Virtual desktops offer flexibility, performance and security. But which one of the two main technology types should you choose? \ud83e\udd37<\/p>\n
Today, we\u2019re going to be comparing the\u00a0two<\/strong>\u00a0main technology types you can choose:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, how do you choose the right technology for your business?<\/p>\n First, let\u2019s find out what they are:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Virtual Desktop Infrastructure<\/strong>\u00a0(VDI) is a desktop virtualisation technology where a desktop operating system (OS) runs and is managed via a remote server. Users log on to the remote server, which creates a separate virtual OS, running on top of a hypervisor, for each individual user.<\/p>\n When the user logs on, a connection broker links their session to their own \u2018virtual machine\u2019 (VM), where they get their own individual OS, resources and applications.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Remote Desktop Services<\/strong>\u00a0(RDS), known as Terminal Services prior to 2008, was developed by Microsoft with the aim of making users less dependent on their local desktop. Users can access desktops and applications from different types of client applications and devices via Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Both\u00a0Remote Desktop Services\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Virtual Desktop Infrastructure\u00a0<\/strong>offer\u00a0similar\u00a0functionality. With both technologies, users log on to a remote system, which provides users with a desktop containing all the software they need to carry out their work.<\/p>\n All files and applications are\u00a0stored remotely<\/strong>.\u00a0Making it easier to troubleshoot any issues and handle software upgrades.<\/p>\n Since the user\u2019s machine doesn\u2019t do much processing itself, it can be a less powerful, and potentially more affordable device.\u00a0Some platforms offer the virtual desktop via HTML, so it can be accessed via any normal internet browser.<\/p>\n Remote desktops are also\u00a0better for security<\/strong>\u00a0because no files are kept on the user\u2019s own machine.<\/p>\n Everything lives on a Windows server, where it can be safely backed up as insurance against:<\/p>\n With the recent coronavirus crisis, remote and home working has become the\u00a0new normal<\/strong>\u00a0for many workers.<\/p>\n They both offer an excellent way to\u00a0keep everyone working together<\/strong>, even if they can\u2019t make it into the office.<\/p>\n For users, the experience of actually using either RDS or VDI is\u00a0pretty much the same<\/strong>.<\/p>\n However, there are\u00a0important differences<\/strong>\u00a0behind the scenes, which affect aspects such as:<\/p>\n Those, in turn, make each solution more suitable for different types of organisation, based on their requirements.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of each technology:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Improved User Experience <\/strong><\/p>\n Because the VM is isolated from the rest of the system, there are no problems with contention, and IT staff can also allocate more power<\/strong>\u00a0to users who really need it.<\/p>\n For example:<\/p>\n Users running memory intensive\u00a0software<\/a>, such as CAD\/CAM or Photoshop.<\/p>\n Virtual machines can run a regular Windows desktop OS, instead of Windows Server.<\/p>\n That means users can work in a more familiar environment, which can allow them to do their jobs quickly and easily, and may even boost their morale.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Choice of Applications <\/strong><\/p>\n The standard Windows environment can also run a wider range<\/strong>\u00a0of applications with few compatibility issues.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Device Flexibility <\/strong><\/p>\n It can offer Bring Your Own Device<\/strong>\u00a0(BYOD), also called\u00a0Bring Your Own Technology<\/strong>\u00a0(BYOT),\u00a0Bring Your Own Phone<\/strong>\u00a0(BYOP), and\u00a0Bring Your Own Personal Computer<\/strong>\u00a0(BYOPC).<\/p>\n This means users connect with their own tablet, smartphone, laptop or desktop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Offline Working <\/strong><\/p>\n VDI also supports offline working<\/strong>, so users can continue working and their data simply syncs up with the Windows server once they can get back online.<\/p>\n Sounds great!<\/p>\n But what are the disadvantages:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The flip side of all this flexibility is complexity.<\/p>\n This complexity brings:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dedicated IT Staff <\/strong><\/p>\n You need a skilled internal team<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0IT provider<\/strong>\u00a0to set up and manage the various virtual machines and systems.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re running a small business, you might prefer to turn to a\u00a0cloud-based VDI<\/strong>\u00a0or a\u00a0Data as a Service\u00a0<\/strong>(Daas) option rather than setting up a physical VDI server.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Higher Upfront Costs <\/strong><\/p>\n Ultimately, investing in VDI is likely to be more expensive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Some of the costs to consider include:<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s take a look at the advantages of RDS:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n With RDS, everyone on your team logs on to the\u00a0same Windows server<\/strong>\u00a0to run their applications.<\/p>\n While each user has their\u00a0own session<\/strong>, all the sessions are handled by the same windows operating system running on the same Windows server.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Simplicity <\/strong><\/p>\n RDS is simpler to set up<\/strong>, and new users can be added in minutes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reduced Costs <\/strong><\/p>\n Licensing costs<\/strong>\u00a0for RDS are\u00a0minimised, and hardware resource demands can be lower.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Easier Maintenance <\/strong><\/p>\n Maintenance of RDS is often quicker<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0easier<\/strong>.<\/p>\n So, what are the disadvantages of RDS?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n While RDS is simpler, it can have the following limitations:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lack of Personalisation <\/strong><\/p>\n Users can\u2019t personalise<\/strong> their desktops or the applications they use very much.\u00a0Everyone uses the same system and is locked into the same configuration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Limited Application Usage <\/strong><\/p>\n Not every application<\/strong>\u00a0will run on an RDS Server.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Connectivity <\/strong><\/p>\n RDS needs an ‘always on’<\/strong>\u00a0internet connection.<\/p>\n If users can\u2019t connect, they can\u2019t work.<\/p>\n Get your\u00a0free connectivity guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Overall Performance <\/strong><\/p>\n If a large number of users are using the system at the same time, ‘contention’<\/strong>\u00a0may mean that\u00a0performance suffers.<\/p>\n Altogether, we would expect\u00a0VDI to be a more expensive<\/strong>\u00a0option than\u00a0RDS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n But:<\/p>\n You\u2019re still probably asking, which is the right option for you? \ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n Well, let\u2019s take a look:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The simple answer is\u00a0‘it depends’<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you have lots of users who all do\u00a0similar tasks<\/strong>, using the\u00a0same applications<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0same amount of computing power<\/strong>:<\/p>\n RDS<\/strong> could well be right for you. Your storage and overhead costs will be low, but you\u2019ll pay a price in terms of flexibility.<\/p>\n On the other hand:<\/p>\n If you use a lot of\u00a0less-common apps<\/strong>, and\/or you have\u00a0many user types<\/strong>\u00a0doing\u00a0different types of work<\/strong>:\u00a0It might be worth paying more for\u00a0VDI<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n You can go for VDI if you:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n You can go for RDS if you:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a provider, we\u2019ve deployed over\u00a0300 RDS servers<\/strong> for our clients, and are also expert in setting up and managing VDI systems.\u00a0Our state-of-the-art\u00a0Nutanix HCI<\/a> offers the perfect environment for hosting either type of solution, with frequent data snapshots and full data replication supporting near-instant disaster recovery.\u00a0If your computing needs to grow, our provision can easily\u00a0scale up without limit<\/strong>.\u00a0We\u2019re always happy to consider your needs and advise on which virtual desktop solution is best for you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We really hope you enjoyed our guide to VDI and RDS.\u00a0Now we\u2019d like to hear from you:\u00a0Do you have any further questions about VDI and RDS?\u00a0Perhaps you\u2019re still unsure about the costs.<\/p>\nVDI vs RDS<\/h2>\n
What is VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)?<\/h3>\n
What is RDS (Remote Desktop Services)?<\/h3>\n
VDI vs RDS \u2013 What\u2019s the difference?<\/h3>\n
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Advantages of VDI<\/h3>\n
Disadvantages of VDI<\/h3>\n
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Advantages of RDS<\/h3>\n
Disadvantages of RDS<\/h3>\n
VDI vs RDS \u2013 Which is better for you?<\/h3>\n
Why would you choose VDI?<\/h3>\n
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Why would you choose RDS?<\/h3>\n
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