has been specifically designed for SMBs, supporting mixed servers, client desktops, and mobile devices. With Konect Elite, users have access to the information they need, when they need it, regardless of what device or client version they’re running. Konect Elite also provide users with seamless experience they need as they roam between their devices, all at an affordable price. It just makes sense for SMBs.

For more information, visit our website and take advantage of our 10 user Free 30 day trial.

VDI or RDS. Is your deployment about the desktop or is it about the apps?

Has the hype cycle of VDI (‘Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) become more subdued this first quarter of 2012 or has it heightened even more? I guess it depends on who you talk to. Global vendors such as Citrix and VMware, that have sunk hundreds of millions of dollars into developing &/or purchasing this technology, are on a mission to market this technology to its fullest capacity. Meaning, regardless if this is not the best solution for a business’s requirements, VDI will still be the recommendation for EVERY business need. Do you follow what I'm saying?..

So, the question one has to ask is “What problem am I trying to solve?”.

If you’re considering VDI deployments for mobile workers in order to provide them access to a core application or set of applications, then VDI is the wrong solution. In this case, Microsoft’s RDS as a baseline is a much better alternative starting point for a number of reasons:

1. It’s easier to deploy;

2. it’s a well-known case for software licensing;

3. It can scale much better.

If you’re considering a VDI initiative for the sole purpose of reducing expenses, stop your efforts. VDI does not save money. Doing VDI right means:

1. Investing money in core infrastructure, which includes robust servers and good terminal devices.

2. Consider any and all licensing pitfalls. Microsoft alone has what’s called a VDA (‘Virtual Desktop Access’) license requirement that is to be used in conjunction with virtual desktops accessed from non-Windows based devices. For those that have software assurance, this is included in your assurance program. However, for the vast majority of SMBs who don’t have software assurance, the cost per user is at a steep price of $110.00 / per device / per annum. This does not even include the other site licenses or concurrent user licenses for your software titles as many software licenses specifically prohibit use of the software in a virtual environment unless specific virtualization rights are purchased.

3. Storage resources are key for VDI. This will require one to build and/or outsource a storage environment that addresses VDI challenges.
Whether housed internally or outsourced to a third party, all these factors combined increase the costs of VDI substantially.

Bottom line: VDI has enjoyed a lot of hype – (actually, overkill hype - by large global vendors needing to replenish their exhausted pocket books on this technology). When done for the right reasons, and built the right way, VDI can transform a business and make more things accessible for all. However, there are many pitfalls that can’t be ignored. So, before you leap into the world of delivering and maintaining VDIs, ensure the following:

• Do VDI for the right business reason, addressing the problem you’re trying to solve. If the problem can be resolved using RDS as a baseline, consider your alternatives diligently.

• Build / outsource a storage environment that addresses VDI challenges.

• Consider all licensing pitfalls.
Here’s the great thing. Whether you want to deliver access to a core application or set of applications to mobile / remote workers, or you require the delivery of VDIs for specific user case scenarios, Konect Elite’s FlexSpin delivery technology can fulfill these requirements. Simply, easily and cost effectively.

Click here to learn more.

The Right Tool for the Job – A great analogy as written by Troy Trenchard, Group VP and General Manager at Citrix Systems

I just came across this blog article, The Right Tool for the Job, written by Troy Trenchard, Group VP and General Manager at Citrix Systems, outlining why they had purchased the private company called Kaviza. Troy did an exceptional job writing an analogy with respect to having the right tools for the job and how this also applies to business solutions as well.

Within this article, I love the fact that Troy validates Citrix position in the market place with respect to Xendesktop and how this solution was designed for the enterprise market space, not SMB market space. “XenDesktop is a great product… But, it wasn’t designed for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), who typically lack the expertise (network admin, storage admin, etc.) and budget to deploy and maintain enterprise infrastructure. They need something simple to install, configure, manage, and scale-without requiring additional infrastructure, and at a price that’s comparable to buying or replacing PCs.”

I would definitely have to agree with Troy’s statement regarding SMBs – what they want and what they need. Though, interestingly enough, the next paragraph outlines statistics stating that “over 60% of respondents said they expected to implement VDI solutions in the next 24 months.” For SMBs? Really? I, myself, would have to question who these so called ‘respondents’ are within this statistic – especially for the small to mid-size market space.

If you refer to Simon Crosby’s most recent blog of October 10th, 2011, A Collection of Bromides on Infrastructure, Simon is very clear to state “I have not found a single desktop virtualization expert (that does not work for one of the DV vendors) who will put their err… cred, on the table to recommend VDI over other desktop virtualization technologies (other than for a narrow set of use cases). In fact, the opposite is true: The leading voices in desktop virtualization think customers are being misled , and that it’s high time for the truth to out.” Simon continues in his article stating that “the overwhelming majority of virtual desktops today are delivered using TS/RDS. Very few enterprises have successfully rolled out VDI at a scale beyond a few thousand users, and those that have are beginning to wonder why.”

The problem now is that Citrix offers Kaviza VDI-in-the-box to SMBs. How about the 95 - 98% of users that require RemoteApp /TS/RDS desktops as a delivery mechanism? Now what? Will they have to use a combination of Kaviza + Citrix ZenApp to complete the solution for their SMB clients? Welcome Cost & Complexity +++. If Citrix is trying to present a truly viable solution to SMBs, they need to be presented with an offering that provides the core features of what SMBs really need (application / desktop delivery via ICA) and not trying to push technologies (VDI) down the pipe that SMBs don't really require - aside from special user case scenarios which typically will account for less than 2 - 3% of their overall user base.

As a software development company whose primary business focus is catering to small to mid-size businesses, the ratio of RemoteApp, TS/RDS desktop delivery using TS/RDS in combination with Konect Elite remains on the forefront for at least 99% of our IT consultant and reseller channel base. VDI is not even a consideration for the vast majority of these businesses. This is not due to the technology, but rather, business case scenario needs. However, there are those unique user case scenarios that do require a combination of RemoteApp, TS/RDS desktop delivery in combination with some VDI deliveries. Thus, SMBs need a solution that provides the ability to offer a combination of these solutions (VDI, RemoteApp, TS/RDS desktop, App-V) versus the narrow “one-size fits all” solutions being pushed by the larger vendors today.

Here is where desktopsites has taken in the comments and feedback articulated from key analysts in the market place, paying particular attention to the feedback from IT Consultants and Resellers who cater and provide integration services to these SMB customers. Result: desktopsites newly released Konect Elite advanced desktop virtualization solution.

As a Microsoft centric solution, Konect Elite provides Microsoft resellers with a simplified, easy to install, cost effective desktop virtualization solution that leverages commodity servers for the delivery and management of RemoteApp, RDS/TS desktops, VDI and App-V, in any combination thereof, to users. The formula to make this happen is quite simple: Microsoft Server 2008R2 + Hyper-V + Konect Elite

Don’t be confused by what is needed for a desktop virtualization solution for your small and mid-size business. Remember the acronym KISS saying, ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’. The large vendors are pushing technologies, such as VDI & App-V, that aren’t necessarily what may be needed in your business. For the 95 – 98% of your users that only require RemoteApp delivery via TS/RDS ; for the remaining 1- 2% of users that require VDI for special user case scenarios; - Microsoft Server 2008R2 + Hyper-V + Konect Elite is all you need.

For more information regarding desktopsites’ Konect Elite desktop virtualization solution, visit our website for a free 30 day trial download.

Citrix's acquisition of Kaviza - a clear indicator that SMBs are NOT the same as large enterprises.

I find that the acquisition of Kaviza by Citrix provides a clear indicator that current enterprise desktop virtualization product offerings in the market are NOT designed and intended for small to mid size businesses (‘SMBs’ / ‘SMEs’). As written by Gabe Knuth, May 24th 2011, 'Citrix acquires Kaviza as an SMB VDI Solution. Here's our full analysis.' the question is posed: ‘Why would Citrix want Kaviza?’ The short answer to this is “because XenDesktop is too complex for SMBs”….”For years we've been saying that the complexity involved in deploying XenDesktop made it more or less an enterprise-only product, while Citrix has been quick to assure us that it's also possible to use in smaller environments. While it may be "possible" to do that, it's not necessarily "practical," as stated by Gabe in this article.

Relating back to my blog of May 25th, 2011, Are Small and Mid-Sized Businesses really that different from Enterprises? The answer is an absolute Yes! As I stated in a most recent press release entitled desktopsites, Inc. Named to Everything Channel's CRN Virtualization 100 List, for small businesses, ease of use and ease of management are as important as low cost. SMBs need desktop virtualization solutions that can be purchased easily (simplified, straightforward and predictable pricing) and installed easily. Mid-market companies, like their smaller counterparts, prefer solutions that are easy to install and use, and they may also be users of traditional entry-level versions of enterprise products. Bottom Line: Enterprise technology solutions are too expensive and too cumbersome for SMBs to consider.

Though, Citrix isn’t the only one in this predicament. Take Microsoft for example. Their main System Center virtualization page advertises “System Center provides the management of physical and virtual IT environments for enterprises and mid-size businesses.” Their System Center Essentials home page states “System Center Essentials 2010 (Essentials 2010) is a new management solution in the System Center family of IT systems management products designed for midsized businesses.” Similiar to Citrix, Microsoft promotes their offerings to cater to businesses of all sizes. Though, one would hardly say that System Center was designed for a small business of 10 users. Yes, it’s possible. But, how practical is this for SMBs?

Here’s where desktopsites’ Konect Elite plays a critical role for Microsoft. Designed to compliment Microsoft’s desktop virtualization portfolio, Konect Elite simplifies the management and delivery of OS, application and user state virtualization components in conjunction with Microsoft’s Hyper-V and System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) for the sub 500 users.

Konect Elite narrows the gap of what Microsoft needs versus what Microsoft has to meet a client’s desktop virtualization needs on an entry level. What do I mean by Entry Level? Simply put, we define entry level as a product that is the most basic or simple of its kind (yet sophisticated and more than sufficient in core feature set requirements), making it suitable for all people who have limited budgets to spend or who do not have the time and experience using this type of product offering.

Otherwise, without Konect Elite, SMBs are forced into Microsoft’s premier System Center portfolio of products designed for mid to large enterprises, which brings vast overkill and expense to the needs of many small and mid size businesses. As a result, many businesses look at alternative competitive desktop virtualization offerings or forego the investment all together. Not a good thing I’d say for Microsoft.

So, for those of you searching for a viable desktop virtualization solution on the Microsoft platform, yet are shying away from Microsoft’s System Center portfolio, Konect Elite is the key choice in making this gradual transition.

For more information on Konect Elite, visit our website at http://www.desktopsites.com/konect.htm

Is Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Enough?

I’m an avid follower of Brian Madden (www.brianmadden.com) and it’s great to see some current articles written by him on desktop virtualization addressing key questions in the market relating to Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Services (‘RDS’). A most recent article published by SearchVirtualDesktop.com written by Brian Madden May 4th, 2011 - ‘Do you need Citrix, or is Microsoft Remote Desktop enough?’ highlights many of the key issues businesses face when dealing with Microsoft’s bare bones Remote Desktop Services. And, considering the fact that many small to mid size businesses whose budgets are constrained and IT manpower is extremely limited, Microsoft’s bare bones Remote Desktop Services can bring more headache and cost than bargained for when considering the implementation of a desktop virtualization solution.

Here’s where key vendors, such as desktopsites, brings tremendous value to Microsoft’s RDS foundation for small to mid size businesses ('SMBs / SMEs'). Unlike large enterprise offerings, desktopsites Konect Elite is not a product that has been stripped of features and placed in a smaller footprint in order to lower our price. Rather, being a small business ourselves, we understand that SMBs face similar challenges to our enterprise customers, but have fewer resources. Therefore, SMBs need solutions that are affordable, simple to install, manage and deploy.

Unlike competitive products (as referenced in the above article) which promote, sell and support a multitude of third party virtualization offerings and protocols competitive to the Microsoft stack, which increases the cost and complexity once again, Konect Elite is specific to the Microsoft platform. As your business grows, Konect Elite provides a seamless migration path from Hyper-V to Microsoft's System Center portfolio. This, in turn, radically simplifies the overall management, support, certification, maintenance and costs issues associated with choosing the right desktop virtualization solution for SMBs.

Microsoft resellers can now be empowered with a complete Microsoft desktop virtualization solution, rendering 100% account control and retention, without the reliance of third party competitive solution offerings which brings added costs and complexity, in order to meet a client’s needs.

I’d encourage you to visit our website at http://www.desktopsites.com/konect.htm for more information regarding Konect Elite and how it can drastically simplify your RDS management and deployment business scenarios.

Is VMware an Even Greater Threat to Microsoft Now That They Have Set Their Sights Set on Tackling Small to Mid-Size Businesses?

With a most recent document titled Magic Quadrant for x86 Server Virtualization Infrastructure from Gartner RAS Core Research, published May 26th, 2010, the results outlined within the document were quite interesting to say the least.

The document focused on two extremely important market trends: infrastructure modernization and cloud computing. Both of these trends include virtualization as the foundation and enabler in how businesses will manage, deploy and deliver IT.

Key Points of Consideration within the Gartner document include:

1. Server virtualization for x86 architecture servers is one of the hottest trends in IT today, and will remain so for several years;

2. X86 server virtualization infrastructure provides the foundation for new management and automation tools, new security architectures, and new processes;

3. While VMware, as the market pioneer, has the lion’s share of the market today, the market will grow, in terms of volume, five-fold during the next three years;

4. A large percentage of companies (mostly small and midsize) have not yet started to virtualize, and they have choices that didn’t exist nine years ago.

5. While customer value will continue to shift to add-on tools and technologies for this virtualization infrastructure market, the low level virtualization platform will remain the foundation for those tools, thus will remain important.

What really hit home in this document was the vast majority of untouched SMBs yet to move forward with server virtualization technologies as the foundation to their desktop virtualization strategies.

Could VMware beat Microsoft to the punch when tackling the SMB market?

Key Points to consider:

1. While VMware has the lion’s share of the enterprise virtualization market, the SMB market is splintered. Source: InfoWorld, July 14th, 2010, David Marshall

2. With the release of VMware vSphere 4.1, VMware hopes to lure the elusive and price-conscious small and midsize businesses that are still, in many cases, in the early stages of trying to figure out their virtualization strategies. Source: InfoWorld, July 14th, 2010, David Marshall

3. When SMBs virtualize, they go from zero to 100 percent – unlike large enterprises. SMBs are also unlikely to change systems software once they make their choices and can live with it; or, run out of money to buy an alternative. Source:http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2010/07/20/vmware_q2_2010_numbers/print.html

Microsoft’s Challenges:

1. To protect and grow its (Microsoft’s) installed base and technology leadership in a rapidly evolving virtualization market;

2. Uphill battle breaking into a very strong VMware installed base, especially in large enterprises;

3. A race to capture the large percentage of SMBs that have not yet started to virtualize and now SMBs have choices that did not exist 9 years ago;

4. VMware’s push of x86 servers will considerably hinder the sales of Microsoft server 2008R2 for the next several years.

For SMBs and a server + desktop virtualization strategy, Microsoft’s Hyper-V + RDS (Remote Desktop Services) is not enough. Nor will a vast majority of SMBs make the move to SCVMM (System Center Virtual Machine Manager) and Microsoft cannot make the assumption that they will.

Thus, in order to get the feature sets SMBs require for a server + desktop virtualization strategy, SMBs will consider different viable options, given that there are more alternatives to choose from now – including VMware vSphere 4.1.

How Does desktopsites’ Konect Elite solution Simplify the Complex and secure Microsoft’s doorway into the SMB market?

Being an SMB ourselves, and working intimately with Microsoft SMB resellers and IT consultants, the answer is quite simple: Give SMBs what they need – simply, efficiently & cost effectively. Bottom Line: Microsoft Hyper-V + Konect Elite - thereby removing the doorway of opportunity for VMware to slip thru the cracks.

Hear first hand from our resellers and customers benefiting from Hyper-V + Konect Elite.

For more information regarding Konect Elite for Hyper-V & SCVMM, visit our website at http://www.desktopsites.com

Microsoft's RDS Home and Partner Page Refreshed

Microsoft has just released their RDS Partner Page refresh having gone live the latter part of this week. According to Microsoft, the goal of this refresh is to promote Microsoft’s relationship with key partners such as desktopsites, and to educate joint customers about key partners Windows 2008/2008R2 server based solutions and case studies.

According to Microsoft, in response to an increasing request from partners, the new RDS home page showcases free ‘limited version’ product offerings from key partners who have been selected to participate. desktopsites is one of those key partners having elected to participate.

Come and visit these updated pages and take advantage of desktopsites free limited Konect Elite software offering.