Computer Tips: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure(VDI) in Windows 8

VDI is an alternative desktop delivery model that can help you embrace BYOD. It gives users secure access to centrally managed desktops running in the data center.Using their  personal devices, users can access their hosted desktops for work, while keeping their work and personal environments separate.

However, this only makes sense if you can host a full fidelity desktop experience and keep the corporate environment secure at the same time.Windows 8 supports this scenario, similar to Windows 7, by providing capabilities like a rich user experience, centralized management of apps and data, and enhanced security and compliance. But Windows 8 goes even further than Windows 7 did. 

For example, by tapping the remote access icon on employees’ Windows 8 tablets, they can login and open a VDI session running in the data center with all their data, applications, and settings—as if they were working right in the office.Windows 8 can give them a high-fidelity experience by using RemoteFX, including:

1-Touch

2- 3D graphics

3- Full multimedia experience

4-USB device redirection

Microsoft VDI is powered by Windows Server 2012 Remote Desktop Services (RDS). It provides a single platform to deliver any type of hosted desktop, while RemoteFX provides a consistently rich user experience:

1- Rich experience  As previously mentioned, RemoteFX provides a rich multimedia experience by using a built-in software graphics processing unit (GPU) or hardware GPU on the server. Users can use tablets and most USB devices, because it offers true USB and multi-touch redirection. Users get a consistently rich performance over high latency, low bandwidth networks, including wide area networks (WANs).

2- Lower cost  FairShare ensures high system performance by distributing system resources dynamically. User profile disks provide the flexibility to deploy lower-cost pooled- and session-based desktops while enabling users to personalize their experience. Last, it supports lower-cost disk storage like Direct Attached Storage.

3- Streamlined management  A simplified wizard makes setting up VDI easier with automatic configuration of virtual machines (VMs). The included management  console provides powerful administration of users, VMs, and sessions, without requiring additional tools. VMs and sessions can be intelligently patched through randomization and throttling of tasks, ensuring high system performance.

Installing and configuring RDS in Windows Server 2012 is very quick and easy by using the Add Roles and Features Wizard (Figure 11-1). In a lab environment, starting with a bare-metal server-class computer, you can install Windows Server 2012, install RDS, and deploy session- and VM-based desktops in less than an hour.You can find good lab guides instructions for 

various scenarios on TechNet in the article titled “Remote Desktop Services Overview”at 

technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/hh831447.aspx.Another good resource for  learning more about RDS in Windows Server 2012 is the book titled “Introducing Windows Server 2012,” which you can download from go.microsoft.com/FWLink/?Linkid=251464.

"Computer Tips: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure(VDI) in Windows 8"

Reference : www.microsoft.com