virtual desktop infrastructure

Overheard - application streaming

Centralizing the desktop image does not magically protect it from viruses, intrusion attempts, system compromises, or operational failures. It does, however, allow for rapid recovery or return to homeostasis if an event warrants such action. Amrit Williams, Client-Side Virtualization Part III: HAL 9000, Hosted Virtual Desktops, and the Death Star

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) seems to be the generic umbrella term that gets slapped on any initiative that involves centralized desktop management. There’s a lot of lingo being tossed around. Today’s Word of the Day is application streaming. In this distribution model, software is housed on a centralized server and is streamed to the client upon demand.