asked on

Desktop Virtualization

I have a purchase to make. I am trying to set up a Windows Desktop infrastructure for a non-profile educational institution.

I have a task to set up 50 Windows Servers and 20 Linux Servers, I could buy 70 Intel desktop and load 50 Windows OS and 20 Linux OS, But I want to do this at a very minimal cost. So can someone give an expert advise on this, I was looking at terminal servers and Windows virtual desktop, But not sure how they work or do they fit my needs, As I need to set this up at minimal cost.

SOLUTION

John

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

prav83

ASKER

So I have ESX servers and launch Linux and Windows VM's, How do the students access those...? I have also heard that Citrix offers a similar solution called Xendesktop, Is that also a possible solution..? If it is I want to know what would be the set up

John

I do not use VMware in this scale. For my uses a person can get to an application on a VMware guest just like a real server.

I think it is similar if you have Windows Workstation systems running but I have not done this.

I added VMware as a topic area to your question in order to attract some more people.

SOLUTION

David Johnson, CD

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

prav83

ASKER

This 50 Windows Terminals will be used for "Documents, installing basic compilers for programming and internet, matlab" the other 20 will be used for Linux (Just Learning Linux OS), So not heavy.

So u suggest that But a Xen Desktop on a beefy server and then use thin clients to access it..??

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

gheist

I agree with the simple thin client architecture. You can manage with couple of designated servers - some windows TSs, some Linux servers. VMWare will allow to dynamically size number of machines vs size of machines depending on your needs.