Desktone's virtualization desktop-as-a-service
Massachusetts based Desktone is claiming that it is the very first provider of a system that enables delivery of virtualized desktops, calling it the Desktone Virtual-D Platform.
The newly unveiled Desktone Virtual-D Platform is designed to enable service providers the ability to offer hosted, subscription based virtual desktops, dubbed as "desktops-as-a-service" or DaaS.
Desktone streams the graphical interface of an entire operating system and all of the applications from a service provider's data center down to a PC or a thin client. As of right now, the service works with Microsoft Windows XP, but the company hopes to add Vista support soon enough. The product is also architected to support other operating systems like Linux or MAC OS, and will provide that service sometime in the future as well - a time frame I assume will be dictated by consumer demand.
"There's a tremendous amount of industry interest in virtual desktop computing. It can reduce desktop costs, improve manageability and enhance security. However, because it is very difficult for enterprises to implement, wide-spread adoption has been slow," said Harry Ruda, CEO, Desktone.
"Desktone eliminates the complexity and speeds the on-ramp to virtual desktop computing by transforming desktops into a cost-effective, highly scalable subscription service. We're extremely excited about the opportunities this affords enterprises and service providers."
Desktone's approach separates the virtual desktop infrastructure into two tiers which are tied together with the Desktone Access Fabric – a set of distributed services that provides the association between authorized users and their virtual desktops.
Enterprise Tier:
- Desktone Virtual-D Enterprise Center: Web-based management interface for the enterprise desktop administrator, which enables IT staff to leverage the same administration tasks they use in a physical desktop environment. Designed to support large user populations, it provides virtual resource management, virtual desktop administration and template lifecycle management.
- Desktone Virtual-D Portal: A self-service, policy-based portal that enterprise users can access from any browser. With the Virtual-D Portal, users can access their existing virtual desktops as well as manage those virtual desktops or even create new ones, without relying on a system or desktop administrator.
Service Provider Tier:
- Desktone Virtual-D Element: The building block of a virtual desktop utility grid, Virtual-D Elements are racks that include all the hardware, virtualization resources and software required to support virtual desktops. Built by Desktone partners or service providers, as self-contained, independent modular units of desktop service delivery, Virtual-D Elements make it easy for service providers to scale DaaS environments.
- Desktone Service Grid: A framework that ties individual Virtual-D Elements into a virtual desktop utility grid. The Service Manager creates a loosely coupled "federation" of Elements, manages pools across Elements, and collects data on Element status.
The company has a strong management team who knows what it takes to deliver a product to market. The company has already signed up several hosting companies to pilot the DaaS offering. The question that remains in my mind is how much will this service cost? I understand the premise completely having been involved in my own ASP business back in 1999.
Desktone claims that this solution will help SMB's realize the benefits of centralized virtual desktops without having to build and deploy the infrastructure internally. Thereby reducing desktop TCO and transforming computing costs from a fixed CAPEX to a variable OPEX.
As organizations continue to adopt the cost savings of server virtualization, solution providers and organizations are still looking at the possibilities around the desktop, where desktops greatly outnumber servers and in many cases have a greater cost of managing.
