VMware Global Alliances Blog

Posted by Karen Brown
Marketing Manager,
HP Client Virtualization

An increasingly global and mobile workforce is changing the demands on IT to support the business. Younger workers are also changing expectations on how IT delivers data and applications.

In the old world, Windows applications, data and user persona were tethered to the desktop; however, managing these for a distributed workforce with multiple computing devices is increasingly challenging.  In the new world with collaboration like eLearning, remote applications, and unified communications (i.e. instant messaging and video conferencing), the new end-user environment is transforming how users work. 

Security breaches are a major concern, no matter what kind of end-point device is used.  Even in 2010, the Ponemon Institute (in an Intel commissioned study) reported $6.4 million average annual cost for lost business laptops.  Imagine with the rapid growth in the number of smart phones and tablets sold, how that number will grow.

Many companies are exploring Bring Your Own Device (or BYOD) strategies to lower their desktop costs and increase employee productivity.  While this may lower costs to purchase desktops and laptops, the challenges of securely managing these multi-OS devices require a new model that works for both the end user and IT.

The bottom line is that IT needs to embrace desktop transformation to enable workers to access their data on many different devices, anywhere and anytime while protecting their information in the datacenter, not on the device. With solutions from HP and VMware, if a user’s Smartphone, tablet, or laptop is lost or stolen, no company information is exposed. 

Rather than try to meet the needs of this new business paradigm with an old computing model, many companies have found a much simpler, more flexible and secure solution: virtualize the desktop with VMware vSphere and View.  HP and VMware make this important move to client virtualization safe and easy by delivering tested solutions sized for specific workloads. 

HP’s client virtualization solutions with VMware View offer a secure end-to-end solution from end point device to back-end datacenter infrastructure.

Want a turnkey solution to save you time with assessment, design, ordering, configuring, installing, and optimizing?  The HP VirtualSystem CV2 with VMware View solution is delivered pre-tested, pre-configured using HP Factory Express, and ready to install onsite with HP Start Up services. 

Worried about managing your client virtualization solution?  HP Insight Control for VMware vCenter is an integrated management solution that proactively manages changes with detailed insight into the relationship between your physical and virtual infrastructure.

HP and VMware understand all of the steps required to get to desktop transformation.  Let us sit down with you to fully understand your goals and objectives; assess your workforce environment; and build an ROI/TCO model to justify your project.  Since we design all the components for the solution, we are able to better integrate storage, networking, and compute to handle your workload. Interested in more information?  Check out our HP VirtualSystem CV2 for VMware View website.  HP VirtualSystem CV2 with VMware View reduces the complexity of deploying client virtualization.

Standardize on a common virtualization platform with VMware View, vSphere and HP industry-standard components and get from concept to production to value faster than ever before.

Want to create your own client virtualization architecture?  Visit our website for more information.

Posted by Chris Carrier
Director, Alliance
Marketing

Learn how Daughters of Charity Health Systems (DCHS), a regional health system with six hospitals in California, relies on VMware View desktop virtualization software and Wyse P20 zero clients to quickly deploy virtual desktops that optimize the end-user experience – and give their clinicians the anytime anywhere access they need to provide better patient care.

 In this video, Michael Day, Vice President of Information Technology, DCHS shares how the desktop virtualization solution from VMware and Wyse addresses key infrastructure challenges and desktop performance issues faced by his organization. Dan O’Farrell, Director of Product Marketing, Wyse discusses some of the significant benefits of VMware View 5.1 and Wyse’s continued tradition of Day One Support for View.

Posted by Chris Gebhardt
NetApp, Desktop
Virtualization Architect

Today VMware announced the release of VMware View 5.1.  View 5.1 has many new and improved advanced storage features that will help increase storage performance and scale.  In this blog post I will discuss some of the new and noteworthy storage related features.

One of the new technologies in VMware View 5.1 is the View Storage Accelerator (formally known as Content Based Read Cache or CBRC).  This technology helps reduce the amount of data needing to be read from a storage controller during simultaneous read activities such as a boot storm after maintenance or HA event.  With View Storage Accelerator, up to 2GB of memory is allocated from the ESXi host to be used as a host based read cache. Ultimately this helps VMware View environments perform better and scale during boot storm events.  Now you may ask, well what about NetApp and the use of Virtual Storage Tiering, doesn't that solve the boot storm problem. Well yea it absolutely does, but using View Storage Accelerator in conjunction with NetApp’s Virtual Storage Tiering allows customers to scale their View deployments even further, driving down the cost, boosting the performance and ultimately improving the End User Computing experience. 

Here is how it is configured:

1. First log into the VMware View Administrator console.
2. Select View Configuration on the left hand side.
3. Select Servers under View Configuration
4. If you already have a vCenter Server configure click the vCenter Server and click Edit…
5. Here the Edit vCenter Server dialogue box will appear.  Click on the Host Caching tab.
6. In the Host Cache Settings you can enable and disable host caching, change the default host caching size, and override individual host cache sizes.
   
   
   
   
7. After you enable host caching, you can then create your desktop pool.  When you create an automated pool the Advanced Storage Options portion of the Add Pool wizard will appear.
8. Here you will be able to enable host caching on a per pool basis.
   
   
   
   
9. You can also choose if you want to cache just OS disks or OS and persistent disks.
   
   
   
   
10. And also choose what days not to regenerate the cache.  For example, you may not want to regenerate the cache during normal business hours.

The second technology, which I have been waiting for a really long time and am incredibly excited about, is the View Composer API Integration. This VCAI primitive is currently in a Tech Preview status and it allows VMware View to automate the creation of NetApp Zero Cost clones (FlexClone) within the VMware View interface.  In the past, customers had to choose between NetApp clones with VSC provisioning and cloning in manual pools or VMware View Clones in Automated Pools.  There are benefits and drawbacks to both methods.  On one hand the NetApp clones are created at the hardware level (not using copy on write snapshots) and are pre-deduplicated. This method creates desktops that have superb scalability but to create NetApp clones requires two tools: the NetApp Virtual Storage Console and VMware View Administrator.  On the other hand, VMware View Clones in Automated Pools provide excellent management workflows and automation but rely on hypervisor snapshots as underlying the cloning mechanism, which if improperly designed can result in scaling issues. (Note: Proper design refers to the use of technologies that reduce the amount of write IO to the delta file.  Technologies like profile/persona management (User Data Disks) and end user home directories are examples of such technologies that remove IO and allow VMware Linked cones to scale.)

VCAI leverages NetApp’s native cloning capability – without requiring VSC - to improve desktop scalability and provisioning times in View Composer.

Here is a brief demo of how this cloning works. 

Today the View Composer API Integrations are available as a Technology Preview when using VMware View 5.1, vSphere 5.0, the ESXi VIB for VCAI and NFS on NetApp Data ONTAP 8.1 Cluster Mode.

Some other storage related features worth noting: Customizable View Composer disposable disk driver letter and support up to 32 (increased from 8) host in a cluster when using Network Attached Storage (NFS).

Also a shameless plug for one of my favorite works…

If you are interested in reading more on VMware View workloads, my colleague, Chad Morganstern, and I have done a considerable amount of work to try to better understand the lifecycle of a Virtual Desktop and how Virtual Storage Tiering can boost performance, allowing customers to size for steady state. https://communities.netapp.com/community/netapp-blogs/virtualization/blog/2011/09/06/netapp-and-vmware-view-5000-seat-performance-report

Posted by Vittorio Viarengo
VP, Desktop Product
Marketing

There is no doubt about it, the post-PC era is here. More than a million mobile devices ship everyday, and end-users are bringing these personal devices with new applications into the enterprise—whether IT teams like it or not. We understand this new reality. That’s why our end-user computing vision focuses on giving end users freedom, while allowing IT to maintain control.

A key element of our strategy in building the enterprise platform for the post-PC era is to bring legacy applications forward using desktop virtualization. Yet, one of our biggest challenges was how to handle unified communications in the virtual desktop. I’m pleased to say that together with Cisco, we’ve solved this issue.

Cisco and VMware have partnered to provide desktop delivery as a service with the rich multimedia experience end users expect and the control IT requires. I recently caught up with Jeff Platon, senior director of engineering at Cisco, to hear about how customers are using our combined solution.

Cisco VXI with VMware View minimizes the cost of infrastructure and improves ROI without sacrificing performance, according to a recent Principled Technologies Test Report.

To support enterprises embracing our joint solution on their journey to greater end-user productivity and IT agility, a new Cisco Validated Design is available for Cisco Virtualization Experience Infrastructure 2.5 Implementing VMware View 5.

Together with Cisco, we continue to tighten our integrations to maximize the value of our solutions. Post a comment letting us know how our joint solutions are working for you.

Posted by Abigail Lee
Alliance Marketing
Manager

 Introducing “IT from the Inside,” a new website featuring comments, videos, photos, Tweets and more from VMware customers. Visiting the site is your chance to hear directly from end-users and IT professionals about how they are using VMware and partner solutions.

Whether you are a large enterprise or a small and midsize business, we encourage you to bookmark the site and submit your story. Tell us how VMware and our partner solutions are improving your IT agility, enhancing end-user productivity, reducing costs, lowering operating expenses or just simply making your life better!

So grab your phone and send us a video. Log onto Twitter and show us your Tweet. Take a screen shot. Write up a tip. Share a best practice. Offer a suggestion. Provide a strategy. What you choose to send about VMware and your partner solution is up to you!

And for a limited time, we’ll enter you in a contest to win a free trip or pass to VMworld 2012—when you submit a video by April 30.  So grab your camera and get started.  We look forward to seeing you in the limelight.

Posted by Gina Bollenback
Global Alliance Marketing
Communications Manager

Today’s edition of News Around the Network highlights VMware’s growing partnerships and products, all designed to deliver the best possible solutions to customers:

Kapersky to Launch VMware vShield Endpoint Security Solution at CeBIT (vReality)
Kapersky Lab joins the ranks of Bitdefender and Trend Micro in leading the way on cloud security with anti-virus solutions for vShield.

Webcams, VoIP, Unified Communications in a VMware View Environment
For those wondering how to best use UC in a VDI environment, the new VMware “View Media Service for Unified Communications” may help. The article discusses View integrations with Partner’s products.

Teradici PC-over-IP Technology Transforms Desktop Virtualization and Workflow Efficiencies for Healthcare IT
At this week’s HIMSS conference, Teradici showcased how its VMware View-compatible solutions streamline healthcare IT.

VMware customers, if you want to see anything specifically highlighted in this blog please respond in the comments section or on Twitter or Facebook. VMware partners and community, please let us know if you have any stories you suggest we highlight in future weeks.

Posted by Gina Bollenback
Global Alliance Marketing
Communications Manager

In today’s edition of News Around the Network, we’ve got details about new integrated partner solutions, evolving vCloud management tools, and more blog posts from around our Alliance network:

Accelerating Customer and Partner Success with VXI and VMware View (Cisco Data Center Blog)
Cisco and VMware’s partnership continues to blossom, with Cisco now offering VMware View 5 as a streamlined part of its VXI solutions.

vCloud Client for iPad (Cloud-Buddy)
If you haven’t heard the news, vCloud client is now available for the iPad – so you can manage your vCD environment right from your tablet!

vExpert 2012 Applications Now Open (VMTN Blog)
Are you an active and enthusiastic VMware user? Apply to be 2012 vExpert and you could help us spread knowledge and expertise about VMware technology.

VMware and Mitel Bring Desktop Virtualization to the Contact Center
This week VMware and Mitel announced an integration of Mitel's Unified Contact Center Solution and Unified Communicator Advanced client software with VMware View, which allows customers to deliver modern virtual desktops and applications to end users as a managed service from the data center or the cloud.

VMware customers, if you want to see anything specifically highlighted in this blog please respond in the comments section or on Twitter or Facebook. VMware partners and community, please let us know if you have any stories you suggest we highlight in future weeks.

Posted by Zack Towner
Service Provider Business
Development, VMware
Applications

The Challenge
While Email and Collaboration remain among the most important applications for businesses today, it can certainly be a burden, time consuming and costly for IT departments.

It’s difficult to keep up with things like browser and OS support not to mention supporting the myriad of devices employees use to check their email. The ever-increasing mass of attachments and documents leads to greater storage requirements and additional costs.

All of these challenges are motivating businesses to seek more flexible, lower cost alternative solutions for email and collaboration. One model that helps businesses address these challenges — IT as a Service. 

Research suggests that businesses are making the shift to IT as a Service initially with hosted email solutions.  Not surprisingly, reducing IT costs is the primary driver for this transition.

The Solution
Service providers, such as CSC, can help businesses make this shift to IT as a Service and change the role of their IT department from a cost center to a center of strategic value.

CSC has partnered with VMware to offer CSC Cloudmail: VMware Zimbra. CSC CloudMail for VMware Zimbra

This solution combines VMware Zimbra’s next-generation collaboration software with CSC managed services and Trusted Cloud data center deployment to provide Messaging as a Service. VMware Zimbra is scalable and secure, and CSC provides the choice of on- or off-premises deployment and as-a-service pricing.

Watch this video to learn more about how your business can save money, increase user productivity managed by CSC and backed by service level agreements.

To learn more about the business benefits of transitioning to cloud based email, collaboration services and key features differentiating email platforms in the cloud, check out the Business Opportunity for Cloud Mail and Collaboration Whitepaper.

Posted by James Lomonaco
Global Cisco Alliance
Marketing Manager

Last week Cisco reached a significant milestone with the Cisco Unified Computing System – reaching the 10,000 customer mark in a little less than three years since its announcement.  The Cisco UCS solution is purpose-built for virtualization and underpins significant VMware and Cisco joint solutions from server virtualization and private cloud with VMware vSphere 5 to collaborative desktop solutions integrating unified communications with VMware View.

With thousands of joint customers implementing VMware-based solutions with Cisco UCS, it seems like a good time to reflect on some of them by highlighting a couple recent posts and a customer white paper.  Learn how Lone Star College System achieved dramatic cost savings and rapid ROI with the post, Lone Star College System Moves to the Head of the Class with VMware, Cisco & EMC, how Seven Corners built a private cloud solution in the post: Seven Corners Builds Private Cloud Based on Cisco, NetApp and VMware Solutions and how VMware and Cisco enabled Metro Health to enhance patient care and reduce costs through improved workflows in the Optimizing Clinical Workflows with VMware View and Cisco VXI white paper.

For a more complete list of VMware and Cisco resources, you can visit the Cisco Alliance page on www.vmware.com.  And for the recent announcement from Cisco, you can visit the Cisco blog.  

Posted by Gina Bollenback,
Global Alliance Marketing
Communications Manager

This week marks the second weekly roundup post highlighting the top news around the VMware Global Alliances Network. You’ll be seeing this post every Friday, focusing on product how-to’s, upcoming events, new joint solutions, partner news, and any other interesting tidbits that provide value to our customers.

This week’s roundup post highlights new partner products and tips for leveraging VMware and partner solutions to secure and streamline IT processes:

View Composer, Relocating Replica (Demitasse) - Alastair Cooke outlines in minute detail how to move between datastores when Tiered storage is in use on VMware View.

How to Properly Remove vSphere Datastores (boche.net) - Think you just right-click and select “Delete”? vExpert Jason Boche shares two options for following the correct procedure in a vSphere environment.

Upcoming Webinar: vSphere 5.0 Best Practices - This webinar, scheduled for next Wednesday, will look at the technical concepts and implementation processes for a vSphere infrastructure using EMC Isilon storage.

VMware View VDI Flash Calculator v2.7 Released (myvirtualcloud.net) - Andre Leibovici explains how his latest VDI Calculator may prove a valuable tool for those on the front lines using VMware View.

VMware customers, if you want to see anything specifically highlighted in this blog please respond in the comments section or on Twitter or Facebook. VMware partners and community, please let us know if you have any stories you suggest we highlight in future weeks.