VMware View

The VMware Inc company announced on September 16, 2010 entry into the market of VMware View 4.5, the solution of a corporate class for virtualization of jobs. Users of a product will get access to enhanced capabilities of work with virtual desktops, both at connection to network, and in the offline mode. VMware View 4.5 is the finished solution for virtualization of jobs which allows the enterprises to increase security, to lower operating costs and to simplify the procedure of management of desktops and their administrations thanks to creation of modern computing architecture.

The new view of VMware to personal calculations allows the organizations to pass from the outdate infrastructure of physical desktops to more modern model of providing applications and data focused on the end user. The strategy of the company is intended to exempt users of IT from the practice of the difficult hardware focused calculations existing more than 20 years and to offer corporate clients simpler and convenient model of personal "cloud" calculations.

VMware View 5.1

The VMware company released in the spring of 2012 the new version of the complex platform for virtualization of jobs under the name VMware View 5.1. This new platform is designed to reduce the needs for means of data storage and to alleviate the administration burden. Besides, new tools from the vCenter series for the accelerated selection of new virtual work places and also the public beta of the Octopus project for file sharing through a private cloud are provided to VMware View 5.1.

Being the recognized leader in server virtualization, the VMware company fell into a state, unusual for itself catching up when case concerns virtualization of jobs for end users. Instead of a set of types of devices, transfer protocols of the image and different standards of the description of the user working environment, VMware View 5.1 offers the simplified approach to virtualization. For example, this platform allows to store only several reference images of a workplace, and personal parameters, information and applications are stored separately to create the individual environment after the next reset.

Former attempts to store each specific virtual desktop in the form of a complete image led to growth of costs for the centralized data warehouse. Duplication of the general components of a working environment, such as operating system Windows, Microsoft Office and other applications, allows to store only several master copies.

In the VMware View 5.1 system the new View Storage Accelerator component for caching of the most demanded data appeared. This component allows to collect a working environment directly in memory of the client computer. Also the fact-finding version of a component under the name Composer Array Integration which collects and unrolls from the disk array at once several working environments that hundreds and thousands of users could begin work at the same time is presented in the updated platform. The Composer Array Integration component it is possible to include for test operation, but it is still unavailable on officially supported hardware platforms.

One more new technology under the name View Persona Management saves personal settings of users from the physical machine, offering an opportunity to extend this parameters to all Windows machines. Nevertheless, preserving of parameters does not provide preserving of a status so the user cannot pass from the machine to the machine, detecting the environment in that status in which it remained by the previous machine. Thus, the technology of virtualization of client PCs from VMware did not reach yet that stage when the user can continue the interrupted work in any place and on any device. According to representatives of VMware, such solutions are a prerogative of third-party suppliers like MokaFive and Unidesk.

The View 5.1 platform uses the new uniform PCoIP (PC-over-IP) protocol for delivery of the compressed image in high resolution on a client workplace through a corporate local or global network of Ethernet. Rendering of a desktop is executed on the server so on network only ready pixels are transferred.

Ready working environments can be used on client computers with the Windows, Linux and Mac systems; on thin clients; on the iPhone and Android smartphones; and also on iPad and Kindle Fire tablets. The built-in management tools of the View platform estimate the available volume of resources of network and the nature of client devices, adapting parameters of display of desktops. If the network has limited capacity, image quality can be reduced automatically until the resources occupied at the moment become available.

In addition to the View 5.1 platform the VMware company released a special superstructure which allows administrators of the vCenter Operations console to control completely work of client environments, to reveal problem places and to eliminate bottlenecks in a system.

The portal of delivery of the VMware Horizon Application Manager applications, already half a year available in the form of SaaS service from VMware, is included in the structure of View 5.1 as a component for installation at the customer's capacities now. A basis of VMware Horizon Application Manager is the mechanism of execution of rules which define the list of data available to each user and applications. Horizon Application Manager includes possibilities of two previous products of VMware: ThinApp (virtualization of Windows applications) and Horizon Application (the directory of applications for end users). The packet of Horizon Application Manager works with local and the SaaS-applications and can use data from a directory service of Microsoft Active Directory.

One more product under the working name Project Octopus ("Octopus Project") still is in a beta stage, and the official release is planned for the middle of year. This product represents a cloud service of file synchronization in corporate network and under control of IT personnel. Using this technology employees can share the photos from mobile devices, making them available to other people with any client devices.

VMware View 5.1 is certified by FSTEC of Russia

The Certified Information Systems company received the certificate of the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC of Russia) on the software for virtualization of jobs – VMware View 5.1, the press service of the company reported on July 18, 2013.

Advantages of use of the certified versions of solutions for the organization and management of virtual infrastructure are available to the Russian customers.

The certificate of conformity of FSTEC of Russia No. 2900 of June 13, 2013 certifies: the software package "VMware View 5.1" in editions "Premier", "Enterprise" developed by VMware company and made by Sertifitsirovannye informatsionnye sistemy LLC is the software tool of general purpose with the built-in means of protecting from unauthorized access to information which is not containing the data which are the state secret.

All VMware vSphere 5.1 components are a part of the certified software package VMware View 5.1.

VMware View 4.5

The innovations implemented in a product allowed corporate clients to get the following advantages of virtualization of jobs:

• Access to resources in offline – the VMware View Client program with function of "an offline desktop" is an industry-first integrated solution which allows users to work with the personal data, even when their virtual machine is switched-off from network. The new client of VMware View supports a possibility of use of own end devices and applications (Bring Your Own PC function). The new management system provides observance of the set security policies and compatibility in all desktops which are in offline or online.
• Fast, cost-efficient migration on Windows 7 – VMware View 4.5 completely supports Windows 7 and provides corporate clients with the model allowing to reduce considerably finance and time expenditure by migration from the existing operating systems. Combining possibilities of VMware View 4.5 and VMware ThinApp for virtualization of applications, customers can get still big advantages, reducing the costs and time necessary for transition to Windows 7 to 50%. It is possible to calculate the expected economy, using the ROI calculator on the website of VMware.
• Enhanced capabilities of administration – the Advanced module VMware View Administrator provides unprecedented controllability, scalability and performance of IT structures. With the advent of a possibility of role administration, observation panels and also with simplification of process of creation of the reporting and support of the tools developed by the third parties, VMware View Administrator makes management of virtual work places even more available thanks to the single administrative interface.
• The full integration with ThinApp - VMware View 4.5 simplifies process of delivery of the virtualized applications to end users due to integration into the administrative VMware View Administrator console of function of purpose of applications. This innovation provides centralized operation with the VMware ThinApp applications and their delivery to pools of resources or separate desktops.
• Advanced user interaction – due to improvements in processes of delivery of virtual desktops within LAN and WAN networks, VMware View 4.5 continues to expand possibilities of end users, opening all new scopes of virtualization of desktops. Innovations in the protocol of the PCoIP display in VMware View 4.5 include expanded support of authentication mechanisms, new opportunities for "zero clients" (zero client) and optimization of interaction of end users through WAN links.
• Unprecedented cost reduction - the Multilevel data storage implemented in VMware View 4.5 helps to reduce costs, opening for users of an opportunity for work at the different levels of DWH, including performance improvement and use of the storages which are directly connected to computers. It gives to the organizations the chance not only to optimize performance, but also to cut down the expenses connected with ensuring compliance of storages to requirements of the systems of the virtualized jobs. In addition to it, VMware together with Dell, HP, Cisco, NetApp, EMC and other partners provides the reference architecture allowing clients to develop the scalable and cost-efficient systems of virtual desktops. Besides, key feature of the solution VMware View is integration with VMware vSphere 4.1. It provides to customers such advantages as higher consolidation of virtual work places and, therefore, increase in efficiency of use of servers and optimization of cost of the solution.
• Expanded functions of protection - the Improved security management and a possibility of use of personal cards (security card) in VMware View 4.5 do access to virtual desktops and protection of secret data by the most effective. Corporate clients from now on will be able to create safe, flexible environments of virtual work places for all mobile employees, remote offices and subsidiary companies and also to ensure computing resources functioning of business models at which a part of process is transferred to the outsourcer or the independent contractor under the contract. VMware View 4.5 also supports the American standard of safety of computer calculations of FIPS 140-2 of Federal agency of state security of the USA, allowing the American government services to protect confidential and secret information.
• Flexibility of access points – View gives the unique personalized opportunities for owners practically of any end devices, including on the basis of Microsoft Windows and Mac, "zero clients", thin clients, interactive terminals and new computing platforms, including the Apple iPhone and iPad and also devices based on Android. It allows to create flexible models of desktops and gives the chance to employees to use their own devices, retaining at the same time full control, security and flexibility of a system. It is possible study the complete list of the clients ready to use in VMware View on the website: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/view.
• The optimized antivirus protection – Integration with VMware vShield Endpoint does possible centralization of protection against viruses and malware at absolutely new level and optimizes performance of virtual environments, simplifying management of antiviruses and increasing security of desktops. The complete list of new characteristics of VMware View 4.5 is available in the brochure.

Cost and availability of VMware View 4.5

Since September 13, 2010 the product family of VMware View 4.5. including is available to clients:

• VMware View 4.5, Enterprise Edition – including VMware vSphere 4.1 for desktops, VMware vCenter 4.1 and VMware View Manager 4.5, the flexible tool for management of desktops allowing IT administrators to provide quickly resources and to control access for users tightly.
• VMware View 4.5, Premier Edition – includes VMware vSphere 4.1 for desktops, VMware vCenter 4.1, VMware View Manager 4.5, View Client with function of an autonomous workplace, VMware ThinApp 4.6, VMware View Composer and VMware vShield Endpoint 1.0. A set of these modules provides integration of opportunities for work in offline, optimization of management in images, virtualization of applications and the centralized antivirus protection with opportunities of providing and management of virtual work places.

The cost of VMware View of 4.5 Enterprise Editions is $150 for one competitive connection, for VMware View 4.5 Premier Edition - $250 for one connection. New clients can load the free 60-day test version of a product, and owners of SnS of contracts (with support and a subscription to updates) – an update of VMware View 4.5.

2014: VMware View 6.0

On April 11, 2014 the VMware company announced updating of the version of the solution View 6.0.

Description

Such solution architecture gives the chance to integrate several websites and the data-centers with virtual VMware View PCs by means of the uniform mechanism of purpose of access rights, connection of the user of corporation to the virtual PC from the nearest data-center of the company thereby is implemented.

Such architecture will help administrators:

• To manage on a centralized basis the virtual PCs distributed on different geographical points.
• Balance loading from users in the different data-centers.
• Create disaster-proof architecture of virtual PCs (DR Infrastructure).
• Provide the "moved" virtual PCs (Roaming) depending on the user's provision.
• Provide funds of scaling of installation of VMware View for other platforms.

Components of infrastructure of VMware Horizon View 6 are supported on servers Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 (Composer, Connection Servers, Secure Servers, Transport Servers).

Support of VMware Virtual SAN

VMware View 6 being in detail on servers of a cluster of VMware Virtual SAN completely supports the policy of VSAN storages, providing control of deployment and use of storages with virtual PCs within a cluster from the interface of special representation. It will allow to leave from expensive storage systems and to use local disks of the ESXi servers for small VDI installations.

VSAN is included in the Horizon 6 Advanced and Enterprise Edition editions free of charge.

Publication of the RDSH applications

RDS Hosted apps will help clients of Horizon View to get access to the applications and desktops which are performed on hosts of Windows Remote Desktop Services (RDS) that providing access to the applications performed on the RDS servers.

There was a possibility of use of not separately published annexes on the server, but to come on the server in the mode of a terminal session and to interact with virtual PCs, pseudo-desktops of RDSH and the published annexes: