Many IT organizations that have implemented server consolidation using server virtualization infrastructures such as VMware’s VI3 are also looking to leverage and extend their virtual infrastructure to deliver virtual desktops using a back-end virtual desktop architecture (VDA).   This Focus case study examines the virtual desktop infrastructure implemented by a large hospital located in the Southern U.S. It discusses the hospital’s business and technical drivers for moving to a virtual desktop architecture (VDA), the hospital environment before implementing a VDA, and the hospital’s process for evaluating VDA solutions. This case study also details the implementation of the VDA, and the benefits and lessons learned moving to a VDA solution finishing with a Focus analysis.

Keywords: VMware, VDI, VDA, virtual desktop architecture, desktop consolidation, SAN, hospital, IBM Blades