1. Going Virtual Best Practices
Double feature panel session:
Virtual Labs & Virtual Desktops
Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., Capitol Ballroom F-H
Session convener: Joe Howe, Senior Information Technology Manager
MBA, University of Texas at Austin
Labs: George Mathew, Chief Technology Officer
Goodwin College of Professional Studies, Drexel University
Desktops: (panelists from the University of Texas at Austin team)
Benjamin Miller, Computer Systems Development Specialist
Bob Gloyd, Director of IT, Cockrell School of Engineering
Brant Kuykendall, System Administrator, University of Texas at Austin
Charles Soto, Director of IT, School of Communication
David Burns, Director of IT, Red McCombs School of Business

2. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

3. Tools & Cost Components
Capital
Recurring
Hypervisor
$4K / server*
20% of Capital Cost
Desktop Broker
$150 / seat
Microsoft Operating System (VECD)
Talk with your Microsoft rep.
Virtual Applications
$40 / seat
Labor
Learning Curve
Very Scalable
Hardware
sessions / server (16 cores / 128GB RAM)
Plan on 4 year support incl. w/ server cost
Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate
Communication is key, along with marketing, yes marketing
* Hardware and Software can be bundled
** The above numbers are all approximate costs

4. Component Options Hypervisor Desktop Broker (provisioning tool)
VMware ESX/vCenter
Microsoft Hyper-V/SC Virtual Machine Manager
Desktop Broker (provisioning tool)
VMware VIEW 4
Citrix XenDesktop
Virtual Applications
VMware Thinapp
Microsoft App-V
Citrix XenApp

5. Delivering the Desktop
Desktop Image Lifecycle
Create
“Sparse” Image via vCenter
Virtual Applications
Update
Quick Response for Faculty Requests
Monthly Patching
Distribute (via Broker)
Determine Policies
Quantity of VMs
Access Groups
Create a Pool of VMs
Pool is associated to a URL for access

6. Thinish Client explorations
Several options
Don't overlook existing hardware
For individuals, Labs, Kiosks, etc.
“Linux PXE Boot Server with Custom Image"
Dell FX160
Pano Logic
DevonIT Safebook
SUNray
Understand the nuances
Management console (aka server)
Overhead considerations
Avoid Operating System
Avoid Moving Parts (bias toward Hot Swaps)

7. vDesk and Sun Rays Sun Ray “Terminals” Sun Ray Server Software
-Low power, no moving parts, last 10yr.
-Minimal investment, theft deterrent
-No OS to maintain outside datacenter
Sun Ray Server Software
-Provides management, firmware, “windowing” session (X session)
-Can be clustered to support session failover, esp. useful in VDI environment
-MS-licensed RDP client
SRSS View Connector
-Connects SRSS sessions to View portal via SSL
-Can use “kiosk” mode or require cards/authentication before View auth
View Portal
-Provisions and allows access to desktops (RDP)

8. Initial vDesk Service Usage
Twenty Sun Ray 2/2FS/270
Jesse H. Jones Communication Complex Lobby for student, faculty, staff use
Central printing service
Departmental offices for use by student workers
Equipment check-out
Reception areas
Sixty Laptops available for checkout
Lobby for 24-hour use
Classroom “laptop cart” delivered within building
Individual 3-day checkout for faculty, staff, graduate student use
Access from Mac labs to avoid “Boot Camp” delays to run Windows software (EZNews, PASW, browser testing)

9. Anticipated Use Sun Rays in Belo Center (2012)
Part-timer (TA/AI) use in “bullpen” areas
No dedicated offices, so “hot desk” key to cultural shift
Sun Rays/vDesk in “Huddle Spaces”
Positioned near table/whiteboard for non-private group work
Sun Rays/vDesk become primary desktop
Only very special-purpose needs get “fat” PC

10. Virtual Desktop tools are ready
Scaling Success
Cornerstones
Virtual Server foundation
Targeted audience/usage
Starting small and scaling
We started within the School with a couple of blades
And have grown to multiple hefty servers 
Keep your eye on the customer!
Don't become enamored with the project
Grants are good, from Industry &/or Campus
Not ALL applications are ready
from School to Campus
Virtual Desktop tools are ready

11. Q&A and Contact Info
Session convener: Joe Howe
Labs: George Mathew, Chief Technology Officer
Goodwin College of Professional Studies, Drexel University
Desktops: (panelists from the University of Texas at Austin team)
Benjamin Miller,
Bob Gloyd,
Brant Kuykendall,
Charles Soto,
David Burns,

12. More to come… High Performance Graphics Windows 7 Offline offering
Developing our deployments now
Based upon the Nov '09 releases
Windows 7
  Offline offering
Checking out a session to a Student-owned CPU
Employee Owned Computers