What are Virtual Desktops?
A virtual desktop is a computer environment that exists on a remote server rather than on a local machine. The term is most often used in reference to the desktop environments created by virtualization software, such as VMware, Microsoft Virtual PC, Parallels Desktop for Mac, and Sun xVM.
Types of Virtual Desktop Environments
There are a few different types of virtual desktop environments, each with its own set of benefits:
Traditional Virtual Desktop
Also known as a persistent virtual desktop, this type of environment is very similar to a physical desktop. The main difference is that the traditional virtual desktop resides on a remote server rather than on the user’s local machine. Benefits of this type of virtual desktop include increased security and easier management and maintenance.
Non-Persistent Virtual Desktop
Also known as a stateless virtual desktop, this type of environment does not save changes made by the user. This means that every time the user logs off, all of their changes are lost. While this may sound like a disadvantage, it actually provides a number of benefits.
First, non-persistent virtual desktops are much easier to manage and maintain since there is no need to worry about backing up data. Second, they are more secure since there is no data stored on the local machine that can be accessed by unauthorized users. Finally, they provide a consistent user experience since every time the user logs on they will be presented with the same desktop environment.
Pooled Virtual Desktop
This type of virtual desktop environment is similar to a non-persistent virtual desktop in that changes made by the user are not saved. However, unlike a non-persistent virtual desktop, a pooled virtual desktop does not provide each user with their own unique desktop environment.
Instead, a pool of virtual desktops is created and users are assigned to a desktop from the pool at random. When a user logs off, their desktop is returned to the pool and made available to another user. Benefits of this type of virtual desktop include increased security and easier management and maintenance.
Shared Virtual Desktop
Also known as a multi-user virtual desktop, this type of environment allows multiple users to share the same desktop. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, such as by using terminal services or by installing a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) on a server. Benefits of shared virtual desktops include increased collaboration and reduced costs.
The Benefits of Using Virtual Desktops
There are a number of benefits to using virtual desktops, including:
- Increased security: Since virtual desktops reside on a remote server, they are much less susceptible to theft and other forms of physical security risks. In addition, virtual desktops are often more secure than physical desktops since they can be configured to meet corporate security standards.
- Easier management and maintenance: Virtual desktop environments are much easier to manage and maintain than physical desktop environments. This is due to the fact that virtual desktops can be easily backed up and restored, and changes can be made quickly and easily without affecting users.
- Improved flexibility: Virtual desktops offer a great deal of flexibility when it comes to how they can be used. For example, traditional virtual desktops can be used to provide each user with their own unique desktop environment, or they can be used to provide a shared desktop environment for multiple users.
- Increased reliability: Virtual desktops are much more reliable than physical desktops since they are not susceptible to hardware failures. In addition, virtual desktops can be quickly and easily recovered if they do happen to fail.
The Purpose of a Virtual Desktop
A virtual desktop allows users to access their desktop environment from any computer with an internet connection. This can be extremely beneficial for users who need to access their desktop environment from multiple locations, or for those who travel frequently and do not want to lug a physical desktop around with them. Virtual desktops also offer a number of advantages over physical desktops, including increased security and easier management and maintenance.
How to Use Virtual Desktops
Virtual desktops are as easy to use as physical desktops. Users can access their virtual desktop from any computer with an internet connection and use it just as they would a physical desktop. The only difference is that the user’s desktop environment is located on a remote server rather than on their local machine.
Overall, virtual desktops offer a number of advantages over physical desktops, including increased security, easier management and maintenance, and improved flexibility. For these reasons, virtual desktops are becoming increasingly popular in both the home and business setting.