Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI, is one of the latest trends in IT that has been gaining popularity during these work-from-home times. Many companies are turning to VDI solutions due to the numerous benefits it provides. VDI allows you to move all your applications and data to a secure, centralized data center with shared computing and storage capacity. Employees can access these resources remotely, using any device with at least some processing power and internet access.
This move to VDI helps solve several challenges faced by employees who work using their own devices. With VDI, you can say goodbye to wasted capacity and the hassle of using VPNs. Employees also gain the flexibility of accessing all their applications and data from any device. All data is secured at all times, ensuring business continuity in the event of a lost or stolen device.
The Netherlands Cancer Institute or NKI is a prime example of an organization that moved to VDI to improve their IT agility and performance. VDI is not just a technology solution; it’s a new way of working. VDI solutions are built on top of technology, but the first and most important step is to design the big picture. This can be a daunting task, which is why NKI teamed up with HPE and their professional Pointnext Services to plan and design their VDI solution.
NKI split their data center environment into two functions, running 400 virtual machines on four HPE Synergy frames full of Intel Xeon scalable powered compute nodes, and running virtual desktops on VMware Horizon View. The underlying computer cluster is one of the largest in the Netherlands, consisting of 78 HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen 10’s with Intel Xeon scalable processors.
Virtual desktops require quite a lot more graphics power compared to virtual servers, which is why NKI decided to add three NVIDIA T4 Enterprise GPUs to each of the 78 ProLiant DL servers. The end result is around 2000 virtual desktops running during the day time, providing physicians and nurses with access to the same virtual desktop session with whatever device they choose to use.
VDI solutions may have been stuttering and unreliable in the past, but that’s not the case anymore. VDI solutions provide the same user experience as using your laptop, and vendors should be able to deliver this experience. With VDI, organizations can optimize resource usage, cut down batch processing time, and enable new, innovative ways of working.
In summary, VDI solutions provide many benefits that can help simplify and optimize your work. If you’re looking for a more secure, centralized, and flexible way of working, VDI might be the solution you’ve been searching for.