VDI User Density Optimization via Session Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), the need for dedicated virtual desktops due to user requirements leads to increased disk space usage and reduced user density per hypervisor host, resulting in higher infrastructure costs as the number of hypervisor hosts increases with the number of users.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system that captures virtual machine management data to identify common applications across multiple virtual machines, consolidating these onto session sharable virtual desktops while installing unique applications on dedicated virtual desktops, thereby reducing resource usage and optimizing resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated virtual desktops are provisioned for each user, then user requirements (special software, admin rights) are met, but disk space consumption increases and user density per hypervisor host decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments virtual desktops into two types: dedicated virtual desktops for users requiring special software or admin rights, and session sharable virtual desktops for standard users. This segmentation allows disk space to be optimized by storing common applications once in a shared location while maintaining dedicated desktops only for users who truly need them, thereby reducing overall disk consumption while still meeting user requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates session sharable virtual desktops that can be universally used by multiple users with standard requirements. These shared desktops contain common applications and configurations that serve multiple users, eliminating the need to duplicate these resources across individual user desktops, thus reducing disk space consumption while maintaining adaptability to user needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated virtual desktops are provisioned for each user, then user requirements are met, but the number of hypervisor hosts must increase with the number of users, raising infrastructure costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple session sharable virtual desktops onto the same hypervisor host, allowing a single host to serve multiple users with standard requirements. This consolidation reduces the total number of hypervisor hosts needed in the infrastructure, thereby lowering hardware costs, maintenance expenses, and overall infrastructure complexity while still fulfilling user requirements through the shared desktop model.
3Quantity of substance
If session sharable virtual desktops are created with common applications, then resource usage is reduced, but user isolation must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the virtual desktop environment into shared components (common applications, operating system) and user-specific components (user profiles, personal settings, unique applications). This segmentation allows resources to be shared efficiently while maintaining strict user isolation through separate virtual machine instances for each user session, ensuring that users cannot access each other's data or processes while still benefiting from reduced resource consumption.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This disclosure relates to managing user density in a virtual desktop infrastructure. The method includes installing plurality of virtual machine agents on plurality of virtual machines and at least one hypervisor agent on at least one hypervisor host. The method includes configuring each of plurality of virtual machine agents and each of the at least one hypervisor agent to capture virtual machine management data from the plurality of virtual machines and the at least one hypervisor host. The method includes analyzing virtual machine management data to determine a plurality of sets of common applications. The method includes creating a plurality of dedicated virtual desktops and a plurality of session sharable virtual desktops. One of the plurality of sets of common applications is installed on one of the plurality of session sharable virtual desktops and at least one unique application is installed on one of the plurality of dedicated virtual desktops.