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.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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
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
Friday, February 5, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Konect Elite 7.1 - Especially in Light of the Economy, it Just Makes Business Sense!
This is a very exciting time for Microsoft as they are Releasing to Manufacturers (‘RTM’) their new Windows 7 and 2008 R2 client and server additions, providing availability of these releases to the public the latter part of October 2009.
As a true advocate for the Microsoft Windows 7 client and 2008 R2 Server offerings, desktopsites can ensure your existing 2003 servers, XP and Vista clients, in combination with Microsoft’s Windows 7 client and 2008 R2 Server offerings can be leveraged to their fullest capacities.
With new key features available within Microsoft’s new RDS (‘Remote Desktop Services’) protocol in 2008 R2 Server, in combination with Hyper-V virtualization features, desktopsites’ Konect Elite bridges the gap in providing core application delivery and virtualization features normally unavailable for existing 2003 server, XP and Vista client side environments in combination with Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008R2 and Windows 7 client features.
Especially in light of the economy and the fact that a considerable amount of SMBs do not have Software Assurance, using Konect Elite, clients can upgrade their hardware and software purchases incrementally, as the budget allows. In the same note, leveraging the latest feature sets available within Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008R2 and Windows 7 client across their entire infrastructure. Otherwise, without Konect Elite, the latest application delivery and virtualization features Microsoft is promoting would be limited to only Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 clients.
With a primary focus on SMBs and providing an incremental transition to Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 client, we are offering a free 2 user Konect Elite Limited Version Starter Kit for a limited time - a retail savings of $435.00 USD. The product is available for download at http://www.desktopsites.com/tryme1.asp .
To learn more about the Konect offering, visit our website at http://www.desktopsites.com or call our office at 1+ 403-538-0105 MST.
As a true advocate for the Microsoft Windows 7 client and 2008 R2 Server offerings, desktopsites can ensure your existing 2003 servers, XP and Vista clients, in combination with Microsoft’s Windows 7 client and 2008 R2 Server offerings can be leveraged to their fullest capacities.
With new key features available within Microsoft’s new RDS (‘Remote Desktop Services’) protocol in 2008 R2 Server, in combination with Hyper-V virtualization features, desktopsites’ Konect Elite bridges the gap in providing core application delivery and virtualization features normally unavailable for existing 2003 server, XP and Vista client side environments in combination with Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008R2 and Windows 7 client features.
Especially in light of the economy and the fact that a considerable amount of SMBs do not have Software Assurance, using Konect Elite, clients can upgrade their hardware and software purchases incrementally, as the budget allows. In the same note, leveraging the latest feature sets available within Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008R2 and Windows 7 client across their entire infrastructure. Otherwise, without Konect Elite, the latest application delivery and virtualization features Microsoft is promoting would be limited to only Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 clients.
With a primary focus on SMBs and providing an incremental transition to Microsoft’s RDS Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 client, we are offering a free 2 user Konect Elite Limited Version Starter Kit for a limited time - a retail savings of $435.00 USD. The product is available for download at http://www.desktopsites.com/tryme1.asp .
To learn more about the Konect offering, visit our website at http://www.desktopsites.com or call our office at 1+ 403-538-0105 MST.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Windows Server 2008 R2 + Windows 7 Client - The Missing Link - Konect Elite
desktopsites is encouraging the adoption of Microsoft’s Server 2008 R2 for SMBs. However, the missing link, Konect Elite, is a critical component for this gradual migration for SMBs in transitioning into Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client offerings, especially as the economy stiffens.
With the current release of Windows server 2008 and Windows 7 client release in 2010, is Microsoft missing the mark in providing a strong transition and migration path for small and mid-size businesses (‘SMBs’) when it comes to adopting Remote Desktop Services (‘RDS’, formerly known as ‘Terminal Services’) and virtualization technologies, especially in such an unpredictable market? With all the hype surrounding the release of Windows server 2008 / 2008 R2 and Windows 7 client (within the next year), on the surface, it seems as though Microsoft may have covered all of its bases when serving the SMB market with these new client and server release offerings.
However, one needs to dig a little more under the surface to uncover some significant Microsoft issues when considering adopting Windows server 2008 and Windows 7 client for the SMB channel without the compliment of Konect Elite. Consider this core primary business case scenario (outlined below) of which a vast majority of SMB IT consultants (Trusted Business Advisors ‘TBAs’) are facing when catering to their SMB clients:
Market Conditions: In light of the current economic climate, SMBs are not moving away from their current investments of Windows Server 2003, XP and Vista clients. Rather, TBAs must leverage SMBs existing infrastructures to address the client’s overall business challenges with a consideration of adopting new Microsoft client and server offerings as budgets allow. New Microsoft client and server offerings must leverage and extend existing SMB investments to date.
Client Challenge:
a) Client has one or multiple business locations all of whom require access to centralized and managed IT applications, files and critical business data;
b) Various users require access to select applications only;
c) Users need to be able to access applications, files and data from any location, anywhere, anytime (i.e. different branch locations, home, on the road, partners, customers, etc.);
d) Limited budgets to allocate to overall IT spending (software, hardware, support, maintenance);
TBAs Challenge:
a) ** SMB infrastructures consists of a variety of Windows Server 2003 in combination with XP and/or Vista clients;
b) A vast majority of SMBs do not have software assurance to upgrade operating system software, CALs, and TS CALs with Microsoft.
c) SMBs has limited IT budgets for hardware, software, support and maintenance.
d) TBAs must rely on third party solution offerings that address the Client’s Challenge while keeping their current technology (server 2003, XP and/or Vista clients) running, replacing outdated hardware and software only as needed. That is, third party solution offerings must leverage existing infrastructure investments with the incorporation of the latest technology offerings (i.e. virtualization) at a price point SMBs are willing to entertain;
e) There are a multitude of third party offerings that TBAs need to continually be aware of and educated on, possibly with certification requirements needed, which, in turn, brings added cost, overlap and complexity.
f) TBAs are limited in their internal manpower to run their businesses, maintain their clients and keep abreast of rapidly evolving technologies from a vast array of vendors outside of the Microsoft platform.
Microsoft is releasing Remote Desktop Services (‘RDS’) in Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7 Clients. What core value does this new client and server version release bring to existing infrastructures of server 2003, XP & Vista clients. TBAs, have you considered all the variables?
Considerations:
a) Server Licensing Upgrade Requirements: With the adoption of Windows Server 2008 into an existing 2003 server environment, businesses must incur a considerable amount of mandatory licensing upgrade requirements for all server CALS and TS CALs for Server 2008 business requirements. And, unfortunately, a vast majority of SMBs do not have software assurance. For example, a company with 25 server 2003 TS CALs would be required to upgrade all of the current 25 users with 25 2008 OS CALs + 25 2008 TS CALs. 2008 licenses are not backwards compatible with 2003systems. Konect Elite addresses this current scenario and provides a resolution to this issue.
b) 2008 RDS features in combination with server 2003: Once the mandatory server licensing upgrade requirement has been made for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 RDS features for application/TS and VDI desktop delivery do not interoperate with Windows 2003 servers (below). For example, using a 2003 server in combination with a 2008 server environment does not provide 2008 RDS features within a 2003 server environment. This, in turn, renders the 2003 server as non-functional within the server farm for RDS 2008 feature capabilities. Konect Elite addresses this current scenario and provides a resolution to this issue.
c) Seamless end-user experience: For all XP and Vista clients, the end user experience is not the same seamless experience Windows 7 clients’ delivers (below). Rather, for hosted application access, XP and Vista clients must retrieve this information using a web page, unlike the seamless integrated experience for Windows 7 client users. Konect Elite addresses this current scenario and provides a resolution to this issue.
Why Konect Elite? Konect has taken all of the above noted variables into consideration – current economic climate, Client Challenges, TBA Challenges, and Microsoft’s push of Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client with no realistic migration path - with the release of Konect Elite. Konect Elite provides a clear, realistic migration path for SMBs in adopting Microsoft’s current client and server releases at a pace and budget allowance that makes sense for SMBs.
Konect reduces overall IT operational and support costs, extends the life of SMBs existing client and server technology investments (Windows Server 2003, XP, Vista clients) and fully supports an SMBs infrastructure through the adoption of virtualization technologies and Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client.
desktopsites encourages the adoption of Microsoft’s Server 2008 R2 for SMBs. However, the missing link, Konect Elite, remains as a critical component for this gradual migration for SMBs in transitioning into Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client offerings, especially as the economy stiffens.
With the current release of Windows server 2008 and Windows 7 client release in 2010, is Microsoft missing the mark in providing a strong transition and migration path for small and mid-size businesses (‘SMBs’) when it comes to adopting Remote Desktop Services (‘RDS’, formerly known as ‘Terminal Services’) and virtualization technologies, especially in such an unpredictable market? With all the hype surrounding the release of Windows server 2008 / 2008 R2 and Windows 7 client (within the next year), on the surface, it seems as though Microsoft may have covered all of its bases when serving the SMB market with these new client and server release offerings.
However, one needs to dig a little more under the surface to uncover some significant Microsoft issues when considering adopting Windows server 2008 and Windows 7 client for the SMB channel without the compliment of Konect Elite. Consider this core primary business case scenario (outlined below) of which a vast majority of SMB IT consultants (Trusted Business Advisors ‘TBAs’) are facing when catering to their SMB clients:
Market Conditions: In light of the current economic climate, SMBs are not moving away from their current investments of Windows Server 2003, XP and Vista clients. Rather, TBAs must leverage SMBs existing infrastructures to address the client’s overall business challenges with a consideration of adopting new Microsoft client and server offerings as budgets allow. New Microsoft client and server offerings must leverage and extend existing SMB investments to date.
Client Challenge:
a) Client has one or multiple business locations all of whom require access to centralized and managed IT applications, files and critical business data;
b) Various users require access to select applications only;
c) Users need to be able to access applications, files and data from any location, anywhere, anytime (i.e. different branch locations, home, on the road, partners, customers, etc.);
d) Limited budgets to allocate to overall IT spending (software, hardware, support, maintenance);
TBAs Challenge:
a) ** SMB infrastructures consists of a variety of Windows Server 2003 in combination with XP and/or Vista clients;
b) A vast majority of SMBs do not have software assurance to upgrade operating system software, CALs, and TS CALs with Microsoft.
c) SMBs has limited IT budgets for hardware, software, support and maintenance.
d) TBAs must rely on third party solution offerings that address the Client’s Challenge while keeping their current technology (server 2003, XP and/or Vista clients) running, replacing outdated hardware and software only as needed. That is, third party solution offerings must leverage existing infrastructure investments with the incorporation of the latest technology offerings (i.e. virtualization) at a price point SMBs are willing to entertain;
e) There are a multitude of third party offerings that TBAs need to continually be aware of and educated on, possibly with certification requirements needed, which, in turn, brings added cost, overlap and complexity.
f) TBAs are limited in their internal manpower to run their businesses, maintain their clients and keep abreast of rapidly evolving technologies from a vast array of vendors outside of the Microsoft platform.
Microsoft is releasing Remote Desktop Services (‘RDS’) in Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7 Clients. What core value does this new client and server version release bring to existing infrastructures of server 2003, XP & Vista clients. TBAs, have you considered all the variables?
Considerations:
a) Server Licensing Upgrade Requirements: With the adoption of Windows Server 2008 into an existing 2003 server environment, businesses must incur a considerable amount of mandatory licensing upgrade requirements for all server CALS and TS CALs for Server 2008 business requirements. And, unfortunately, a vast majority of SMBs do not have software assurance. For example, a company with 25 server 2003 TS CALs would be required to upgrade all of the current 25 users with 25 2008 OS CALs + 25 2008 TS CALs. 2008 licenses are not backwards compatible with 2003systems. Konect Elite addresses this current scenario and provides a resolution to this issue.
b) 2008 RDS features in combination with server 2003: Once the mandatory server licensing upgrade requirement has been made for Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 RDS features for application/TS and VDI desktop delivery do not interoperate with Windows 2003 servers (below). For example, using a 2003 server in combination with a 2008 server environment does not provide 2008 RDS features within a 2003 server environment. This, in turn, renders the 2003 server as non-functional within the server farm for RDS 2008 feature capabilities. Konect Elite addresses this current scenario and provides a resolution to this issue.
c) Seamless end-user experience: For all XP and Vista clients, the end user experience is not the same seamless experience Windows 7 clients’ delivers (below). Rather, for hosted application access, XP and Vista clients must retrieve this information using a web page, unlike the seamless integrated experience for Windows 7 client users. Konect Elite addresses this current scenario and provides a resolution to this issue.
Why Konect Elite? Konect has taken all of the above noted variables into consideration – current economic climate, Client Challenges, TBA Challenges, and Microsoft’s push of Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client with no realistic migration path - with the release of Konect Elite. Konect Elite provides a clear, realistic migration path for SMBs in adopting Microsoft’s current client and server releases at a pace and budget allowance that makes sense for SMBs.
Konect reduces overall IT operational and support costs, extends the life of SMBs existing client and server technology investments (Windows Server 2003, XP, Vista clients) and fully supports an SMBs infrastructure through the adoption of virtualization technologies and Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client.
desktopsites encourages the adoption of Microsoft’s Server 2008 R2 for SMBs. However, the missing link, Konect Elite, remains as a critical component for this gradual migration for SMBs in transitioning into Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 / Windows 7 client offerings, especially as the economy stiffens.
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