As a follow up to our previous posting, we thought we’d link to some additional resources on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). In particular, how are VDI solutions being managed today, and where is this technology going in the future? And how can you use Win2PDF with VDI to expand PDF functionality across more platforms and devices?
There are a couple of different ways of managing a Virtual VDI implementation – either hosting the infrastructure components in-house or hosting them in the cloud. We won’t go into all of the details in this post, but we did think it useful to share some resource links to the major vendors in this area.
The most common way VDI management is handled today is to have each enterprise host both the hardware and software in a centralized location. This can be pricey (since the company needs to buy all the hardware and software components), complex, and difficult to manage from a load-balancing and performance perspective. Organizations utilizing this type of approach probably use a solution from one of the major players in the VDI software space and you can find more information about each following the links listed below:
The second, newer way VDI solutions are managed are by utilizing a cloud-based service. In addition to the providers listed above, a relatively new entrant into this space is Amazon.com, with their Amazon WorkSpaces product. The following video provides a good overview of how their cloud hosted VDI solution differs from the traditional in-house solution.
Amazon’s hosting infrastructure could be a game changer in the way enterprises deploy VDI. It allows organizations an easy way to support Windows apps on non-Windows devices, such as Android or iPad tablets. And, as user mobility becomes increasingly common, the ability to support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technologies will only become more important. Providing secure application access on any device is the ultimate goal.
Whether enterprises move their VDI management to the cloud in serious numbers still remains to be seen, but it is an interesting option for companies that want to get started without the upfront cost and complexity. Our Win2PDF products support both the tradition in-house VDI solutions and the new Amazon WorkSpaces product. It’s a great way to provide the ability to generate PDF files to any BYOD user.
