Desktop virtualization

In addition, this approach supports a more complete desktop disaster recovery strategy as all components are essentially saved in the data center and backed up through traditional redundant maintenance systems.

The degrees of independent functionality of the client device is necessarily interdependent with the server location and access strategy.

A common implementation of this approach involves hosting multiple desktop operating system instances on a server hardware platform running a hypervisor.

For IT administrators, this means a more centralized, efficient client environment that is easier to maintain and able to respond more quickly to the changing needs of the user and business.

A VDI service provides individual desktop operating system instances (e.g., Windows XP, 7, 8.1, 10, etc.)

Instead, a hypervisor layer intercepts the application, which at runtime acts as if it is interfacing with the original operating system and all the resources managed by it when in reality it is not.

User virtualization separates all of the software aspects that define a user’s personality on a device from the operating system and applications to be managed independently and applied to a desktop as needed without the need for scripting, group policies, or use of roaming profiles.

Layering can be applied to local physical disk images, client-based virtual machines, or host-based desktops.

However, local desktop virtualization implementations do not always allow applications developed for one system architecture to run on another.

For example, it is possible to use local desktop virtualization to run Windows 7 on top of OS X on an Intel-based Apple Mac, using a hypervisor, as both use the same x86 architecture.