An Overview on Virtualization
What is Virtualization? Why we need it? Describe which things can be virtualized.
Virtualization is a technology that allows you to create useful IT services using resources that are tied to hardware. It allows you to use the full capacity of the physical machine by distributing its capabilities among multiple users or locations.
For practical terms, imagine you have 3 portable servers with dedicated goals for each. One is a mail server, the other is a web server, and the last one uses internal asset applications. Each server is used at a capacity of 30% — just a fraction of its capacity. But since legacy apps are always important for your internal functionality, you should keep them with a third-party hosting server, right?
Traditionally, yes. It used to be easier and more reliable to do each job on individual servers: 1 server, 1 operating system, 1 task. It was not easy to give 1 server a lot of brains. But with practicality, you can split a mail server into 2 different ones that can handle private tasks so that valuable applications can be moved. It’s the same hardware, you just use a lot more effectively.
Remembering the security, you can split the original server again so that it can handle another task — increasing its usage from 30%, up to 60%, to 90%. Once you have done that, the empty servers can now be reused for other purposes or discontinued to reduce cooling and repair costs.
Discuss desktop virtualization environment
Desktop Virtualization is a way to simulate a user’s work environment to be accessible from a connected device remotely. By removing the user desktop in this way, organizations can allow users to work from almost anywhere with a network connection, using any desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone to access business resources without having to look at a remote user-operated device or operating system.
Remote desktop virtualization is also an important part of digital workstations. Virtual desktop applications that run on desktop virtualization servers typically run on virtual machines (VMs) either on local data centers or in the public cloud.
Since user devices are a display, keyboard, and mouse, a lost or stolen device poses a reduced risk to the organization. All user data and programs are available on desktop virtualization server, not on client devices.
How does Desktop Virtualization work?
Remote desktop virtualization is typically based on a client/server model, where the organization’s chosen operating system and applications run on a server located either in the cloud or in a data center. In this model all interactions with users occur on a local device of the user’s choosing, reminiscent of the so-called ‘dumb’ terminals popular on mainframes and early Unix systems.
What is remote application?
Remote application is an application delivery solution where the actual application is installed on a central server and used on a remote device. The end user receives the app’s screenshots while being able to provide keyboard, thumbprint and mouse input. Remote applications have multiple names: remote application, client applications, remote control applications, visualization of applications and visual applications. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is one of the most popular policies used to transfer data from a datacenter-run application to remote devices.
Remote applications often include Windows desktop seamlessly. For example, users can move and resize windows applications. They can switch apps with ALT + TAB, and then click the program name in the start menu to launch the application. But also, the app was not installed on the user’s computer, it was run elsewhere, and the app’s pixels were displayed on the user’s screen.
Products that use remote applications include VMware and Microsoft RDSH. This is also the technology used by DaaS providers. The specific network protocol used to transfer remote images from the app to the user’s computer is dedicated to this purpose, and each different provider has its own protocol. (e.g. Microsoft RemoteFX, VMware PCoverIP, etc.)
Some large cloud providers also offer remote application solutions for remote applications.
Benefits of Remote Applications
There are quite a few benefits when it comes to remote applications, some of which are:
o There is no conflict between different applications on the user’s computer because the remote application is not actually installed on their computer.
o As remote applications do not run on the user’s computer, they can be accessed from a computer that is not running Windows. (For example, Mac users can access Windows-only applications because the application is running on a Windows computer elsewhere and only sends the application image to the user.)
o The remote application can be used immediately, even if users have never used it before. Users simply click on the application icon and can start using it immediately.
o When it is necessary to remove an application from a user, the IT department simply cancels the user’s permission to use the app. There is nothing to uninstall or remove on the user’s computer, and it won’t destroy anything on the user’s computer.
o When IT departments need to update applications, they don’t need to go to hundreds of users’ desktops and update the applications there, they just need to update copies of the applications on their servers.
How to access published application
The process of delivering published applications is known as the remote control of the application, where the application is actually installed on a different device, such as a server in a data center, and the virtualization software displays it in a repository. This software, such as Citrix XenApp or VMware Horizon, can deliver both Windows and Linux published applications, depending on the last point application used.
Users can access and run applications that are published the same way they do with native apps. IT can deliver published applications to Windows and Linux desktops and their mobile devices. Windows PC users can access published applications through the start menu or shortcuts. Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) and VDI technology both have the ability to pull the remote, but published applications are more common with RDSH. They may also be available on the desktop as service offerings.
How to install published applications
IT has two options for how to deliver published applications to users. Another way is to publish one application. An IT professional can do this by using the command line on the machine where the system resides. Another option is to publish more than one application by selecting the applications folder that will be delivered.
The exact process that IT professionals have to go through to install applications published on Windows PCs varies slightly depending on the virtualization software they use, but there are regular denominators in terms of steps to take.
The basic process begins with opening applications published to users’ devices, which includes something as simple as clicking a checkbox or moving the slide to the location of the visual app software. Next, IT selects the display name and description of the application. It will then have to apply the command to launch the application in its local area and decide whether or not to enable the application in the start menu.
List of different virtualization software
SolarWinds Virtualization Manager
§ Reclaim virtual resources instantly with VM sprawl alerts and recommendations from Virtualization Manager.
§ Determine how much CPU, memory, and storage is needed, and when they are required.
§ Get a clear view of where future VM workloads should be placed for optimum performance.
§ Quickly monitor and report on vSAN capacity and performance.
§ Its price starts from $2995.
V2 Cloud
§ V2 Cloud makes it incredibly easy to deploy cloud-based Windows desktops in less than 10 clicks. Our fully managed desktop as a service (DaaS) solution provides business owners and IT managers more time to focus on core business initiatives.
§ Our DaaS offering is cost-efficient, fast, and scalable. Unlike other popular offerings, V2 Cloud does not require in-depth training or certifications to use.
§ Its price starts from $60/month.
Microsoft Hyper-V
§ Enable Hyper-V to create virtual machines on Windows 10.
§ Hyper-V can be enabled in many ways including using the Windows 10 control panel, PowerShell or using the Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management tool (DISM). This document walks through each option.
§ And the great thing about this software that its free of cost.
VM Ware Workstation
§ Run VMs and Containers on a Single PC.
§ Enjoy Baked-In vSphere and ESXi Support.
§ Develop and Test for Any Platform.
§ Run Secure and Isolated Desktops.
§ It give you 30 days of free trial after that VMware Workstation 16 Pro price starts from $199.