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Taking the guesswork

out of desktop virtualization
By Cathi Allen, Worldwide Senior Product Marketing Manager
Cloud Client-Computing
While most people can tell whether theyre getting a good deal on a gallon of milk or
a new car, right-sizing a virtual desktop infrastructure can still be a challenge, even for
seasoned IT veterans. With so many options to choose from in terms of server and
storage infrastructure, hypervisor and connection broker software, and thin or zero
client endpoints, picking the right solution for a virtual desktop environment can be
daunting. Fortunately, Dell has engineered several end-to-end VDI solutions that take
the guesswork out of desktop virtualization.
First, lets consider the two key approaches to simplifying virtual desktop
implementation and operation: hyper-converged infrastructure appliances and hosted
Workspace-as-a-Service:

Hyper-converged infrastructure appliances

Hyper-converged infrastructure appliances (HCIAs) essentially amount to Complete
VDI, combining computing, storage, networking (if required), software and management
elements in one integrated simplified appliance.
With a simple installation process, our Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO:RAIL
Horizon Edition (HE) cuts deployment time to only a matter of minutes. Although
building out a component-based VDI solution may be more cost-effective under
certain circumstances, our appliance offering cuts through the historic complexity of
VDI planning and implementation and offers:
Easy adoption: VDI appliances eliminate much of the complexity and need for in-house expertise traditionally required by many
virtualization solutions. A staff with limited experience can now deploy a desktop virtualization environment in just minutes. These
appliances also offer a rapid time-to-value with simplified deployment.
Efficient scalability: As your business needs change, HCIAs allow you to scale your virtual environment in a predictable, modular
fashion to meet your demands. Our Engineered Solution for VMware EVO:RAIL HE scales linearly with predictive results: every VDI
session performs at the same level, even in hyper-scale environments.
An end-to-end solution: An appliance can be purchased individually as a stand-alone device or as part of an end-to-end solution
that includes validated Wyse thin or zero clients, management software and Dell Services. With multiple Wyse endpoints available to
meet the needs of a broad range of end users, and our Dell Foglight for Virtualization monitoring software to track network traffic
information and bandwidth, the solution becomes a truly integrated, cohesive VDI offering.
In addition to the Dell Engineered Solution for VMware EVO:RAIL Horizon Edition, Dell offers a multitude of other VDI appliances
that can closely align to the needs and strengths of your organization. To find other Dell VDI appliances designed as end-to-end

virtual desktop solutions, click here. The

second key approach to simplifying
virtual desktop implementation and
operation is Workspace-as-a-Service
(WaaS):

Workspace-as-a-service

As your business
needs change,
HCIAs allow you to
scale your virtual
environment in a
predictable, modular
fashion to meet your
demands.

Dell Workspace-as-a-Service extends the

standard third party provider cloud-based
model (e.g., e-mail) into the enterprise
workspace. WaaS allows an organization
to essentially license all of the services
of a virtual desktop infrastructure
via subscription from Dell or a Dell
partner. In this paradigm, users access
productivity resources through a cloudbased VDI session limiting the need
for capital investments in VDI hardware
while purchasing or leasing the actual
physical endpoints.
Access to critical data is completed
through a portal and secure login that
connects users to a datacenter that is
managed and maintained by Dell. The
billing structure is similar to that of a
monthly cable bill, and includes all relevant
software licenses required to deliver a
compelling Windows desktop experience.
Some IT professionals may argue that
investing in an onsite, end-to-end
solution such as an appliance is a
superior option. This may indeed be the
case for certain use cases in sectors
accessing regulated or protected data. In
reality, its really just a matter of choice,
as some organizations simply prefer to
maintain control of their data locally and
house their applications and I.P. within
their datacenter. Still, there are several
reasons why WaaS can offer a more
efficient solution for some organizations:
Reduced overhead for IT: Our Dellmanaged and maintained WaaS offering
significantly reduces the time your IT
department needs to spend updating
and maintaining your computing
infrastructure. Handing off these
responsibilities also allows small to midsized businesses who may not have a
dedicated IT department to leverage
top-of-the-line VDI technology without
requiring an in-house VDI expert.

Dell Inc, 2015. All rights reserved.

Efficient scalability: Much like an

appliance, WaaS offers highly efficient
scalability so that your deployment is
appropriately sized. For instance, many
retail organizations have variable staffing
needs depending on the season. Because
of the ease of scalability, you can expand
your subscription to temporarily increase
the amount of users accessing your
datacenter as demand requires.
Billing back: Because WaaS is commonly
based on a monthly subscription, Dell
is able to quickly blueprint and align
your level of WaaS access to your
organizations use cases and needs.
For example, a university may deploy
standard network access including
application access. The number of users
would be estimated, and therefore
application enterprise agreements would
also include an estimated number of
licenses. More accurate subscriptionbilling ensures that fees and usage are
more closely aligned.

Conclusion
Taking the guesswork out of VDI is
another example of how Dell strives
to offer simple solutions to potentially
complex tasks. The long-held perception
that desktop virtualization is costly and
complex is fading as we offer vastly
simplified end-to-end VDI solutions
powered by our latest 13G, R730 servers
and other appliance-optimized platforms.
Whether the best option for your
organization is an appliance that can
be deployed in minutes and managed
in-house, or a WaaS solution that allows
your organization to shift solution
maintenance and upkeep to our
experienced IT staff, were committed to
providing the most efficient and effective
virtual desktop solution and giving you
the power to do more.
For more information on Workspaceas-a-Service, VDI appliances, and virtual
desktop infrastructure, we invite you to
visit us at Dell.com/wyse.