Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• How the move to Windows 10 could lead IT to deploy VDI

  When IT moves users to Windows 10, it should take the time to also look at the potential of VDI, a technology that has grown a lot in recent years and become more affordable. Continue Reading

• Can you use root cause analysis for VDI troubleshooting?

  When IT pros adopt root cause analysis for VDI, they must know how to best use it to solve performance problems before they affect end users. Take this quiz to see if you're ready. Continue Reading

• Put application virtualization products under the microscope

  Get to know the four main components that make up any app virtualization product, including client access, management and monitoring, and the delivery infrastructure. Continue Reading

• Understand and evaluate the user profile management system

  Profile management tools can help admins keep tabs on user profiles and information as long as they properly evaluate the prospective platforms and the capabilities they can provide. Continue Reading

• Explore the leading user profile management tools in-depth

  Profile management tools help admins keep tabs on users using cloud, migration and app virtualization. Discover the leading vendors with this in-depth overview of their products. Continue Reading

• How should IT evaluate application virtualization products?

  When picking an application virtualization tool, IT pros must understand the app types they are dealing with, determine their security needs and more.Continue Reading

• Remote display protocols dictate virtual desktop experience

  Citrix, VMware and Microsoft all offer remote display protocols with their VDI products. Each one brings a little something different to the table.Continue Reading

• Get the scoop on elastic application layers from Citrix

  IT pros can use Citrix Elastic Layering to target apps to specific users. However, it's important to know when and where to use Elastic Layering, as well the potential problems.Continue Reading

• Find the right user profile management software

  Determine the right profile management platform for your company and take a close look at personalization, recovery, cloud, UEM and migration features.Continue Reading

• Buy the right desktop and application virtualization product

  Virtualizing both desktops and applications can increase productivity, agility and mobility within a company. Discover the products that can deliver both services to your workers.Continue Reading

• Understand the benefits of user profile management software

  Profile management tools can be valuable assets to address failure recovery, migration support, KPI improvement, as well as profile corruption, so long as they fit your environment.Continue Reading

• Survey the desktop and application virtualization market

  Organizations want the flexibility to deliver virtual desktops and applications from the same platform. Learn about the products that can do both for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• User profile management software in the modern enterprise

  Profile management tools help admins keep track of important details about users, like their bookmarks, browser histories, wallpapers, documents and more.Continue Reading

• Compare top desktop and application virtualization products

  Each company has different desktop and app virtualization needs. Buyers must compare what vendors offer for mobility and data governance to make the right purchase.Continue Reading

• The key features in an app, desktop virtualization product

  Desktop and app virtualization tools help admins deliver services to users regardless of where they work and what devices they work on. Learn how to make a smart buying decision.Continue Reading

• What are the differences between TCP and UDP?

  When it comes to using TCP or UDP for sending packets of data through a network across devices, IT must know the differences and when each option is a good fit.Continue Reading

• What's new with desktop virtualization management?

  When it comes to VDI management, security and user experience are paramount. IT can use a host of tools, including monitoring, to keep an eye on both areas.Continue Reading

• How desktop virtualization vendors are improving management

  IT pros want to see better security and more monitoring capabilities in their virtual desktop management tools. The ultimate goal is a quality user experience, though.Continue Reading

• How cloud-native application development affects VDI

  As more and more applications become cloud-native, VDI shops should prepare for changes in the way users access their apps and desktops.Continue Reading

• The ultimate guide to VDI planning

  There is no standard VDI deployment. Each one takes on a life of its own depending on key decisions, including the remote display protocol and the underlying infrastructure.Continue Reading

• How to pick out the right VDI use cases

  VDI can help organizations, but only if IT applies it to the right use cases. Identifying those virtual desktop use cases starts with understanding the user type and location.Continue Reading

• Configure a complete enterprise DaaS deployment

  There is a lot more than cost that goes into planning a DaaS deployment. Know the missteps to avoid and top vendors that will best fit an organization's needs.Continue Reading

• Rise of the graphics-intensive mainstream apps

  VDI shops can no longer assume mainstream apps, such as Microsoft Office, do not require GPUs. This type of app, as well as websites and more, are increasingly graphics-intensive.Continue Reading

• Come on down! The VDI price is finally right

  Many IT pros used to view VDI as too expensive, but now with technologies such as hyper-converged infrastructure and all-flash arrays, everything is changing.Continue Reading

• Consider key factors in the physical vs. virtual desktop debate

  When deciding between physical or virtual desktops, IT admins must evaluate the costs, look at their application requirements and understand their users' needs.Continue Reading

• Get into the groove of Office 365 licensing for VDI

  Virtual desktops change the traditional licensing game. Office 365 typically allows for five device installs, but the rules are different in an Office 365 VDI deployment.Continue Reading

• Pick from three top virtual application delivery options

  VDI, DaaS and RDSH have their places in the enterprise. DaaS, for example, is ideal for organizations with a tight budget. IT admins must know which is best for their companies.Continue Reading

• Compare virtual apps vs. virtual desktop deployment

  Selecting a desktop virtualization method is a difficult decision for any IT admin. It's important to consider efficiency and user experience to make the best choice.Continue Reading

• A complete guide to XenApp and XenDesktop vs. Horizon

  This comprehensive guide covers the ins and outs of the desktop virtualization features that define the battle lines between Citrix's XenApp and XenDesktop and VMware's Horizon.Continue Reading

• Five VDI thin clients worthy of enterprise consideration

  Choosing the right endpoints for VDI is essential. Explore five options for VDI thin clients -- including Raspberry Pi devices and Google Chromebooks -- and what differentiates them from each other.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Remote Desktop Services vs. Remote Desktop Session Host

  Microsoft Remote Desktop Services has made significant strides since its early days, but Remote Desktop Session Host has built up a lot of good will over the years.Continue Reading

• How desktop provisioning works with VMware Instant Clone

  IT can use Instant Clones in VMware Horizon View to provision multiple virtual desktops with shared RAM and disk resources, which can improve overall performance.Continue Reading

• Explore five virtual application delivery tools

  With all of the virtual app delivery tools out there, it can be hard to know what's what. Sort through the clutter to learn about some of the top offerings, including Citrix XenApp and Microsoft App-V.Continue Reading

• Take control of virtual desktop access with two-factor authentication

  Traditional passwords simply aren't good enough for VDI shops. Instead they need to make users' devices require a second form of authentication or use one-time passwords that change frequently.Continue Reading

• How to bake up Raspberry Pi thin clients for VDI

  Raspberry Pis are one of the lowest-cost computing options out there, so it's only natural for IT to wonder whether they're suitable as thin clients for some enterprise use cases.Continue Reading

• Four questions to ask before using Chromebook thin client devices

  Using Google Chromebooks as VDI clients can save organizations money and simplify IT management, but they're not the perfect fit for every company.Continue Reading

• Three benefits of using hyper-converged infrastructure systems for VDI

  Hyper-converged infrastructure systems bring all the necessary back-end hardware and software to support a VDI deployment into a tightly-integrated chassis. Discover three ways HCI helps VDI shops, plus a few concerns to keep in mind.Continue Reading

• Compare Citrix Provisioning Services and Machine Creation Services

  One of the most important parts of setting up and managing a XenDesktop deployment is choosing which provisioning tool to use. Citrix provides one streaming option and another that creates VM clones.Continue Reading

• Compare Citrix, VMware and Microsoft remote display protocol options

  As desktop and app virtualization technologies advance, the top vendors' remote display protocols are keeping pace. Citrix HDX, Microsoft RemoteFX, VMware Blast and Teradici PCoIP protocol can all support modern end-user computing.Continue Reading

• How Citrix USB redirection supports stylus peripherals

  A new feature in XenDesktop and XenApp makes it easier for stylus users, artists and engineers to link USB peripheral devices to their virtual desktops and applications, even when they're far away from the office.Continue Reading

• How does Citrix StoreFront work with XenApp and XenDesktop?

  Citrix's enterprise app store can help VDI shops transition to a mobile-friendly virtual desktop and application strategy by broadening remote access and providing a simpler user interface for employees.Continue Reading

• Should businesses use HTML5 remote desktop clients?

  HTML5 clients can serve as a widely accessible, mobile friendly way for users to access virtual desktops, but there are still a few security kinks to work out.Continue Reading

• How does virtual desktop performance compare to PCs?

  Virtual desktops need to perform similar to physical desktops, or else users become frustrated. Most companies now have enough back-end resources to support speedy VDI connections.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of using an HTML5 browser as a VDI client

  Although HTML5 clients don't provide enough security for some organizations, they're one of the easiest and most widely available options for delivering remote desktops to employees.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about GPU virtualization

  GPU virtualization makes virtual desktops a strong option for users who need graphics-intensive apps, because this technology moves graphics rendering to the data center.Continue Reading

• Citrix XenClient is going away, but what will replace it?

  Citrix's announcement that it will stop selling XenClient didn't include any plans to replace its Type 1 hypervisor. VDI shops are left wondering what's next.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between a VM clone and a template?

  Creating virtual machine templates and clones are quick-and-easy ways to deploy multiple VMs, but for your VDI environment to thrive, you should know the best use cases for each method.Continue Reading

• VDI assessment guide

  Wait! Don't implement VDI technology until you know your goals and needs. A VDI assessment should consider the benefits of a VDI environment and its effects on end users.Continue Reading

• Guide to choosing and managing VDI thin clients

  First, decide whether thin clients are right for your environment. Then learn what to look for in VDI hardware and what kind of management capabilities you need.Continue Reading

• Five Citrix Synergy 2015 sessions to look forward to

  There are lots of different session types and tracks to choose from at Citrix Synergy 2015. Before you etch your schedule in stone, make sure to consider these five sessions for desktop virtualization admins.Continue Reading

• Comparing three options for VDI endpoints

  There are a few ways admins can provide users with the hardware that makes it possible to access their virtual desktops. Get to know the three major options.Continue Reading

• Complete guide to RDS management and RDSH

  RDS is the backbone of Windows desktop virtualization from Microsoft. Learn about features -- such as RemoteFX -- problems and more.Continue Reading

• Tablets and smartphones can be thin clients, too

  The experience of using a mobile device as a thin client has improved and it's no longer out of the question, but some pain points remain, such as connectivity and text entry.Continue Reading

• Can I use a tablet for VDI?

  Technology-wise, it's possible to access a virtual desktop from a tablet, but the user experience may not be ideal. On the other hand, if you have a mouse and keyboard hooked up to the tablet, it can be a great way to access VDI.Continue Reading

• Do I need antivirus for VDI deployments?

  Virtual desktop environments aren't immune to viruses and malware, so it's important to have an antivirus tool and strategy in place before your deployment gets infected.Continue Reading

• VDI vs. RDSH doesn't matter if users don't need full Windows desktops

  Most companies don't need to publish full Windows desktops anymore -- users mostly just need their applications. That means there's no reason to discount RDSH in favor of VDI.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between VDI vs. Terminal Services?

  The VDI vs. Terminal Services (or RDS) debate is based on the differences between the two methods for delivering remote desktops. One uses sessions and the other connects users to full client OS desktops.Continue Reading

• The difference between Citrix Workspace Suite and Workspace Services

  Citrix's Workspace Services and the Workspace Suite aren't one in the same. The Suite is a bundle of products and Workspace Services is a delivery platform and control plane.Continue Reading

• Components, features and use cases for XenDesktop 7.5

  XenDesktop 7.5 comes with XenApp, hybrid cloud integration and HDX enhancements, as well as an improved experience for workers who use mobile devices to access desktops and apps. But is there room for upgrades in products such as Profile Management?Continue Reading

• Smackdown: Microsoft vs. Citrix vs. VMware VDI for 3-D graphics

  Virtual desktops and 3-D graphics can mix if you use the right approach. Here's how Citrix, Microsoft and VMware VDI's GPU support compares.Continue Reading

• VMware and Citrix put gloves on, customers prep for winning products

  Whether Horizon 6 or XenApp is better doesn't matter; the longer VMware and Citrix duke it out, the better both products will be for customers.Continue Reading

• What virtualized GPU technology is doing for VDI

  Virtualized GPU technology brings VDI to more users than ever before, which could spur desktop virtualization adoption.Continue Reading

• Making thin client performance priority No. 1

  Thin client performance is the key to a successful endpoint because it's the issue that most affects your end users.Continue Reading

• How to load balance a Citrix or VMware VDI implementation

  Whether your VDI implementation is based on Citrix or VMware, certain load-balancing techniques will keep performance on target.Continue Reading

• How to handle peripherals support on virtual desktops

  Peripherals support can be especially tricky on virtual desktops because you often need redirection technology to make the devices work.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of using VDI for BYOD management

  Virtual desktop infrastructure eases the stress of managing employee-owned devices in the enterprise, but beware connectivity and compatibility snags.Continue Reading

• Weighing connected vs. disconnected VDI

  Offline VDI lets users work from anywhere -- even without an Internet connection -- but that brings up a few challenges regarding user experience.Continue Reading

• Citrix kills its Application Streaming feature, directs users to App-V

  Citrix has officially ceased development and support for its Application Streaming feature, and has directed IT pros to use Microsoft App-V instead.Continue Reading

• Nonpersistent vs. persistent desktops: Why VDI should persist

  Using persistent desktops for VDI makes application delivery more flexible; plus, they're similar to the physical desktops you already have.Continue Reading

• Comparing remote display protocols: RemoteFX vs. HDX vs. PCoIP

  Are you puzzled by protocols? This comparison reviews top remote display protocols from major vendors so you'll know what each has to offer.Continue Reading

• Choosing thin client devices: What to look for

  On the lookout for thin client devices? Don't forget to consider application compatibility, protocol support, features and cost.Continue Reading

• User profile management tools: 16 options to consider

  There are tons of user profile management tools out there. Check out these options to learn what they offer -- and which ones are free.Continue Reading

• GPU vs. CPU: Three ways to run graphics-heavy apps on virtual desktops

  It's a pain trying to accommodate graphics-intensive applications on a virtual desktop, but don't despair. There are ways to deliver these apps fast.Continue Reading

• Demystifying Microsoft virtual desktop licensing: SA vs. VDA vs. CDL

  Virtual desktops are so dynamic that licensing them isn't easy. Microsoft's complex VDI licensing rules certainly don't help.Continue Reading

• Using Portable-VirtualBox to run any OS from a USB device

  Portable-VirtualBox allows you to run OSes from a USB drive, which helps you test them for use in server and desktop virtualization environments.Continue Reading

• Turn to Microsoft RemoteApp Programs when VDI and RDS just won't do

  VDI and RDS aren't always the best fit for remote app delivery. For a lightweight approach, try Microsoft RemoteApp Programs in Windows Server 2012.Continue Reading

• Desktop virtualization comparison: VDI vs. Remote Desktop Services

  For desktop virtualization, you have a choice between the paths of VDI and Remote Desktop Services. Robert Frost took the road less travelled, but you don't have to choose just one.Continue Reading

• Reverse seamless windows: The secret to local apps on remote desktops

  Some apps just run better as local applications. Reverse seamless windows technology allows you to run apps locally while presenting them on remote desktops.Continue Reading

• More tools for converting PCs to thin clients

  You don't need to replace all your PCs to move to virtual desktops. Here are six non-Windows tools to help you convert old hardware to thin clients for desktop virtualization.Continue Reading

• Google Chrome OS vs. Chromium OS: Understanding the difference

  Before buying Google Chromebooks, learn the difference between Chrome and Chromium -- the free HTML5 browsers and OSes you can use to check out desktop virtualization clients.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of using storage virtualization for virtual desktops

  Thinking of virtualizing storage to improve virtual desktop performance? Here are the pros and cons of storage virtualization for VDI.Continue Reading

• The pros and cons of using hosted apps in the enterprise

  Hosted applications can reduce IT management burdens, but they can leave you at the mercy of service providers. Here are the pros and cons to weigh before moving to the cloud.Continue Reading

• Using AppLocker to lock down Remote Desktop Services apps

  The time it takes to get AppLocker fully functional negates its benefits, but with Remote Desktop Services, the Windows 7 application security tool is a no-brainer.Continue Reading

• The Layer 4 protocols behind PCoIP and HDX: Which is better for VDI?

  VMware uses UDP for its remote desktop protocol, PC-over-IP, and Citrix uses TCP for HDX. Consider the pros and cons of these technologies for your VDI environment.Continue Reading

• Remote desktop access vs. mobile access: What's the difference?

  While remote access is always remote, it's not always mobile. There's a difference between the two, each with its own use case.Continue Reading

• Using VMware ThinApp for application virtualization

  Considering virtualizing your apps? See the benefits – and pitfalls – of application virtualization and find steps on how to use VMware ThinApp.Continue Reading

• Understanding application virtualization as a software hosting strategy

  Application virtualization is a software hosting strategy that can increase system protection and eliminate incompatibilities with configuration data by using APIs to emulate middleware and OS interfaces.Continue Reading

• Parsing virtual apps, streaming and isolation

  Do you know the difference between application virtualization, isolation and streaming? Find out in this week's column from Brian Madden.Continue Reading