FAQ: Desktop virtualization

There's huge interest in desktop virtualization technology, due to its promises of improved security, manageability and flexibility. Here are some details on how the technology works and why it might be a fit for your company.

What is desktop virtualization?

The use of software to abstract the operating system, applications and associated data from the user's PC.

Why do IT shops use it?

Virtualization, according to vendors, makes it easier to manage user PCs, provision new desktops, push out patches and enforce security policies. Total cost of ownership can be reduced with desktop virtualization, depending upon the choice of software and hardware, but projects usually require higher upfront costs than a regular PC refresh.

What's in it for users?

Users get the option of running multiple operating systems on their computer, and can access hosted desktops from any location and any device. However, a hosted desktop model typically prevents offline access.

Are all desktop virtualization products pretty much the same?

No. Broadly speaking, there are two kinds: Local desktop virtualization, which runs the entire desktop environment in a protected “bubble” on the user's PC; and hosted desktop virtualization, which stores the users' desktops in the data center on a server or PC blade, requiring users to access their desktop images through a network connection.

Who are the key vendors?

There are many. Desktop virtualization software is provided by established vendors such as VMware, Citrix and Microsoft, as well as numerous start-ups, including Neocleus and Virtual Computer. Thin clients and PC blades, which are often paired with virtualization software, are sold by various hardware vendors including Wyse Technology, HP, Dell, Sun and ClearCube.

What new desktop virtualization technologies are in the works?

The biggest development is the emergence of bare-metal hypervisors, a type of local desktop virtualization that installs the hypervisor on top of the PC's operating system. They not yet widely available, but vendors say they will provide better security than Type 2 hypervisors, because the bare-metal type runs independently of the client operating system, and deliver better performance than hosted desktops, because applications run on the local client instead of a remote server.

The technology is in various stages of development, but you can expect to see generally available products from the likes of VMware, Citrix, Neocleus and Virtual Computer later this year.

How much will it cost to virtualize my desktops?

It varies. Neocleus plans to charge between $50 and $100 per desktop, while the premium version of VMware View costs about $250 per virtualized desktop. But the cost of the software is just the beginning. A hosted desktop model requires servers or PC blades to deliver virtual machines, as well as networked storage for applications and data. A desktop virtualization project may also require purchasing of thin clients or other client devices. Anecdotally, Forrester Research analysts have found that enterprises spend about $860 per user, plus network upgrades, to get a desktop virtualization project up and running in the first year. If all goes well, desktop virtualization should eventually pay for itself and provide long-term cost savings, but the time to ROI can be anywhere from six months to a few years.