VDI - Virtual Machine Question, in the DDI / VDI / Desktop Delivery / Bladed PCs forum on BrianMadden.com

New to the VDI world with Virtual Machines, but I'm wondering if there is a way to take a diskless machine (Thin Client) and boot a virtual machine as its "Operating System"? Basically my dilemna is that if we give a user a VM, they have to have means to which to connect to it. This means that from the Client Managment perspective, you are now maintaining, updating, patching two machines. I would like to create a VM and then have the client boot to that VM.

Any thoughts?

Sincerely,

Ben

Hi,

Do you know Citrix Ardence?
Brian wrote also a good article about this solution.
This solution fits in your question.

Other Ardence information:
Citrix Ardence article published in LANvision (source) in both the English and Dutch language.
http://www.virtuall.nl/articles/PublishedArticles/LANvision%20-%20Citrix%20Ardence%20Disk%20Streaming%20Technology%20for%20the%20Virtuall%20Workplace%20English.pdf
http://www.virtuall.nl/articles/PublishedArticles/LANvision%20-%20Citrix%20Ardence%20Disk%20Streaming%20Technology%20for%20the%20Virtuall%20Workplace%20Dutch.pdf

Citrix Ardence videos, from user and administrator perspective. Get a better understanding what Ardence can offer.
http://www.virtuall.nl/videos/Ardence/

Live demo script of Citrix Ardence that makes clear what is happening within the videos.
http://www.virtuall.nl/videos/Ardence/Live%20Demo%20Script%20-%20Citrix%20Ardence.pdf

Citrix Ardence Presentation from BriForum 2007 Chicago.
http://www.virtuall.nl/articles/ProductInformation/Ardence/BriForum%202007%20USA%20-%20Ardence%20Disk%20Streaming%20Technology.pdf

With regards,
Ruben Spruijt

Yes we are currently using Ardence in our Lab environment, but how does this help us with Admin Staff? Even if you use Ardence to stream the OS to the VM you still have to RDP into that VM, hence you still need a physical box. We need a way to, for lack of terms, PXE to a VM.

Hi,

Is Ardence on the Client AND VM machines an option ?.
You need a client device running a RDP/ICA/VNC/RGS client software..

Ruben

Have you looked at alternative VDI solutions? Teradici have a very slick product which requires no client-side software --> http://www.cug.co.nz/features/teradicipcoverip

If you have XP embedded on the TC, install Thin Desktop to lock down the connection to the VM www.thinlaunch.com