CEO/co-founder at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Real User
2020-06-02T08:06:00Z
Jun 2, 2020
No, you don't need allflash - but it depends how many users. If you deploy 'desktop just in time' then all vdi instances are in RAM (with small footprint on the storage). Allflash is recommended but not required. It's recommended to have separate storage for VDI solution. Look at vmware.com site - they have great documents and videos how it works.
Search for a product comparison in All-Flash Storage
If a customer needs to eliminate physical desktops and their maintenance with a requirement of not less than 40-50 desktops then Virtual desktops would be a good option collectively.
VDI is also being used where clients need to access their "application any where" or "application mobility" or "work from home" is required.
The infrastructure that provisions, manages and maintains Virtual desktops is known as VDI or Virtual desktop infrastructure. VDI is basically desktop based virtualization.
VDI:
Compute&Storage Layer
Virtualization&Networking Layer
Desktop Layer/Session Manager (VDI software)
Security Layer
End-client/Thin/Thik Clients/Software based clients
If a customer needs VDI and Database(Oracle/SQL/MS-Exchange) as VM(s) then All-Flash based VDI solutions should be selected.This would called VDI with server based virtualization.
For VDI and Server based virtualization there are solutions available specifically made for this need. HCI(Hyper Converged infrastructure) solutions would be a better choice for both VDI and server based virtualization. All-flash back-end storage will be required if very high storage I/O or Databases are involved.
System Analyst at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
2020-06-01T18:50:49Z
Jun 1, 2020
VDI uses a server solution for virtual desktops. This way the horsepower needed to run applications comes from the server-side and not the client-side.
This enables a couple of main things: a similar desktop experience for the end-user no matter where they are and what hardware they are using, and cost savings on the hardware required for the end-user. It enables patching and security benefits as well. The drawbacks are bandwidth requirements and server infrastructure cost. Using an all-flash storage array would help in the IO limitations of the server because any storage requests would be fulfilled quickly.
Pros: consistency in all desktops (they are all the same), speed and performance, patching and security, easier upgrades, lower desktop machine cost, server maintenance.
Cons: high server hardware requirements, server storage cost is higher, need a higher bandwidth between server and desktop, server maintenance.
Any kind of decision to use VDI needs to consider the cost benefit. Would using a virtual desktop be worth it? You decide.
Manager of IT Department at Office of Technical Inspection in Poland
Real User
Top 10
2020-06-01T13:54:41Z
Jun 1, 2020
VDI is a server farm for virtualizing dedicated user desktops. Detailed information can be found at this link, for example, VMware https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/virtual-desktop-infrastructure-vdi
How does VDI work?
In the case of my organization for 2 thousand. 20 TB data has been reserved. VDI solutions have a large data reduction (deduplication and compression, up to 20: 1). If the data is reproducible, this factor may be even higher.
Is All-Flash required or can it work on other memory arrays?
VDI can work on hybrid arrays, but they are not so efficient in boot storm, non-Vistist, VDI, reboot of the whole farm, low response times below 1ms, requirements of similar experiments as on PC.
Very good question, but a world is opened when speaking about VDI. I think that flexibility and ready to use are the most importat aspects. All-Flash in not required but it depends on the answer you get to "what should VDI use for"?
Do you mean Virtual Desktop Infrastructure? If so, then it has no relation to flash storage. VDI can work on any storage. But it will be faster using flash storage.
IT Solutions Architect at nds Netzwerksysteme GmbH
Real User
2020-06-02T07:12:49Z
Jun 2, 2020
I don´t think that the answer for this - very general question - what vdi is, is that simple! Of course you can always give answers by definition makes on Wikipedia, or from companies which are selling vdi-solutions. But the mainpoint, in my opinion, is always the perspective of the asking person. vdi can be the simple virtualization of clientsystems - but vdi can also be the "hardcore" virtualization of extreme workstation, clientsystems, or just something between, something with application streaming etc. etc.
So it is not that simple to answer the first question. And … than out of this the result for the second question is not that simple either. Of course all of us can say - nothing is better for displacement then get more displacement. So of course you can slay al kinds of workloads with the power of all-flash - but is it every time necassery? I don´t think so. Is it every time economic? I don´t think so. So first of all - talk much more precise to your customer and try to reach his painpoints, so you can decide if VDI is really necessary, and how you have to design a new storage implementation to fit the conditions of the customer best.
Regarding VDI solution, Yes you have to get a full flash storage solution because you will have high IO, need high bandwidth, for a small capacity. Only flash storage responses time has the right solution.
Machine learning capabilities are relatively common among the bigger all-flash providers but differ in what they offer. Here are a number to consider.
HPE Primera's all-flash platform incorporates HPE's InfoSight technology, which uses machine learning to predict and prevent potential issues. InfoSight also analyzes workload patterns and makes real-time recommendations to optimize performance and efficiency.
Another player is Dell EMC PowerStore which uses integrated machine learning to optimize performance, efficiency, and data placement. The platform uses intelligent data services to automatically tier data and optimize efficiency without requiring manual admin work.
IBM comes to the table with its FlashSystem 9100 and AI-based predictive storage analytics and storage resource management.
And you can also look at NetApp AFF A-Series which comes with what NetApp calls its AI-informed predictive analytics and corrective action.
VMware is definitely a behemoth and many all-flash storage systems include VMware integration. Among the bigger players are the following that you might want to look at:
NetApp AFF offers tight integration with VMware vSphere, including VAAI and VASA support. The platform also offers integration with VMware NSX, enabling you to virtualize your network and security infrastructure.
Pure Storage FlashArray also offers strong integration with VMware, including VAAI, vCenter, and VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM). FlashArray also offers a plugin for the vSphere Web Client for management of storage policies directly from the vSphere environment.
Dell has a number of options. The Unity line supports VMware VAAI, vSphere, and vCenter integration. The platform also offers automated storage tiering to optimize the placement of data in VMware environments. Dell's PowerStore solution provides native and scalable vVols support, and Dell notes that its PowerMax line "is engineered to meet the most demanding VMware requirements."
HPE's Nimble Storage solution also integrates with VMware, including VAAI, vCenter, and VMware SRM and, like Pure Storage's FlashArray, offers a plugin for the vSphere Web Client. It also supports vSphere vVols.
IBM FlashSystem's integration with VMware includes VAAI, vCenter, and VMware SRM. It also offers integration with vRO to help with insights into the performance and utilization of your VMware environment.
We’re launching an annual User’s Choice Award to showcase the most popular B2B enterprise technology products and we want your vote!
If there’s a technology solution that’s really impressed you, here’s an opportunity to recognize that. It’s easy: go to the PeerSpot voting site, complete the brief voter registration form, review the list of nominees and vote. Get your colleagues to vote, too!
...
No, you don't need allflash - but it depends how many users. If you deploy 'desktop just in time' then all vdi instances are in RAM (with small footprint on the storage). Allflash is recommended but not required. It's recommended to have separate storage for VDI solution. Look at vmware.com site - they have great documents and videos how it works.
If a customer needs to eliminate physical desktops and their maintenance with a requirement of not less than 40-50 desktops then Virtual desktops would be a good option collectively.
VDI is also being used where clients need to access their "application any where" or "application mobility" or "work from home" is required.
The infrastructure that provisions, manages and maintains Virtual desktops is known as VDI or Virtual desktop infrastructure. VDI is basically desktop based virtualization.
VDI:
Compute&Storage Layer
Virtualization&Networking Layer
Desktop Layer/Session Manager (VDI software)
Security Layer
End-client/Thin/Thik Clients/Software based clients
If a customer needs VDI and Database(Oracle/SQL/MS-Exchange) as VM(s) then All-Flash based VDI solutions should be selected.This would called VDI with server based virtualization.
For VDI and Server based virtualization there are solutions available specifically made for this need. HCI(Hyper Converged infrastructure) solutions would be a better choice for both VDI and server based virtualization. All-flash back-end storage will be required if very high storage I/O or Databases are involved.
VDI uses a server solution for virtual desktops. This way the horsepower needed to run applications comes from the server-side and not the client-side.
This enables a couple of main things: a similar desktop experience for the end-user no matter where they are and what hardware they are using, and cost savings on the hardware required for the end-user. It enables patching and security benefits as well. The drawbacks are bandwidth requirements and server infrastructure cost. Using an all-flash storage array would help in the IO limitations of the server because any storage requests would be fulfilled quickly.
Pros: consistency in all desktops (they are all the same), speed and performance, patching and security, easier upgrades, lower desktop machine cost, server maintenance.
Cons: high server hardware requirements, server storage cost is higher, need a higher bandwidth between server and desktop, server maintenance.
Any kind of decision to use VDI needs to consider the cost benefit. Would using a virtual desktop be worth it? You decide.
VDI is a server farm for virtualizing dedicated user desktops. Detailed information can be found at this link, for example, VMware https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/virtual-desktop-infrastructure-vdi
How does VDI work?
In the case of my organization for 2 thousand. 20 TB data has been reserved. VDI solutions have a large data reduction (deduplication and compression, up to 20: 1). If the data is reproducible, this factor may be even higher.
Is All-Flash required or can it work on other memory arrays?
VDI can work on hybrid arrays, but they are not so efficient in boot storm, non-Vistist, VDI, reboot of the whole farm, low response times below 1ms, requirements of similar experiments as on PC.
Very good question, but a world is opened when speaking about VDI. I think that flexibility and ready to use are the most importat aspects. All-Flash in not required but it depends on the answer you get to "what should VDI use for"?
Do you mean Virtual Desktop Infrastructure? If so, then it has no relation to flash storage. VDI can work on any storage. But it will be faster using flash storage.
I don´t think that the answer for this - very general question - what vdi is, is that simple! Of course you can always give answers by definition makes on Wikipedia, or from companies which are selling vdi-solutions. But the mainpoint, in my opinion, is always the perspective of the asking person. vdi can be the simple virtualization of clientsystems - but vdi can also be the "hardcore" virtualization of extreme workstation, clientsystems, or just something between, something with application streaming etc. etc.
So it is not that simple to answer the first question. And … than out of this the result for the second question is not that simple either. Of course all of us can say - nothing is better for displacement then get more displacement. So of course you can slay al kinds of workloads with the power of all-flash - but is it every time necassery? I don´t think so. Is it every time economic? I don´t think so. So first of all - talk much more precise to your customer and try to reach his painpoints, so you can decide if VDI is really necessary, and how you have to design a new storage implementation to fit the conditions of the customer best.
Regarding VDI solution, Yes you have to get a full flash storage solution because you will have high IO, need high bandwidth, for a small capacity. Only flash storage responses time has the right solution.