Today we are launching a four-part blog series on desktop virtualization. Desktop virtualization is an essential IT service for most organizations, regardless of their size. There are a number of reasons for deploying desktop virtualization, such as the ability to run Windows apps on a variety of devices and simplifying the installation and management of resources in your environment. So, if you haven't already, you need to plan, deploy, and manage a desktop virtualization solution for your organization.
The goal of this blog series is to provide you with valuable information about desktop virtualization, including planning, deploying, and managing your solution. I'll give you a high-level overview of how to create your own desktop virtualization solution by using Remote Desktop Services server role in Window Server 2012 R2 , Microsoft Azure , and other Microsoft products and technologies.
I invite you to watch this quick video in which The Master of Mobility discusses desktop virtualization.
Now that you got a taste of what Microsoft desktop virtualization can do. Now, let’s dive more deeply into the key benefits that Microsoft’s desktop virtualization solution can provide.
So what’s all the excitement about desktop virtualization? Why should you care? How will it help your organization? More important, how will it make managing your users and their devices easier and reduce your effort (and stress)? These are all great questions, and they’re at the heart of this blog post.
Here four key benefits that come from using desktop virtualization:
Now that we've look at the benefits, let's look at the Microsoft products and technologies that you will use to create your desktop virtualization solution.
You can create your desktop virtualization solution on premises, in the cloud (by using Microsoft Azure), or with a combination of both (hybrid). This freedom allows you to choose the deployment method that best meets the needs of your users and your business model. Table 1 lists the deployment models and provides guidance for selecting each.
Table 1. Remote Desktop Services deployment models
Deployment model |
Purpose of this model |
On-premises |
Creates a built-to-order Remote Desktop Service infrastructure to enable access to remote applications and desktops for your users. |
Cloud-based |
|
Hybrid (on-premises and cloud-based) |
Enables access to remote desktops hosted from within your intranet and the cloud. |
In my next blog, I'll talk about how to deploy your desktop virtualization solution on premises, in the cloud, or with a combination of both, but before we disucss that, I’ll like to tell you more about the products and technologies you’ll need to create your desktop virtualized solution.
Here is a list of the five Microsoft products and technologies that you’ll need to create a desktop virtualization solution:
Table 2. Remote Desktop Services role services
Role service |
Description |
RD Virtualization Host |
Integrates with Hyper-V to deploy pooled or personal virtual desktop collections within your organization. |
RD Session Host |
Provides RemoteApp programs or session-based desktops. Users can connect to RD Session Host servers in a session collection to run programs, save files, and use resources on those servers. |
RD Web Access |
Provides users access to remote apps (RemoteApp) and Remote Desktop Connections. RD Web Access provides a customized view of RemoteApp programs and session-based desktops in a session collection, and RemoteApp programs and virtual desktops in a virtual desktop collection. |
RD Connection Broker |
|
RD Licensing |
Manages the licenses required to connect to a RD Session Host server or a virtual desktop. You can use RD Licensing to install, issue, and track the availability of licenses. |
RD Gateway |
Enables authorized users to connect to virtual desktops, RemoteApp programs, and session-based desktops on an internal corporate network from any Internet-connected device. |
For more information about each of these role services, see Remote Desktop Services Overview . You can also review the Remote Desktop Service Component Architecture .
Azure RemoteApp has the following advantages:
We’ve only scratched the surface about how Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and Microsoft Azure can help you create your own desktop virtualization solution. In my next blog, I'll talk about how to plan and deploy your desktop virtualization solution--on premises, in Microsoft Azure, or with both. See you then!
NEXT BLOG POST IN THIS SERIES: Deploying desktop virtualization (Coming June 4)
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