Press ESC to close

What is the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Cloud (VDI Cloud)?

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Cloud Explained

Virtual desktop infrastructure, or VDI, is the use of virtual servers to provide and maintain virtual desktops.Operating systems are centrally located and made readily available to end users via VDI.

How does the VDI cloud function?

In virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), a hypervisor divides servers into virtual machines, which in turn host virtual desktops that users can access remotely from their devices. These virtual desktops are accessible to users from any location or device, and the host server handles all processing. A connection broker, a software-based gateway that stands between the user and the server, is how users connect to their desktop instances.

Advantages of the VDI cloud

  1. Accessibility: Users of VDI can access their virtual desktops from any place or device, making it simple for employees to access all of their files and programmes and conduct remote work from any location.
  2. Security: Data is stored on the server rather than the end client device in a VDI setup. If an endpoint device is ever stolen or compromised, this serves to protect data.
  3. Cost Savings: Device hardware requirements are decreased as work is moved to servers. Because older machines can run virtual desktops  at a lower cost, new hardware will need to be purchased in the future.
  4. Centralization: The centralized format of VDI makes it simple for IT to patch, upgrade, or configure each virtual desktop in a system.

Disadvantages of the VDI cloud

  1. Requirements for highly skilled IT employees: DaaS (Data as a Service) or a cloud-based VDI would be an option for a small business to put up the actual VDI server. If this is not the case, a qualified member of the IT team will be required to install software, maintain servers, and perform other tasks. 
  2. High initial investment: VDI hardware and apps can be costly. You might need to collaborate with a specialist to plan the transfer of your workforce using special, specialized programs, or you might need to switch to distinctly new apps.

How can VDI be implemented?

The scalability and excellent performance of HCI are a perfect fit for VDI’s resource requirements; hence, larger companies should consider this when planning for VDI implementation. Yet, for businesses that just need a few hundred virtual desktops, building HCI for VDI is probably not necessary (and would be expensive).

Here are the best methods that should be followed when installing VDI:

  • Recognize the needs of your end users: What performance needs do your users have? Users who use graphics-intensive applications require a different setup than users who only require access to the internet or a few basic applications.
  • Implement a pilot test: Most virtualization providers provide testing tools that you can use to run a test VDI deployment prior to deploying your resources; this is required to ensure that you’ve provided your resources efficiently.
  • Limit your provisioning: Capacity planning should be done in advance, utilizing a performance monitoring tool to understand the resources that each virtual desktop consumes and to ensure users are aware of your overall resource consumption requirements.
  • Get Your Network Ready: Since network performance and VDI performance are so closely related, it’s critical to understand peak usage periods and prepare for demand surges to ensure adequate network capacity.

Summary

For medium- and large-sized enterprises, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is crucial. The cost of acquisition is reduced, and management is consolidated. Despite the fact that it must be operated by highly qualified people, it is nevertheless more accessible and offers better backup security than conventional desktops.