What happens if...

Widespread virtualized desktops as a service is a very real possibility in the near future.
VMware's WSX promises to bring virtualized desktops to the web browser with HTML5 -- Engadget

My question is, and mind you I'm no virtualization expert, what happens when Windows malfunctions? I'm strictly talking about when your using an OS virtualization service like that offered by OnLive. How much control do you have over the OS, can you make permission changes? I just wonder who supports these devices if and when Windows or whatever OS your using, begins to have problems. Does Onlive fix your installation from their end? I guess that's why job migration from companies to service providers is a hot topic.

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Comments

RobertKaucher

I would say there will be different tiers and types of services that people will be able to choose from. The vast majority of common users, if they ever switch to something like this, will likely have a fully managed plan that if they get a virus or something of the sort they simply roll back to a known good configuration (snap shot) and their data would be scanned and restored.

meadIT

With a VMware View desktop, using Linked Clones, each individual desktop is linked to a master or gold image of the OS. As users log in to a desktop, their user data is stored / redirected to a central repository. Any changes that are made to any file that is included on the master image is written to a "delta" virtual disk. Depending on how the desktop pool is set up, the delta disk is usually discarded. So if a virus gets introduced to the desktop, any changes it makes (including the virus itself, unless it places itself in the user data) are discarded.

The next time a user logs in, they again link to the gold image and start another delta virtual disk. Their user data is then overlayed from the central repository.

the_Grinch

I know in an article I read a few years ago there was a thin client with a big red button on top. Anything went wrong, you hit the red button and get a fresh image within a few seconds. We're looking at something like VDI where I am at now, most people are just using the internet so buying desktops and dealing with logistics when things go wrong is proving to be costly.

Vontech615

So it's amost like were going back to the terminal days, except much cooler. Everyone will have a device to access the server that will supply there data and OS.

Vontech615

One must think how long is the Desktop support tech or computer repair person going to be around? They will have to evolve or become obsolete to some degree.

Vontech615

meadIT wrote: »

With a VMware View desktop, using Linked Clones, each individual desktop is linked to a master or gold image of the OS. As users log in to a desktop, their user data is stored / redirected to a central repository. Any changes that are made to any file that is included on the master image is written to a "delta" virtual disk. Depending on how the desktop pool is set up, the delta disk is usually discarded. So if a virus gets introduced to the desktop, any changes it makes (including the virus itself, unless it places itself in the user data) are discarded.

The next time a user logs in, they again link to the gold image and start another delta virtual disk. Their user data is then overlayed from the central repository.

Thank for your insight, btw. This makes it much clearer as far as how the backend is handled.

tpatt100

Vontech615 wrote: »

One must think how long is the Desktop support tech or computer repair person going to be around? They will have to evolve or become obsolete to some degree.

It's already fast becoming a smaller market. I could be wrong since there are always plenty of companies that hold out on adopting new technology but it must be harder to advance. If anything the desktop guys move into supporting server hardware and learn how to support VMware server side if they were smart.

I do know VMware is on my list for things I need to learn how to support and most importantly perform security audits. I was a Citrix admin for a while years ago and back then I saw it at two different places I worked at and implemented it how it was going to kill desktop support calls. I mean heck when we implemented SMS the helpdesk was given the job of scheduling installs and reinstalls.