What is the full form of VDI

VDI: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

VDI stands for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. In this technology, we use virtual machines to provide and manage virtual desktops. VDI provides desktop environments on a centralized server and deploys them when users ask for them.

Working of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

In VDI, virtual machines get servers from hypervisor segments which in turn host virtual desktops, which are accessible to users remotely from their devices. These virtual desktops are available to users and they can access them from any location or device, and all processing is the responsibility of the host server. A connection broker is a mediator, it helps users to connect to their desktop instances. A connection broker is a software-based getaway and it is a mediator between the server and the user.

There are two types of VDI persistent and non-persistent. Each has its own benefits:

• Persistent VDI: With this type of VDI, users connect to the same desktop each type, personalization of the desktop could be done by users according to their needs, and changes are saved even after the reset of connection. In simple words, using desktops in persistent VDI is the same as using a personal physical desktop.
• Nonpersistent VDI: As the name itself suggests, it is completely opposite to persistent VDI, where users are connected to generic desktops and changes they make are not saved. Persistent VDI is simpler and cheaper, with no need for customized desktops between sessions. Large organizations use this kind of VDI whit a lot of task workers. This is also helpful to users who are doing limited tasks repetitively, they don't need a customized desktop.

Why prefer VDI?

VDI is preferred due to its numerous advantages, such as user mobility, ease of access, flexibility, and greater security. In past years, it was expensive because of its high-performance requirements. So its deployment was a challenge for legacy systems which lead to a barrier for many businesses. However, the scenario changed when it got slowly replaced with hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), HCI provides scalability and high performance at a lower cast.

What are the benefits of VDI?

Due to its complexity, VDI is not preferred by every organization, it offers numerous benefits to organizations that do use it. A few of the benefits are:

• Remote access: People who use VDI have access to their virtual desktops from any location or device, making it easy for employees to access all their files and applications and work remotely from anywhere in the world.
• Cost savings: Since processing is done on the server, the hardware requirements for end devices are much lower. Virtual desktops are accessible to older devices, thin clients, or even tablets, reducing the need for IT to purchase new and expensive hardware.
• Security: The server end has the data rather than the client device in a VDI environment. Data is protected if the device is ever stolen or compromised.
• Centralized management: There is a centralized format that allows IT to easily patch, update or configure all the virtual desktops in a system.

What is VDI used for?

VDI is suitable for all sorts of environments, there are some cases where usage of VDI is unique, which include:

• Remote work: Virtual desktops are easily deployable and updated from a centralized location in VDI. It has been implemented for remote workers by many companies.
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): It is best for employees that use their own devices. It is available to a wider range of devices because processing is done on a centralized server. It also offers better security, since data lives on the server and is not retained on the end client device.
• Task or shift work: Nonpersistent type of VDI is particularly for employees who use the same software to perform limited tasks.

What is the difference between VDI and desktop virtualization?

Desktop virtualization is the type of technology that separates the desktop environment from the hardware used to access it. VDI is a subset of Desktop virtualization, Desktop virtualization has other uses too such as remote desktop services (RDS), where a shared desktop is connected to the user that runs on a remote server.

What is the difference between VDI and Virtual machines (VMs)?

Virtual machines are the technology that powers VDI. Machines that are created by partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual servers through the use of a hypervisor are known as virtual machines. Virtual machines have numerous applications, and running a virtual desktop in a VDI environment is one of them.

How to Implement VDI?

When planning for VDI deployment, larger enterprises should consider implementing it in an HCI environment, as HCI's scalability and high performance are a natural fit for VDI's resource needs. Organizations that require less than 100 virtual desktops need not implement HCI for VDI.

There are other practices that should be followed when implementing VDI in addition to infrastructure considerations.

• Prepare your network: The performance of VDI is directly related to the performance of the network. It's important to know peak usage times and anticipate demand spikes to ensure sufficient network capacity.
• Avoid under-provisioning: Capacity planning should be done in advance. It can be done using a performance monitoring tool. It also helps us in understanding the resources each virtual desktop consumes. It also ensures that we know our overall resource consumption needs.
• Understand your end user's needs: Do your users need to be able to customize their desktops, or do they task workers who can work from a generic desktop? One should know its user's performance requirements. You'll need to provision your setup differently for users who use graphics-intensive applications versus those who just need access to the internet or to one or two simple applications.
• Perform a pilot test: There are some testing tools that are offered by virtualization providers that can be used to test VDI deployment beforehand, it's important to do so to make sure you've provisioned your resources correctly.