VMView environment

[Geek_of_HeathMount]

Quick question to all regarding VMView
I need a ball park figure on the following set-up but for some reason everyone is very reluctant to give one

200 users all accessing Windows 7 environment via VMView
A server that will support the above
Appropriate Licences
Ongoing support


Thanks in advance

[Dave_O]

Read this

My conclusions on VDI and other things

don't do it

[linescanner]

Read this

My conclusions on VDI and other things

don't do it

Dave_O

a bit harsh to say this based on your experience. As per the thread you mention there are schools using VDI successfully and in a cost effective manner.

You do make some good points, however it is very hard to generalise, horses for course sir.

VDI can work and does. The only way to see if it fits a specific environment is to approach the end game from many different angles, not just technical or financial.

You have had a bad run with it, maybe it was not for your environment.

I take exception to

25

Yes I really have issues with "experts" never really found one that was. In any field. There are very few areas of IT (relevant to the school context) which, after a little time and effort cannot be fathomed. It would be great if the "experts" were paid on performance so rather than paying them £700 per day and end up with nothing, only pay when everything is working OK (or have definitely identified the problem). That would really help focus the mind.
Dave O

We are experts in this field and have plenty of happy customers on here that will back that up. Let us face it, after a little time I could fathom how to fit new windows in my house, will it be as good as someone who does it everyday..........doubtful. We are experts as we have done this time after time and day after day and learnt the hard way. There are plenty of companies out there that can add real value. You just have to look.

[linescanner]

Quick question to all regarding VMView
I need a ball park figure on the following set-up but for some reason everyone is very reluctant to give one

200 users all accessing Windows 7 environment via VMView
A server that will support the above
Appropriate Licences
Ongoing support


Thanks in advance

PM me sir. I can put something together and also give you some alternatives

[EduTech]

@Geek_of_HeathMount - I recommend you do speak to Andy ^above^ himself and the chaps at Cutter are very good at what they do and specialise in VDI as a whole with different solutions using different software packages and therefore will be able to consult with you on the best way forward explaining each one for it's own. I am sure if you inform andy of what you expect to use within your VDI Environment he will without a doubt be able to tell you weather it will work and which route to go down.

I do back him and his team all the way, they are experts and they are extremely good with what they do! and i have seen this for myself first hand. I'll leave it the capable hands of himself but just wanted to 2nd what he said from past dealings with the chaps!

Let us know how you get on,

James.

[Geek_of_HeathMount]

Thanks guys for all your comments, I'll hopefully be speaking to linescanner (Andy) tomorrow. However, I'll keep in mind Dave's comments and posts.

[nut-ed]

You may find this reference interesting. As per Dave-Os observations, it does seem VDI is much hyped as the next big thing, but most users seem to end up using "traditional" tried and trusted Terminal Services or Citrix.

http://www.axesssystems.co.uk/pdf/ca...-stretford.pdf

Whatever you do - you could be advised to wait till W2008r2 SP1 is released, with its new RemoteFX technology - this promises to address the "multi-media" issue in low cost thin clients....

Is there anyone reading this who uses WMware Viewer in a school environment...?

It seems many people virtualised their servers (successfully) and feel the obvious next step is to virtualise desktops - where in reality existing thin client technology has been doing a pretty good job of this for years.

[Dave_O]

Linescanner

With regard to your comment "a bit harsh to say this based on your experience". How else does one make judgements other than based on one's own experience or knowledge? It was stated clearly that this represents my own experience of VDI nothing more.

As for "...there are schools using VDI successfully and in a cost effective manner" as I comment in the thread if anyone can give me the name and address of a school using vdi cost effectively, then I am more than willing to make the journey.

Further, I don't understand why or on what grounds you "take exception" to what is an expression of my own personal opinion?

Finally the comment "Let us face it, after a little time I could fathom how to fit new windows in my house, will it be as good as someone who does it everyday..........doubtful." I'm assuming this a euphemism for "leave it to the "experts""? For me organisational knowledge and understanding comes from doing things and learning from the experience. I have fitted windows in my house and the act of doing so enhanced my knowledge of what is and is not important in that regard. That knowledge has been of great value to me through the years. I camped in the Mojave Desert two years ago, no amount of books, pictures or movies could substitute for that experience. Similarly I have gained from the experience of deploying VMWare View but would I use it? "No" and that is based on my own experience. If you read through the original thread you will note that there are those that have "done it themselves" and suceeded. It is good to know that they have added value to their organisation and can move forward, we on the other hand will continue to move forward but in a slightly different direction.

I live and die (some would hope sooner rather than later) by the maxim - "Facta non Verba"

Dave O

[gshaw]

Personally I think waiting for R2 SP1 is the best route, Hyper-V could well offer the VDI features for free and if they sort the graphics out then it becomes a much more attractive proposition.

As it stands by the time you add the extra disk, server and license costs up all you're doing is shifting the cost base from cheap desktop hardware to pricey server hardware... I've seen people add it up and there's minimal savings at the end of it in some cases...