Virtual Desktop Policy Control for Bandwidth Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) sessions often require high bandwidth, leading to bandwidth constraints in wide area networks, where adding a new session can significantly deteriorate existing sessions, especially in branch offices with limited connectivity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network device, such as a branch router, that manages VDI sessions by setting a threshold capacity and priority values to limit or prioritize new sessions, allowing only partial access when bandwidth is exceeded, using compute blades to host partial desktop applications and relying on cached data to maintain service without overwhelming the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If VDI sessions are allowed to be established without restriction, then user access to virtual desktops is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases and existing sessions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes bandwidth allocation parameters based on current network conditions and session priorities. When bandwidth is exceeded, the policy controller adjusts the bandwidth allocation for different VDI sessions according to their priority levels, ensuring high-priority sessions maintain adequate bandwidth while lower-priority sessions receive reduced allocation, thus resolving the contradiction between allowing user access and controlling bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The policy controller continuously monitors bandwidth usage and session performance, using this feedback to dynamically adjust session management decisions. When bandwidth thresholds are exceeded, the system receives feedback about current consumption levels and automatically implements policy changes to prioritize critical sessions and limit lower-priority sessions, balancing user access needs with bandwidth constraints
2Quantity of substance
If more VDI sessions are added to the network, then system capacity is improved, but performance of existing sessions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different VDI sessions based on their priority classifications. High-priority sessions receive full bandwidth allocation and performance guarantees, while lower-priority sessions receive reduced bandwidth when capacity is exceeded. This local differentiation of service quality allows the system to support more total sessions while maintaining reliable performance for critical applications
Solution Approach 2:
When bandwidth capacity is exceeded, the system implements partial action by allowing lower-priority sessions to continue operating with reduced bandwidth allocation rather than completely blocking them. This approach maintains system capacity for a larger number of sessions while ensuring that high-priority sessions receive sufficient bandwidth to maintain performance
3Ease of operation
If bandwidth is allocated to all VDI sessions equally, then fairness is improved, but mission-critical applications may not receive sufficient bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the bandwidth allocation parameter from equal distribution to priority-based distribution. Each VDI session is assigned a priority level, and the policy controller dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation parameters according to these priorities and current network conditions, ensuring mission-critical applications receive sufficient bandwidth while still allowing fair access for lower-priority sessions
Data Source
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AI summary
In one implementation, a network device provides virtual desktop policy control. The network device detects a number of sessions hosted by a virtual desktop interface (VDI) server, and performs a comparison of the number of sessions to a predetermined threshold capacity of the network device. When a request for a new session to be hosted by the VDI server is received at the network device, the new session request is forwarded according to the comparison of the number of sessions to the predetermined threshold capacity. In one example, the new request is forwarded to establish a new VDI session with the VDI server but with limited capabilities. For example, the client device of the new VDI session may have access to a generic desktop set of necessary applications but not all applications otherwise available to the client device.