Beginner's inquiry on How Oracle VDI product works

Question

Hi,
I read some Oracle VDI (OVDI) pages but still don't get the whole picture as to how the OVDI product works and decided to shoot some of my questions here. My questions are as follows.
Since my users are currently using only Windows7, WindowsXP, and Smartphones... (no Solaris, no Linux)
Assuming that I installed/configured both OVDI software and storage on either a Sparc or x86_64 box and everything works fine on the OVDI server side,
My question is:
Will my users will use their own devices to just bring up something like "Remote Desktop" to connect to the OVDI server and work there? That is, that's how there's nothing to save on the local drive of their laptops and their laptops would be used as if they were thin clients in the old days?
From the high level picture, I'd like to understand how the server/client works.
Thanks much in advance for sharing your knowledge!
- Steve

Answer 1

Hey Steve,
I'm not sure I understand the background on some of your questions. By the way, we've been using Oracle VDI for a little over 3 years, and we have about 450 virtual desktops (and thin clients) in production at the moment.
"do you think that the Oracle VDI solution really gives the benefits of using VDI?" -- the Oracle solution is as effective as any competitor VDI product, perhaps more so in some respects.
"Not just to follow the IT trend, but from the pragmatic point of view, do you think end-users in corporate businesses would get much more benefits even if it comes with some inconveniences and things that end-users may not like?" -- I think the business has to decide what their goals are with VDI. Is it to make life easier on the user? Is it to reduce IT costs? Is it to improve endpoint security and keep data in the datacenter? Are your users mobile? When we looked at VDI here (a hospital), we needed all those things. I think we came out with nearly all that except for maybe reduced IT costs. Yes, there was some user frustration and confusion early on before they understood how the mobility of VDI could benefit their workflow as they moved through the various buildings here on camps and to their houses. Ultimately I think they accept any minor inconveniences and have come to appreciate what the technology does for them. On the IT side, our lives are much better as well, but our goals early on were more focused on the users (healthcare providers) and their productivity.
"Also, I'd appreciate your feedback on the cost benefits of implementing/maintaining the OVDI solution (vs. continuing to use the laptops/desktops as standalone boxes) as well. Is it worth introducing it now or is it kind of premature yet and too early?" -- I think you mean to say the OVDC (oracle virtual desktop client software client). Honestly if you have the choice, commit to the VDI experience and buy the Oracle thin clients. They are great... there are no moving parts, no fans, nothing really to break. If someone steals one or "loses" it, who cares? Put in another. We replaced a few hundred desktop computers with them and as a result, our helpdesk staff probably can't even remember how to clone a machine or replace a hard drive. They don't have any of the problems that desktops or laptops have, and there is almost nothing to manage about them compared to a full workstation.
The OVDC client fills in some gaps where the thin clients leave off... take mobile users for example. We have thin clients in people's offices here, but they obviously don't have them at home. So instead we package the OVDC client and allow them to run it from home over a VPN. Of course, you can send a real physical thin client home with people if you wanted -- they have built-in VPN capability as well.
Personally, I wouldn't do VDI if you were going to leave all the old workstations and laptops in place. If someone's hard drive dies, you have to go replace it and reinstall the OVDC software... if someone loses their laptop and gets a new one, you have to go install that software again and configure it to look to the VDI servers... If someone gets a virus or malware on their PC and the OVDC client stops working, you have to go fix that PC to get the VDI client working again. None of those things would happen if you had true thin clients in place instead of full client side workstations.
I hope this helps a bit? If I am confused on something, please let me know. Whatever solution you go with, VDI is definitely ready for primetime, even in 24x7 environments. It will change the way your IT department works, and you might even end up with a few happy users.
thanks
daniel