6 Performance-Optimizing VDI Solutions for the Data Center
8 BY MARK HOLT S
AVVY ORGANIZATIONS are clamoring for easier access to desktops and applications from new mobile and wireless clients that, despite their
small size, put big demands on the data center. The push for mobility to go beyond notebooks to handheld devices means that centralizing desktops and apps to run from the network is more than a good idea—it’s a new requirement. But burning enthusiasm for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) can become a headache if the data center isn’t built to meet users’ expectations. What has worked just fine for hosting virtual servers won’t translate to hosting virtual desktops or applications. Unique demands on storage and networks mean retooling some key components. When designing your data center for optimal VDI performance, make these VDI solutions your top priorities, test them thoroughly, and begin working toward specific and measurable performance results.
1: Focus on
User Experience Even fast notebooks take too long to boot up. Most
of us can make a round trip to the coffeemaker before a login screen appears. Over time, apps and utilities layer on top of each other and slowly bring things to a crawl—a phenomenon sometimes called “Windows rot.” Virtual machines (VMs) can beat dismal startup times, as long as the back-end design is ready to deliver.
2: Tweak Storage © SERGEY ILIN
Performance Drive thrashing, where a PC drive light burns furiously
at startup, is a necessary evil for desktops, notebooks, and servers. VDI files have a shared design, meaning minimal files are needed to boot up. Intensive drive access cuts down on drive thrashing for VMs but is a real threat to performance when multiple users log in simultaneously. To better prepare for peak loads, one VDI solution entails boosting the I/O throughput of the storage area network (SAN) by using upgraded data switches along with multipath, load-balanced connections. This applies to both Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and Gigabit Ethernet SAN. It also eliminates a choke point during heavy loads.
3: Separate and
Layer Disk Storage Virtual desktops use a “golden image” template at
startup. The template is a large file but doesn’t require a lot of storage, as it’s the single shared master copy. It still, however, requires fast drives and I/O to stand up quickly and therefore belongs on high-end RAID arrays. Conversely, user data should live on cheaper storage—big, slower drives that are simple to install and manage. Separating tiered storage using these drives for transient user data allows the critical system files to run at optimum speed while eliminating some hardware costs. An added bonus is that when the golden image is refreshed, user data remains untouched.
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