I recently wrote an article for Virtualization Journal. In the article I give an overview of virtualization but quickly move into the area of desktop virtualization, why companies will be embracing virtual desktops very soon, the differences between types of desktop virtualization (type 1 vs. type 2, which I also discuss here and, most importantly, I discuss how desktop virtualization with a type 1 hypervisor (bare-metal) is going to really change the way PCs are managed.

The model of directly executing multiple virtual environments on the same physical PC in full isolation from each other enables many important PC management functions, including but not limited to:

• System updates
• Backup
• Recovery from errors
• Root-kit detection
• Malware and software virus detection
• Machine lockdown
• Full support for mobility and disconnect use

These capabilities are provided for all desktop operating environments running on PC architecture, while remaining protected from each other and their security vulnerabilities. This model of desktop virtualization is suitable for devices that are always connected to the network, such as stationary desktop PCs connected via a persistent network connection, and mobile notebooks that can be occasionally disconnected from the corporate networks.

Go to Virtualization Journal for the full article and check out what we are doing with NxTop to make virtual desktops a reality.