XenDesktop - Components

The Desktop Delivery Controller – authenticates users, manages assembling the user’s desktop environment, and brokers connections between the user and their virtual desktop.

The Virtual Delivery Agent – installed on the user’s virtual desktop, the agent enables direct ICA connections between the ICA Client and the user’s virtual desktop.

The ICA Client – installed on the connecting endpoint device, the client enables direct ICA connection to the virtual desktop.

1. Authentication: Users can access their virtual desktops from virtually any computer. Typically, the connection will be from either a Desktop Appliance in the office or a PC from home. When connecting from a Desktop Appliance at work, the user simply switches the device on and they are presented with an authentication request. If they are connecting from a home PC, they will navigate to a Web page that looks identical to the Desktop Appliance authentication page.

2. Brokering & Desktop Assembly: After authentication the Desktop Delivery Controller (DDC) identifies the user and dynamically assembles their desktop. The appropriate desktop operating system is streamed into the hosting environment. The users profile is added to the desktop operating system, and the users apps are made available via client or server side virtualization. With XenDesktop this assembly can be scheduled to occur before the user tries to connect ensuring instant access to the user’s desktop whilst allowing effective power and hosting infrastructure utilization.
   Open Architecture: XenDesktop allows IT Admins the flexibility to use almost any hosting infrastructure (Microsoft Hyper-V (when available), VMware ESX, blade PC’s, or, of course, Citrix XenServer).

3. Delivery: Once the user’s identity has been verified, their desktop environment is then delivered via the ICA protocol.