Solution Brief

Desktop Virtualization Configurations

NComputing desktop virtualization solutions solve the challenges of deploying dedicated PCs for businesses and
organizations worldwide. By accessing the world’s largest untapped computing cloud – the unused compute cycles of
desktop PCs – NComputing brings computing access to places it has never been before and dramatically lowers costs
for places where computing already exists. The solutions’ key benefits of affordability, compatibility, efficiency and
simplicity have helped NComputing deploy over one million seats in just the last two years.

Low Cost Access Devices

Instead of using desktop PCs or traditional thin clients to deliver computing access
to users, the NComputing solution uses low-cost, highly optimized and efficient
access devices that tap into the unused power of existing PCs and servers. Many
solutions in the market today that claim to do desktop virtualization still rely on a full
desktop PC as the end-user interface. While these approaches address some of
the challenges of PC management and security, they increase the upfront costs and add complexity. Other solutions in
the market use traditional thin clients which in most cases are effectively scaled-down PCs with the familiar PC
components including x86 motherboards, processors, memory, local storage, and operating systems. NComputing
access devices are truly different and are built with just a single, highly-efficient and integrated chip. The result is a cost
per access device of as little as $70, an extremely small size, and energy consumption of as little as one watt per user.

Desktop PCs Thin Clients NComputing (X- or L-series)

Local OS Windows or Linux Windows (XPe, CE) or Linux None
I/O Connection Directly connected - local Local + limited “redirect” to host Fully transparent to host
Size 200 to 3000 cu. in. 110 cu. in. and up 15 cu. in.
Wt./e-Waste 20 lbs and up 3 lbs and up 0.3 lbs
Boot time 1-3 minutes 1-3 minutes 10 seconds
Power Draw 100-200 watts 15-80 watts 1 - 5 watts
Price $350 to $2000 $200 to $800 $70 to $200 (incl. vSpace)

Basic Desktop Virtualization with vSpace™

NComputing devices connect via the User eXtension Protocol (UXP) to virtual workspaces hosted on PCs and servers
in a variety of ways. The most popular way is to run the NComputing vSpace virtualization software directly in the main
operating system of a shared PC (i.e. Windows Server 2003 or Linux). vSpace then creates multiple virtual workspaces
that each connects to an individual X-series (direct connection up to 10 m) or L-series (Ethernet connection for any
distance) access device. In this efficient configuration up to 30 users can share a standard PC or entry-level server.

X- Series Access Access Access Access

or Device 1 Device 2 Device 3 Device n
L-Series

UXP

Work Work Work Work

Shared Space 1 Space 2 Space 3 Space n
PC
Host OS + NComputing vSpace (1:many)

© Copyright 2008. NComputing Inc. All rights reserved. NComputing is a trademark of NComputing Inc. R10.30.08
 Solution Brief

One-to-one Machine Virtualization (VDI) with vSpace

NComputing vSpace can be used together with other virtualization technologies to address specific needs. For
example, in some environments, machine virtualization software such as VMware ESX or Microsoft Hyper-V can be
used. In this configuration (often referred to as “VDI”), each user is given their own complete virtual machine including
their own instance of a desktop operating system such as Windows XP. The OS and application set can be completely
different for each user and each virtual machine can be isolated from other virtual machines. NComputing vSpace is
installed inside the Windows XP virtual machine to enable a 1:1 connection to an assigned L-series access device.

Access Access Access Access

L-Series Device 1 Device 2 Device 3 Device n

UXP

Shared VM 1 - XP VM 2 - XP VM 3 - XP VM n - XP
+ vSpace + vSpace + vSpace + vSpace
Server
1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1

Virtualization Software

Host OS or Hypervisor
(i.e. VMware ESX, MS Hyper-V, etc.)

Due to the increased overhead required by machine virtualization technology, the host for this type of configuration will
typically be a server capable of accepting large amounts of memory (i.e. 8+ GB). For comparison purposes, while the
basic desktop virtualization configuration described on the first page can support 30 users on a standard PC, that same
PC would support approximately 4-5 users in this VDI configuration.

One-to-Many Machine Virtualization (Server Consolidation) with vSpace

Machine virtualization can also be used with NComputing systems to set-up environments where groups of users are
given heterogeneous application sets and operating systems from a single consolidated server. This is a hybrid of the
first two configurations described in that the NComputing vSpace software runs in one-to-many mode as in the first
example, but runs inside a virtual machine as in the second example. This configuration also enables large numbers of
users (60, 90 or more) to run on a single high-end server.

L-Series

UXP

Shared 1 2 n 1 2 n 1 2 n

Server VM 1 VM 2
VM 3
Server Server
Linux +
2003 + 2003 +
vSpace
vSpace vSpace
Virtualization Software
Host OS or Hypervisor
(i.e. VMware ESX, MS Hyper-V, etc.)

© Copyright 2008. NComputing Inc. All rights reserved. NComputing is a trademark of NComputing Inc. R10.30.08