In a world where data consolidation and security are high on IT priority lists, it’s important to know that you can store your corporate data in your corporate data center, and still provide users with the access and performance they need.
Advancements in workstation and hypervisor technology have made it possible to migrate even graphics-rich applications into the data center.
There are several ways to host applications in the datacenter, such as, dedicated hardware, pass-through GPU, or virtualized GPU. With any of these solutions, you have your data securely hosted in your data center, but that’s only useful if you can connect your users to it.
A hosted solution for graphics-rich applications requires two key components. The first is a high-performance display protocol to handle performance and client access. Secondly, unless you want your end users to memorize IP addresses or hostnames, you need a connection broker to offer out and connect users to their resources.
Performance and Client Access – It’s all about the display protocol
You can take steps to host the application on a powerful workstation with adequate resources. However, after that, when it comes to the end-user’s experience, it’s really all about the display protocol.
The display protocol connects the user’s client device to their remote desktop, and is responsible for remoting the graphical display to the user’s client device. A good display protocol goes above and beyond and is responsible for the complete end-user experience, which includes things like redirecting USB devices from the client to the remote desktop, redirecting audio, and more.
Tip: The display protocol also defines the types of client devices your users can use to connect to their hosted desktop. When you choose a display protocol to use with graphics-rich hosted applications, ensure that you select an option that provides both the performance you need as well as access from all the client types your users want.
Resource control and tracking – It’s all about the Connection Broker
On the flip side from the end-user’s requirements, you have the IT department’s needs. For administrators, the key to a good, hosted desktop solution comes down to control and tracking, and that’s where a connection broker comes in.
A connection broker provides the login portal for the users who need access to the hosted desktops and applications. Behind that login portal, the administrator defines the connection broker logic that directs the user to the correct desktop based on who that user is, and where they log in from.
The logic also controls how long the user has access to their desktop, allowing you to maximize resource usage and ensure that expensive applications are utilized to their greatest potential.
Finally, when users access their resources through a connection broker, you not only gain control, you also get accurate usage tracking. Connection brokers record user information for the lifecycle of the user’s connection, from the moment they log in, to when they lock the desktop, to when they log out, allowing you to track and report on resource consumption. By watching the trends in application use, you know which applications are under utilized, or which you need to purchase more.
Looking for more information on hosting graphically demanding applications? Simplify IT and End-User Experience for Remote Desktop Connections to All Things HP