Unidesk VDI Management Features

Rapid deployment on existing infrastructure

  • Unidesk requires a single VMware hypervisor-enabled host and local or shared storage. Simply install the Unidesk virtual appliances, and you have all the features you need to effortlessly create user-customizable virtual desktops, provision and patch Windows with unprecedented simplicity, and package, assign, and deliver applications to meet the changing needs of your business.

Interoperability with leading connection brokers

  • VMware View. Create VMware View pools, add Unidesk desktops to existing pools, and entitle users to pools from within the Unidesk management console via API-level integration with VMware View 4.5. All configuration changes made in Unidesk are automatically reflected in VMware View Manager
  • Pano Logic. Provision Unidesk virtual desktops into Pano collections directly from the Unidesk management console through API-level integration with the Pano Manager console.
  • Broad broker compatibility. Access Unidesk virtual desktops from other leading connection brokers, including Citrix XenDesktop, Leostream, and Microsoft RDP/RDS.

Scale-out architecture

  • The Unidesk CacheCloud system of virtual appliances scales horizontally using commodity servers. As you create more virtual desktops, CacheCloud layer replication and delivery technology does all the work, so you still centrally manage only a single pristine layer of Microsoft Windows and single layers of every application.

Dynamic desktop composition

  • Unidesk Composite Virtualization technology combines IT-packaged and secured operating system and application layers with each user's unique personalization layer to create on-demand virtual desktops.

Unparalled user experience

  • 100% persistent personalization. Unidesk goes beyond the limitations of profile management by sustaining all user customizations - including user-installed applications, plug-ins, data, and settings - in user-specific personalization layers. After any patches or updates to Microsoft Windows and assigned applications, personalization layers are dynamically re-composited to ensure that desktops retain their full user state.
  • Non-persistent (stateless) desktops. Set refresh policies that erase all user customizations after each desktop use. Ideal for lab and kiosk use cases where users share the same virtual desktop, and want to start from a pristine state.
  • Simple desktop access.  Access Unidesk virtual desktops through standard connection brokers from any endpoint device - including PCs, thin/zero clients, and mobile devices - without additional log in processes or separate workspaces.

Storage efficiency, flexibility, and cost-savings

  • Single instance storage. Single instances of Microsoft Windows operating system and application layers are shared across many virtual desktops to reduce storage requirements up to 70%.
  • Shared or local storage. Supports any type of storage supported by your VMware host, including SAN, NAS, or DAS. For radical cost reduction, create recoverable virtual desktops using only local storage. Personalization layers are automatically replicated to file servers to that all desktops can be re-created in the event of a local host or local storage failure.
  • Thin provisioning. Provision only as much storage as is actually in use by each desktop layer to further reduce VDI storage requirements. For example, if users are assigned 5GB of space for their user-installed applications and data, but only uses 100MB, only 100MB of storage needs to be allocated.

Application Packaging and Delivery

  • Simple application packaging.  Package any application in a layer separate from your Microsoft Windows base image for delivery to one or more desktops - no client installation is required. Unidesk packaging requires no sequencing or scripting. Simply  Install the application you want to package on a Unidesk installation machine just as you would on a normal desktop, and then "finalize."
  • Broad application compatibility.  Package and deliver any application, even those that traditional application virtualization tools cannot, such as anti-virus, VPN, printers, and other applications that require system services or boot-time drivers.
  • Central management of virtualized applications.  Package and distribute applications already packaged by VMware ThinApp™ and other application virtualization tools.
  • Complete application lifecycle management.  Assign Unidesk application layers based on individual user names, organizational units, security groups, office locations, and other directory attributes. Manage multiple versions of application layers, including the ability to rollback a layer to a previous version.  Report on layer usage by desktop.

Microsoft Windows OS Provisioning and Patching

  • Gold image import. Leverage your existing gold image so you can immediately begin provisioning desktops that offer users full, persistent personalization while economizing on storage.
  • Single image management. Package Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems in separate layers for instant assignment and delivery to one or more desktops.
  • Simple image patching and upgrade. Change the Windows gold image assigned to one or more desktops just by selecting a different layer. Apply multiple hot fixes and service packs to many desktops in minutes, without the risk of patch failure common in agent-based PC configuration tools.

Directory integration

  • Multi-vendor directory support. Manage Unidesk virtual desktops using your existing investments in Microsoft Active Directory, Novell eDirectory, and other LDAP directory products.
  • Directory-based entitlement.  Assign desktops and layers based on Active Directory group memberships or any other attribute.
  • Directory filtering.  "Google-like" search using any Active Directory attribute makes it easy to find desktops based on last name, phone extension, department, and OU, so you can quickly respond to move/add/change and desktop support requests.
  • No write permission required.  Read-only rights to Active Directory and other supported directories are sufficient for full integration.
  • Directory spanning.  Grafts untrusted Active Directory forests into a single view to enable fast and easy assignment of desktops and applications to users who span locations and business units.

Desktop Lifecycle Management

  • Layer versioning.  Track application and operating system changes with an intuitive versioning system that simplifies patch management and application delivery.
  • Layer rollback.  "Undo" any application or operating system patches that wasn't thoroughly tested to reverse premature deployments.
  • Desktop repair.  Rollback user-installed applications, application plug-ins, and Registry keys in each user personalization layer to an earlier snapshot without losing any user data for instant, low-cost desktop repair. Policies enable you to specify the frequency of personalization layer snapshots.