View is a complete solution that combines the hypervisor, management tools and connection broker. Dependant on the version bought (Enterprise or Premier) depends on the included features:
- Enterprise - VI3 Enterprise, vCenter Server, View Manager
- Premier - VI3 Enterprise, vCenter Server, View Manager, View Composer, Offline Desktop, ThinApp
VMware Views main competition is XenDesktop.
So whats new in View 3
- RDP Enhancements - Multimedia redirection, USB support, ThinPrint technology OEM
- View Composer - This is the biggy! Using linked clones and diff files allows many users to connect to a single image which is dynamically assembled with a differential file for that user
- ThinApp - Allowing simplified printing, anyone familiar with SBC will understand the concept.
- Desktop Agnostic - Capability is now available to direct users sessions to either a PC, VM, Blade or TS session
Overall the product looks sharp, the interface which is pretty important for acceptance now looks tidy and has come of age.
An area that will continue to be the Achilles heel for now is the reliance on RDP. VMware and is making a big push into the protocol arena and has joined forces with Teradici, HP and Wyse. OK Citrix has the ICA protocol which performs on the WAN, but currently has limited features of full ICA and is known as PortICA.
So should Citrix be worried?
The majority of Citrix XenDesktop users integrate directly to ESX server for the hypervisor, if this continues to be the case the the pricing of VDI will win hands down.
VMware View is heavily focused on the desktop and although they have the ability to deliver applications locally through Thinapp the process is not as slick as XenApp. Citrix are making moves into the offline VDI following an announcement with Intel last week, and this could be a key play for them. Also Citrix OEM'd the Sepago profile manager software and have yet to release this into the wild, but should be a key area for consideration.
So who do you hedge your bets on?
VMware View is a great product built upon a great foundation but is missing some key functional areas that should make Citrix smile (for now). Thinapp although good only provides support for local applications and not remote like XenApp, Citrix has a product focus that extends from the Desktop right back the Datacentre no matter where the location is.
We recommend best of breed and do across all our solutions, so for VDI read that as VMware Sphere as the hypervisor and XenDesktop as the desktop and application delivery solution.