Article Source Linux Magazine
December 14, 2009, 5:46 pm
December 14, 2009, 5:46 pm
Unfortunately, one of the trends that’s sweeping in with the new year is desktop virtualization, aka Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). I think that the idea of VDI is good but the execution fails miserably. The mere thought of “traditional format” VDI makes me queasy. Replacing a fat, local desktop operating system for a fat, network-based desktop operating system isn’t very appealing to me for some reason. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Oh, that’s right, I remember now—it’s the fact that it’s a bad idea. The hardware expense and the amount of bandwidth required are both too high for practical implementation.
There‚Äôs also the fact that you aren‚Äôt removing any component out of the support stream for currently accepted VDI compared to that of traditional desktop computers. You still have hardware at the user‚Äôs desk. You still have a fat desktop operating system sitting on a virtual machine instead of on your physical one. You still have to patch and protect all of those virtual desktops with antivirus software and antispyware software. And, unless you‚Äôre willing to lay out the money for a high-priced network infrastructure and very high-end virtual host server systems, your performance will compare favorably with stagnant pond scum on a calm day…
 
