Virtual desktops (VDI) is when the VM is run as a shared service on a server, rather than on your local PC. Citrix is a good example here. Each client gets their own instance of the image spun up for them, when they connect, but the image is shared so you get all the same benefits of having a VM library (easy to move between protects etc) without all the local grunt issues and/or copying VMs around a lot.
Obviously there's quite a large infrastructure cost here, unless you use a cloud based option (strangely Microsoft have given up on this, but AWS have one). On 4 Feb 2017 09:37, "Kirsten Greed" <kirst...@jobtalk.com.au> wrote: > Thanks Piers > What is the difference between a virtual machine and a virtual desktop? > > ------------------------------ > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto:ozdotnet-bounces@ > ozdotnet.com] *On Behalf Of *Piers Williams > *Sent:* Saturday, 4 February 2017 11:29 AM > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* Re: installing multiple things on my development machine. Are > Virtualmachines still the way to go? > > Tl,Dr : Yes. Cross platform Docker is still in its infancy. Ditto GUI apps > on Docker. > > The Docker Toolbox for Windows, and now the Docker Windows 10 integration > (RTM) allow you to run Docker containers *for Linux* (the Toolbox via a > hidden VM, and the Windows 10 native version presumably via the Windows 10 > revamped UNIX system). There is a preview version that includes Windows > Container support, but I've not tried that yet. It seemed simpler to > install SQL server *for Linux* in the container than work out how to do > that. Go figure. I also use Oracle Express the same way. > > And Docker support for GUI apps is also not really a thing. It's discussed > in the Linux world, approaches exist (x11 forwarding[1] or VNC), but > definitely not the norm. Doesn't seem like Windows Containers address this > either, at least not yet. It will happen though. > > So VMs, virtual desktops or bare metal setups are probably still the go > for IDEs, but I'd definitely attempt to Dockerise any services I was > dependent on as and when I could, and deploy to Docker if using .Net core. > > (As an aside, Docker support for multiple architectures is also a work in > progress, the registry just assumed everything is x64 (whereas Docker on Pi > is Arm of course)) > > [1] eg https://blog.jessfraz.com/post/docker-containers-on-the-desktop/ > On 4 Feb 2017 07:30, "Kirsten Greed" <kirst...@jobtalk.com.au> wrote: > >> I have a chance to upgrade my development box. >> >> Over the years multiple programs have crept on to my box including 3 >> versions of SQL Server Express. >> >> I am wondering how to be more disciplined in keeping my environment clean >> >> Although I have some VMs installed I haven't been using them because they >> take so long to load. >> >> For trying out new things - like VS2017, are VMs still the way to go? >> Or is there something else now ( like Docker? ) >> >> What programs should be "On the metal" ? >> >> >> >
