Alternative Architecture Overview 44956 A

AMD White Paper: Alternate Client Architectures Overview

AMD White PAPer

ALTERNATE CLIENT ARCHITECTURES OVERVIEW
DELIVERING APPLICATIONS TO THE DESKTOP

enterprise it departments are tasked with delivering applications, data, and services to users in a reliable, secure
fashion. As the enterprise has evolved, the method for delivery has too. in today’s enterprise, myriad architectural
options exist for it managers and implementers to choose from. these technologies include operating system
streaming, application streaming, virtualization and isolation, Virtual Desktop infrastructure, terminal Server–based
computing, operating system isolation, Web-based services, and many, many others. each technology has its
strengths and its challenges; and each can provide performance and cost benefits in certain situations.

this white paper focuses on four of the prevalent alternative architectures: Virtual Desktop infrastructure (VDi),
terminal Services, operating system (OS) streaming, and Blade Personal Computers (PCs). this white paper
presents a technical overview and potential use cases for each of these architectures, and explores AMD as the
platform of choice for each by demonstrating both technical (performance) and non-technical (cost) advantages.

INTRODUCTION
Many organizations struggle with the day-to-day management of user desktops. traditional it tasks, such as
procurement of hardware, distribution and patching of software, inventory management, updating antivirus
signatures, and supporting desktops, have become more complex with the added challenges of securing the
network, desktop, and data. As companies grow and user populations disperse, these problems can grow in an
exponential fashion. this problem manifests itself in other areas as well. Consider the company that has hired on
a consultant to develop a customized application. Providing that consultant with a powerful work environment
in a remote setting—all while securing the parent organization’s source code and intellectual property—can be a
daunting challenge.

Businesses have been exploring a wide variety of ways to address this problem. the result has been a multitude
of client computing architectures. this white paper surveys four popular architectures to help it administrators
navigate their myriad of architectural options. this paper seeks to clarify these architectural paradigms, describe
who the players are, explain what the design options are, and explore which circumstances best lend themselves
to these various alternatives. this paper also shows how AMD, a leading manufacturer of server processors,
supports and enhances these architecture alternatives. After reading this paper, it administrators and decision
makers should have a better framework for evaluating and selecting the client computing architectures that are
best suited for their needs.

the four architectures described in this white paper—Virtual Desktop infrastructure (VDi), terminal Services,
operating system (OS) streaming, and Blade Personal Computers (PCs)—provide alternatives to the traditional
commercial desktop and address the issues of scalability, security, reliability, and cost in very different ways. All
four provide the full desktop experience to users, but without the need for a locally executed copy of the operating
system.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Delivering Applications to the Desktop 1
introduction 1
AMD and the role of hardware 3
Virtual Desktop infrastructure 3
What is VDi? 3
VDi Use Cases 4
VDi Advantages 4
VDi Disadvantages 5
VDi Providers 5
AMD Value Proposition 5
terminal Services 6
What is terminal Services? 6
terminal Services Use Cases 7
terminal Services Advantages 7
terminal Services Disadvantages 7
terminal Services Providers 7
Operating System Streaming 8
What is Operating System Streaming? 8
Operating System Streaming Use Cases 9
Operating System Streaming Advantages 9
Operating System Streaming Disadvantages 9
Operating System Streaming Providers 9
Blade PC 10
What Are Blade PCs? 10
Blade PC Use Cases 11
Blade PCs Advantages 11
Blade PC Disadvantages 11
Blade PC Providers 11
Client technology Considerations 11
Amd technology Advantages 12
Summary 13
Glossary 16

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AMD AND THE ROLE OF HARDWARE configurations, and a unique desktop environment (or
graphical user interface [GUi], including customizations
the alternate architectures described in this white such as Windows wallpaper and screen savers) for
paper are solutions that can be further enhanced each user (see Figure 1). Because the VM is a complete
with an appropriate underlying platform. At the instance of a PC, the user session functions just as a
core of enterprise computing, regardless of the locally run version of the operating system would.
architecture, is the server and the server processor.
AMD manufactures processors with a wide range of
technology options that can be tailored to enhance a
variety of computing architectures. AMD processors
support the performance and isolation requirements of
the virtualization technology used in VDi and terminal
Services, in addition to the low power and memory
requirements for concurrent users and applications
demanded by Blade PCs and OS streaming.

the AMD Opteron™ processor family of server-
class processors based on the 64-bit architecture is
compatible with pre-existing x86 32-bit architecture.
AMD Opteron processors utilize Direct Connect
Architecture, which helps to eliminate the challenges
and bottlenecks associated with traditional front-side
bus system architectures. the AMD Opteron processor
introduces several new features, including quad- Figure 1 VDi structure
core upgradeability, AMD Virtualization™ (AMD-V™)
technology, and energy-efficient double-data-rate two
Users access their virtual desktops remotely from
(DDr2) memory. in addition, AMD Opteron processors
a traditional PC, thin client, or repurposed computer
are designed to advance performance-per-watt
through a connection broker, which connects the user
(PPW) capabilities and apply the proven technologies
to the appropriate VM. the virtual desktop is delivered
introduced with earlier AMD Opteron processors. AMD
to the client either using remote Display Protocol (rDP),
Opteron processors are a preferred platform for desktop
or directly from the connection broker (as in the case of
delivery solutions, providing cost and performance
Citrix Presentation server, which is built on independent
advantages regardless of the architecture solution.
Computing Architecture [iCA], a thin client protocol).
the hosted desktop images are completely isolated
VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE from each other on the secure data center server; each
hosted VM runs independently on the server to protect
the role of an it department is to provide applications
against unauthorized access or system crashes (see
and services to users. in order to run an application, a
Figure 2).
user needs a desktop—be it a Windows® desktop, a
browser window, or some other backdrop—that lets the
user select and launch the desired applications. Virtual
Desktop infrastructure (VDi) delivers a full, rich desktop
experience that is hosted on a centralized data center
server, helping increase security and decrease total
cost of ownership (tCO).

WhAt iS VDi?
in the VDi model, a hardware virtualization layer is
added to the data center server (or servers) in place of
a more traditional operating system. this virtualization
layer provides numerous virtual machines (VMs),
each with an operating system, applications, device

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Virtual Desktop
Infrastructure
each user has his
•

or her own operating
system instance
Applications execute
•

on each user’s VM

Figure 2 VDi architecture
VDi USe CASeS desktop environments. it administrators can grant
With VDi, a user can run any earlier, off-the-shelf, or users controlled access to confidential information
custom application without modification. VDi works well and intellectual property while protecting sensitive
for unique desktops or applications that have unusual information.
system requirements; earlier applications that would
need to be rewritten or that simply do not run in other VDi ADVANtAGeS
server-based computing (SBC) environments can be With VDi, there is a unique environment for each
run as-is with VDi. and every user. each of these environments can be
completely customized with different applications and
VDi can enhance a company’s disaster recovery (Dr) settings without impacting other users. thus, users can
plan. in the case of a disaster, be it natural or electronic, be granted more control of their own virtual desktops,
secure and continued access to the organization’s allowing them to install and modify applications if
desktop environments is critical to reduce disruption. needed.
With VDi, hosted desktops in VMs can be easily moved
or redeployed to ensure quick recovery and business Moreover, VDi makes it possible to consolidate
continuity. enterprise desktops. it administrators can replace
computer workstations with expendable, low-cost thin
today’s highly mobile workforce is placing increasing client terminals; this helps extend computer life cycles,
demands for corporate data access from remote as older computers can be repurposed for other duties.
locations. VDi enables employees using mobile devices
to securely access their desktops, along with their With VDi, desktops are managed centrally, simplifying
authorized applications and associated data, without desktop installations, backups, and maintenance and
the risk of compromising corporate assets if their reducing technical support and administration. And
devices are lost or stolen. because user desktops—including operating system
images—are running on servers within the walls of a
VDi bridges the gap between the users’ desire to centralized data center, data can be made more secure.
have a personalized, isolated desktop experience
and the it administrators’ need to maintain a secure, VDi decouples user desktops from specific hardware
centrally controlled and managed computing resources, enabling live migration of VMs between
environment. Outsourced or offshore activities (call physical servers. Alternately, a VM can be suspended
center operations, order and back-office processing, or — the server can move the memory contents of the
software development, for example) can be managed desktop VM to a disk; a VM can be provisioned on
and maintained within the secure confines of the another physical piece of hardware (that is, a server);
corporate data center, and users still have their own and the VM can then be brought back online. Once this

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operation is completed, users can pick up right where to run more VMs per server and to handle more users
they left off. it is also possible to have a session time and transactions per VM than comparable server
out after a certain amount of time. the user’s session processors. AMD-V technology can help reduce
can be disconnected from the client (still running on overhead by selectively intercepting instructions
the server); the system can then suspend the session destined for guest environments; it streamlines
by moving the memory contents to disk and freeing up virtualization deployment, improves virtualization
the hardware for another user. When the first user logs support, and helps guest x86 operating systems run
back in, the session is re-connected and the user can unmodified at industry-leading execution speeds.
continue work—regardless of how long it has been.
the Direct Connect Architecture helps eliminate the
VDi DiSADVANtAGeS bottlenecks because everything is directly connected
the flexibility and management benefits of VDi do come to the CPU—the processors, integrated memory
at a price. the appropriate infrastructure to support a controller, and i/O connect directly to the CPU and
VDi framework is comprised of enterprise-class server communicate at CPU speeds.
hardware connected to a storage area network (SAN).
even though server hardware is typically very robust the Integrated Memory Controller is designed
and fault-resistant, it may become a single point of to improve performance on memory-intensive
failure—the failure of the server may take down some or virtualization environments through high bandwidth, low
all client environments running on it. latency, and scalable access to memory. the integrated
this single point of failure extends to the network. VDi on-die DDr2 DrAM memory controller offers available
requires a low-latency connection between the client memory bandwidth up to 10.7 GB/s (with DDr2-667,
and virtual infrastructure; the client environments which supports 667 million data transfers per second)
cannot operate without a network connection. per processor.

VDi PrOViDerS HyperTransport™ technology optimizes the movement
VMware is the main provider of VDi software, though of data and the sharing of resources among VMs
there are others. to build a VDi solution with VMware, it for greater system scalability; it provides a scalable
administrators create a VM on the VMware eSX Server. bandwidth interconnect between processors, i/O
it administrators must then install a third-party VDi subsystems, and other chipsets, with up to three
Connection Broker (such as ChipPC Virtual Desktop coherent hypertransport technology links providing up
Center, Citrix Desktop Broker for Presentation Server, to 24.0 GB/s peak bandwidth per processor.
Dunes Virtual Desktop Orchestrator and Virtual Service
Orchestrator, or LeoStream Virtual Desktop Connection Better Performance in Virtualized Environments
Broker), then provision the VMware Networks Virtual Rapid Virtualization Indexing, an enhancement to
Access Suite (VAS), install a desktop operating system AMD-V technology, is designed to increase the
on the VM (such as Windows® XP or Windows performance of the most demanding virtualized
Vista®), and install desktop applications on the VM. applications through hardware-assisted memory
Other VDi providers include Citrix, Surgient, and Virtual management, enabling faster execution of guest
iron (using software from Provision Networks). code in many cases and lower hypervisor overhead
in nearly all cases. Utilizing on-die silicon resources
AMD VALUe PrOPOSitiON rather than software, rapid Virtualization indexing can
the performance of a VDi solution can be enhanced greatly reduce hypervisor cycles and the associated
with AMD hardware. Large numbers of VMs mean large performance penalty that is commonly associated
memory requirements. the AMD Opteron processor, with virtualization. rapid Virtualization indexing is also
with its increased memory addressability and high designed to decrease the “world-switch time”—the time
memory bandwidth, can support a large number of spent switching from one VM to another—by 25% for
concurrent, memory-intensive VMs. greater application responsiveness.

More VMs per Server Address space IDs (ASIDs) decrease context switching
AMD Opteron processors with AMD Virtualization overheads and increase the performance of VMs.
(AMD-V) technology are designed to make it possible

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Increased Responsiveness in Virtualized Environments connections; it can also be used as a means to deliver
Unique to AMD Opteron processors, the Tagged the newest applications to an older PC population.
Translation Look-aside Buffer (TLB) addresses switching
times between VMs by mapping to the VMs’ individual terminal Services is somewhat similar to VDi, but instead
memory spaces. Competing solutions cannot distinguish of managing potentially hundreds—or even thousands—
one VM’s memory space from another’s, resulting in of centralized, virtualized, single user operating systems,
additional memory management overhead and reduced it administrators manage numerous user sessions in a
responsiveness when switching between VMs. single instance of the server operating system.

More Efficient Security WhAt iS terMiNAL SerViCeS?
the Device Exclusion Vector (DEV) controls access to terminal Services provides remote access to a desktop
VM memory based on permission, isolating VMs for through thin client software, allowing the client computer
secure operation. the DeV performs these security to serve as a terminal emulator. terminal Services
checks in hardware, rather than in software, for greater transmits only the GUi of the user session to the client.
efficiency; it creates Protection Domains that deny the client returns keyboard and mouse clicks (KVM
memory access for unauthorized requests from external information), which are processed by the server.
devices, such as hard disks and network controllers.
Users connect to the terminal Server (the server
Planning Ahead component of terminal Services) and see only their
A key factor in data center optimization is planning ahead individual session, which is managed transparently by
for intelligent growth that enables faster deployment the server operating system. this individual session is
and better management of services. the AMD common- independent of other client sessions. Client software can
core strategy, same-socket infrastructure, and stable, run on a number of client hardware devices, including
long-term road map makes it possible to perform Windows-based terminals, Macintosh computers, or
seamless upgrades of processor technology, helping UNiX-based workstations. even some handheld devices
it administrators minimize the cost of transitions and running Windows Mobile® 6 are able to run a terminal
maximize past investments in hardware, software, and Services session.
personnel.
With terminal Services, the client appears as a window
TERMINAL SERVICES within the local desktop environment, and the client
contains only the minimum amount of software
terminal Services lets users access applications and necessary to establish a connection to the server and
data on remote, heterogeneous desktop environments present the GUi. All other operating system functions, in
over a local area network (LAN), wide area network addition to the applications, run on the server. Any input
(WAN), or other remote connections. Application to the client is redirected over the network to the server,
execution takes place on the server, and the graphical where all application processing takes place
user interface (GUi) is delivered to the client computing (see Figure 3).
device via rDP. terminal Services provides a cost-
effective way to deploy line-of-business (LOB)
applications that are frequently updated, hard to
install, or need to be accessed over low-bandwidth

6 Figure 3 terminal Server architecture


TERMINAL SERVICES terMiNAL SerViCeS USe CASeS costs associated with updating individual computers are
terminal Services provides a centralized application greatly reduced.
Each user has a
•

platform that can improve the desktop delivery in a
session on a single number of scenarios. For example, in an organization terminal Services extends the model of distributed
operating system without an assigned desk policy, users can work from computing by letting computers operate as both thin
instance that runs on different computers, using any available desk. if the clients and as full-featured PCs at the same time.
computer on which a user is working does not have the Computers can continue to be used as they have been
the main server (one necessary applications locally installed, the programs within existing networks, while also functioning as thin
operating system can be installed on the terminal Server and made clients that are capable of emulating a terminal Services
to manage, many available; the worker can then use the programs just as desktop.
if they were installed locally.
sessions) For example, if a company upgrades its SAP business
•
in the case of a corporate merger, companies often solutions software, but not all of its computers can
on the main server need to use consistent LOB applications on a variety support the new SAP version, the company’s it
of operating system versions and configurations. administrators can create a terminal Services session
Thin clients share
•

to support the computers that do not meet the
Alternately, companies outsourcing to partner
processing resources organizations may need access to specific LOB requirements of the new version of SAP software.
applications, but not to the entire corporate network.
terminal Services provides a solution for both of these Using a terminal Server to run an application over
situations. rather than going through the effort and bandwidth-constrained connections (such as dial-
cost of deploying all of the LOB applications to all of the up or shared WAN links) is very effective for remotely
computers in the merged company or the outsourcer, accessing and manipulating large amounts of data
the LOB applications can be installed on a terminal because only a screen view of the data is transmitted,
Server and made available as needed. this is especially rather than the data itself.
useful if an application is difficult to patch or manage.
terMiNAL SerViCeS DiSADVANtAGeS
By securing an application and its data in a central though this can be an advantage because it can
location, it is possible to reduce the risk of accidental simplify management, one disadvantage of terminal
data loss caused, for example, by the loss of a laptop Services is that every client session on terminal
or mobile device. Centralizing applications and data Server must use the same operating system. Using a
ensures that as little data as possible leaves the single operating system diminishes the flexibility that
corporate network. With terminal Services, users, it departments can offer users who require unique or
partners, or customers do not need to be granted full previous environments. Additionally, the terminal Server
access to a company network or computers; they must run several instances of an application within
can be limited to even a single application, if needed, the single operating system, and some applications
providing a means to control the it environment. will not work in this fashion. the requirement to run
several instances of an application can also cause
terMiNAL SerViCeS ADVANtAGeS complications for organizations using proprietary or
the greatest advantage of terminal Services is that customized applications.
users can run many desktop sessions on a single
terminal Server, and that server only has to manage Client operating system savings can be reduced by
one instance of the operating system. (Contrast this terminal Server session licensing fees. Licensing in a
with VDi, where users have multiple copies of the terminal Services environment can be complicated. if it
operating system that need to be configured, managed, administrators opt for a Citrix solution, they will require a
cleaned, and updated.) With terminal Server, all program terminal Services license in addition to a Citrix license.
execution, data processing, and data storage occurs
on the terminal Server, centralizing the deployment of terMiNAL SerViCeS PrOViDerS
programs. terminal Services can ensure that all clients terminal Services is a component of the Windows
can access the same version of a program. Because operating system (both server and client versions).
the software is installed on the server only once (rather Microsoft has a longstanding agreement with Citrix to
than on every desktop throughout the organization), the facilitate sharing of technologies and patent licensing

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OS STREAMING between Microsoft terminal Services and Citrix audio streaming, songs are maintained on a central
Presentation Server (formerly Citrix MetaFrame). in this server and then streamed to a client PC on demand;
Operating system on
•

arrangement, Citrix has access to key source code with OS streaming, the actual operating system and the
main server, streams for the Windows platform, enabling their developers to applications are streamed to the desktop from a central
necessary files (as improve the security and performance of the terminal server when the PC is booted up from a disk image file
golden image) to PCs Services platform. and when any applications or libraries are loaded.

•
the Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server is the Citrix the core technology behind the OS streaming
on PCs, which can be version of terminal Services; it allows for connecting architecture is a device driver for the desired operating
diskless any client device to any application running on the system that mounts the desired virtual disk over a
server (connection brokering). While Microsoft clients custom User Datagram Protocol (UDP). Basically, the
Can stream many
•
for terminal Services are currently limited to Windows client PCs use a customized BiOS to redirect the calls
versions of operating and Mac platforms, Citrix clients are available for that are normally made to the local hard drive to the
system from the Windows, Mac, various distributions of UNiX, and server; the PCs are configured to “netboot” a kernel that
even ePOC handheld devices. there is a UNiX version contains the required device driver. the second piece of
networked storage of Presentation Server, so it administrators can run the puzzle is the server-based software that empowers
UNiX and Java applications on a terminal server while it organizations to create, manage, and stream the
accessing them from Windows clients. this flexibility is software images to the client PCs.
key in large organizations where the server operating
system environment is a heterogeneous mixture of in the OS streaming architecture, only those files
Windows and UNiX. required for the desktop to function are downloaded
(the operating system and the applications). So, while a
OPERATING SYSTEM STREAMING full-blown instance of the operating system may exceed
1 GB, only a fraction of this runs in the PC’s memory at
Operating system streaming delivers the speed, any given time.
flexibility, and power of a centrally managed, full PC,
without requiring a significant infrastructure upgrade and An OS streaming solution is transparent to the client
without overloading the existing network. OS streaming user. Processing takes place on the desktop PC, not
(sometimes called diskless computing or stateless on a server elsewhere. And, while most desktops end
computing) makes use of networking advances to up running diskless, local disks can be used to store
dramatically improve software distribution and desktop files other than the operating system and application
management. executables.

WhAt iS OPerAtiNG SYSteM StreAMiNG? As with audio streaming, the desktop PC can choose
OS streaming builds on the benefits of centrally from a variety of centrally managed images that contain
managed thin clients, but delivers the speed and different versions of the operating system, or are
functionality of a fully loaded PC. With OS streaming, configured with different software application packages
computers boot and run from an image file stored on the and configurations. these “golden” images are delivered
network, in a fashion similar to audio streaming. With on-demand and require a simple reboot to change. it
administrators can add new servers and re-provision
existing ones simply by pointing them to a new disk file
on the network. it administrators can reboot servers at
anytime to reset them to their golden server image
(see Figure 4).

8 Figure 4 OS streaming


OPerAtiNG SYSteM StreAMiNG USe CASeS few years can be made immeasurably easier with OS
Operating system streaming provides great benefits to streaming. Organizations can maintain separate sets
call centers. the on-demand delivery of applications of Windows XP and Windows Vista disk images, for
and the operating system to a diskless desktop client example. When users turn on their PCs, they can be
from networked storage makes it possible for call presented with a simple menu that lets them easily
centers to give agents a desktop that can fully apply choose which operating system they want to use
the sophistication of VoiP, while making centralized it for that session. they can switch between operating
management a reality. With OS streaming, all programs systems by simply rebooting and making a different
execute locally on the desktop PC; this is critical to choice. With OS streaming, it departments can create
the success of the call center and ultimately the tremendously flexible environments where they maintain
productivity of the agent, as the customer management a set of disk images that can be shared across their
software used in call centers often demands computing entire organization.
horsepower that only a full desktop can provide.
Moving to diskless workstations, which operate without OPerAtiNG SYSteM StreAMiNG ADVANtAGeS
the need for local persistent storage devices such OS streaming delivers performance. Since the client
as hard drives, rAM disk, or bootable CDs, can also in the OS streaming scenario uses local resources to
be advantageous in classified work environments. facilitate a user’s session, there is very little difference
eliminating local storage at the desktop improves data between a locally installed copy of the operating system
security without complicating the day-to-day work and the streamed version.
of employees; networked storage provides the added
benefit of data storage scalability. All clients boot from a single image. therefore, as with
terminal Services, there is less patching and updating
OS streaming also provides benefits in education needed than in a traditional server environment.
environments, where maintenance costs can be Moreover, a single fix can be propagated throughout an
prohibitive. Most network maintenance costs—and organization without a reboot. And because applications
most problems—stem from the need to configure and and data are stored and managed centrally, security and
support every PC on an individual basis. Maintenance business continuity risks are mitigated.
must be performed at the local PC hard drive, where
the software and operating systems are installed. the OPerAtiNG SYSteM StreAMiNG DiSADVANtAGeS
situation becomes even worse in schools, where non- in a WAN environment, it administrators would need
technical staff members are frequently charged with to set up an OS streaming segment on each major
maintaining a complex web of hardware and software, segment because of bandwidth requirements: a high
and where students may unintentionally create a host speed LAN of at least 100 MB is needed to achieve
of maintenance issues through the introduction of strong client performance with OS streaming. the
viruses, corrupted files, and spyware. thin clients, which dependence upon a network connection for every client
have no local processors or disk drives and rely entirely also means laptops cannot work offline.
on the ethernet cabling and server infrastructure for
performance, may seem to be a good solution, but they to use OS streaming, it administrators must rely on
have proven to be unable to power much of the rich, imaging technologies, which are prone to issues such as
interactive multimedia applications frequently used in incorrect user names, “ghost connections,” and missing
schools. Since OS streaming eliminates the disk drives drivers, which may impact performance.
but keeps the robust local processor, the network-
bootable clients perform just like their traditional desktop OPerAtiNG SYSteM StreAMiNG PrOViDerS
counterparts, only without the local storage. A fresh Ardence, a Citrix company, has developed an operating
configuration is provided at every startup. Nothing gets system streaming solution that delivers Windows, SUSe
stored locally, so problems can be resolved at the server, Linux, red hat Linux, and turbolinux operating systems,
eliminating the source of most desktop maintenance along with all their applications, on-demand from
problems. networked storage. Using the Ardence OS streaming
technology, any x86-based computer—desktop, server,
OS streaming can also make the introduction of new or device—can be provisioned, or re-provisioned, from
operating systems simpler. the transition to Windows bare metal to production in minutes. Ardence creates a
Vista that many organizations will face over the next vDisk (virtual disk, which can be private or shared) of

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a desktop’s operating system, applications, and A Blade PC, in contrast to a thin client, is a complete
configurations. this is done by taking a snapshot of the computer that includes all the components normally
operating system and application image and storing found in a desktop PC, including the microprocessor,
the image as a file on the network so that the PC can memory chips, hard drive, video card, and network
boot from it. the computer starts running the assigned card. each server-side Blade PC contains the basic PC
configuration immediately—there is no waiting to configuration: an operating system and the standard set
download the entire operating system. of applications, patches, and drivers that the enterprise
Dell also provides On-Demand Desktop Streaming, an requires. the Blade PCs process the data and perform
OS streaming solution that uses the Citrix Provisioning other server operations such as load balancing. the
Server software to stream the operating system, data itself is accessed from the data center, where it is
applications, and data to desktop clients over a Gigabit stored in a user’s individual account—a 2-GB partition,
ethernet network. Users can take full advantage of the for example.
client’s CPU and graphics processor, which provide a
full desktop experience with application access and Blade PCs support one or more common operating
complete multimedia capabilities. systems, and they are intended to support one user
per device. the user’s monitor, keyboard, mouse, and
BLADE PC other peripherals connect to a user connection device
(or user port) that sits on the user’s desktop and, in turn,
Blade PCs—server-style blades that reside in a secure connects to the Blade PC chassis.
data center and hold the same basic components as
traditional desktop computers—are gaining a foothold Access to the device is usually achieved via rDP (or
as a cost-effective way to conserve space and comply another protocol), which lets users log on to the Blade
with security requirements in environments that may PC via a client device (usually a thin client). Once logged
require multiple operating systems. Blade PCs combine on, the user experience is largely the same as if the
the functions of a traditional PC with many of the user was logged on to a local PC. A spare Blade PC or
benefits of blade servers. Unlike thin client technologies, two can be kept in the enclosure for failover protection.
Blade PCs support one user per discrete device; unlike Should a Blade PC crash while a user is logged on, the
terminal Services, in which processing resources are server will dynamically allocate another card to the
shared, Blade PCs enable each user to connect to a affected user: logging back in takes just a minute or two.
dedicated processor, providing a more robust processing Some Blade PCs use an external physical layer fiber
environment. switch, which can cross-connect the blades to the
various remote user connection desktop devices. this
WhAt iS A BLADe PC? allows the it administrator to map any port to any other
With Blade PCs, the CPU, rAM, and a hard drive are in port and dynamically allocate resources or immediately
a “blade” form that plugs into an enclosure; they are connect to a spare blade in the event of a failure.
entirely contained in a thin, modular circuit card placed
in a centralized, secure location, such as a server rack.
Many vendors have moved power supplies, cooling fans,
and some management capabilities to the enclosure.

10 Figure 5 Blade PC


BLADe PC USe CASeS the processing/storage/network elements are separated
Blade PCs are ideal for call centers and billing/accounting from the user-oriented display elements; all of the heat,
departments, where users do not require mobile noise-producing, and power-consuming parts of the
computers or powerful workstations, but can rely on computer are kept in the data center in high-density
an energy-efficient thin client. it may also be possible racks far from the desktops, which can hold the quiet,
to reduce the number of desktops: an enterprise may space-efficient monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
employ 5,000 desktop users, but find that only 3,000
users log in during peak hours on average—thus there is An additional benefit of the chassis-based architecture
no need to invest in 5,000 desktops. is the relatively simple task of creating a dual-boot
environment on each Blade PC that can provide, for
Blade PCs are a preferred solution in secure, highly example, a typical desktop environment during business
regulated environments, such as financial organizations, hours and a Beowulf-clustered Linux environment (which
government installations, and other companies where could be integrated into an organization’s grid computing
security and manageability are important. A blade fabric) during off hours.
solution has no disk, processor, or Network interface
Card (NiC) at the desktop, so users cannot tamper BLADe PC DiSADVANtAGeS
with sensitive information. there have been numerous While the tCO associated with Blade PCs is lower
incidents where PCs or laptops containing customer than even well-managed PCs, the acquisition and
financial data or mailing lists have been stolen. With deployment costs are higher because of the associated
Blade PCs, however, the blades reside in secure, not infrastructure that is required.
publicly available data centers.
in addition, rDP is less effective at delivering multimedia
BLADe PC ADVANtAGeS with Blade PCs, primarily because audio and video are
the tCO associated with Blade PCs has shown that not perfectly synchronized. in circumstances where
it can be significantly less than that of traditional PCs there is increasing latency, there is a proportional
residing at the desktop. the power requirement for the decrease in the quality of the user experience.
thin client can be far lower than that of an entire PC, so
there is less wasted heat. Blade PCs also require less BLADe PC PrOViDerS
maintenance. thin clients require less servicing, as they Both hewlett-Packard (hP) and iBM offer Blade PC
have no individual configuration; replacing one is as solutions. hP provides a Blade PC that features AMD64
simple as plugging in a new unit. replacement Blade PC technology. the hP bc1500 blade PC is part of the hP
cards, on the other hand, do need to be configured, but Consolidated Client infrastructure (CCi) product line
centralized maintenance makes it possible to image a aimed at reducing the cost of managing desktop PCs.
new card and replace it in the rack, in less than an hour the hP bc1500 blade PC features a low-power AMD
generally. the management software then adds the Athlon™ 64 processor. the performance-per-watt of
card to the pool. in addition to these savings, the ability the AMD processors makes it possible for hP to install
to provide redundant blades leads to an increase in user as many as 280 blades in a standard 19-inch rack. the
productivity. CCi architecture, which uses rDP to communicate over
the corporate network, also works with notebook and
Blade PCs also offer a greater level of physical and handheld PCs as clients.
virtual security compared to traditional PCs scattered
throughout an organization; sensitive modules can be ClearCube provides a PC Blade virtualization solution
kept in the data center completely removed from the that combines VMware-enabled blades with
office work environment. And data residing in a central, management software, empowering organizations to
secure location means a greater level of compliance virtualize the blades for comprehensive VDi solution.
with privacy standards. User access is controlled An additional vendor is Cubix, which provides the
by passwords and central policy, and smart card or LaserBlade and LaserCubes.
other identity systems can be integrated if necessary.
therefore, a company’s greatest asset—its data—can be
secure.

11


CLIENT TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS •
Will it need to be isolated onto a single user instance
of Windows, such as in a Blade PC or VM?
With so many options available for delivering •
Does the user need administrative rights?
applications to users, it can be difficult to determine
which solution is best for a particular environment. the Once it administrators determine where the application
four technologies presented in this white paper are just will run, they need to decide whether they will virtualize
a starting point—they can also be combined with each or isolate the application.
other and with other technologies for more possibilities.
•
is it even technically possible to virtualize, isolate, or
in some situations, standard terminal Services or a stream the application?
Citrix solution works best. in others, it administrators •
is there a need for dynamic application installs?
could use VDi, the hosted desktops plus virtualization •
Do all users need the application, or just some?
solution. in still other scenarios, a streaming technology •
how hard is the application to manage? is it worth
such as Ardence may be ideal, or it administrators virtualizing?
might implement a Blade-PC solution, such as the CCi •
is there a need for the raw application
solution provided by hP. performance?

to determine which solution is best for their these questions help start the process of determining
environment, it administrators need to consider a solution. the best solution may be complex, however,
many factors, such as the application execution and may require combining the architectures. For
location, the need for a multi-user or single-user example, the it administrator may want unique VMs
execution environment, and the installation of for specific users, while still letting users connect to a
the applications. Other considerations include pooled VM for a unique application that conflicts with
performance requirements, cost, and maintenance and others. Or an offshore developer may need a simple
administration capabilities. the following questions can yet secure way of accessing the desktop that will
help with the decision; these open-ended questions not require the hosting company to install a great deal
highlight the factors it administrators should consider of software on the remote client. Combining VDi and
when determining how to best deliver desktops to terminal Services may enable the it administrator to
users. address these issues and develop a unique solution
that fits the organizations needs.
•
Where does the application need to execute: locally
on the client device or remotely in the data center? AMD TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES
•
Do users need access from non-Windows clients?
•
Are there high back-end data requirements? At the core of all enterprise computing, regardless of the
•
Does the application need to access data that is architecture used to deliver desktops, is the server and
stored locally on the client device? the server hardware. AMD is a leading manufacturer of
•
Does the application need to integrate with other processors, with a range of technology options that can
applications? be tailored to enhance the four architectures described
•
Does the nature of the application lend itself to in this paper, among others.
being made remotable?
•
Do it administrators need to ensure that data stays Power, Performance, and Efficiency
off the client device? in many cases, AMD Opteron processor technology
•
What are the typical workloads run by clients/ makes it possible for terminal Services customers to
users? support more users per server than other processors
•
What is the network connection latency? and increase the performance of demanding
•
What are the security/compliance requirements? applications running on the same server, while helping
reduce overall server and/or server farm power
if it administrators decide that the application will be consumption.
executed remotely, then they need to decide what
back-end architecture they will use. Direct Connect Architecture, with its increased memory
addressability and high memory bandwidth, can
•
Can the application run on a multi-user system like support a large number of concurrent users without
terminal Server? affecting performance. Direct Connect Architecture also
12


provides improved PPW, which helps to reduce costs. which lowers chip count, power consumption, and
this makes the AMD Opteron processor with AMD64 waste heat on each blade. the integrated memory
technology an ideal platform for OS streaming and controller also outperforms comparable off-chip memory
terminal Services solutions. controllers because the AMD Athlon 64 processor’s
computational core communicates with the memory
Add the “future-proofing” benefits of the AMD64 controller at its internal clock rate (which is faster than
technology, which natively supports 32-bit applications the external bus). it also has 128K of L1 cache and 512K
while providing a smooth transition path to 64-bit of L2 cache to further speed overall performance. the
computing, and current and prospective terminal power and performance of AMD’s latest technology
Services customers have a compelling value proposition. makes Blade PC technology all the more inviting.

the AMD Athlon™ 64 processor 1500+ is an ideal Enhanced Virus Protection
choice for Blade PCs. this advanced processor runs at 1 the AMD Athlon 64 processor 1500+ has enhanced
gigahertz (Ghz) and has a mere 9-watt power envelope. Virus Protection (eVP), which works in conjunction
this low-power envelope makes it possible to place with the current releases of most operating systems
as many as 280 blades in one industry-standard 42U to provide extra security against viruses and other
rack, which can be more than twice the density of any malicious code that use buffer overruns. eVP is enabled
other blade PC solution—key to consolidation in the data by the operating system, and is now supported by
center. current versions of Windows, Linux, Solaris, and BSD
UNiX. With eVP, clients experience safer e-mail and
the AMD Athlon 64 processor 1500+ is equipped with internet browsing, in addition to increased network and
an integrated DDr (double data-rate) memory controller, memory protection.

SUMMARY

traditional enterprise PCs have served the needs of it organizations well for many years. however, given the
changing security environment, increased performance demands, and the need for greater flexibility at lower costs,
it makes sense to rethink the traditional desktop and the enterprise client strategy. the alternative architectures
currently available empower it administrators to create the most secure, cost effective, and flexible environment
possible.

in this white paper, four of these architectures were discussed: VDi, terminal Server, OS streaming, and Blade PCs.
Figure 6 and table 1 show a comparison of these technologies. each has its strengths and challenges, and each
can provide performance and cost benefits in certain scenarios. While many, many more architecture alternative
architectures exist for it administrators to choose from, the focus in this paper is on these four more prevalent and
relevant options.

13


VIRTuAL DESkTOP INfRASTRuCTuRE TERMINAL SERVICES
Unique operating system Shared operating system
Shared hardware Shared hardware
•
Desktop runs on virtualized server Applications run on server
•

•
Ui is local on thin client Ui delivered to client over network
•

BLADE PC OS STREAMING
Unique operating system Shared operating system
Unique hardware Shared hardware
•
Desktop runs on the blade in data Uses SAtA over iP
•

center runs locally
•

•
Ui local on thin client

Figure 6 Comparison of alternative architectures

14


What travels
Where do the
Operating between data
Architecture Hardware applications Summary
system center and client
execute?
(or user)?
Shared (VMs Many VMs and
VDI Unique hosted on main each user’s VM Access to VM operating systems
server) to manage
thin clients share
Shared (each user processing
Terminal has session on resources
Shared Central server Screen refreshes
Services single operating One operating
system instance) system to manage,
many sessions
Operating system
executable files on main, streaming
Blended (central each user’s PC (just enough server
OS Streaming Unique
storage, local PC) (can be diskless) binaries to execute relies on imaging
applications) technology, golden
image is streamed
Dedicated proces-
sor for each user
User connects
each user’s cen- Keyboard, video,
Unique (stored to Blade PC with
Blade PC Unique trally located Blade mouse (KVM)
centrally) rDP/thin client
PC information
Supports one or
more common
operating system

table 1 Alternative architectures

15


GLOSSARY synchronous dynamic random access memory
(SDrAM), one of many DrAM implementations. the
AMD64 primary benefit of DDr2 memory is the improved bus
A 64-bit superset of the x86 instruction set architec- signaling and the operation of the memory cells at half
ture (x86-64), the most commercially successful CPU the clock rate (one quarter of the data transfer rate).
architecture. DDr2-xxx (as in DDr2-667) denotes data transfer rate.
Bandwidth can then be calculated by taking transfers
Back-end per second and multiplying by eight (because DDr2
A term used to characterize program interfaces and memory modules transfer data on a bus that is 64 data
services relative to the user (either person or a program). bits wide, a byte comprises 8 bits—8 bytes of data per
A back-end application serves indirectly: supporting the transfer).
front-end services either directly or through an interme-
diate program that mediates front-end and back-end failover
activities. A backup operational mode, used to make a system
more fault tolerant, in which the functions of a system
Blade enclosure component (a processor, server, network, or database)
Provides services such as power, cooling, networking, are assumed by secondary components when the pri-
various interconnects, and management. mary component becomes unavailable (through either
failure or scheduled downtime).
Blade server
Self-contained computer servers, designed for high front-side bus
density. Blade servers have many components removed the physical bidirectional bus that carries all electronic
for space, power, and other considerations, while still signal information between the central processing unit
containing all functional computing components. (CPU) and the northbridge (also known as the memory
controller hub, one of the two chips in the core logic
Bus chipset on a PC motherboard).
A subsystem that transfers data between computer
components inside or between computers. front-end
A term used to characterize program interfaces and ser-
Chassis vices relative to the user (either a person or a program).
the physical frame or structure of computer. A front-end application is one that users interact with
directly.
Connection broker
Controls session access to the server-side virtual desk- Graphical user Interface (GuI)
tops or other shared resources. A graphical (rather than purely textual) user interface to
a computer.
Data center
A centralized repository for the storage, management, Gigabit Ethernet
and dissemination of data and information pertaining to a A transmission technology based on the ethernet frame
particular business. format and protocol used in LANs. Gigabit ethernet pro-
vides a data rate of 1 billion bits per second (one gigabit).
Direct Connect Architecture Gigabit ethernet is defined in the institute of electrical
A computing platform available only with AMD64 pro- and electronics engineers (ieee) 802.3 standard, and it
cessors (including the AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64 currently serves as the backbone of many enterprise
processors). With Direct Connect Architecture, there are networks.
no front-side buses. instead, the processors, memory
controller, and i/O are directly connected to the CPU and Independent Computing Architecture (ICA)
communicate at CPU speed. A thin-client protocol from Citrix Systems.

Double-data-rate two (DDR2) memory Internet Protocol (IP)
A random access memory technology used for high- the method (protocol) by which data is sent from one
speed storage of the working data. A type of computer to another on the internet.

16


kernel Thin client
the core of a computer operating system, providing A client computer (or client software) that depends
basic services for all other parts of the operating system. primarily on the central server for processing activities
the kernel can be contrasted with the shell, or outermost and instead focuses on conveying input and output
part of the operating system that interacts with user between the user and the remote server. (A thick, or fat,
commands. client does as much of the processing as possible, only
passing data to the central server for communications
Latency and storage.)
the time between the initiation of a request for a byte or
word in memory and the time it is retrieved. Virtual Machine (VM)
A complete image of a PC, including its applications, op-
Load balancing erating system, and device configurations, all encapsu-
Used to spread work across two or more computers, lated into a set of files that can run on any PC.
network links, CPUs, hard drives, or other resources,
in order to optimize resource utilization, throughput, or Wide Area Network (WAN)
response time. A geographically dispersed telecommunications network
(as opposed to a LAN).
Local Area Network (LAN)
A group of computers (and associated devices) that
share a common communications line or wireless link.
typically, the connected devices share the resources of
a single processor or server within a small geographic
area.

Network Interface Card (NIC)
A computer circuit board (card) that is installed in a com-
puter so that it can be connected to a network.

Quad-core
Combines four independent cores onto a single die or
integrated circuit (iC).

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
A multi-channel protocol that allows a user to connect
to a computer running terminal Services. Clients exist for
most versions of Windows and other operating systems
such as Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and Mac OS X. the
server listens, by default, on tCP port 3389.

Server farm
A group of computers (servers) working together and
housed in a single location. the servers may have indi-
vidual operating systems or a shared operating system,
and they may be set up to provide load balancing (when
there are many server requests) or fail over (if one server
fails, another can act as backup).

Storage Area Network (SAN)
An architecture that is used to attach remote computer
storage devices (such as disk arrays and tape libraries)
to servers in such a way that the devices appear to be
attached locally to the operating system.

17

Alternative Architecture Overview 44956 A

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Alternative Architecture Overview 44956 A