What are Virtual Desktops?
Virtual desktops are preconfigured images of operating systems and applications in which the desktop environment is separated from the physical device used to access it. Users can access their virtual desktops remotely over a network. Any endpoint device, such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet, can be used to access a virtual desktop. The virtual desktop provider installs client software on the endpoint device, and the user then interacts with that software on the device.
A virtual desktop looks and feels like a physical workstation. The user experience is often even better than a physical workstation because powerful resources, such as storage and back-end databases, are readily available. Users may or may not be able to save changes or permanently install applications, depending on how the virtual desktop is configured. Users experience their desktop exactly the same way every time they log in, no matter which device they are logging into it from.
Types of virtual desktops
There are a few different types of virtual desktops and desktop virtualization technologies. With host-based virtual machines, one virtual machine is allocated to each individual user at login. With persistent desktop technology, that user connects to the same VM each time they log in, which allows for desktop personalization. Host-based machines can also be physical machines hosting an operating system that remote users log into.
A virtual machine can also be client-based, where the operating system is executed locally on the endpoint. The advantage of this type of virtual desktop is that a network connection is not required for the user to access the desktop.
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) refers to a type of desktop virtualization that allows desktop workstation or server operating systems to run on virtual machines that are hosted on a hypervisor in on-premises servers. The user experiences the operating system and applications on an endpoint device, just as if they were running locally. With Desktops as a Service (DaaS), a service provider hosts VDI workloads out of the cloud and provides apps and support for enterprise users.
How a virtual desktop works?
Virtual desktop providers abstract the operating system from a computer’s hardware with virtualization software. Instead of running on the hardware, the operating system, applications and data run on a virtual machine. An organization may host the virtual machine on premises. It is also common to run a virtual desktop on cloud-based virtual machines. Previously, only one user could access a virtual desktop from a single operating system. The technology has evolved to allow many users to share an operating system that is running multiple desktops.
IT administrators can choose to purchase virtual desktop thin clients for their VDI, or repurpose older or even obsolete PCs by using them as virtual desktop endpoints, which can save money. However, any money saved on physical infrastructure costs may need to be quickly reallocated to software licensing fees for virtual desktops.
A virtual desktop infrastructure provides the option for users to bring their own device, which can again save IT departments money. This flexibility makes virtual desktops ideal for seasonal work or organizations that employ contractors for temporary work on big projects. Virtual desktops also work well for salespeople who travel frequently because their desktop is the same and they have access to all the same files and applications no matter where they are working.
