Many times I have heard friends around me discussing the deployment of virtual desktop systems, which seems to be one of the most important focuses for users when choosing virtual desktops. In this article, I will take Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View as examples to dissect the approach of these two products in terms of system deployment and share my personal insights.
In desktop virtualization environments, IT administrators often want to create VMs quickly, simplify image updates, and reduce storage costs, and both Citrix and VMware have put a lot of effort into these areas. The following describes the two companies’ different implementations of system deployment:
Citrix acquired Ardence in 2006, integrated its diskless technology into Citrix Provisioning Server, and packaged it into XenDesktop when it was released. While the product can be purchased separately, its use in the enterprise market is more limited and more often used in specific environments such as educational institutions or high-density computing environments. This is largely due to the low acceptance of diskless technology in the enterprise, particularly because of concerns about its high demands on network infrastructure and the potential risk of webcast storms.
VMware View takes a different tack, enabling rapid deployment through virtual machine snapshots and linked clones. This capability is provided by a component called VMware Composer, which needs to be installed on a VMware vCenter system and leverages the vSphere API for storage optimization. Users simply install Composer on the vCenter server, and everything after that can be done in the View’s unified console, which is very easy.
From a cost and management perspective, VMware View has clear advantages. Because its storage technology requires no additional servers and supports high-speed storage devices such as SSDs, it is more economical and easier to manage than Citrix’s diskless solution. Although Citrix has also introduced MCS technology similar to VMware Composer, there are still differences between the two in terms of implementation and application. With the continuous development of technology and intensified competition, it is believed that virtual desktop products will bring more choices and benefits to users.
In conclusion, while both Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View offer robust system deployment options, VMware View’s ease of use and cost-efficiency give it an edge in many environments.