View4 on myvirtualcloud.net

Flash VDI Calculator v1.2 (New Features)

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:09:00 +0000

I have just uploaded a new release of the VDI Calculator.
This new some new features and fix a bug.

Release 1.2
- Added Host number calculation based on Desktop State (On, Suspend, Power Off)
- Added Storage calculation based on Desktop State (On, Suspend, Power Off)
- Added 4Gb overhead for vmKernel for Host Memory with overcommit
- Fixed bug when calculating Hosts Memory overcommit with low VMs per core

Online Flash VDI Calculator

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:35:00 +0000

VDI is not one of those technologies that only require a simple next-next-finish installations. I know how challenging a small or large scale VDI design can be, specially for newcomers. VDI footprints are commonly made of 20 or more technology layers that are interdependent of each other and it is very common to get lost on numbers, limits and calculations.

Linked Cloning Storage Calculator

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:44:00 +0000

Linked Cloning technology and sizing has always been one of the VMware View design hot topics. Earlier this year I published the Sizing Storage for VMware View Linked Clones and the Real Life example of Storage Sizing for View Linked Clones guides. However, even after those articles I still receive requests to verify storage sizing calculations. Not that I mind to help, but I have decided to publish a simple calculator to make everyone’s life easier.

Configuring vNetwork Distributed Switch for VMware View

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:21:00 +0000

A vNetwork Distributed Switch is an aggregation of per-host virtual switches presented and controlled as a single distributed switch through vCenter Server at the Datacenter level. The vDS abstracts configuration of individual virtual switches and enables centralized provisioning, administration, and monitoring.

Modifying VMware View Network Ports

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:51:00 +0000

In some circumstances where firewalls devices are blocking VMware View traffic, or when other network service is already making use of the VMware View default network ports you may be required to change the ports in use. Another reason for a View port change would be when an organisation have standard procedures to change default application’s port for security reasons.

vSphere 4.1 – What has changed for VMware View?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:14:00 +0000

VMware released this week vSphere 4.1, a dot release packed with new features and improvements on key performance areas. How do all these new features and performance improvements will affect VMware View VDI infrastructures? Off course everything helps on the overall, but I decided to list and comments on those few improvements that will provide best benefits for VDI.

Mastering VDI Templates updated for Windows7 and PCoIP

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:32:00 +0000

I have just uploaded an updated version of my Mastering VDI Templates spreadsheet. This is the 3rd version of the document and adds Windows 7 specific customisations and few additional PCoIP configuration settings.

Amongst the new item are:

Disable copy/paste using PCoIP
Configure PCoIP virtual channels
Change Startup Check Disk (Win7)
Disable updates to the Last Access Time stamp (Win7)

Download the updated version here:

Local Drive Mapping with VMware View and PCoIP

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:44:00 +0000

Teradici PCoIP was built from ground up to be a very efficient display protocol. Later on Teradici introduced Local Pointers to the protocol, allowing it to be used over the WAN with extreme efficiency. PCoIP will always deliver the best possible user experience utilising the total bandwidth available.

VMware View – Disconnect IDLE sessions

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:51:00 +0000

I have recently written an article on how to handle IDLE sessions in a VMware View environment. The title of the post was “VMware View – Disconnect, Logoff or Shutdown your VM when IDLE”. The post covered a simple method to monitor IDLE sessions based on mouse movements using a little free application available on the internet. As an action the little application would trigger system logoff.

VMware View – Disconnect your session when the VM is IDLE

Thu, 27 May 2010 18:31:00 +0000

I have recently written an article on how to handle IDLE sessions in a VMware View environment. The title of the post was “VMware View – Disconnect, Logoff or Shutdown your VM when IDLE”. The post covered a simple method to monitor IDLE sessions based on mouse movements using a little free application available on the internet. As na action the little application would trigger system logoff.

How to get View Composer and Default Input Language right!

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:54:00 +0000

Recently in one of my VMware View engagements I had to fix an issue related to the Windows default input language. Then last week I noticed another consultant asking about the same issue in one of our internal distribution lists here at VMware so I decided to share my findings.

A review of VMware View Limits and Maximums

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:39:00 +0000

Building a VMware View Pilot or POC infrastructure for your organisation is not a complex task. With a series of clicks, next’s and finishes it is possible to have you new VDI environment up and running in couple hours.

With great power comes great responsibility – as would say Spiderman. Or was Uncle Ben who said that?

Real Life example of Storage Sizing for View Linked Clones

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:26:00 +0000

After a recent post and some parallel discussions I thought that would be interesting to demonstrate some real life example based on my article Sizing Storage for VMware View Linked Clones.

Just as a reminder:

Total Storage = (n° VMs * (Delta Footprint + Log + User Data Disk) + Replica + Master Replica + Overhead)

VMware View Client connection automation with ThinApp packaging

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Recently in my article “Take your Virtual Desktop anywhere” I discussed the creation of a ThinApp package for VMware View Client to allow portability of Virtual Desktops without requirement to deploy View Client to the computer you or your users are using. This is specially handy in airport lounges and internet cafes.

F5 Networks releases deployment guide for VMware View 4

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:33:00 +0000

F5 Networks released a deployment and procedures guide for VMware View. This document provides guidance and configuration procedures for deploying the BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM) v10 with VMware View.

Probably one of the most interesting features provided by F5 BIG-IP appliance is the ability to create UDP tunneling with dTLS (datagram TLS) and TCP fall back. dTLS aim to improve PCoIP UDP end user experience over high latency networks such as the internet.

APAC Virtualisation Podcast (VMware View & the Future of Desktop Virtualisation) – Wed 7/4

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:40:00 +0000

We have reached the 10th APAC virtualisation podcast. To celebrate the occasion this week we have a very special guest – David Wakeman, Product Marketing Mgr, Enterprise Desktop ANZ - to talk about VMware View and the future of Desktop Virtualisation.

PCoIP over SSL VPN: UDP or TCP?

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:08:00 +0000

Remote Access to corporate virtual desktops is becoming standard these days. Because of that, organisations are leveraging their existing VPN infrastructure to provide users with a better remote computing experience.

PCoIP is a remote graphics protocol originally designed by our partner, Teradici, and available today in hardware implementations. VMware has been diligently working with Teradici to create a virtualized implementation of this robust, innovative protocol and deliver the premier remote desktop experience for VMware View.

How to troubleshoot PCoIP performance

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:13:00 +0000

Recently I have been doing some performance troubleshooting on PCoIP display protocol. Well, actually not much, as PCoIP work out-of-the-box for most VMware View deployments without any intervention.

The protocol has a kind of a healing and adaptive nature. If you are not familiar with the progressive build and adaptive nature of PCoIP display protocol read this first.

Cisco Solutions for a VMware View 4.0 Environment Design Guide

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:32:00 +0000

Mid February Cisco released a Networking Design Guide for VMware View 4.0 authored by Shannon McFarland. Only now I was able to have a look at the document and it seems to cover a reasonable amount of Cisco components that could possible integrate in a VMware View solution.

Sizing Storage for VMware View Linked Clones

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:05:00 +0000

ERRATA: I have amended the sizing formula to include not only the Master Replica, but also the replicas. Please read second part of this article at /?p=779.

One of the great features provided by VMware View Composer is the linked cloning technology. Linked clones are dependent VMs linked to a master VM. A ‘replica’ is a copy of the Parent VM and serves as the Master VM.

Take your Virtual Desktop anywhere!

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:54:00 +0000

I have been quiet lately but with the job change I have been really busy. however fortunately I have been finding the time to run the APAC podcasts every week. Also, I’m now working with VMware View and Desktop solutions, so you should start to see more posts on this subject.

APAC Virtualisation Podcast (VDI Profile Management) – Wed 24/2/10 @ 9pm

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:59:00 +0000

UPDATE: As mentioned during the podcast find below the links

http://appsense.wordpress.com
http://insidetheregistry.com
http://www.appsense.com
http://www.appsense.com/community/

Yes, it is time for another APAC Virtualisation Roundtable.

The broadcast is via TALKSHOE.com.

The main topic of the night is “VDI Profile Management” with special guest Jacob Maurer from AppSense.

3rd APAC Virtualisation Podcast – Wed 17/2/10 @ 9pm

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:30:00 +0000

Yes, it is time for another APAC Virtualisation Roundtable. I can’t believe that just few weeks ago this podcast was only an idea. Thank you all for making the effort to join and participate.

The cast is via TALKSHOE.com.

The main topic of the night is “VDI & VMware View 4” with special guest Jeff O’Connor from VMware.

Clientless and other Client options available for View4

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:46:00 +0000

There are three different VMware View 4 clients currently available for Windows clients. The first one is an ActiveX client which is installed if users login to the Connection Server via a web-browser. The second option is a standard 32-bit client. The third is a 32-bit client that supports the experimental “offline desktop" feature.

Enabling Jumbo Frames for VMware View on IP Storage Networks

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Although many elements are important for designing a storage system that supports a VMware View environment, from a server configuration perspective, planning for proper bandwidth and latency is essential.

VMware View environments can occasionally experience peak I/O loads, during which all virtual machines undertake an activity at the same time. I/O storms can be triggered by guest-based agents such as antivirus software or software-update agents. They can also be triggered by human behaviour, such as when all employees log in at nearly the same time in the morning.

Desktop Virtualization Momentum to Build Though More a 2011 Opportunity

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:45:00 +0000

Barclays Capital released yesterday their Q4 VMware channel survey. They are raising their FY10 license growth expectation to 10%, up from 5.5% to reflect the improving server demand environment.

However there is an interesting comment about the VDI market.

We expect VMware to continue to make inroads in desktop virtualization with its new VMware View virtual desktop infrastructure platform, though we are more bullish on Citrix System’s ability to monetize the opportunity in 2010 given the maturity of their platform and established
XenApp installed base (Citrix claims 100 million) which is a natural advantage as it attempts to convert customers to desktop virtualization.

New VMware View parameters in your .vmx files

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:46:00 +0000

The idea for this article started from a research that I was doing for creating a disaster recovery solution for critical virtual desktops in VMware View 4, without the use of Site Recovery manager (SRM) and also trying not to touch the ADAM database. I have published this article last week here.

Expensive storage array not required for VDI?

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:19:00 +0000

Lately I have been questioning myself whether VDI really need expensive enterprise storage arrays (SAN) to run VDI environments. The points I raise here may not apply to all organizations but certainly there are aspects to be observed.

Assuming User Profiles are hosted in a file server, why couldn’t virtual desktops run from the server local storage?

VMware View 4 is Out

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:32:00 +0000

VMware released today the so awaited VMware View 4.0 with the software implementation of Teradici PCoIP protocol. The 60-day evaluation is also available for download.

http://www.vmware.com/products/view/

The full blown starter kit version (VMware View Premier Bundle) of the product with 3 years support includes VI Enterprise, View Manager, View Composer, ThinApp (Packager, Client, WS) and vCenter Foundation licensed for 10 desktop VMs and is priced at $4,093.75