2011

• August 18, 2011 4 Ways To Avoid Desktop Virtualization ROI Traps By Kevin Casey InformationWeek
  August 15, 2011 03:55 PM

  If potential cost savings are driving your desktop virtualization decision, beware the ROI killer: Over-provisioning.

  Over-provisioning is a nice way of saying you're throwing money away. That could happen in a variety of forms, such as buying infrastructure that it better suited for a much larger company, planning for growth that doesn't happen, or not doing your homework on what other technology you'll need to support virtualization. But fear of wasteful spending shouldn't stop you in your virtual tracks; rather, it should motivate informed, careful decisions.

  Raj Dhingra, CEO of NComputing, believes 2011 is a turning point in desktop virtualization deployments among small and midsize businesses. Dhingra, who left Citrix to take the NComputing helm in April, also said the broader field of virtualization vendors has taken note: "Everybody sees there is a big opportunity there."

  As the number of viable virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) options for SMBs increase, Dhingra recommends paying close attention to four key areas when making a decision. Doing so can help minimize the over-provisioning risk and ensure a real return on the investment.

  1. Look for platforms specifically designed for SMBs. While a vendor's ability to scale with the growth of your company is important, don't let your daydreams overshadow your actual needs--starting small can provide a bigger ROI in a shorter period time.

  "Buy the shoe that fits rather than buying the shoe that's two sizes bigger in hopes that you're going to fit into it over time," Dhingra said.

  The most obvious place to look is the cost per seat: This often tops the $1.000 mark in enterprise platforms, which makes the total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI) case trickier for SMBs. "If it's now costing you more than a PC, that's your first red flag," Dhingra said. He added that TCO/ROI analysis for a 100-seat deployment is not the same thing as a 100-seat proof of concept--with an expectation that several thousand seats will be added later.

  It should be noted that for some SMBs, ROI isn't just a matter of comparing virtual desktop versus traditional PC costs. At Infinity Sales Group, for example, both desktop support and power costs were major factors. For Silicon Valley Builders Group, mobility was the critical payoff in going virtual. In fact, the firm's CIO noted in an interview that just comparing per-seat costs can be a dead-end: "It would be a hard sell. Virtualization is still something like $1.200 per user, versus a PC I can go buy at Fry's for $500," he said.

  No matter your particular business case, cost-per-seat is obviously still important. The moral: Don't pay for seats you don't need.

  2. Know your supporting infrastructure needs. Desktop virtualization doesn't mean you're leaving hardware behind. Make sure you have a complete understanding of the supporting pieces you need, both on the server or host side and the client side. For the former, this includes things like servers, storage, and networking equipment. On the client side, don't forget to account for the actual devices--such as thin clients, for example--as well as your software needs.

  Dhingra said not taking all the necessary components of VDI into account is a key budget pitfall for SMBs, particularly if the initial investment is based on an expectation of significant growth. It can also lead an organization to an infrastructure it's ill equipped to manage.

  "That means not only the capital to actually procure [VDI], but then do I have internal expertise within my company to actually deal with this and work with it?" Dhingra said.

  3. How many vendors are you willing to work with? Another possible sign you're headed down a path of over-provisioning: If your desktop virtualization project requires one or more multi-vendor components. This is likely a bigger issue for the "S" in SMB. While a midmarket firm with, say, 750 employees has more resources to manage multi-vendor platforms, a 50-person company might not want the potential headaches. More importantly, it might not have enough IT resources to do so. "It becomes a systems integration project that is typically suited to a larger company," Dhingra said.

  4. How soon until you're up and running? You can't really start the ROI meter until your deployment is complete, right? For budget-constrained SMBs, a multi-month (or even year-plus) VDI project adds hidden costs--another form of over-provisioning--that can immediately dull the shine of potential savings. Moreover, smaller companies usually thrive on their speed and agility--IT projects should be no different. Dhingra said IT pros at SMBs should factor training and skills developments here, too: If you lose two days at an off-site training, for example, that's an expense--even if the event is "free."

  Are you buying more desktop virtualization technology than you need? NComputing CEO shares advice on the dangers of over-provisioning....read more
• May 25, 2011 NComputing Teaches New Economics of PCs in the Classroom at E-Learning Africa

  Demonstrates Classroom In A Box solution powered with Windows Multipoint Server 2011 - BOOTH # 2B Explains how Ghana Ministry of Education doubled student access to ICT at 75% lower cost

  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 25 May 2011: At eLearning Africa, May 25-27 2011, NComputing, the global leader in end-to-end desktop virtualization, will demonstrate how Classroom In A Box, powered with Windows MultiPoint Server 2011, can dramatically increase PC density in the classroom while delivering on-going cost savings of 75% compared to traditional PC deployments. NComputing Classroom In a Box helps overcome many of the challenges faced by education institutions throughout developing countries including limited budget, infrastructure and energy supplies.

  On Thursday May 26 at 8:30 am, Emmanuel Kinglsey Dadebo, Coordinator, ICT in Education Programs for the Ghana Ministry of Education will explain how deploying NComputing virtual desktop solutions in computer labs and replacing 4 – 6 PCs with 44 virtual desktops resulted in ten times more PC access for students at 75% lower maintenance costs and 90% less energy consumption. Talking about the deployments, Dadebo said, “NComputing successfully addresses the concerns of the developing world struggling to receive adequate funds for the costly deployment of computers in schools.”

  Said Raj Dhingra, NComputing CEO “When you combine Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 with NComputing virtualized desktop environments, schools and education institutions are now able to provide access to knowledge and learning where it previously was not possible. In the world of education, this better together advantage translates to being able to multiply computer access by 3 to 30 fold for significantly less up front and ongoing cost.”

  “Working together, Microsoft and NComputing are delivering shared computing solutions that help more students and teachers access the latest technology and embrace ‘21st Century Skills’ in the classroom. In the world of education, this means schools can advance higher learning and trim budgets at the same time,” said Chris Phillips, general manager in the Windows Server and Solutions Division at Microsoft Corp. “Schools can realize significant savings in hardware and energy consumption costs, as well as labor and maintenance.”

  NComputing has deployed 2,6 million virtual desktops in 140 countries. The company has virtualized desktop deployments in schools and universities throughout the African continent; is involved in strategic initiatives with organizations such as the UN and Computer Aid International to bring ICT solutions to rural communities throughout Africa; has supplied over 18000 schools across India with virtual desktop solutions; and has partnered with the Ministry of Education in Macedonia to provide 200.000 virtual desktops in schools throughout the country to realize the country’s vision of a computer for every child.

  About NComputing
  NComputing, Inc. is the fastest growing desktop virtualization company in the world with over 20 million daily users in 140 countries. A tecnologia premiada patenteada da empresa reduz os custos de computação de desktop, melhora a gerenciabilidade e reduz tanto o consumo de energia quanto o lixo eletrônico. To learn more about NComputing, visit www.ncomputing.com

  Media contact:
  Alesha Keene
  e: alesha@bondpr.com on behalf of NComputing
  t: +44 (0)207 596 2759

  Demonstrates Classroom In A Box solution powered with Windows Multipoint Server 2011 - Explains how Ghana Ministry of Education doubled student access to ICT at 75% lower cost ...read more
• April 05, 2011 Virtualization and the SMB Market

  By George L. Koroneos

  While not as sexy as cloud computing, virtualization is fast becoming a major topic of discussion largely due to the tangible cost savings associated with running systems through virtualized desktops, servers, and using virtual storage.

  The facts are hard to ignore. Most companies run computers that don’t use more than 10 percent of their processing power at a given time, on servers that require peak performance maybe once a month and use excess storage space. The amount of waste is staggering.

  By comparison, virtualization allows the end-user to run multiple operating systems and applications on a single machine, allocate server space to the appropriate program, and divvy up disk space based on actual need. The software automatically adjusts processing power, server usage, and storage needs as system use ebbs and flows.

  “Virtualization is software that abstracts you from all the underlying hardware and tries to make you more productive,” says George Teixeira, CEO of DataCore Software (www.datacore.com), a storage virtualization company. “What’s not apparent is that virtualization allows you to work across an entire infrastructure without having to deal with each of the specific brands underneath it.”

  For example, a small retailer that needs a POS system, an inventory management system, and a traditional PC for sending e-mails and invoices could run all three applications on one repurposed computer. A layer of software (called a hypervisor) sits between the hardware and the operating system and allocates resources to each application.

  “[Virtualization software, such as] VMware (www.vmware.com) is used to homogenize disparate hardware, so that it doesn’t matter whether the CPU is a Dell, HP or Sun, it makes the backend virtualization software work with the machines,” explains Andrew Judge, CEO, Grove Networks, a DataCore and VMware reseller. “I see [virtualization] used pretty much everywhere, especially where you have high-end workload and database applications. As long as the underlying disk is adequate, you can pretty much do anything with virtualization in the SMB space.”

  Customer Comprehension

  The biggest challenge to selling virtualization is understanding the inherent complications involved.

  “The challenges are fairly significant, but not something that can’t be overcome,” says Todd Mottershead, Acer’s (www.acer.com) senior manager for server and storage in the U.S. “You aren’t dealing with one machine with one operating system and one app—you could potentially have 100 machines on a single unit, so abstracting where a problem occurs could be a bit of a challenge.”

  For customers not willing to jump fully into virtualization, resellers can add incremental value by installing a standard system that does traditional processing, and then offer a standby processor with a virtualized version of that same system—just in case there’s a system failure.

  Customers are also opening their wallets to business continuity and disaster recovery. The reseller can give the customer the option to create a backup system that mirrors data to another location that the client owns, or the solution provider can host that disaster site for the customer and charge them a recurring fee for server space.

  Virtual Roll Out

  Virtualization technology allows resellers to implement a system with a 400 percent smaller footprint, because they can take multiple physical servers and consolidate them into virtual servers. This results into 30 percent reduction in energy costs, according to Dell.

  “A solution provider can create standardized processes for rolling out a solution that lead to much quicker time to market,” says Bob Ganley, Dell’s (www.dell.com) senior marketing manager for virtualization and application solutions. Instead of months to configure, and install hardware, they can cut it down remarkably using a virtualized platform.

  As far as education goes, Jim McHugh, SVP of global marketing at NComputing (www.ncomputing.com), says that virtualization can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. If you are reselling into an office situation, for example, your skill set does not have to be complex.

  “If I’m working with a client with 30 users, I can go in and set up a desktop virtualization workspace with simple Windows administration skills,” McHugh says. “If I’m ramping up to several hundred users with server virtualization components, then I must have an understanding of more powerful tools, such as VMware. The truth is, companies like VMware have done a great job making server virtualization easier so we are finding that a lot of our partners are able to pick up that skill set and up leveling [to higher levels of virtualization].”

  Partnering is another great way to add levels of virtualization without having to handle every segment in-house. A reseller specializing in desktop virtualization, for example, can partner with a VAR that only works with server or disk management services.

  “If I was a reseller today and I wanted to start driving sales, I would put together packages based on VMware, because it is offering free versions of its hypervisor,” says Bob MacIntyre, vice president of business development and marketing for NetEx (www.netex.com). “I would pull together the best of breed applications and sell the package as a solution to companies. It’s a whole lot less expensive.

  New Source of Revenue

  Channel partners are always looking to create new sources of revenue and they want to better align with their customers’ business. They want to help their customers grow and grow with their customers.

  To that end, virtualization provides the ability to have an on-premise deployment that can scale based on demand or to have a cloud-based offering that can be completely outsourced so that the service provider can scale the system. A final option is a hybrid system, which spans both a private/on-premise deployment with a hosted system.

  “Most businesses today are looking to be able to have a system that can handle changing levels of workloads,” Ganley says. “For example, they might have a system deployed that doesn’t get much use, except for at the end of the month or during a holiday period. Customers are looking for system configurations that can scale dynamically.”

  The key to selling virtualization is to prove that the new solution will cost less than what it’s replacing.

  “The replace rate of a new PC is every three to five years.” McHugh says. “A normal thin client is an access device with no moving parts, nothing to fail, and the lifetime of that machine is 10 years easy.”

  But the real payback comes when you virtualize tier-one applications, including point-of-sale and e-mail systems. There are big opportunities in virtualized applications in kiosks, call centers and workstations, says Ganley.

  “There isn’t a vertical that wouldn’t benefit from virtualization,” Ganley says. “The key is getting to that core infrastructure—getting to the tier one applications—that is the next gap that needs to be bridged.”

  Augie Gonzalez, director of product marketing at DataCore Software, thinks the mid-size market is already heading in that direction. “In the past, people were virtualizing the less core applications—print servers, web servers, etc,” Gonzalez says. “More and more, those mid-size customers are trying to virtualize Exchange for their mail servers and databases. Those programs cause a heavier requirement for higher performance and higher availability.” Which means more work and sales for the solution provider.

  While not as sexy as cloud computing, virtualization is fast becoming a major topic of discussion largely due to the tangible cost savings associated with running systems through virtualized desktops, servers, and using virtual storage....read more
• March 31, 2011 NComputing Offers Up "Office in a Box" By Samara Lynn

  Desktop virtualization company, NComputing, recently launched "Office in a Box"--a virtualized desktop solution for delivering up to 60 desktops, each capable of running its own independent set of applications from a single server.

  The Office in a Box solution is comprised of a Host Server, Ncomputing's vSpace virtualization software, OS licenses, NComputing virtual desktops and basic peripherals such as monitors, keyboards and mice. It serves as an alternative to the "one PC per user" model prevalent in many organizations.

  The benefits that the Office in a Box solution can deliver includes reduced up-front PC acquisition costs by 75%, lower maintenance and support costs by 75%, reduced power and cooling requirements by 90%, reduced risk resulting from device loss as well as theft, and simple access to advanced cloud-based applications and technology.

  This is the second vertical market solution from NComputing. The first was "Classroom in a Box" which was developed to help the education sector maintain a more cost-effective and easy-to-manage IT infrastructure.

  Advanced features are also available for Office in a Box through a selection of add-ons. These features are virtual desktop failover, storage, and server virtualization infrastructure for scaling to support a larger number of users.

  NComputing offers several deployment models. One is Office Workgroup in which a single host server is transformed into a workgroup of multiple users and another is Branch Office which supports multiple office locations from a single, centralized management site.

  NComputing's virtual desktop solution, "Office in a Box" helps organizations cut down on costs and management complexities of the "one PC per user" deployment model. ...read more
• March 30, 2011 NComputing 'Office in a Box' Offers Small and Medium Sized Businesses State-of-the-art Technology at a Fraction of the Cost

  REDWOOD CITY, California - NComputing, a global leader in desktop virtualization, today launched "Office in a Box" in response to the growing need of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) to have access to state-of-art office productivity solutions at a fraction of the cost. This is the second vertical market solution to be delivered by NComputing - the first being Classroom in a Box which was designed to help budget-strapped educational institutions maintain a more viable and less costly IT model.

  Building and maintaining IT is a major challenge for SMBs because it often requires that they purchase a PC for every employee - involving high acquisition and on-going maintenance costs as well as significant expenditure on bought-in IT skills. In response to these issues, Office in a Box provides an all-inclusive, pre-tested, easy-to-deploy desktop virtualization solution that can be tailored to meet the requirements of any sized SMB.
  The advanced desktop virtualization products that comprise Office in a Box provide an alternative to the traditional "one PC per user" model by allowing a single server to simultaneously support up to 60 users - with each running their own independent set of applications.
  The value that Office in a Box can bring to SMBs includes:
  • Reduced up-front PC acquisition costs by 75%
  • Lowers maintenance and support costs by 75%
  • Reduces power and cooling requirements by 90%
  • Reduced risk resulting from device loss and theft
  • Simple access to advanced cloud based applications and technology

  Said Jim McHugh, SVP Marketing for NComputing, "The proliferation of PCs has become a financial and management constraint for SMBs. Office in a Box utilizes our virtualization technology to address these challenges so that SMBs can deploy solutions that help them focus on business advancement not technology issues."

  NComputing, a global leader in desktop virtualization, today launched "Office in a Box" in response to the growing need of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) to have access to state-of-art office productivity solutions at a fraction of the cost....read more
• March 25, 2011 NComputing Launches All-In-One Desktop Virtualization For SMBs By Kevin McLaughlin, CRN
  NComputing on Thursday launched Office in a Box, a desktop virtualization bundle that includes software, licenses, hardware and peripherals that small and midmarket companies can use to get their backs up off the wall of the virtualization party.
  One erroneous assumption companies make when deploying desktop virtualization is that the return on investment will be just as quick to arrive as it does when virtualizing servers. But as any solution provider will tell you, desktop virtualization typically costs more, and its ROI takes some time to materialize. This has slowed growth of the desktop virtualization market.
  However, NComputing says its all-in-one approach can deliver the cost benefits of desktop virtualization in a much quicker time frame. "When you propose a desktop virtualization solution that's replacing incumbent PCs and tell the customer it costs more, that pauses the conversation. But we believe it has to cost less at the point of acquisition," said Jim McHugh, senior vice president of global marketing, in an interview.
  With Office In a Box, NComputing pre-tests everything from software down to the keyboard and mouse, and it works with partners to add additional elements like network attached storage. This allows for easy deployment and management for SMBs, many of which are intrigued by the cost cutting potential of virtualization but have been spooked by the technical complexity.
  According to McHugh, Office In a Box can reduce a customer's upfront PC acquisition costs by 75 percent, lower maintenance costs by 75 percent and cut power and cooling expenses by 90 percent. NComputing can achieve all this by hosting up to 30 individual users on each individual virtual machine.
  This level of user density makes Office In A Box a compelling proposition not only for SMBs, but also for the educational market, which NComputing also serves through its Classroom In A Box offering, which hit the market in January.
  "The reality is that they're not only saving on the power drain of machines, but also on things like HVAC and cooling systems," McHugh said. "Companies can take these savings and invest in other things that can make their office more productive, like higher bandwidth and new switches."
  Office In A Box includes hardware as well as NComputing's vSpace virtualization software, and that allows partners to generate software margin while also offering the customer a tangible box, McHugh said. The product also plugs in nicely in VMware and Citrix (NSDQ:CTXS) environments. "You can start with Office In A Box, and when you need to scale, introduce vSphere on the server or View on the desktop. We integrate and scale up with that," he said.
  CDW is one of NComputing's largest partners, and the company also sells products through Eplus and Tiger Direct, but McHugh said the company is looking to recruit virtualization savvy solution providers with VMware, Citrix and Microsoft backgrounds.
  NComputing on Thursday launched Office in a Box, a desktop virtualization bundle that includes software, licenses, hardware and peripherals that small and midmarket companies can use to get their backs up off the wall of the virtualization party. ...read more