Preparing the network for VDI

From a global perspective, the acceptance of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is one of the next big trends in the networking world, set to revolutionise the way companies run their businesses. According to research findings, the worldwide market for hosted virtual desktops is expected to grow to nearly $5 billion in 2016.

Companies are drawn to VDI because of the potential cost savings linked to reduced support and management overhead.

Andy Robb is chief technology officer of Duxbury Networking.

Companies are drawn to VDI because of the potential cost savings linked to reduced support and management overhead. Other benefits of running a Windows desktop operating system in a virtualised machine on a powerful server include anywhere access, a seamless user experience (similar to that offered by a traditional desktop) and the opportunity to enhance data security, which becomes centralised at the sever level, leaving no data to corrupt at the endpoint device.

There are also 'green' benefits associated with fewer desktop stations reducing energy consumption.

However, a number of challenges have to be faced in the quest for VDI adoption. One of the most significant is the sizable monetary investment needed in terms of additional storage and an upgraded server infrastructure. For efficiency and speed, fast, virtual infrastructures must be designed to optimise underlying resources, or their platforms can slow to a crawl.

The calculation for the storage requirements is not quite as complex. Each virtual desktop needs the same amount of storage that would otherwise be found on a traditional desktop. If an average PC stores around 100 gigabytes of data, including the operating system, applications and data, there should be a similar amount of centralised storage capacity available for each virtual desktop.

If the VDI network includes only 100 virtual desktops, an additional 10 terabytes of storage capacity will be required in the data centre.

Thankfully, there are now vendors which assist users to adopt a structured or 'stepped' approach to storage facilitating VDI trials in their organisations. This approach involves installing storage 'appliances' which can be added incrementally, allowing growth to meet budget or planned expansion requirements.

The approach also allows for the co-existence of traditional storage as well as the new, scale-out storage needed for VDI adoption. Eventually complete consolidation can be achieved, either through offloading the VDI storage onto the traditional infrastructure, or - more likely - adopting a scale-out approach for traditional storage.

This has advantages in terms of the positioning of the storage infrastructure within a hybrid or private cloud computing environment.

Another challenge presented by VDI technology is the impact it will have on the network from a performance standpoint.

As the network will be driven by lighter-weight devices such as smartphones and tablet devices (rather than bulky desktops), it will rely on WiFi technology rather than Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Instead of deploying multiple tiers and distributed Gigabit Ethernet LANs, the 'horsepower' needed to operate the VDI network is consolidated or 'collapsed' into a single core layer providing the bandwidth necessary for all VDI connections.

This means the VDI network will need built-in mechanisms allowing it to be more aware of user identity and presence. Visibility and monitoring will be important security considerations, since users will be able to connect from any location using a variety of devices.

The VDI network will need to know what types of devices are being linked to it - smartphones, tablets or PCs - and apply policies related to how these devices will be allowed to use the network.

Appropriate levels of QOS (quality of service) will also have to be assigned to them, mindful of the fact that long-established IP telephony and video conferencing services will still be in operation on the network. Most importantly, the VDI-aware network will have to be configured in such a way as to maintain the regulatory objectives of the organisation.

Looking at the consolidation of the VDI network from the storage perspective, with increasing numbers of scale-out appliances, there will be more demands for cheaper 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports. The continuing - and dramatic - fall in the price of these ports will become an enabler for VDI networks, characterised as they are by a significant bandwidth burden.

While VDI implementation is challenging, network managers are coming to terms with the demands of the VDI infrastructure driven by the evolving network's role in meeting vital corporate objectives such as cost savings, power efficiency, user and device identity, and ease of use. With these goals soon to be realised, expect VDI to become the new norm in computing.