Enterprise Desktop Virtualization Joins Optimization Pack

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) enables organizations to centrally define virtual machines (VMs) and assign these VMs to authenticated users to run on their PCs. MED-V is intended to help organizations centrally manage VMs for uses such as deploying legacy applications to users running a newer desktop OS, such as Vista or Windows 7, or for restricted or temporary use by users such as contract workers. Based on a product gained in the 2008 acquisition of Kidaro, MED-V 1.0 was added to the Desktop Optimization Pack in Apr. 2009.

MED-V Advantages

MED-V is a new (to Microsoft) form of desktop virtualization and resembles VMware’s Assured Computing Environment (ACE). On the PC, MED-V uses Microsoft’s desktop VM monitor, Virtual PC 2007, to run VMs, plus an agent that hides the details of the VM from the end user. Management tools push complete VMs to the desktop from a MED-V server as needed and when authorized. The user sees only specific applications that appear to be running on the desktop OS, but are actually running in a VM.