Wed 6 Aug 2008
It seems that this was the longest series I ever wrote in this blog. The more I learned about this relatively new technology the more I was fascinated about it. By the way, German speaking readers might be interested in my new article about “Applikationsvirtualisierung” at Computerwoche. This post is probably the last one about software virtualization for the moment, although I might review another product sometime later. There might also be an article about the results of this poll.
I don’t want to influence your decision too much, thus I will keep this post short. I just want to add one further note. The funny thing about application virtualization is that it brings us back to the pre-Windows period. Do you remember the good old DOS times when applications were residing on a Novel Netware server? No installation was required on desktop computers, the term “registry” was only associated with public authorities, and administrators (called supervisors at the time) didn’t have the slightest idea that, only a few years later, Microsoft would send them to “DLL hell!”
In a way, application virtualization turns the clock back. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea at all to integrate applications into the operating system? Well, the fact that application virtualization also has its downsides shows that the answer to this question isn’t that simple.
I suppose most of you don’t have experience with application virtualization yet, but I hope the articles I wrote about this topic gave you an overview about this technology. I am curious to know what you think about it.
To take part in this poll, it doesn’t matter whether you read the articles in my series or not. Also, if you don’t know what application virtualization is, you can vote as well. I suppose your answer will simply be “No” then.
[poll id="6"]
Articles in this series:- Overview of application virtualization solutions
- Application Virtualization products - the complete list
- Review: Symantec Altiris Software Virtualization Solution
- Review: Xenocode Virtual Application Studio
- The advantages of application virtualization
- Review: Symantec Altiris SVS Professional Streaming System
- The disadvantages of application virtualization
- General features of software virtualization solutions
- Special features of application virtualization solutions
- Poll: Do you plan to introduce application virtualization in your organization?
- Poll results: Application virtualization
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?? I’m confused; it seems you missed the one article in this series that I was waiting for. I was expecting this one to detail your findings after having tested various products, and your opinions on the good and bad of each product. I find no value at all in everything else that you wrote in this series without actual product reviews. It seems to me that you skipped the most important part. Am I just not seeing it?
Yes, I wasn’t seeing it…
Christopher, there are just too many tools. I just played with three of them and I attended an online demo for another one. You have to take into account that not all application virtualization tools are as simple as ThinApp. Some of them are complex software deployment solutions. It takes days until you really get to know them. I think, my guides are helpful if you have to evaluate some of these products, but they don’t relieve you of having to test them, yourself. However, you can hire me as a consultant to choose a software virtualization for your company.
Bottom line on App Virtualization on the Desktop-A Solution looking for a Problem! You still have to package, deploy and manage apps, make sure OS’s are installed and patched and maintain desktops unless you go to a complete thin client solution with Wyse terminals. To eliminate DLL Hell, which is not that big a deal anymore, you just doubled your workload, mixed your desktop environment, as some apps can be virtualized and some can’t, and increased your security risk and multiplied your attack vectors as you better have the core OS secured along with the Hypervisor running on top of it like ThinApp does. As someone who use top work for a network security firm and is familiar with the Hacker world, they can’t wait for everyone to jump on virtualized desktops and apps bandwagon. You have no clue what is in store for you. Steaming from a server-give me a break. Nothing but a more complicated version of classic Citrix thin client or Microsoft Terminal Services-SoftGrid was a dud from day one and Microsoft picked them up for pennies and immediately devalued it and threw it in the $10/seat DTOP package. Same thing will happen with the Kidaro technology. Add to all the above the additional upfront cost-$30-$100 per desktop-and the hidden cost on training, and ask yourself just why you are doing this to yourself?
VT in the Data Center-By all means-Hardware and power cost savings alone are reasons enough. But remember if you have 10 Hardware servers running 30 Virtual servers, you have 40 Server systems you need to manage, support, maintain and secure.
Paul, application virtualization certainly has its disadvantages. However, escaping DLL hell is certainly not the only advantage. I think one shouldn’t compare application virtualization to server-based computing because it doesn’t come with all the downsides (no real multimedia support, single point of failure, expensive server hardware, etc.) of a Citrix environment. Thus every technology has its niche.