Dynamic Virtual Client : Tags : streamed

Podcast on Compute Models with Mike Ferron-Jones

Posted by Jason Davidson Apr 9, 2008

Recently, Mike Ferron-Jones did an interview with Scott Smith from Intel's feed room. Mike did a great job at explaining the views he expressed in his blog.

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Video Interview - Ketan Sampat, Marianne Jackson, and Arjun Batra

Posted by Jason Davidson Apr 9, 2008

On February 12, I was at a Intel team event in Hillsboro, Oregon. I was able to snag a few minutes with Ketan Sampat, Marianne Jackson, and Arjun Batra to do video interviews about the Intel streamed computing initiative.

Here is my video interview with Ketan Sampat. He gives an overview of the recent events in the industry that have been contributing to Intel forming the streamed computing initiative, and in turn form the Emerging Compute Model Forum community. It runs just over 1 minute.

Next, I was able get Arjun Batra behind the camera to invite you to attend one of our upcoming application & desktop virtualization forums. Follow this link if you would like to register for one of these events. It runs around 3 minutes.

Also, I was able to sit down with Marianne Jackson, who talked about some of the various events, activities, and products that Intel has planned for 2008. It runs around a minute and a half.

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Innovative Compute Models provide Applications on Demand

Posted by Jason Davidson Feb 8, 2008

Intel employee's Scott Smith & Mike Ferron-Jones recent podcast around the various models for computing. The video is embedded in this blog, and can be viewed here.

The performance studies he references in the video are: Check out some studies on emerging compute models and http://communities.intel.com/openport/blogs/ecmf/2008/01/25/streaming-impact-on-the-server-and-network

This is of course the Intel perspective - does it align with what you see?

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Streaming Impact on the Server and Network

Posted by Jason Davidson Jan 25, 2008

Catherine Spencewrote an IT@Intel blog on a recent lab experiment on the impact of various emerging compute models on both the server and network. You can find the blog at: http://communities.intel.com/openport/blogs/client/2008/01/25/streaming-impact-on-the-server-and-network

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Several Intel IT folks (and others!) have expressed concern over the back-end implications of hosting a streamed computing solution. How many clients can be supported by a server? How will streaming affect the network? Well, we had the same questions so we constructed a lab experiment to find out.

Streaming was more efficient than we expected. We demonstrated that server utilization remained low and network utilization improved over time. We successfully executed a variety of applications including audio and video. We also encountered a few challenges.

Want to know more? Read our full report: Streaming and Virtual Hosted Desktop Study

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Emerging Compute Models at the Intel Sales Conference

Posted by Mike Ferron-Jones Jan 24, 2008

I just got back from teaching a class on Emerging Compute Models at the Intel sales conference. A few things really struck me in the messages from the Intel executives, and the reactions and questions from the Intel sales force. None of them really shocked me, but rather re-affirmed some opinions I already held.

1. With only one or two exceptions, every sales rep has accounts that are actively evaluating or deploying some kind of alternate compute model to better manage and secure their clients. I met two that had not encountered it yet, and they covered the Emerging Markets accounts.

2. This sales conference was "university style", where the attendees were free to pick and choose among over 100 sessions on different topics. The sessions we taught were packed - standing room only - indicating that interest in these new compute models is very high. If the sales reps are interested, that means their customers are.

3. I'd estimate that more than 90% of those that selected our session were either from Western Europe or North America. Attendance from Japan, Asia-Pacific and China, the bulk of our sales force, was really low. If you judged from the people in the room, Emerging Compute Models are mostly a mature market, advanced IT trend right now.

4. Just about every executive from Intel CEO Paul Otellini on down talked about changes in the compute model, and Intel products to address the needs of every model - Intel Xeon processor-based servers, PC clients with Intel vPro technology and low-cost components for thin client terminals. I'd say Intel is treating this like an opportunity rather than a threat, and is setting up for success regardless of the model that fits the customers' needs.

From these indicators, my conclusion is that we are in the middle of a permanent change in the application delivery landscape, at least in the mature markets. The technology has caught up with need for better management, lower cost and stronger security, and I expect you'll hear a lot more from Intel about products tuned to these delivery models.

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The Intel Point of View - Observations from an Intel Guy

Posted by Jason Davidson Dec 21, 2007

Observations from an Intel Guy: Mike Ferron-Jones

Confused, but hopeful.

If I had to identify the state of mind of the many IT managers we meet regarding emerging compute models, that's it. Technology is changing quickly. Buzzwords abound. IT shops are experimenting with just about every model and every combination thereof. Many have expressed frustration that a clear path to the future has not yet emerged, but all eagerly desire relief from management, security and TCO challenges promised by vendors hawking each solution.

Another thing we frequently observe is that very few IT shops are aware of all the compute model options available to them. They all understand classic terminal services and rich, distributed clients - the two ends of the spectrum. Awareness of the choices in between is far from universal, much less a comprehensive understanding.

So, I'll attempt to add value to the world by laying out the landscape as we see it, and let you know where Intel stands.

A Simple Taxonomy

When I talk to customers, I parse the compute model choice on three vectors:

1. Where does the application execute?

2. Where is the data stored?

3. Can it function off the network (mobility)?

Using those criteria, the major compute models we track split out like this

I'll admit to a couple flaws in this picture. I change definitions for Blade PCs depending if they are used in 1-user-per-blade mode, or many-users-per-blade. In the 1:1 mode, it is just a repartitioned PC, so I classify them as "client-side". In 1:Many mode, the blades are more like servers. Web-based apps are also not pictured. I think of server-based web apps are similar to terminal services. Web apps that rely on client-side execution resources, such as Java, Flash, Ajax and Silverlight, behave like streamed applications.

Devices versus Compute Models

"Thin client" is a loaded term. To some, it's a software architecture. Others see it as a specific device - a terminal. I'm always careful to separate conversations about which compute model is appropriate for a situation from the client device. A desktop or laptop PC can act as a terminal or "thin client" when using server-side applications. My recommendation is first determine the compute models a user will need, and then figure out the right device.

The Ups and Downs of the Models

The list of pros and cons for each model is long, and many authoritative sources and pundit sites are available to debate them. I'll provide a quick list of what we see as the major benefits and biggest limitations of each.

Terminal Services

Benefits		Limitations
Well-understood, mature software and management tools		No off-network mobility
Centralized application management and data security		Performance issues with any motion graphics or video
Greater clients-per-server ratio than other server-side models, making it lower cost to deploy		Compute load, graphics, number of users and distance can all impact user experience
Stateless clients for simple adds, moves and changes		May be unable to use or synchronize local devices or peripherals (PDAs, barcode readers, digital instruments, etc.)
Access to applications from any network connected PC		Critical failure points in server and network that can affect all users

Virtual Hosted Desktop

Benefits		Limitations
PC-like user experience with GUI and application customization		No off-network mobility
Centralized management of complete desktop image, including OS and applications		Performance issues with any motion graphics or video
Centralized data security		Compute load, graphics, number of users and distance can all impact user experience
Stateless clients for simple adds, moves and changes		Lower clients-per-server ratio than other server-side models, making it higher cost to deploy
Access to applications from any network connected PC		May be unable to use or synchronize local devices or peripherals (PDAs, barcode readers, digital instruments, etc.)
		Management tools not as evolved as more mature compute models

OS + Application Streaming

Benefits		Limitations
Centralized management of complete desktop image, including OS and applications		No off-network mobility
Centralized data security		Network must have sufficient capacity to handle "boot storms"
Application responsiveness due to local execution, even for graphics, audio and video		Does not remove requirement to tune image to specific client hardware configs
Stateless clients for simple adds, moves, changes and software fixes		Sequencing process can be time and labor-intensive
Fewer servers required to service a population of clients versus server-side compute models, which lowers costs		Applications may not interact with each other as expected if virtualized. Additional engineering may be required to find optimal app combinations to bundle and virtualize together.

Application Streaming (aka Application Virtualization)

Benefits		Limitations
Centralized management of applications while providing an on-demand user experience		OS still installed locally, so IT must engineer processes to manage, patch and update distributed, local images
Data storage flexibility. Options for local or centralized storage, based on policy		High volume of simultaneous downloads may decrease application streaming speeds and network responsiveness.
Application responsiveness due to local execution, even for graphics, audio and video		If using local data storage, data may be at risk if not protected with passwords and/or disk encryption.
Off-network mobility with local caching options		Sequencing process can be time and labor-intensive
Fewer servers required to service a population of clients versus server-side compute models, lowering costs		Applications may not interact with each other as expected. Additional engineering may be required to find optimal app combinations to bundle and virtualize together.
By virtualizing and abstracting the application from the OS, many incompatibilities can be avoided, and greater application isolation can increase security

The Intel Point of View

After laying out these options and the pros & cons, customers inevitably want to know where Intel comes down on it all. Our view is this:

In general, Intel believes the client-side models (application or OS streaming) provide the best balance of user experience, centralized management and data security. We believe they have the broadest potential to serve both users and IT managers well.
Server-side models (terminal services, virtual hosted desktops) are appropriate and advisable in certain cases and applications. These are situations where mobility is not required, application workloads don't call for motion graphics or security requires tight lock-down.
In reality, users will access applications via more than one compute model. A user may use locally installed office applications, but access databases through terminal services. A student may access the standard department image with a virtual hosted desktop, but use a local browser and media players.
If using a client-side model or a mix of models, a PC is the best client device, particularly those with Intel^® vPro^^{TM technology. For pure, server-side deployments, terminals are appropriate, driven by 64-bit, multi-core Intel}®^ Xeon^® Servers.

Let the Games Begin

We are living in interesting times. Evolution of computing models is happening in real-time, and there is no shortage of opinions and viewpoints. I hope this blog has been informative. Even if it hasn't, I hope it is a launching pad for a spirited (yet respectful) debate here. Let the games begin!

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