
Virtualizations
Explore The Universe Of User Virtualization Software
By TechDogs Editorial Team

Overview
No matter where you travel, you can access your personalized desktop and computer data from a remote location. This enables businesses and organizations to run more efficiently as employees can work from anywhere. We all know that Tron had his fancy "Identity Disc" that stored information about all the programs but now you've got User Virtualization Software - your very own virtual Identity Disc! Working from home using grandma's old desktop PC? Or your tablet on vacation? Doesn't matter; just zap yourself in!
In this article, we will introduce how the seemingly magical User Virtualization Software works, how it evolved, its types, benefits and probable future. Ready? Let's enter the virtual world!
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Who here remembers Tron? Well, to cut a long story short, our hero Kevin Flynn virtualized himself into a digital system to fight off the evil Ed Dillinger and his nefarious programs while riding that gorgeous futuristic bike. Like us, have you too dreamed of riding that neon-orange trim motorcycle? Well, you'll have to hang on to that dream for a bit champ! However, one thing from Tron that you could do like Flynn is access data from anywhere (just like he could as long as he had that fancy Identity Disc with him). User Virtualization Software makes this possible for you - your very own Virtual Identity Disc!
User Virtualization Software basically allows a user access to aspects of their personal desktop to be managed independently on a myriad of devices from various locations.
What In the Name of Tron is User Virtualization Software?
User Virtualization is when all the aspects of a user's desktop are managed independently and stored on the cloud or a remote data center. This can be done by utilizing a VDI or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, which provide desktop environments hosted on a central server. Using virtual machines, desktop images that are specific to a user are furnished to the end-user over a network.
As a user, you would want to access your virtual desktop and virtual personal computer from multiple devices. That's precisely what User Virtualization Software does; it makes sure that can happen, while maintaining high performance on whatever device the user is using.
Down The Memory Lane Of User Virtualization Software
Although virtualization technology has been around for a while, User Virtualization Software and preceding technologies have come a long way in recent years.
In 1966, Virtual machines were created and operated by hypervisors. These hypervisors can be hardware, firmware, or as in the case we are talking about, software.
In 1967, CP - 40 (No, not C3PO... wrong movie!) was developed by IBM Cambridge Scientific Center - and was the precursor to virtual machines that were created by IBM. Then in 1987, Merge was developed as one of the earliest forms for user virtualization as it allowed for MS-DOS to run on a SCO-UNIX (Santa Cruz Operation) environment.
In the late 1990s, Virtual PC was released by Connectix and was a game changer as it allowed applications to be run within virtual environments. This led us to the early 2000s where we saw the release of VMWARE Workstation, Xen and Virtual Box. Today, desktop virtualization and User Virtualization Solutions are in high demand, along with memory server virtualization, network virtualization and hardware virtualization.
So How Does This All Work?
Let's take a look at a step-by-step process of how all of this works. First, user data is decoupled from the desktop so a user can access this desktop. Mind you, a user can access this desktop from anywhere and anytime because of the standardization of applications and operating systems #Blessed. Once a user accesses this virtual desktop, the interactive desktop image is displayed and is up to date with any recent changes made on the desktop on any other device. This means that a user's environment includes personalization settings as well as user-based corporate policy, so the user can access their "environment" from different locations while still maintaining compliance with their employer's requirements, keeping critical data safe.
Wasn't that fun? What if we told you that there are more than one type of virtualization? Did that spark your curiosity?
Let’s Take a Look at The Different Types of User Virtualization
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Session-Based Virtualization:
Individual sessions are delivered on a virtual server or machine. Multiple users can then share each particular virtual machine. A Remote Desktop Session Host server is utilized to perform all of the processing, after which a Remote Desktop client displays the results.
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Non-Persistent VDI:
Also called Stateless VDI, a virtual machine is delivered so that many users may access unlocked sessions. User changes are not saved with this type of user desktop virtualization and anytime a client logs out, it reverts to a generic desktop.
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Persistent VDI:
Also referred to as Stateful VDI, this type of VDI is much like non-persistent except with locked sessions. From one session to another, a unique individual user's desktop 'persists.' So, data that the individual user customizes is saved.
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Hosted Shared Desktop:
The same desktop screen can be accessed concurrently by multiple users. This is also known as a remote-hosted desktop. Instead of a PC, a Remote Desktop Server is used to run a Windows Desktop. Data and applications can be shared among multiple users that are connected to the Remote Desktop.
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Application Virtualization:
Technology that hosts and publishes required applications in a data center. The desktop seen as an image is then relayed to the end-user. This means that app virtualization may be installed on a computer; however, it can be accessed and used on another computer that it is not actually installed on.
Riddle me this, how does this benefit me? Hold on, we are getting there...
Benefits Of User Desktop Virtualization Software
What benefit excites business the most? Cost reduction, of course! The most apparent benefit of user virtualization or desktop visualization software is reducing the cost eaten up by IT refreshing and purchasing new personal computers. A myriad of devices also needs to be able to access applications as well as data. With this technology, data and application access is easy and extremely secure.
Management is also more comfortable and efficient since application fixes and the rollout of Operating Systems have been simplified thanks to user profiles' central storage. Furthermore, centralized backup allows virtual desktops to be recovered in a disaster, where otherwise this desktop information could be permanently lost.
Using a User Virtualization Software also enhances security, which helps Chief Information Security Officers and Chief Information Officers meet today's need for robust information security.
One of the most significant benefits of User Virtualization Software is that users/ employees are more productive since they can access their work desktops from multiple locations and devices.
Big Names In The User Virtualization Grid
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Ivanti Workspace Control:
Offers hybrid, virtual and physical conditions that make up the user workspace can be controlled and administered by IT.
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AppSense:
Considered one of the best User Virtualization Software that provides great management solutions for user environments.
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Citrix Profile Management:
This solution allows employees' settings and files to be delivered and saved by IT administrators and makes these things accessible on many devices across user sessions.
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Microsoft User Experience Virtualization:
This is a part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and is one piece of software for desktop virtualization.
You know what a User Virtualization Software is and where it has come from. It's time you learn where is it going to be in the future.
What About The Future Of The Grid?
In the next couple of years, virtualization will grow immensely. We seem to be moving towards endpoint devices becoming less important and eventually, local desktop operating systems becoming nonexistent. Software-designed storage virtualization solutions are also likely to become more prevalent than shared storage arrays being bought by businesses.
Improving a hosting service delivered to users is where the industry is headed, as the refinement of virtualized applications and their technology will make the need to do things locally less and less critical. With manageability and scalability in mind, it is evident that cloud-based virtualization desktop infrastructure will become more common than on-premises virtual desktop infrastructure. A much-needed side benefit of cloud-based virtualization will be even better security for remote desktop virtualization, so you can also expect that to be a focal point for developers.
To work efficiently from any device from any location is the goal for end-users, so User Virtualization Software companies will continue to work towards this becoming more flexible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of User Virtualization Software?
User Virtualization Software offers numerous benefits, including cost reduction through decreased IT expenses on purchasing and refreshing personal computers. It simplifies management by centralizing application fixes and operating system rollouts, while also enabling centralized backup for disaster recovery. Enhanced security is another advantage, meeting the demands for robust information security. Additionally, User Virtualization Software improves productivity by allowing users to access their work desktops from multiple locations and devices, ultimately streamlining workflow efficiency.
What are the different types of User Virtualization?
User Virtualization comes in various types, including Session-Based Virtualization, Non-Persistent VDI, Persistent VDI, Hosted Shared Desktop, and Application Virtualization. Session-Based Virtualization delivers individual sessions on a virtual server, while Non-Persistent VDI provides virtual machines with unlocked sessions. Persistent VDI maintains individual user desktops across sessions, and Hosted Shared Desktop allows multiple users to access the same desktop simultaneously. Application Virtualization hosts and publishes required applications in a data center, allowing them to be accessed from different devices.
What is User Virtualization Software and how does it work?
User Virtualization Software refers to technology that allows users to access aspects of their personal desktop from multiple devices and locations. It involves decoupling user data from the physical desktop and storing it on the cloud or a remote data center. This is often facilitated through Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), where desktop environments are hosted on a central server and furnished to users over a network using virtual machines. By standardizing applications and operating systems, User Virtualization Software ensures that users can access their virtual desktops while maintaining high performance regardless of the device they are using.
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