Over the next few weeks, IT staff will be introducing a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to the Learning Commons at the Trafalgar, Davis and Hazel McCallion campuses.
What is VDI?
With VDI, the user desktop environment (operating system and applications) is hosted on a remote server and accessed over the network by a ‘thin-client’ machine. A thin client behaves like a terminal and relies on the back-end server to fulfill its computational roles. Since the resources are centralized, users moving between locations can still access the same desktop environment with their applications and data when they log into their Sheridan accounts.
User Experience
To the end-user, VDI offers a seamless experience—their desktop looks just like their desktop and the thin client machine performs just like the PC they’re accustomed to using.
Advantages of VDI
VDI offers several advantages:
- Thin clients are less expensive than traditional PCs and are much less expensive to maintain
- VDI is a greener, more sustainable computing platform that will see the College realize savings on power consumption
- Provides a consistent desktop computing environment that is easier for IT staff to maintain
- Allows for rapid deployment of changes to the desktop infrastructure
- Software compatibility issues are decreased
- Data security is increased
Rollout Details
Beginning the week of December 16, a small number of thin client devices will be deployed in each Learning Commons as part of a pilot process. Shortly thereafter, the remainder of Windows-based PCs in all 3 Learning Commons will be converted to VDI. More thin clients will be introduced in general-purpose labs when computers come off lease over the course of the coming year.
In the coming months we will be introducing VDI to administrative areas and will be looking to utilize VDI in some of Sheridan’s Mobile Computing programs to provide students and faculty with a more consistent, predictable and supportable computing environment.
More Information
For all of the latest news about VDI, please visit the project page at:
- http://it.sheridancollege.ca/projects/vdi.html
If you have questions or comments, please send email to vdiproject@sheridancollege.ca