For years, organizations around the world have deployed virtual desktop infrastructures (VDI) or offered desktops-as-a-service using full-stack, proprietary solutions. For many, however, the high cost of these solutions poses too large a barrier, and VDI adoption stalled at levels well below analyst predictions.
In our new, complimentary resource, “OpenStack VDI Reference Architecture with Leostream” we propose an alternate solution, one that provides VDI to internal users as well as desktops-as-a-service to customers, at a lower cost and at web scale. The document describes a recommended architecture for building a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or delivering desktops-as-a-service (DaaS) from an OpenStack cloud using the Leostream Connection Broker.
Benefits of VDI and Desktops-as-a-Service
The reasons for moving from dedicated hardware to virtual desktops are well documented. Hosting desktops in the datacenter improves data security, allows organizations to save power, and centralizes desktop management. These benefits are particularly important in verticals such as healthcare and financial services. By keeping data secure in the data center, organizations are at a lower risk for losing data due to end-point loss or breech. Desktops-as-a-service brings additional benefits to the SMB market. By relying on a managed service provider (MSP) to host their virtual desktops, SMBs can reap the benefits of VDI without making the costly investment into infrastructure and IT staff. Desktops-as-a-service are a benefit to the MSP, as well, allowing them to expand their portfolio, such as by providing disaster recovery (DR) solutions, leveraging the same datacenter used for their existing as-a-service offerings.
Why Use OpenStack® Software and Leostream for VDI and DaaS
OpenStack® software allows you to manage pools of compute, networking, and storage in your data center. When combined with the Leostream Connection Broker, your OpenStack compute becomes a VDI powerhouse, providing on-demand access to virtual desktops at lower cost. An environment composed of OpenStack and Leostream enables some of the key aspects of VDI and DaaS including multi-tenancy, on-demand availability and cost control.
Three Resources to Kick-Start your OpenStack VDI/DaaS Deployment
By leveraging Leostream alongside OpenStack you can realize the benefits of VDI and DaaS at a lower cost and at web scale. In addition to the reference guide, here are three other resources to get you started.
1. Blueprint: Building OpenStack VDI and DaaS a Blueprint for Cloud Hosted Desktops
In this introductory blueprint we outline the building blocks for hosting virtual desktops with ease.
2. Webinar: How to Make OpenStack VDI and DaaS a Reality
In this webinar we discuss how your organization can lower the cost of deploying virtual desktops and we provide a product demonstration of integration Leostream with OpenStack.
3. Webinar: OpenStack VDI and DaaS with Leostream and the Teradici Pervasive Computing Platform
In this webinar we demonstrate how combining the Leostream Connection Broker and the Teradici Pervasive Computing Platform enables you to build, deliver, and manage a virtual desktop infrastructure in OpenStack clouds.
(The OpenStack word mark and the Square O Design, together or apart, are trademarks or registered trademarks of OpenStack Foundation in the United States and other countries, and are used with the OpenStack Foundation’s permission.)