VMWare View with VCL

[Nathaniel McMullin <na...@gmail.com>]

We are currently investigating Virtual Labs for our Students.  We'd like to deploy VMWare View to complement our existing ESX infrastructure which hosts our servers, and eventually allow for thin clients for our Faculty/Staff.  The short-term, Phase 1, is to allow for more Open Lab space.  With that said, we need to ensure students can get onto the Virtual Labs and having a Reservation System would fill this need. 

Looking at Apache VCL I am wondering if this is simply a separate solution that would not tie into VMWare View or or Apache VCL simply see VMWare View as "physical" computers and that's how it would be best to implement.  Does anyone have experience tying the two together?  Many thanks.

-Nate @ UNH (SA).

Re: VMWare View with VCL

[Nathaniel McMullin <na...@gmail.com>]

That's interesting.  I know the immediate concern is Open Labs that mostly run Windows.  But I am sure Engineering may need a Linux option.

On Mar 10, 2011, at 11:21 AM, Sean Dilda wrote:

> One of the big drivers for us is the fact that VCL supports deploying linux desktops and View does not.  Since we need an alternative to our linux labs, that knocks VMware View out of the running for us.
> 
> 
> On 3/10/11 11:13 AM, Aaron Peeler wrote:
>> Hello Nate,
>> 
>> Apache VCL and VMware View are separate solutions. I'm not an expert on
>> View, I've seen the sales rep. demo's etc. So I can only comment from a
>> somewhat biased viewpoint. :) If someone else on the list has more to
>> add on VMWare View that what's here, please do.
>> 
>> Differences
>> 
>> Apache VCL is:
>> - open source (free)
>> - community driven support
>> - community driven development
>> - built for Edu's by system-admins from Edu's.
>> - can provision, virtual machines and bare-metal (using xCAT), existing
>> stand-alone Unix based machines from a lab for non-walkin hours use.
>> -not locked into a single hypervisor or vendor.
>> supports vmware products (free server, ESXi, ESX), virtual box
>> - highly customizable, ability to extend to use other provisioning
>> tools, VCL development roadmap includes kvm support, maybe others
>> - ease of scale out - (add more HW)
>> - Course block allocations - priority allocations for sets of end-users,
>> courses or workshops, etc
>> - Current OS support for win7,winxp,win2003,win2008,ubuntu,CentOS,
>> RedHat, - easy to add more.
>> - Audit-able, source is open for tracing
>> - cost of entry is low
>> - Many more.
>> 
>> 
>> View:
>> - Commercial product
>> - VMWare support available
>> - One benefit I see is the PCoIP protocol. It would do a better job for
>> video streaming and probably CAD programs than remote desktop connection.
>> - requires vcenter licensing. ?  $$
>> 
>> Hope this helps.
>> Aaron
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 3/10/11 10:17 AM, Nathaniel McMullin wrote:
>>> We are currently investigating Virtual Labs for our Students.  We'd like to deploy VMWare View to complement our existing ESX infrastructure which hosts our servers, and eventually allow for thin clients for our Faculty/Staff.  The short-term, Phase 1, is to allow for more Open Lab space.  With that said, we need to ensure students can get onto the Virtual Labs and having a Reservation System would fill this need.
>>> 
>>> Looking at Apache VCL I am wondering if this is simply a separate solution that would not tie into VMWare View or or Apache VCL simply see VMWare View as "physical" computers and that's how it would be best to implement.  Does anyone have experience tying the two together?  Many thanks.
>>> 
>>> -Nate @ UNH (SA).
>> 
> 

Re: VMWare View with VCL

[Sean Dilda <se...@duke.edu>]

One of the big drivers for us is the fact that VCL supports deploying 
linux desktops and View does not.  Since we need an alternative to our 
linux labs, that knocks VMware View out of the running for us.


On 3/10/11 11:13 AM, Aaron Peeler wrote:
> Hello Nate,
>
> Apache VCL and VMware View are separate solutions. I'm not an expert on
> View, I've seen the sales rep. demo's etc. So I can only comment from a
> somewhat biased viewpoint. :) If someone else on the list has more to
> add on VMWare View that what's here, please do.
>
> Differences
>
> Apache VCL is:
> - open source (free)
> - community driven support
> - community driven development
> - built for Edu's by system-admins from Edu's.
> - can provision, virtual machines and bare-metal (using xCAT), existing
> stand-alone Unix based machines from a lab for non-walkin hours use.
> -not locked into a single hypervisor or vendor.
> supports vmware products (free server, ESXi, ESX), virtual box
> - highly customizable, ability to extend to use other provisioning
> tools, VCL development roadmap includes kvm support, maybe others
> - ease of scale out - (add more HW)
> - Course block allocations - priority allocations for sets of end-users,
> courses or workshops, etc
> - Current OS support for win7,winxp,win2003,win2008,ubuntu,CentOS,
> RedHat, - easy to add more.
> - Audit-able, source is open for tracing
> - cost of entry is low
> - Many more.
>
>
> View:
> - Commercial product
> - VMWare support available
> - One benefit I see is the PCoIP protocol. It would do a better job for
> video streaming and probably CAD programs than remote desktop connection.
> - requires vcenter licensing. ?  $$
>
> Hope this helps.
> Aaron
>
>
>
> On 3/10/11 10:17 AM, Nathaniel McMullin wrote:
>> We are currently investigating Virtual Labs for our Students.  We'd like to deploy VMWare View to complement our existing ESX infrastructure which hosts our servers, and eventually allow for thin clients for our Faculty/Staff.  The short-term, Phase 1, is to allow for more Open Lab space.  With that said, we need to ensure students can get onto the Virtual Labs and having a Reservation System would fill this need.
>>
>> Looking at Apache VCL I am wondering if this is simply a separate solution that would not tie into VMWare View or or Apache VCL simply see VMWare View as "physical" computers and that's how it would be best to implement.  Does anyone have experience tying the two together?  Many thanks.
>>
>> -Nate @ UNH (SA).
>

Re: VMWare View with VCL

[Aaron Peeler <aa...@ncsu.edu>]

Your welcome. As you research it more, feel free to ask questions. I and 
others here will be happy to answer them best we can.

Aaron

On 3/10/11 11:19 AM, Nathaniel McMullin wrote:
> Aaron:
>
> That is a great help.  Thank you for your time.  I was tasked with finding a system to allow students to "reserve" time slots, and at first glance it appeared AVCL might be a fit.  It might now be worth it to add this to the mix for our PoC and see if we can justify some cost-savings.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Nate
>
> On Mar 10, 2011, at 11:13 AM, Aaron Peeler wrote:
>
>> Hello Nate,
>>
>> Apache VCL and VMware View are separate solutions. I'm not an expert on View, I've seen the sales rep. demo's etc. So I can only comment from a somewhat biased viewpoint. :) If someone else on the list has more to add on VMWare View that what's here, please do.
>>
>> Differences
>>
>> Apache VCL is:
>> - open source (free)
>> - community driven support
>> - community driven development
>> - built for Edu's by system-admins from Edu's.
>> - can provision, virtual machines and bare-metal (using xCAT), existing stand-alone Unix based machines from a lab for non-walkin hours use.
>> -not locked into a single hypervisor or vendor.
>> supports vmware products (free server, ESXi, ESX), virtual box
>> - highly customizable, ability to extend to use other provisioning tools, VCL development roadmap includes kvm support, maybe others
>> - ease of scale out - (add more HW)
>> - Course block allocations - priority allocations for sets of end-users, courses or workshops, etc
>> - Current OS support for win7,winxp,win2003,win2008,ubuntu,CentOS, RedHat, - easy to add more.
>> - Audit-able, source is open for tracing
>> - cost of entry is low
>> - Many more.
>>
>>
>> View:
>> - Commercial product
>> - VMWare support available
>> - One benefit I see is the PCoIP protocol. It would do a better job for video streaming and probably CAD programs than remote desktop connection.
>> - requires vcenter licensing. ?  $$
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>> Aaron
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3/10/11 10:17 AM, Nathaniel McMullin wrote:
>>> We are currently investigating Virtual Labs for our Students.  We'd like to deploy VMWare View to complement our existing ESX infrastructure which hosts our servers, and eventually allow for thin clients for our Faculty/Staff.  The short-term, Phase 1, is to allow for more Open Lab space.  With that said, we need to ensure students can get onto the Virtual Labs and having a Reservation System would fill this need.
>>>
>>> Looking at Apache VCL I am wondering if this is simply a separate solution that would not tie into VMWare View or or Apache VCL simply see VMWare View as "physical" computers and that's how it would be best to implement.  Does anyone have experience tying the two together?  Many thanks.
>>>
>>> -Nate @ UNH (SA).
>>
>> --
>> Aaron Peeler
>> Program Manager
>> Virtual Computing Lab
>> NC State University
>

-- 
Aaron Peeler
Program Manager
Virtual Computing Lab
NC State University

Re: VMWare View with VCL

[Nathaniel McMullin <na...@gmail.com>]

Aaron:

That is a great help.  Thank you for your time.  I was tasked with finding a system to allow students to "reserve" time slots, and at first glance it appeared AVCL might be a fit.  It might now be worth it to add this to the mix for our PoC and see if we can justify some cost-savings.

Thanks!

-Nate

On Mar 10, 2011, at 11:13 AM, Aaron Peeler wrote:

> Hello Nate,
> 
> Apache VCL and VMware View are separate solutions. I'm not an expert on View, I've seen the sales rep. demo's etc. So I can only comment from a somewhat biased viewpoint. :) If someone else on the list has more to add on VMWare View that what's here, please do.
> 
> Differences
> 
> Apache VCL is:
> - open source (free)
> - community driven support
> - community driven development
> - built for Edu's by system-admins from Edu's.
> - can provision, virtual machines and bare-metal (using xCAT), existing stand-alone Unix based machines from a lab for non-walkin hours use.
> -not locked into a single hypervisor or vendor.
> supports vmware products (free server, ESXi, ESX), virtual box
> - highly customizable, ability to extend to use other provisioning tools, VCL development roadmap includes kvm support, maybe others
> - ease of scale out - (add more HW)
> - Course block allocations - priority allocations for sets of end-users, courses or workshops, etc
> - Current OS support for win7,winxp,win2003,win2008,ubuntu,CentOS, RedHat, - easy to add more.
> - Audit-able, source is open for tracing
> - cost of entry is low
> - Many more.
> 
> 
> View:
> - Commercial product
> - VMWare support available
> - One benefit I see is the PCoIP protocol. It would do a better job for video streaming and probably CAD programs than remote desktop connection.
> - requires vcenter licensing. ?  $$
> 
> Hope this helps.
> Aaron
> 
> 
> 
> On 3/10/11 10:17 AM, Nathaniel McMullin wrote:
>> We are currently investigating Virtual Labs for our Students.  We'd like to deploy VMWare View to complement our existing ESX infrastructure which hosts our servers, and eventually allow for thin clients for our Faculty/Staff.  The short-term, Phase 1, is to allow for more Open Lab space.  With that said, we need to ensure students can get onto the Virtual Labs and having a Reservation System would fill this need.
>> 
>> Looking at Apache VCL I am wondering if this is simply a separate solution that would not tie into VMWare View or or Apache VCL simply see VMWare View as "physical" computers and that's how it would be best to implement.  Does anyone have experience tying the two together?  Many thanks.
>> 
>> -Nate @ UNH (SA).
> 
> -- 
> Aaron Peeler
> Program Manager
> Virtual Computing Lab
> NC State University

Re: VMWare View with VCL

[Aaron Peeler <aa...@ncsu.edu>]

Hello Nate,

Apache VCL and VMware View are separate solutions. I'm not an expert on 
View, I've seen the sales rep. demo's etc. So I can only comment from a 
somewhat biased viewpoint. :) If someone else on the list has more to 
add on VMWare View that what's here, please do.

Differences

Apache VCL is:
- open source (free)
- community driven support
- community driven development
- built for Edu's by system-admins from Edu's.
- can provision, virtual machines and bare-metal (using xCAT), existing 
stand-alone Unix based machines from a lab for non-walkin hours use.
-not locked into a single hypervisor or vendor.
supports vmware products (free server, ESXi, ESX), virtual box
- highly customizable, ability to extend to use other provisioning 
tools, VCL development roadmap includes kvm support, maybe others
- ease of scale out - (add more HW)
- Course block allocations - priority allocations for sets of end-users, 
courses or workshops, etc
- Current OS support for win7,winxp,win2003,win2008,ubuntu,CentOS, 
RedHat, - easy to add more.
- Audit-able, source is open for tracing
- cost of entry is low
- Many more.


View:
- Commercial product
- VMWare support available
- One benefit I see is the PCoIP protocol. It would do a better job for 
video streaming and probably CAD programs than remote desktop connection.
- requires vcenter licensing. ?  $$

Hope this helps.
Aaron



On 3/10/11 10:17 AM, Nathaniel McMullin wrote:
> We are currently investigating Virtual Labs for our Students.  We'd like to deploy VMWare View to complement our existing ESX infrastructure which hosts our servers, and eventually allow for thin clients for our Faculty/Staff.  The short-term, Phase 1, is to allow for more Open Lab space.  With that said, we need to ensure students can get onto the Virtual Labs and having a Reservation System would fill this need.
>
> Looking at Apache VCL I am wondering if this is simply a separate solution that would not tie into VMWare View or or Apache VCL simply see VMWare View as "physical" computers and that's how it would be best to implement.  Does anyone have experience tying the two together?  Many thanks.
>
> -Nate @ UNH (SA).

-- 
Aaron Peeler
Program Manager
Virtual Computing Lab
NC State University