Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Microsofts
Virtual Desktop
Infrastructure
Technology
Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) offers
the ability to rapidly and securely deploy desktops from
the data center to users. The information technology
(IT) organization can manage desktops centrally, and
VDI helps improve security by centralizing users data.
VDI also gives end users the flexibility they need to
access their work desktops from almost any device
that has a reliable network connection.
VDI enables IT to think about desktop deployment
and management in new ways. At the same time, VDI
also requires new licensing models, because models
based on physical access are no longer appropriate
for providing access to virtual resources. This brief
provides an overview of the key VDI components and
how Microsoft licenses them.
Table of Contents
02
VDI Overview
03 Hyper-V
04
04
05
06
07
Software Assurance
08
08
Windows Intune
09
VDI Suite
10
Licensing Scenarios
10
Adventure Works
11
Southridge Video
12
Contoso, Ltd
12
Woodgrove Bank
14
Summary
Page
02
VDI Overview
Figure 1 illustrates key components of a VDI implementation. You can learn
more about each component at the Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
homepage:
Hyper-V Included in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1
(SP1), Hyper-V provides a robust virtualization platform that enables IT to
host virtual desktops in the data center.
Remote Desktop Services (RDS) RDS brokers connections from the access
device to virtual machines (VMs) running in the data center.
Microsoft
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Figure 1
VDI components
VDI enables IT to think about desktop deployment
and management in new ways. It offers the ability
to rapidly deploy desktops from the data center
to users; centrally manage desktops; and improve
security by centralizing users data.
Page
03
Hyper-V
For a VDI deployment, customers can host virtual desktops by using:
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 with Hyper-V
The free edition of Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 SP1
Customers using Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 must have a Windows Server
2008 R2 license for each physical server instance. Additionally, every device or
user connecting to the VDI will also require a Windows Server Client Access
License (CAL).
For example, Woodgrove Bank is a Software Assurance (SA) customer that
wants to run 100 VDI desktops on two instances of Windows Server. It will
need to ensure that each of the two servers has a Windows Server license
(Standard, Enterprise, or Datacenter). Alternatively, it could use the free edition
of Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 SP1. Each user or device connecting to VDI also
requires a Windows Server CAL.
For more information about buying Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 with
Hyper-V, see the Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V homepage.
Page
04
to full desktop and shared desktop experiences. You must purchase one RDS
CAL for each device or user that accesses VDI. A Windows Server CAL is also
required for that device or user, if one does not already exist.
As Figure 1 showed, RDS combined with Hyper-V, MDOP, Configuration
Manager, and access devices comprise the complete VDI stack. Because many
enterprise organizations with Microsoft infrastructure already own licenses for
Hyper-V, System Center, and MDOP, an RDS CAL is the only additional license
they need to purchase in order to deploy the Microsoft VDI solution.
For example, Contoso, Ltd is an SA customer already running Windows Server
2008 R2 SP1 on its servers and Windows 7 Enterprise (a benefit of SA) on
its PCs. It also uses Configuration Manager along with MDOP to manage its
desktop environment. Contoso, Ltd needs only to add the RDS CAL to its
existing portfolio to license VDI.
For more information about buying the RDS CAL, see the Windows Server
2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services homepage.
Microsoft
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Page
05
In addition to its management benefits, App-V can help reduce the size of
desktop images to increase VDI density and lower the cost of deploying VDI.
App-V delivers applications on demand, eliminating the need to include the
applications within the core desktop image.
Page
06
Figure 2
Licensing Windows
for VDI Desktops
ne
tu
s In
ow se
d
n
Wi Licen
e
DA
sV
ow
nd se
Wi icen
L
d
gra
Up
ws
o
nd + e
Wi
ens
Lic
SA
Qu
a
OS lifyin
Lic g
ens
e
nal
ssio
e
f
o
Pr
tio
iza
l
a
tu s
Vir Right
Page
07
in a VDI: Organizations license it for each device that accesses the VDI
desktops, rather than per Windows installation on VMs in the data center.
the flexibility to architect almost any kind of VDI solution that customers
want. At the same time, it aligns with Windows licensing for the rest of their
organization.
Figure 2 on page 06 shows three ways you can license Windows for VDI,
and the following sections describe them in more detail. Organizations must
license Windows for VDI regardless of the technology hosting it in the data
center. For example, they will need SA, VDA, or Windows Intune licenses for
Windows even if they are using a third-party VDI technology.
Software Assurance
SA is an annual device-based subscription that volume-licensing customers
have the option to purchase for their PCs running Windows Professional SKUs
or higher. SA includes VDA rights, giving those PCs the right to access VDI
desktops running Windows.
Additional SA benefits include support, training, and upgrade rights to the
most recent version of Windows (i.e., the Enterprise edition). Another benefit
of SA is the right to repurpose a PC as a thin client using Windows Thin PC,
reducing management and improving security at the VDI endpoint. SA also
provides the right to run Windows on local VMs by using client hypervisor
technologies.
You can learn more about SA for Windows client at the Software Assurance
website.
Page
08
Windows Intune
Windows Intune provides organizations with the tools and technologies to
manage and secure their PCs in the cloud. It also provides customers with SA
rights for each covered PC, including VDA rights. PCs covered with Windows
Intune can access a VDI desktop without any additional licensing.
For more information about Windows Intune, see the Windows Intune
homepage.
Page
09
VDI Suite
For customers that have very simple VDI requirements, Microsoft has created
the VDI Suite license bundle. It is a subscription-based license bundle that
provides the following licenses:
An RDS CAL thats restricted to deploying VMs only (no session
virtualization)
A CML for Configuration Manager thats restricted to Virtual Machine
Manager only
With the VDI Suite, customers can deploy VM-based desktops but not sessionbased desktops. In addition to the VDI Suite, SA or VDA is still required for
each client-access device. MDOP is an optional add-on for desktops covered
by SA.
The VDI Suite offers the following benefits:
Simplified licensing Along with VDA or SA, the VDI Suite provides a simple
way to license small-scale, simple VDI deployments.
Excellent value The VDI Suite provides an in-box solution for lowcomplexity environments. It is significantly less expensive than competitive
offerings.
For more information about licensing the VDI Suite, see Microsoft Virtual
Desktop Infrastructure page on the Windows Enterprise website.
Page
10
Licensing Scenarios
The following sections provide examples of VDI licensing scenarios.
Adventure Works
Adventure Works has 100 PCs and 100 thin clients at one location. The
company wants to provide a full VDI stack for all of its 150 employees.
Figure 3 illustrates the licenses that Adventure Works requires for its VDI
implementation.
Each device accessing VDI desktops requires licenses for the server and
management infrastructure (i.e., an RDS CAL, Windows Server CAL,
Figure 3
Adventure Works
10
10
sV
ow
nd se
Wi icen
L
e
d
gra
Up
ws
o
nd + e
Wi
ens
Lic
SA
100
200
200
200
200
PC
n
Thi
0
0
s
1 nt
Clie
Page
11
Southridge Video
Southridge Video has 100 employees that will use thin clients at work
and their own PCs at home to access their VDI desktops. The company
also has 50 contractors that will use their own PCs to access VDI desktops.
Figure 4 describes the licenses that Southridge Video requires for its VDI
implementation.
Each device accessing VDI desktops requires licenses for the server and
management infrastructure (i.e., an RDS CAL, Windows Server CAL, and
Configuration Manager CML). VDA provides virtual desktop rights for the
Figure 4
Southridge Video
50
10
DA
sV
ow
nd nse
i
W ice
L
DA
sV
ow
nd nse
i
W ice
L
n
Thi
100 nts
Clie
150
150
150
50
Co
rs
cto
a
ntr
Page
12
Contoso, Ltd
Contoso, Ltd has a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) that already covers
its PCs with SA. The company also has Core CAL and Enrollment for Core
Infrastructure (ECI). It wants to deploy VDI for its 500 employees, and it wants
to use Windows Thin PC to repurpose its PCs as thin clients. Figure 5 shows the
licenses that Contoso, Ltd requires for VDI.
Because the companys PCs already have SA, it does not need any additional
licensing for Windows Thin PC or VDI. Also, because it already has Core CAL, it
does not need any additional Configuration Manager CMLs or Windows Server
CALs. The company needs only to purchase the additional RDS CALs for VDI.
Figure 5
Contoso, Ltd
ts
lien
s
s
PC ed a
500urpos
Rep
nC
Thi
500
Woodgrove Bank
Woodgrove Bank is embracing the consumerization of IT by adopting VDI. As
a pilot, the company is allowing 100 employees to bring their non-Windows
tablets to work. Not only will Woodgrove Bank deliver VDI desktops to these
Page
13
devices, but it will also allow employees to access their VDI desktops from their
home PCs. Figure 6 shows the licenses that Woodgrove Bank requires for its
consumerization pilot.
Each device accessing VDI desktops requires licenses for the server and
management infrastructure (i.e., an RDS CAL, Windows Server CAL, and
Configuration Manager CML). VDA provides virtual desktop rights for the
employee-owned non-Windows tablets. Users home PCs require no additional
licensing because VDA provides roaming use rights.
Figure 6
Woodgrove Bank
10
DA
sV
ow e
d
n
s
Wi icen
L
100
100
100
ow
ind
n-Wts
o
N le
100 Tab
Summary
Microsoft VDI is a set of integrated products that deliver end-to-end
virtualization from the data center to end users. Depending on the
architecture, a VDI deployment might need the following licenses:
Hyper-V Licensed with Windows Server 2008 R2 or with the free edition.
RDS Licensed for each access device with an RDS CAL.
MDOP Licensed for each access device as an add-on subscription for SA.
Configuration Manager (with Virtual Machine Manager use
rights) Licensed with Configuration Manager SA, which Core CAL and
ECAL includes.
SA or VDA Licensed for each device connecting to the VDI desktops.
Many enterprises might already own licenses for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1,
MDOP, Configuration Manager, and the Windows client through SA. Those
organizations are ready to deploy the full VDI solution by simply adding an
RDS CAL for each access device or user.
For more information, see the Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
homepage.
This document is provided as-is. Information and views expressed in this document, including URL and other Internet
Web site references, may change without notice. You bear the risk of using it.
Some examples depicted herein are provided for illustration only and are fictitious. No real association or connection is
intended or should be inferred.
This document does not provide you with any legal rights to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product. You may
copy and use this document for your internal reference purposes.
2012 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Page
14