IBM desktop virtualization is composed of two offerings:
- SBDIC: Small Business Desktop over IBM Cloud
- SBDC: Small Business Desktop Cloud
SBDIC
SBDIC (Small Business Desktop over IBM Cloud) provides a virtualization infrastructure based on major components:
- VMware
- Citrix (to bring HDX protocol)
- Desktone
SBDIC can be considered as a black box, providing the infrastructure layer to support desktop virtualization, as shown in the overview diagram:
The DTRAM is a network gateway enabling access to the SBDIC from the Internet.
IBM provides multiple centers throughout the world, to have minimum latency from your point of connection, and can be accessed from the Internet.
Servers, such as Active Directory, and applications servers can be hosted on an IBM site or you need a network link to your data center.
User connection scenario
Connection can happen as follows:
- The user connects to the Desktone Portal through a web browser.
- The user enters personal credentials.
- The user credentials are checked against the Active Directory.
- The user is granted to connect to a virtual desktop via HDX protocol.
A single sign-on mechanism is defined. The user does not have to authenticate a second time in order to get access to his or her desktop.
SBDC
The SBDC (Smart Business Desktop Cloud) provides a virtualization infrastructure based on major components:
- VMware view
- Xen Destop (hosted on VMware, Xen Server ou HyperV)
- XenApp
- Applications delivery using Citrix application streaming or Microsoft APPV
User connection scenario
Connection can happen as follows:
- The user connects to the Portal through a web browser.
- The user enters personal credentials.
- The user credentials are checked against the Active Directory.
- The user is granted to connect to a virtual desktop or application publishing through HDX protocol, if using Citrix solution for example.
- The user is granted to connect to a virtual desktop through RDP or PCoIP® protocol if using VMware View solution for example.
So, now the question is SBDIC or SBDC?
Remember that architecture choice must be based on functional requirements.
Here are the pros and cons of each:
|
SBDIC |
|
|
Pros |
Cons |
| IBM hosted | Network link to customer data center |
| Easy to upgrade the number of desktops | Desktop administration and update |
| Offers a good user experience with HDX® | |
| Good solution for nomad users | |
|
SBDC |
|
|
Pros |
Cons |
| IBM hosted or customer hosted | There are no specific disadvantages but read my other blog entries about network, user experience, and desktop type. |
| Based on main solutions from the market | |
| You can implement a mixed solution with different products | |
| Desktop virtualization or application publishing | |
Very nice explanation about sbdic and sbdc, thanks Andre.
Very Good post abut basics of Desktop Cloud options delivered by IBM. From a customer perspective is important to remember that SBDC is custom build, project based and includes Capital Expenses, while SBDiC is Desktop as a Service in pure Operational Expenses model and does not require initial setup fees.
As technology option in SBDC we have also VERDE from VirtualBridges, I hope you can cover it in your next blog post. And one more hint for your next post, you may cover IBM Smart Migration and Application Discovery (SMAD), helping our customers to solve challenges of Windows 7 migration and seamlessly transition to Desktop Cloud.
Thanks for your comments.
I have already publish a blog on Systrack and normally the next one will cover SMAD