HP Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is an end-to-end client virtualization solution based on the best managed and virtualization-ready HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers, HP StorageWorks storage, and HP Thin Client access devices.
NEW! HP VDI with Citrix XenDesktop: Next-generation, user-centric desktop virtualization solution that provides a complete system for desktop delivery.
Benefits include:
Confidence in deploying a new client architecture: Rely on decades of ProLiant and BladeSystem, StorageWorks and Thin Clients engineering and integration experience
Achieve strong data security and: Move business-critical data into the data center for tighter security and compliance
With HP VDI, the typical heterogeneous desktop environment is replaced with HP Thin Clients on the front-end, and HP ProLiant or BladeSystem servers with HP StorageWorks external storage or local storage on the backend. For each desktop, an OS is virtualized on the server using virtualization software.
HP's Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution is comprised of servers, storage, software, management, and access devices and is delivered via a combination of HP and partner delivered services.
Servers
With the potential for a large number of users on a single server and the ability to scale to a large memory footprint typically required for virtualized environments, HP ProLiant servers provide an excellent platform for a virtualized desktop infrastructure. This building block is required in all implementations and the choice of server determines what loads can be supported and how the risk is distributed in the environment. HP has a broad range of servers certified for VMware Infrastructure, Citrix XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V. Offering a broad array of choices gives you the ability to select the specific platform that is right for your environment whether that is blades or rack mount, Intel® or AMD™, 2-socket or 4-socket.
Storage
The type of storage has a profound effect on the overall functionality of a VDI implementation. HP offers many storage options and solutions that can be deployed ranging from Direct Attached Storage (DAS) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) to Internet SCSI (iSCSI), and fibre channel Storage Area Networks (SAN). HP offers several products within these categories that are designed to support a range of requirements from the very small business to the enterprise data center to provide appropriate levels of high availability.
Software
There are three key pieces of software that are required at minimum to create an HP VDI solution.
A virtualization layer to host the virtual desktops. VMware ESX, Microsoft Hyper-V or Citrix XenDesktop.
A desktop operating system installed into the virtualization layer
A connection protocol to join the remote client and virtual desktop. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Citrix's Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) or HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS) may be used.
Management
Infrastructure Management
Management is a vital component of the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, and HP offers a comprehensive suite of management software tools powered by the HP Insight Control software components.
The Insight Control Environment software is time-smart management software that delivers total control, maximum flexibility, and tangible savings for your ProLiant and BladeSystem infrastructure. Based on HP Systems Insight Manager and ProLiant Essentials software, the Insight Control suites deliver comprehensive system health, remote control, vulnerability scanning and patch management as well as flexible deployment and power management in one easy to install package for virtual and physical servers.
Configuration Management
HP Configuration Management solutions enable IT to automate deployment and carry out continuous management of software, including operating systems, applications, patches, content and configuration settings, on the widest breadth and largest volume of devices throughout the lifecycle.
Connection Management
There are two basic HP VDI implementations that can be characterized as Static and Dynamic based on whether there is a connection broker present in the environment.
Static deployments are essentialy a one-to-one replacement where a desktop is removed and replaced with one virtual desktop dedicated to a user.
Dynamic deployments employ a connection broker, which assigns the user to one of many pooled desktops. This implementation offers benefits such as higher utilization rates and lower costs.
The different connection brokers available with HP VDI are:
VMware Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM) integrates and orchestrates the process of deploying and managing VMs into the broker functionality. VDM allows for flexible provisioning, strong network security, tight Active Directory integration and strong authentication as well as for a common management interface for administration of servers and desktops.
Citrix Desktop Delivery Controller (DDC) is the brokering mechanism between the endpoint and the virtual desktop running in the data center. It also manages connections between users' endpoint devices and the virtual desktops.
HP Session Allocation Manager : when a broader client virtualization portfolio is being considered that includes blade workstations and blade PCs.
Access Devices
HP offers a choice of clients to fit the needs of a variety of deployments, but recommends the deployment of thin clients to serve as access devices. While it is possible to redeploy desktops as general access devices, maximum savings and efficiency comes from stateless, low power thin client devices.
HP Thin Clients serve as ideal access devices for VDI by providing enhanced security, easy manageability, high reliability and low TCO.
Power Savings Example
As an example, the HP t5520 thin client uses 20 watts of electricity. A typical desktop may consume 120 watts within the same environment. If we think in terms of a 1,000 client deployment, the power savings equate to 100 kWh per hour.
Services
In addition to Software Technical Support Services that provides customers with round the clock telephone access to HP Response Centers and experienced technical specialists, HP offers services for VDI that will enable customers to deploy a more reliable, scalable, and manageable desktop infrastructure at lower and more predictable costs.
These services include
HP VDI Planning Services
HP VDI Quick Start Service
HP VDI Implementation Services
Customers have the option of using HP planning, quickstart and implementation services for the following solutions
HP VDI with VMware
HP VDI with Citrix XenDesktop using XenServer
HP VDI with Citrix XenDesktop using Microsoft Hyper-V
