Virtualized desktops move the PC back to the data center
The first personal computers like the Apple II and IBM PC freed the ordinary office worker from the rule of the data center and limited office application capabilities provided by the mainframes and mini-computers of the time. But, it also removed good aspects like security, managed backups, disaster recovery, and other practices and procedures defined and refined by years of experience and management policies. Decades later we still see organization large and small that have ill-defined desktop/notebook management policies, disaster recovery, and business continuance plans and practices.
Server virtualization has gained a lot of attention and success over the past few years. It lets several virtual servers run on a single physical computer through the use of a hypervisor that lets each virtual machine have portions of the physical machine’s resources. Although server virtualization has introduced its own set of security and management issues, its success has prompted system administrators to look at the desktop and even individual applications for possible virtualization.
The result of desktop virtualization is to move the PCs storage and processor functions back into a centralized data center with powerful servers hosting the virtualized desktops. The physical PC on your desk merely runs client virtualization software that talks to the servers over a network to deliver what looks like Microsoft Office, or some other common desktop application, on your desktop screen even though very little is actually happening on the hardware you think of as your PC.
This lets PC support people give you near instant desktop installation or recovery. In return, you give up some of the customization and control that put the “personal” in the Personal Computer. Giving the centralized data center back control of the end-user experience introduces its own set of issues, of course. But, this looks like the trend for medium to large enterprises. So, you might want to get used to the idea.
For more information, read Information Week’s article: Virtual PCs Free Workers From Hardware.
