Another Plug: Microsoft Virtualization/VDI Book

A brief plug for the latest book writing project that I've completed.

Brian Svidergol and I have completed Virtualizing Desktops and Apps with Windows Server 2012 R2 Inside Out. Here's a quick synopsis of the book.

First, I want to be clear that this book is about planning and implementing virtualization technologies. It's not just an overview.  Much of the content is similar to what's in Microsoft Course 20694 which I was also a co-author on.

This book starts with an overview of Microsoft virtualization technologies. For many of you, this is just review, but if you haven't seen the full range of technologies, then this is useful. It also highlights when you would use each of the virtualization technologies.

The first set of virtualization technologies we explore the details of are for user state virtualization. Basically technologies that support roaming. The newest of these from the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is User ExperienceVirtualization (UE-V). Older technologies like roaming user profiles and credential roaming are also covered.

We also cover Client Hyper-V in this book because some people will use it to run apps in isolation for either testing or compatibility reasons. It also provides a good base of knowledge to understand the virtual machine-based (VM-based) VDI content later in the book.

There are four chapters on implementing and using App-V. This book covers installation, management, and sequencing applications. If you want to learn about using App-V in your organization this is a great resource.

The last five chapters are about implementing Remote Desktop Services (RDS) for virtual desktops. This includes the components you expect for session-based remote desktops with RD Session Hosts (formerly terminal servers), RemoteApp programs, RD Gateway for remote access, RD Connection Broker, and RD Licensing. We cover high availability for all of these components.

Also included in the RDS content is VM-based virtual desktops that are implemented by using Hyper-V servers. Personal virtual desktops are a VM for which a user has exclusive access and it retains state between sessions. Pooled virtual desktops are a set of VMs which are shared between users and don't retain state between sessions. Management considerations for both are discussed.