A wee while back, I talked about this fabbo new software from Microsoft, the quite natty XP Mode. As a quick refresher, XP Mode builds on the Virtual PC software already available, and adds some new functionality. XP Mode integrates with Vista and the soon to be launched Windows 7 by providing a virtual machine that works in the background, and enables native XP applications on the afore mentioned operating systems.
XP Mode achives this by publishing shortcuts to the desktop of the host operating system, and only providing the applications interface, leaving the rest of the guest OS working behind the scenes. And all this is very well and good, with compatibility benefits abounding. Now imagine a company of 1000 plus desktops, and deploying your XP Mode app across those same desktops. In steps MED-V.
MED-V, or Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualisation, Allows the administrators of large organisations to manage all these virtual machines from one location, enabling them to stay secure, and behaving as they should. In turn, MED-V is part of the excitingly titled Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP). Big yawns all round for that name then. Though the name might be boring, the software that makes up MDOP is not.
One of the most interesting components of MDOP, as well as MED-V, is App-V. This will allow administrators to publish apps to desktops from one central location. The apps will run as if they are installed on the desktop, but will be running on a back end server. This allows quick and easy deployment of software, and as it is not installed on the machine, it allows the desktops to be as light and nimble as possible. You can even stream applications over the internet.
All this adds up to quite a strong push by Microsoft to get its products out there, and produce quality software that people will want to buy, and of course, be at the core of your server room. Interesting times then. It will be quite interesting to see the way they go in the next few years.