Systems Alliance Blog

Even with all the hype surrounding its launch, back in October 2009 few customers I talked with were excited about using Windows 7 as their desktop virtualization OS. What a difference a few months can make. Increasingly, IT directors are excited about Windows 7 because it provides a rationale for justifying investments in desktop virtualization.

Deploying Windows 7 in a virtual desktop environment can save companies a load of time and money because they no longer have to worry about whether their current desktop PCs meet Windows 7 system requirements. Plus, they can avoid the hassle of backing up their current XP desktops and reloading – and configuring – those systems with Windows 7.

For the past month or so I have been testing Windows 7 on a laptop configured with dual core AMD CPUs and 8 GB of memory. Having worked with lots of different desktop virtualization architectures, I wanted to see if the Windows 7 operating system could handle two different types of type 2 hypervisors (Sun’s VirtualBox and VMware Server running on top of a desktop operating systems). There was no problem running these desktop hypervisors on Windows 7 with actual virtual machines running (VMs). In the past, I have tried running just Virtualbox on Windows XP and had problems with the application being unresponsive (this was on a laptop configured with 3 GB of memory and an Intel Core Duo CPU)!

As we move through 2010, this will definitely be the year of desktop virtualization, partially because of the desire to support Windows 7. One thing companies need to keep in mind when considering Windows 7 for desktop virtualization is how Microsoft handles virtualization licensing. VECD (Virtual Enterprise Centralized Desktop) is a license that Microsoft requires for customers implementing desktop virtualization. The VECD license must be purchased in addition to the base Window operating system license – one for each virtual system.

Even with the added licensing cost, desktop virtualization implementations produce a solid return on investment (ROI) – in my experience 18 to 21 months is realistic. Not bad, especially if you consider swapping desktop PCs for a true zero-administration thin-client device, such as the Sun Ray.

Unlike PCs, Sun Rays can last 10 to 15 years (they average 200k hours MTBF) and use a lot less electricity than an average desktop PC (< 8 watts vs. >80 for the PC). If the device fails, you can replace it with another device and keep on computing, no need to call IT for hardware support !

So if you’re looking for a way to get your end users on board with a transition to desktop virtualization, choosing Windows 7 for your desktop is a good way to go – it will definitely get your users excited!

Systems Alliance has some great tools for assessing the potential benefits of VDI in your environment. To learn more sign up for a no-cost VDI assessment here. Or call your local Systems Alliance rep to arrange an on-site meeting: 1-877-797-2554.

Will You Be Deploying the Longines Symphonette or the RCA Console with Hi-Fi Stereo in Your Data Center This Year?

Much has been made recently of the ongoing battle between Cisco and HP as they stake out a presence in the emerging market for consolidated infrastructure components. Cisco is touting its Unified Computing platform as a “virtual data center” and “ladder to the cloud,” while HP has introduced the Blade System Matrix that provides a “cloud in a box.”

Buzz-worthy indeed, yet the way forward for both Cisco and HP is a bit confusing, cloudy perhaps.

I have tremendous respect for John Chambers and his ability to continuously grow Cisco's business. Cisco, like HP, is now increasing its focus on products and services for markets beyond the enterprise. A growing portion of Cisco's revenue is coming from video conferencing and consumer products like Linksys routers, set-top boxes and Flip cameras... Yes you too can now experience a “Digital Crib” from Cisco. A broader revenue base is good for Cisco stockholders and maybe for enterprises that have made large commitments to Cisco and need to be confident about their future.

Likewise, HP continues to grow revenue outside of the data center with a heavy focus on consumer PCs, laptops, netbooks and printers, as well as specialized printers for commercial and industrial graphic arts production (see: http://h10088.www1.hp.com/cda/gap/display/main/index.jsp?zn=gap&cp=20000_4041_100 for a look at how graphics created with an HP Scitex printer were used to wrap a train, yes a train, to promote Disney's A Christmas Carol.

Against this backdrop of diversification, Cisco and HP are betting we'll embrace the concept of single, consolidated infrastructure for enterprise-class data centers.

Not so fast…
The Technical Architects at SAI spend a significant amount of time analyzing and debating the emerging technologies and products offered by our alliance partners and other industry leaders. As our team has looked at the “use cases” for consolidated infrastructure, they have raised questions about the implications of deploying components that are “in between” the current model of dedicated components and a future that may be populated with purpose-built IT appliances.

And here's where the Longines Symphonette (LS) comes in. Yes, back in the 1960s and 70s consumers were offered interesting combinations of TVs and stereo components in non-descript faux wooden cabinets – perfect for the easy listening sounds of the LS. These systems initially met with acceptance in the marketplace due to their positioning as a piece of furniture that captured all of your entertainment needs.

This did not last. In short order the quality of home audio components improved, new technologies were introduced (eight tracks and audio cassettes) and musical tastes evolved – how about the first time you heard Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love. Consoles lost their appeal as purist disdain for moderate quality performance in each area lead to the eventual dis-integration of the components.

During the last two years, we have seen large enterprises make fast and significant progress ( increasing infrastructure utilization rates and decreasing capital costs and operating expenses) with faster and cheaper servers and storage coupled with virtualization tools. Against that backdrop, it's hard to imagine that the current crop of consolidated infrastructure components will gain ground. As these devices evolve to purpose built appliances, the dynamics may change. For now, best of breed individual infrastructure components appear to be a lower cost and higher performance solution.