Just the Apps


We get so excited with the thought of VDI, we often forget to take a step back and focus on what we are trying to do. Here is a recent example… We need to find a way to get an application to our users. Our first problem is that many of our users are not… Continue reading Just the Apps

Application compatibility with Windows 7


How many of you have migrated to Windows 7? If the company you work for has, I bet there are a host of applications that are not compatible with Windows 7 (although Win7 is much better at app compatibility than Vista). So what options do you have? . Let’s say your application worked fine with… Continue reading Application compatibility with Windows 7

Light Users: Hosted VM-based or Hosted Shared Desktops


I recently posted a blog focusing on the resource requirements for hosted VM-based virtual desktops. These are realistic numbers and should make you wonder if the hosted VM-based virtual desktop is the most appropriate solution for all four user categories. What I found interesting was I had another blog identified as a follow-up talking about… Continue reading Light Users: Hosted VM-based or Hosted Shared Desktops

Deciding How to Integrate Applications into a Virtual Desktop


A customer asked me, in fact many customers have asked me this question, “I’ve got a XenApp environment and I want to add virtual desktops for my users. What is the best way to integrate the applications?” My response, “It depends”. And like all things in the IT world, most decisions do depend on many… Continue reading Deciding How to Integrate Applications into a Virtual Desktop

How to Avoid Turning Your XenApp into Frankenstein


I just got done watching Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the other day. You  know how the story goes. Victor Frankenstein putting pieces together to create something new. It works, but it is not what Victor expected. In fact, it is so horrible that it scares everyone and destroys all who stand in its way. I also… Continue reading How to Avoid Turning Your XenApp into Frankenstein

Lack of Application Virtualization Strategy


One app, two apps. Red app, Blue app. Old app, new app. What a lot of apps there are (Based on the original by Dr. Seuss) The pond is full of apps. And so is your organization.  And you are probably not even aware of 50% of your applications. How does this relate to desktop… Continue reading Lack of Application Virtualization Strategy

How many desktop images do I really need?


One of the main goals with desktop virtualization is to reduce the number of required desktop images. The fewer number of images, the easier it is to support and maintain the desktop environment, which makes desktop virtualization so promising when compared to the traditional desktop approach. The goal is a single image, but oftentimes, other… Continue reading How many desktop images do I really need?

Danger, Danger My Server Crashed


We all know the impact a server failure can have on a group of users, but what if that server was a core component of a desktop virtualization solution?  That’s a lot of unhappy users.  Before desktop virtualization, nobody gave a second thought about desktop availability. If a desktop failed, it only impacted a single user… Continue reading Danger, Danger My Server Crashed

Seven Requirements for Virtual Desktop Success


What do you think are the main ingredients to any successful desktop virtualization project?  Is it application integration methodology? Is it hardware? What about the IT team?  Based on my experience, the top requirements really boils down to a few core items, all of which I’ve discussed many times in previous blog postings (applications, standards,… Continue reading Seven Requirements for Virtual Desktop Success

This School House Rocks with Virtual Desktops


Imagine an environment where: The endpoints are over 5 years old Users’ personal computers are state of the art Applications have not been patched in over one year Each office has different configurations, although they should be identical These are some of the challenges with one particular environment: the ABC School District. This particular school… Continue reading This School House Rocks with Virtual Desktops