Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)
Enhancing deployment, management and user experience for Virtual PC images in enterprise environments
Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization
(MED-V) Version 1 BETA has been released!
Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization is one of the six technologies in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack. MED-V 1.0 provides deployment, management and user experience capabilities for Virtual PC images in a corporate environment, and the beta can be downloaded here. A short survey will need to be answered before downloading the software.
The challenge of legacy applications
Incompatibility of legacy applications with newer versions of Microsoft Windows can often delay enterprise upgrades to the latest version of Windows. Testing and migrating applications can be time consuming, and meanwhile users are unable to take advantage of the new capabilities and enhancements offered by the new OS. By delivering applications in a Virtual PC that runs a previous version of the OS (e.g., Windows XP or Windows 2000), administrators can remove the barriers to OS upgrades, and deal with testing and migration of incompatible applications after the OS upgrade.
Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization: Advantages
-
Accelerate the upgrade path to new Desktop OS - legacy applications continue to run in a virtual environment with a previous OS version
-
Simplify IT integration of new subsidiaries by running two IT environments concurrently—i.e. the corporate one and the acquired company's one
-
Drive business continuity by rapid reconstitution of corporate desktops
-
Speed user adoption of desktop virtualization by making Virtual PCs "invisible" to users
-
Centrally create, manage and deploy virtual PC images throughout the enterprise
-
Provision and control user policies according to business affiliation and requirements
Read more about MED-V features in the datasheet (PDF, XPS) or in the Architecture White Paper
MED-V Availability
MED-V v1 Beta is available now.
v1.0 release is expected in the first half of 2009.
Future use-cases for MED-V beyond the v1.0 release
Desktop virtualization will continue to introduce new ways to increase desktop computing flexibility.
It is our intention that in future releases, MED-V in conjunction with the new VECD licensing, may be used to deliver a corporate virtual image to "unmanaged" PCs, and reduce the tension between IT control and user flexibility:
-
Increase productivity for on-site contractors, offshore outsourcing and branch offices
-
Enable employees to work from home
-
Increase mobility with a corporate desktop on a USB drive
-
Enable employee-owned laptop model, using virtual corporate desktops
-
Drive business continuity and recovery plans with virtual desktops anywhere
Stay tuned to MDOP blog for more information on future releases of MED-V
Additional Resources