The VDI Image Problem

VDI approaches to virtual desktop image management enable customers to increase control and reduce operating costs. However, existing approaches also have limitations including an inability for users to install applications, applications that can’t be virtualized and operational challenges in provisioning and managing the master image. IT organizations often struggle to overcome these limitations that prevent them from realizing the true return on investment promised by VDI.

User-Installed Applications

As VDI deployments move beyond task workers with limited control of their desktop environment, some user types such as knowledge workers may require the freedom to install business related applications or plug-ins. With non-persistent VDI models that use a read-only master disk, users do not have the ability to install applications or plug-ins that persist between sessions.

Application Virtualization Limitations

While application virtualization enables you to accelerate application deployment, isolate and migrate applications between operating systems, it does not allow you to virtualize all applications. The result is that you are left with some applications that must be maintained an installed using traditional desktop management products. For example, application virtualization cannot virtualize applications with deep windows operating system drivers such as VPN clients and anti-virus.

For a detailed explanation of the VDI Image Management problem, read Brian Dump: Atlantis Computing hopes to solve the “file-based” versus “block-based” VDI disk image challenge at Brianmadden.com.

Atlantis ILIO Image Layering Solution

Atlantis ILIO works with desktop virtualization tools such as connection brokers, profile management tools and application virtualization to help customers deliver stateless desktops based on a single set of master image components. The Atlantis ILIO image layering solution dynamically assembles each virtual desktop disk image on-demand from core layers containing the operating system, corporate applications, user-installed applications, virtualized applications, user profiles and patches. Any Windows application including VPNs and anti-virus can be managed using a layer even when application virtualization doesn’t work. Unlike other layering technologies that require drivers and degrade desktop performance, Atlantis ILIO does not require any software installed or drivers installed in the virtual desktop image and dramatically increases performance.