Desktop virtualization: Path to pervasive computing in cloud computing era

Virtualization is being widely used now as an emerging trend. Among the applications, using virtualization technology on the desktops (e.g. the PC workstations and laptops) is an important branch. Desktop virtualization has the potential to offer a new, cost efficient paradigm shift to ease the demand for resources while maximizing the return on investment. Combining the potential cost savings with other advantages such as disaster recovery, robustness, scalability and security makes this an attractive computing model to deploy. With the development of cloud computing, virtualized desktop will be the “virtualized” cloud end device to integrate many personalized applications. So, virtualized desktop will be another way to step forward to pervasive computing in cloud computing era. Miscellaneous technologies are achieved to construct dynamic and customized desktop environment, the research issues focus on the areas such as desktop quick deployment, software automatic dispatching and dynamic configuring, remote display protocols, migration and energy saving of virtualized desktops, and how to put the scenario into ubiquitous and pervasive computing environment. In this talk, some recent advances in desktop virtualization field will be presented. The desktop virtualization research work is supported by the National 973 Basic Research Program, The Research on Fundamental Theory and Approach of Computing System Virtualization. Based on the project, we have developed new enhanced virtualized desktop, named ClouDesk. The design objectives and considerations are discussed in this talk, as well as the system design, performance evaluation compared with other techniques, and some system demonstrations.