From the ClearCube Technology Blog

Tech-savvy or not, you have probably heard about how Linux provides a desktop operating system with vast settings and configurations. It was the natural choice for companies that sought something unique in an OS. When we talk about its Thin Client approach, Linux allows businesses to set up workstations with minimum installations which offload the bulk of the work to a centralized server.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) has long been hailed as a technology that helps businesses take their IT infrastructure to the next level. Often, ‘what is VDI and how it works’ appears as a common question in the IT community. It is mostly asked by those eager to understand the internal workings of the solution, and for good reasons. At its core, the platform creates virtual machines, or virtual computers, that store desktop operating systems, data, and software on a centralized server in place of individual PCs. Users can access their virtual desktops on practically any device, including laptops, tablets, mobile devices, Thin Clients, Zero Clients, and more. The system builds single images of virtual machines that are deployed to users and can be centrally managed for multiple tasks, updates, and troubleshooting.

Today, businesses demand versatile IT solutions capable of performing several functions and outdated technologies no longer fulfill this requirement. Take the example of the best PCs which provide solid performance but create clutter and demand through maintenance. This indicates that what they lack in one area, they make up for in another. Such resources demonstrate unpredictability and inconsistency, and it makes sense for businesses to re-evaluate their IT infrastructure. Left unresolved, this could lead to operational bottlenecks that have the potential to greatly hinder operations. Some common challenges related to PCs include high energy bills, lack of remote accessibility, and the inability to facilitate a safe infrastructure for data security.

ClearCube is a trusted partner to successful centralization and virtualization with our secure and innovative Virtual Desktop Infrastructure VDI solutions. What lies at the heart of our mission is the principle that VDI projects need more than end-to-end planning.

What’s The Real Deal?
There is plenty of buzz around virtualization technology as an effective and efficient way of managing users, applications, and operating systems. Imagine the banking, healthcare, education, and call center industries where one form of desktop can fit all. Having a solution that is several things rolled into one is certainly an appealing proposition and for good reasons. Consider the latest Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions from leading brands like Citrix and ClearCube. They deliver greater application access, offer customizable desktops, and decrease OpEx for desktop provisioning/patching and CapEx needed to implement VDI.

Let’s begin by looking at VDI explained in the simplest way. This is an innovative technique that hosts user desktops in a virtual machine functioning on a central server in a datacenter. It includes software and hardware resources that virtualizes a standard desktop system.
Here is an important virtualization basic to better understand how it works. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) may sound complex and expensive to some and for good reason. Vendors often mention ‘infrastructure’ when referring to products or solutions that only administrators understand and are expensive. In reality, the term is merely a framework that streamlines IT and makes it less costly for organizations.

Are Virtual Desktops The Next Big Thing?
Virtualization has been around for a while now. Back then, adoption rates were fairly low, contrary to expectations of analysts and experts. This is because of the costs and complexities associated with using the technology in companies and organizations. Luckily, recent developments and improvements in service delivery have made virtual desktops affordable and easier to implement. Hence, a virtual desktop environment is steadily gaining ground as it fulfills the professional interests of small and large businesses alike.

Exploring The Basics
You have probably come across the new name for XenApp and XenDesktop, now known as Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. This is virtualization technology that offers administrators total control of security, applications, and virtual machines (VMs). It facilitates remote access to Linux, web, and SaaS applications along with Windows applications and desktops from any device, across any network.
Product installation, deployment, configuration, upgrades, and monitoring are simple processes. Besides being guaranteed great end UX, companies get to maintain complete control of their policies and applications.

In the past decade, thin client computing has played a pivotal role in improving IT infrastructure. The model helps in driving efficiency, reducing cost, and enhancing mobility. Research on Global Thin Client Market by IDC revealed that organizations are deploying thin clients to save costs otherwise incurred by managing and maintaining PCs.

In this modern era, we all demand products and solutions which are easy to use, manage and maintain. Computing has evolved to such an extent that we now have devices like desktop computers, laptops, and tablets at our disposal.
When the market for computers was relatively small, there were limited models. As the industry grew, it started supporting a wide variety of different configurations designed to fulfill specific requirements. Personal computers were highly sought after by businesses because of their ability to offer significant power and features. However, as users began to handle more complex workloads, it became clear that the IT community needed better alternatives.

Thin Clients are compact devices with few moving parts and locally stored programs. They connect to servers to perform compute roles and run remote display protocols to access hard drives in secure data centers. This process instantly delivers virtual applications and desktops to end users.

GPU: To Use Or Not To Use?
Anyone who uses Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) will agree that the technology is several things rolled into one. For starters, it effectively delivers applications and desktops to users, facilitates remote access, streamlines IT administration and boosts productivity. Furthermore, it facilitates BYOD programs and is a proactive disaster recovery solution for workplaces.