The survey asked exactly the right questions and identifies key pain points that are preventing desktop virtualization from really taking off. While interest in Desktop Virtualization is growing, the biggest obstacles for adoption are the required hardware and software costs including datacenter upgrades — all areas that our technology “Distributed Desktop Virtualization” addresses quite handily.

Let’s look at cost, which the survey called out as a major barrier to desktop virtualization adoption. Twenty-nine percent of the respondents said that desktop virtualization is too expensive. Also, about 1/4 of the respondents said that the cost of hardware, including the need to upgrade datacenter servers to support a widespread virtual desktop deployment, was a problem.

In addition, nearly a quarter of those asked said that current desktop virtualization products are not mature enough for widespread use. This can be interpreted in any number of ways from “it’s not robust enough for mission-critical, enterprise use” to “the end-user experience is so bad, employees are less productive when forced to use it.”

So, where does Wanova fit in?

Our technology fits squarely in a couple of sweet spots: First, managers get the control they need without the up-front costs since Wanova scales to 1,000 virtual desktop per server. Also, as I mentioned in my previous post, Wanova works with what you already have – servers, network and endpoints. End-users continue to work productively with their existing laptops, desktops and netbooks, as though nothing has changed.

Anyone thinking about desktop virtualization should consider the TechTarget survey results. It raises questions about costs, management, and end-user support. Wanova’s Distributed Desktop Virtualization provides new answers to these important questions.

A recent article discussed an upcoming announcement about the desktop virtualization ecosystem. Perhaps we’re going to hear about all the technology partners and vendors who have lined up to support a particular vision of how desktop virtualization can and should work.

On one hand, you might say (if you were an enterprise IT manager) “It’s about time”. As we all know, desktop virtualization needs to integrate into how we run our businesses and, for years, there has been a huge gap between the promise and the reality of a desktop virtualization solution that truly transforms a business for the better.

On the other hand, an enterprise IT manager might say “Oh great. Yet another infrastructure that I have to adopt in order to make desktop virtualization work for me.”

We feel your pain. When we announced our “Distributed Desktop Virtualization” architecture in August, we did so knowing that a need in the marketplace is simply not being met. Specifically, there is an ongoing need for IT managers to get a handle on the management and maintenance of all those distributed laptops, desktops and netbooks that are being deployed to remote and mobile workers.

Of course, all those remote and mobile workers want to remain productive by using computers that do what they want them to do, without any compromises on features, performance or applications.

Now, someone could ask why they should adopt Wanova’s architecture over, say, competitive solutions.

The answer is simple: Wanova works with what you already have.

On the management side, IT can put up to 1,000 virtual desktop images on an existing x86 server in their datacenter and effectively deploy and manage those virtual desktops without any forklift upgrades or major storage requirements.

On the other side of the network, the workers can use their current computers, just as they always have, but with the peace of mind that comes through a centrally managed solution. And best of all, it’s all done over the existing WAN infrastructure.

So, keep an eye out for desktop virtualization announcements, but make sure the other eye is wide open with regard to what is required to make it happen.

In the meantime, watch this space for the launch of our first product and shoot us an email if you’re interested in hearing more about what Wanova’s approach will be able to do for you.

Server virtualization changed the data center. The hypervisor’s ability to isolate and run multiple applications on a server continues to drive huge returns. On the client side, desktop virtualization provides the potential to improve the manageability of desktops. However, desktop virtualization is not tied directly to the client hypervisor. End-users aren’t screaming for more sessions running on their PCs. They want to be productive. For many users this means at work, on a plane, at home, wherever. When it comes to things to think about, patches, upgrades, back-ups, are not at the top of their lists. On the other hand, if their laptop is crippled with a virus or they have to wait a couple of days to replace a fried laptop, then you can bet that the corporate helpdesk will be the first to hear about it.

The critical issue for IT is how to more effectively manage, protect and support all of the PCs in an organization without affecting the end-users. The more transparent the management is to the end-user, the better. If that solution includes a hypervisor as a component, great, but end-users don’t care. And it’s not a requirement for IT either, especially if IT can centralize management and control without deploying and managing a client hypervisor.

The bottom line. Desktop virtualization does not need to be based on a client hypervisor. Desktop virtualization is bigger than that.

This is a great starting point, but there shouldn’t be a distinction in end-user experience based on whether users are operating over the LAN or WAN. This sort of compromise is what has left many organizations with a bad taste in their mouth about desktop virtualization. Most users’ experience would be severely impacted if they weren’t able to:
- install applications
- work offline
- change settings and configurations

The best measure of user experience is productivity. Is a user more — or less — productive after deploying a particular solution? And not all workers are the same. Knowledge workers may need more compute power, freedom, and flexibility than task workers. IT must also consider other factors that impact productivity: What are the impact of break/fix tasks on the end-user? How fast are desktop restores? Does an end-user need to worry about running back-ups?

When evaluating desktop virtualization solutions, do focus on user experience, but make sure you consider ALL aspects of productivity.