VMware View: Getting started

With Vmware ,ESXi server consolidation products deploying VMware View has operational and IT effects and the following should be considered:

IT department

• When deciding who will be involved in the project it is important to appreciate that the server team / person will have some skills using V Centre as the management interface is the same.
• What training will be required, certified or customised to your design.
• Have the types of desktop users been identified?
• What success criteria have been defined for the pilot?
• Is it a staged deployment based on using the PC refresh budget over a number of years?
• Have  thin client devices been identified?
• Is the rest of the infrastructure suitable for the deployment i.e. network, AD etc.

Operational

• Is there a requirement for a service level agreement for desktop computer availability and resolving support calls?
• How will the end user experience be monitored and assessed?
• Will users see change as positive?
• Could the company benefit from a more flexible desktop environment i.e. for users to log on from anywhere and access their own desktop applications?

Common mistakes

SAN sizing

VMware state 5 IOP’s average per user but Taupo’s experience has shown that more is required especially at peak times to avoid an unacceptable user experience.

No Feasibility study

This is fundamental to the success of the project.  Each project requires a feasibility study to answer the following:

• Establish users for the prototype /pilot,
• Provide a hardware specification requirements document (we often see under and over specified hardware including servers and SAN)
• Identify any infrastructure concerns that will affect the project
• Establish any PC projects that would affect design and thin client device selection i.e. Windows 7
• Look at desktop deployment methods to be used within VMware view
• Application delivery
• Storage requirements
• Compute platform requirements
• Establish success criteria

Taupo Consulting can help structure your project and assist with its implementation based on experience and professional deployment of best practice principles.

For further information please click here or call 0845 094 3366