Microsoft today announced the availability of their Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization aka MED-V 1.0.

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) provides deployment and management of virtual Windows desktops to enable key enterprise scenarios. MED-V 1.0 helps enterprises upgrade to the latest version of Windows even when some applications are not yet compatible.

MED-V builds on top of Microsoft Virtual PC to run two operating systems on one device, adding virtual image delivery, policy-based provisioning and centralized management.

MED-V is one of the six technologies in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). Read MDOP 2009 announcement.

"MED-V saves us time in standardizing our desktop across the multiple entities of the Belgacom group", says Eric Opitom, Office Automation Domain Manager at Belgacom, a provider of integrated telecommunication services, "With thousands of users in our environment, MED-V will significantly reduce the time required for testing and migrating the applications we have."

The challenge of legacy applications

Incompatibility of legacy applications with newer versions of Microsoft Windows can often delay enterprise upgrades to the latest version of Windows. Testing and migrating applications can be time consuming, and meanwhile users are unable to take advantage of the new capabilities and enhancements offered by the new OS. By delivering applications in a Virtual PC that runs a previous version of the OS (e.g., Windows XP or Windows 2000), administrators can remove the barriers to OS upgrades.

Read the EMA case study

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization: Advantages

• Centrally create, deploy, and update virtual PC images throughout the enterprise

• Provision virtual images and user policies according to business affiliation and requirements

• Accelerate the upgrade path to new Desktop OS-legacy applications continue to run in a virtual environment with a previous OS version

• Simplify IT integration of new subsidiaries by running two IT environments concurrently (i.e. the corporate one and the acquired company's one)

Read more about MED-V features in the datasheet (PDF) or in the Architecture white paper

MED-V Availability

MDOP customers can download MED-V v1 as part of the MDOP 2009 release on the Microsoft Volume Licensing Site (MVLS)

When planning a MED-V deployment, please refer to the MED-V Infrastructure Planning and Design solution accelerator.

MDOP 2009 is also available for evaluation for MSDN* and TechNet** subscribers.

Please refer to the Quick Start Guide when evaluating MED-V

Future use-cases for MED-V beyond the v1.0 release

Desktop virtualization will continue to introduce new ways to increase desktop computing flexibility. It is our intention that in future releases, MED-V in conjunction with the new VECD licensing, may be used to deliver a corporate virtual image to "unmanaged" PCs, and reduce the tension between IT control and user flexibility:

• Increase productivity for on-site contractors, offshore outsourcing and branch offices

• Enable employees to work from home or with personal laptops

• Drive business continuity and recovery plans with virtual desktops anywhere

Stay tuned on the MDOP blog for more information on future releases of MED-V

Additional Resources

• Download MED-V datasheet

• Download MED-V Architecture White Paper (PDF, XPS)

• Read about Microsoft Desktop Virtualization

• Watch an Introduction video or demo

• Read EMA Brief and Case study about MED-V

• Listen to a Technical Springboard session about MED-V

• Evaluate MED-V using the Quick Start Guide

• Plan and design MED-V deployment using the solution accelerator

^{* Available to Levels: TechNet Plus SA Media; TechNet Plus (Retail); TechNet Direct (Retail); TechNet Plus (VL); TechNet Plus Direct (VL); TechNet Cert Partner; TechNet Gold Cert Partner; T1;}

^{** Available to Levels: VS Pro with MSDN Premium (Empower); Developer AA; MSDN Universal (Retail); VSTS Team Suite (VL); VSTS Architecture (VL); VSTS Development (VL); VSTS Test (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Premium (VL); MSDN Universal (VL); VSTS Database (VL); VS Pro with MSDN Premium (Retail); VSTS Test (Retail); VSTS Development (Retail); VSTS Architecture (Retail); VSTS Team Suite (Retail); VSTS Database (Retail); BizSpark Admin; BizSpark}

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization v1.0 Beta Demo Kit

Beta allows admins to centrally manage virtual machines.

Microsoft has released a beta version of Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualisation (MED-V), which enables firms to deploy and manage virtual machines running on Windows Vista client systems.

MED-V is based on technology acquired from virtualisation specialist Kidaro in 2008, and this beta is the first release from Microsoft since that time.

The full version is scheduled for the second quarter of 2009 as part of Microsoft's Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP).
he tool is principally designed to address compatibility issues in Windows Vista by letting IT managers deploy problem applications inside centrally managed virtual machines based on Microsoft's Virtual PC 2007.
One of the key features of Kidaro's technology is that it operates invisibly to end users, who simply launch the virtualised applications from the Start Menu or shortcuts exactly like a native application.

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