February 1, 2010
Over the past month or so, All Covered has posted multiple articles regarding virtualization. A few articles focused on the big picture—discussing virtualization in general. Other articles concentrated on the three different types of virtualization: server, desktop and application. Several other articles focused on virtualization architecture—drafting your virtualization plans. This article, last in the current series, will focus on some final key points to keep in mind as you adopt the right virtualization solutions for your business.
Things to Consider
- Assess your business’s virtualization needs. As with any technology, it’s important to know what your business needs and identify how the proposed solution, in this case virtualization, will benefit your business.
- Choose the best virtualization solution. Just because you can virtualize everything from the servers to workstations to applications doesn’t mean that you should. Be careful to select the virtualization solutions that meet your business’s unique IT needs.
- Define user needs. Understand how people use the computers, servers and other IT devices in your business. This will help you make a list of required features you’re your virtualization solution should have.
- Identify users that will need to use the virtualization solution. Choosing the best virtualization solution should take into account which users will use virtualization solutions. Will everyone in your small business need these solutions? Does anyone work remotely? Will they be accessing the solutions by smartphone? As described in previous articles, different user needs require different virtualization solutions.
- Define system security needs. IT network security can be impacted by a chosen virtualization solution. Depending on which virtual solutions you choose, your firewall and perimeter security may need to be modified.
- Plan your backups. Virtualized systems may need to be backed-up differently than non-virtualized system. The total amount of backed-up data may increase or decrease, depending upon your chosen virtualization solution.
- Determine your uptime needs. If your business requires that your virtualized system must have high availability as part of its solution, make sure that your software and hardware will support it.
- Create a realistic budget. Choosing the best virtualization solutions for your business may be costly. Keep in mind that you might have to purchase hardware and other applications to support the virtualization process. Also, keep in mind that you should not “go cheap.” The best virtualization solutions might cost more, but you are guaranteed to get a trustworthy product that will meet your business’s needs.
Follow-up
Regardless of which virtualization solution you choose for your small business, keep in mind the above key points before you commit time or money. Whether you only need some advice or a complete virtualization plan and installation, please contact the virtualization experts at All Covered at 866-446-1133.
Download PDF
January 25, 2010
Application virtualization allows any application to run on any operating system in any location. Virtualizing applications drastically reduces compatibility issues and makes it easy to go mobile. The flexibility of application virtualization makes it an ideal IT tool for businesses when it used as part of a comprehensive IT plan.
This article focuses on application virtualization architecture, which will help you define your business’s desktop virtualization needs and draft a plan to incorporate it into your IT plan.
Application Virtualization Architecture
As part of your application virtualization plan, you need to decide which type of end-user platform will best suit your business needs. Each platform has distinct advantages that should be considered. Key points to consider are as follows:
- Smartphones- Virtual applications can be configured to “offline” mode where the applications are stored on a smartphone’s hard drive, or they can be set up to “stream” from the phone’s internet connection when the application is needed.
- Remote machines- Virtualized applications are accessible through direct streaming from the internet, connection through a secure VPN or in offline mode. Using virtualized applications in offline mode is great for situations such as travel where you need access to an application but don’t have internet access.
- Local network systems- Application virtualization works best for local systems and gives a superior multimedia experience that can’t be rivaled by smartphones and offsite computers.
Possible Limitations
As you draft your application virtualization plan, consider the possible limitations that might affect your specific technology needs. Potential limitations include the following:
- Poor multimedia experience- Most virtualized applications are unable to deliver a rich multimedia experience to smartphones. Some virtualized multimedia programs will run better than others will—talk to your IT consultant about your specific software needs.
- Poor peripheral device support- While virtual applications do often work better with peripherals than virtualized serves and workstations there are still limitations that might impact your business. Applications that require a USB security key may not work. Virtual applications don’t always work well with high-end video cards. If you run a virtualized application on a virtualized workstation, the peripheral devices will experience the limitations of the virtualized application.
- Security compatibility issues- Unlike most applications, security apps such as antivirus, antimalware or software firewalls can’t be virtualized. Keep in mind that virtualized applications don’t interact with an operating system; security applications need to interact with the operating system to do their job.
Talk to the Experts
To learn more about the specific ways that application virtualization can benefit your business and to get help drafting a customized plan that will best meet your business’s needs, please contact the virtualization experts at All Covered at 866-446-1133.
Download PDF
January 18, 2010
Desktop virtualization is a gre
at technology solution that can save your business time and money. Chances are that you’ve already spent time creating a server virtualization plan, or have already started the conversion process; now is the time to get your workstation virtualization plan drafted. This article focuses on desktop virtualization architecture, which will help you define your businesses desktop virtualization needs.
Desktop Virtualization Architecture
As part of your desktop virtualization plan, you need to decide which type of end-user platform will best suit your business needs. Each platform has distinct advantages that should be considered. Key points to consider are as follows:
- Standard Workstation- Using workstations that you already own is an affordable desktop virtualization solution that allows multiple operating systems to run on one machine without requiring the upfront investment cost associated with purchasing a host server. Running virtualized desktops locally, is the quickest and most affordable way to take quickly take advantage of virtualization. VM Player and Microsoft Virtual PC are the great options for running virtual desktops on desktop computers
- Thin Client Application- Using a thin client application allows you to access a virtually administered desktop on existing hardware. This means that you don’t have to spend money to replace current desktop computers with other hardware. It also means that you can access a virtualized desktop from a smart phone. Keep in mind that the only virtualization solution that currently supports multimedia applications is XenDesktop.
- Thin Client- The thin client is an affordable hardware device designed to replace the desktop. This streamlined desktop unit has a monitor, processor, RAM and a network card that enable it to run a virtual desktop from a host server. Many thin clients can support local printers and USB devices. Consider this virtualization solution when your desktop computers have exceeded their life expectancies.
Possible limitations
As you draft your desktop virtualization plan, consider the possible limitations that may or may not impact your specific technology needs. Potential limitations include the following:
Poorly supported multimedia applications- Most virtualized workstations do not successfully support multimedia applications—especially applications with high-quality graphics.
- Flash animation found in many web sites will be degraded.
- Web-based training may not be as effective since audio and video features are not well supported.
- AutoCAD and Adobe Photoshop may not work properly.
Poorly supported peripherals- Peripheral devices such as USB drives may not work well with virtual workstations.
- Microsoft and VMware solutions cannot take advantage of high-quality monitors
- Many local printers will not work with virtualized workstations—research your solutions and ensure compatibility with currently owned hardware.
- USB storage devices are not compatible with all types of virtualized workstations. While thin clients and workstations work well, thin client applications do not.
- Smart phones, blackberries, iPhones and Palm handheld devices may not work with all virtualized workstations.
Talk to the experts
When you draft your desktop virtualization plan, consider business needs, your current hardware investments and choose the solution that will best meet those needs. Please contact All Covered at 866-446-1133 to learn more about the best virtualization solutions for your business.
Download PDF
January 11, 2010
Virtualization involves more than just converting multiple servers onto a more robust platform. Once you’ve made the decision to virtualize your IT environment, don’t pull out you credit card until you’ve taken the time to properly plan your virtualization architecture. Creating a well-crafted virtualization plan will ensure that your business maximizes every dollar spent and realizes the best that virtualization technology has to offer. This article focuses on server virtualization architecture—assessing business needs and planning implementation—which many IT experts consider the foundational level of any virtualization plan.
Server virtualization architecture
As you draft your server virtualization plan you should consider the following:
- Multiple host servers- If your business has only one host server and that fails, your business just lost access to every server—virtual and physical. Your business should have at least two or more host servers so the virtual servers can be moved from one server to the other if needed. If uptime is essential to your business, consider the high-availability options found in Hyper-V, VSphere and Essentials for XenServer. These solutions will automatically move virtual servers from one host to another in the event of a physical server failure.
- Processor capacity- Make sure that your physical servers have the processor capacity needed to run SQL servers and mail servers during peak business hours—a system slowdown can cost your business money. In high-utilization environments, consider solutions such as VSphere or Essentials for XenServer that can automatically move the virtual server to another host with spare processor capacity.
- Storage capacity- Instead of spending money on high capacity hard drives for your host servers, All Covered recommends investing in a SAN or NAS device that is connected through a high-speed fibre channel. This will maximize your investments in storage hardware and provide your company flexibility around hosting and storing virtual systems. Essentials for XenServer is recommended for easy configuration of storage devices, and many SAN devices are pre-configured for use with Hyper-V
- High-speed connectivity Host servers need hi-speed connectivity to the network to ensure that computer users have a “real-time” virtualization experience—slow connectivity creates problems when users can’t quickly access the servers. Host servers should have multiple gigabit connectors that are attached to a gigabit switch on the network. In addition, host servers should be connected to NAS and SAN devices through a fibre channel to ensure that high-speed connectivity.
- Peripheral devices- Unfortunately, virtualized servers are not compatible with USB devices such as drives, peripherals and fax modems. In addition, devices with external SCSI connectors may not work well with virtualized servers. This means that some of your current hardware such as tape libraries may not work with your virtualization solution. Do your research before spending any money—make sure that you are choosing the right solution for your business.
- Rapid recovery- While server virtualization makes it possible to backup entire virtual servers for rapid recovery, keep in mind that you will need to have available storage space at that is at least one and a half times the size of the server you are backing up—while expensive, rapid recovery from previously made backups may make it worth the cost.
Get help from the experts
Drafting a server virtualization plan is easy when you work with experienced professionals. To speak with the virtualization experts, please contact All Covered at 866-446-1133.
Download PDF
January 5, 2010
I
n 1995, Citrix introduced the world to virtualization with NT 3.5 WinFrame, an application virtualization solution. Later, they offered NT 4.0 Terminal Server, a desktop virtualization solution. As the founders of virtualization technology, Citrix is the company that many businesses recognize and trust for their virtualization solutions.
Server Virtualization
XenServer is Citrix’s no-cost server virtualization solution that gives small and medium sized businesses an affordable and effective way to adopt an enterprise-class technology. Unlike other server virtualization solutions, XenServer provides premium grade features for free. Benefits include the following:
- XenServer supports an unlimited number of servers, virtual machines and physical memory.
- XenServer includes a conversion function will allow you to convert a virtual server into a physical server and physical server into a virtual server as needed. (Other server virtualization solutions will charge you for this feature.)
- Shared SAN and NAS storage between server hosts maximize available storage on the network.
- All virtualized servers can be accessed and maintained from a single location.
- In the event of server failure, affected virtual machines are automatically restarted on other production servers.
- A library of pre-configured virtual machine templates make it easy to rapidly create a test or production environment.
- Centralized patch management makes it easy to keep virtual servers updated.
- Easy migration of virtual systems to from one host server to another makes it simple to maintain host servers.
- XenServer is open-source and takes advantage of the intellectual contributions of thousands of users, hundreds of companies and partners.
- XenServer is compatible with most server hardware that is currently available.
Desktop Virtualization
XenDesktop is Citrix’s desktop virtualization solution. As an on-demand service, XenDesktop will deliver a Windows desktop to any user, anywhere. Features include the following:
- XenDesktop users can access their desktop and corporate applications from any PC, Mac, thin client or smart phone.
- XenDesktop gives users a computing experience that rivals a local PC, even when using Multimedia, 3D graphics or VoIP-integrated applications.
- Each desktop is customizable to meet the performance and security needs of individual users.
- XenDesktop will work with your existing hypervisor, storage and Microsoft infrastructures—you don’t have to spend more money buying compatible programs.
Application Virtualization
XenApp is Citrix’s application virtualization solution that allows users to directly access Windows applications from through a desktop computer or web browser. Benefits include the following:
- Windows applications can be accessed on devices that have non-Windows based operating systems—more than thirty operating systems are currently supported.
- This solution requires that only one virtualized copy of an application such as Office 2010 be installed and maintained, while allowing any number of users to access and use it as if it was locally installed.
- Applications can be streamed directly from the host server for users working on the corporate network or remotely. Permissions can even be set up to allow users to download and access apps while offline.
- Virtualized applications function as if they are locally installed.
- Application delivery and access is customizable for each user and their preferred device, network and typical access location.
Virtualization Management
Essentials for XenServer is an add-on enhancement that complements XenServer by providing additional features and integrated management capabilities for server, desktop and application virtualization.
- One-click access to native storage makes device management simple.
- Automated high-availability protection will move virtualized machines from a failed host server to another physical server.
- Automated management of lab infrastructures decreases the complexity, time and cost of managing non-production environments.
- Automated workload balancing will move virtual servers to hosts with more available resources based on pre-configured policies.
Learn more
To learn more about Citrix’s suite of virtualization solutions, please contact the virtualization experts at All Covered 866-446-1133.
