Windows VDI RDS 2012 solution - anyone running it successfully?

[Kitkatninja]

Hi All,

 

We are in the testing phase of the Windows VDI RDS 2012 solution, has anyone currently successfully implemented it? If so, how's it going and what thin client boxes are you using.

 

Last question, if poss, can we come and take a look?

 

So far, it works if you're on a PC/laptop or on BYOD but we can't find any thin/zero client that is compatible with it (no 10Zig and Wyse at the moment haven't released compat devices).

 

Thanks

 

-Ken

[MuttsNutts]

Hi we are currently testing Dell's vWorkspace (what used tobe Quest) it looks very good and fast has a vast range of thin client options that will work with it, PXE BOOT & thin O/S using wyse terminal's or iGells etc......it's a cheeper option as it does not require SAN storage for the VDI images to be stored.

 

Just orderd two servers and a basic licence for now as it has alot of fine tuning to get it perfect for our enviroment - will put it out in a few area's first like hot desk places LRC, Staff Room Hot Desk, student Syber Cafe etc..... if it proves worth will aim to replace classroom PC's next year.

[Achandler]

My old work has 12 setup as Personal desktops but it did have pooled desktops before, it was using wes7 thin clients though, which aren't actually that thin.

[Kitkatninja]

Thanks guy's for your input, not exactly what I was looking for...

 

Windows 2012 (or Windows 2008 r2) VDI solution doesn't need a SAN and personal/pooled desktops are a feature of VDI, regardless of which version you go for.

 

But thanks for answering anyway

 

What I was looking for is if anyone has implemented the Windows 2012 VDi and got their thin/zero clients to connect up to a session straight away (after logging in). Instead of having to go to the RDS website to sign in, then launch the session/desktop, then log in again onto the session/desktop...

Edited July 11, 2013 by Kitkatninja

[Achandler]

Apologies but you didnt actually ask anything except has anyone done it.

 

To answer your question directly yes, and it worked well, and it was using 10zig WES clients.

 

With regards to your problem, can your dumb terminals auto-launch an RDP file?

[MuttsNutts]

Yes I we have done it from a Wyse Thin Client running thin O/S with the vWorkspace connector configerd to auto connect to the farm and run an RDP session to a VDI desktop, it's flash memory in the wyse so takes 6 seconds to boot to login screen once logged in with AD creds VDI desktop is there ready for use in 8 more seconds so from powering on the wyse to useable desktop 14 seconds which is rapid, if using a Linux O/S with the vworkspace client it's longer as the O/S and shell is on a HDD so more like 2 mins boot logging and desktop in a further 30 seconds, it's even longer if using windows with thin shell running.......

[Kitkatninja]

Thanks guys

 

Apologies but you didnt actually ask anything except has anyone done it.

 

To answer your question directly yes, and it worked well, and it was using 10zig WES clients.

 

With regards to your problem, can your dumb terminals auto-launch an RDP file?

 

How did you managed that? Th answer we got from 10zig was that we had to launch it via the web browser. We are trialing their WES7 and WES8 thin clients.

 

Yes I we have done it from a Wyse Thin Client running thin O/S with the vWorkspace connector configerd to auto connect to the farm and run an RDP session to a VDI desktop, it's flash memory in the wyse so takes 6 seconds to boot to login screen once logged in with AD creds VDI desktop is there ready for use in 8 more seconds so from powering on the wyse to useable desktop 14 seconds which is rapid, if using a Linux O/S with the vworkspace client it's longer as the O/S and shell is on a HDD so more like 2 mins boot logging and desktop in a further 30 seconds, it's even longer if using windows with thin shell running.......

 

How did you managed this?

 

We tried the vWorkspace connector and that either errors out or it connects to the host server, not the individual VDI sessions. According to Wyse the firmware for 2012 compatibility isn't out yet. However if you can post the instructions for the work around, that would be great. We've also got the Wyse T10 models.

[Achandler]

We put thinkiosk on our clients hen in that we put the auto launch for the RDP file, we also replaced the shell with thinkiosk as well.

 

10zig try and sell you a product that costs another £20 per machine, but thinkiosk was free. If you use it though, there is a tick box in the settings for RDS mode, which means it will launch and re-launch correctly. It can also be controlled via GPO which is a nice benefit.

 

But basically in the end we had ones turn on and off at set times, and then when booted you were presented with a username and password box, you could then connect, if you disconnected or logged off, then the same connection box opened again.

 

One reason we used WES clients was the ability to install local printers etc, as ours were for office use.

[MuttsNutts]

 

How did you managed this?

 

We tried the vWorkspace connector and that either errors out or it connects to the host server, not the individual VDI sessions. According to Wyse the firmware for 2012 compatibility isn't out yet. However if you can post the instructions for the work around, that would be great. We've also got the Wyse T10 models.

 

Yea I used the T10 models too this has a built in option to connect to different VDI products vWorkspace connector included very basic setup then auto launch to windows desktop was done at the broker (server) and yea running 2012 with hyper v with a 2012 broker using version 8 of vWorkspace and latest version of the Fog Light add on, even printers and USB redirection to the thin client can be configured, Dell community site has some very good guides on how to set it all up and various custom guides too, can't find the link yet as on iPad but will post it another time for you.

 

and thanks Achandler for the mention of Thinkoisk for the bios level conversion as I also looked at this but was quoted £40 per pc for it using the igell software all looked over the top for our needs

[Achandler]

Thinkiosk is free and runs over windows, it just replaces the windows explorer.exe shell with its own. Hence I asked what clients you were using, managing is GPO is also free ofcourse.

[Axel]

This maybe what you are looking for: ?

 

(Thin client connecting to direct virtual machine, single sign on, in several seconds, without a browser, in a 100% Microsoft VDI environment)

 

[Kitkatninja]

This maybe what you are looking for: ?

 

(Thin client connecting to direct virtual machine, single sign on, in several seconds, without a browser, in a 100% Microsoft VDI environment)

 

 

Yes, exactly what I was looking for. I see your username, I take it that your that company's representative on edugeek @Axel ?