20 May 2013

Briforum 2013 is the only technical virtualization conference that completely dedicated to desktop virtualization, VDI, application virtualization, Remote Desktop Services, and the consumerization of IT: called Briforum. I've been attending Briforum since it started in Washington in 2005. I had a chance to attend the latest European event in London. When conferences like Briforum come up, I'm often asked is spending a couple of days out from work a good use of your time?

Two days of presentations with titles such as "From Zero to RDS 2012 Hero: Learn All the New Features and How They Compare to XenApp", and "Going Deep:RDP8/RemoteFX Session Connectivity" how could it be a waste of time? ..sounds useful.

But, what is the venue like? How technical was the technical content? Could you get wi-fi and at least answer some emails in a break?

A quick review of Briforum 2013 Europe seemed in order.

07 May 2013

I've spent the last week or so configuring an environment for a set of Atlantis Computing demos for VMUGs here in the UK. This has been interesting on a couple of levels:-

a) I've been involved with desktop virtualization products for over twelve years - in the main the actual user facing bit has typically been using Citrix products - Winframe, Metaframe and the then XenApp. There have been other vendors - Quest vWorkspace, a little bit of VMware View, little bit of Ericom Powerterm and Microsoft only Terminal Services morphing to RDSH.. early Mirage, early NxTop. Without sounding too resumey- lots of interesting stuff. But, I'll admit to not having had a chance to properly sit down and play about with VMware View's latest incarnation.

b) I had a chance to look at the range of functionality that the Atlantis ILIO appliance offers today.

c) I've now got access to a very nice platform hosted by Colt and an opportunity to have a look at some in-depth testing which I've not had a chance to do for a while.

What have I learned so far? If you are setting up a VMware View PoC are there any gotchas? What did the demo environment set out to show for VMware View and Atlantis ILIO?

17 April 2013

I've caught a couple of articles recently on the new Citrix Excalibur/XenDesktop release. I've also spoken to one or two customers who have half an eye on the fact that the product is nearing some form of release. It is likely a topic for upcoming Citrix UK User Group meetings (scheduled 11 June London, 19 June Newcastle).

Kees Baggerman wrote a useful summary blog Demystifying Citrix Excalibur Architecture, with some excellent associated references.  Then, I caught Mark Simmons, Master Citrix Certified Instructor talk through an Overview of XenDesktop 7. Interesting stuff: although I thought the SQL database for Storefront had gone - but maybe that's just the way I interpreted it, and I am always bemused when HDX is referenced and written as if it were a protocol rather than a set of technologies. Anyhoo,

Its a fine romance but it's left me so undone

It's always darkest before the dawn

15 April 2013

Support will end for Windows XP. On April 8, 2014. Microsoft have told you, and then told you again . Gabe Knuth from brianmadden.com told you. The Register told you, two years ago: as did Tech Crunch - where there was an interesting suggestion comparing a desktop OS to fried chicken: nice.

There is even a Microsoft gadget to give you an in-the-face Windows XP End of Support Countdown which ironically (depending on your share ownership) requires Windows 7 to run.

But, do you care? Its not as if the OS will stop on April 9th 2014. It will not cease to be. That said, if you do care, what can you do to change the minds of those that might not?