1. All the virtual PC image will be stored in a SAN storage.
2. There will be ESX server running in some servers.
3. The SAN protocol is FC and there will be a volume mounted on a ESX host server.
3. This volume will store all the virtual PC image.
4. User access the virtual image using either a thick client ot a thin client via RDP.
I hope I am right so far.
Now my questions are,
1. Assuming I have 1500 users so I will need to have 1500 virtual images?
Correct. If you have 1500 users online at the same time, then you will need 1500 virtual desktops using Automated persistent / non-persistent pool. Enabling link-clones will reduce the overall storage requirements of your pool. Using folder redirection for their My Documents directory will also aid in reducing storage requirements on the expensive tiers of the SAN, moving them to a lower tier or to another storage altogether.
2. If assuming yes to Q1, does it mean these 1500 virtual image must be turn on at all times?
Yes. You must have the capacity to run all 1500 VMs at the same time with various workloads. VMware has a document that can help you size up your hardware requirements.
3. If Q2 is no, so may I know when a user initiate a RDP connection to his own virtual image, will the virtual PC image be turn on automatically?
You may use RDP or PCOIP to connect to the VM. If the VM is suspended or powered off, it will turn on when the user initiates the connection.
4. We have some users located in other countries. Is there any settings in VMWare VDI that we cna make use to speed up the connection?
Use WAN accelerators to cache packets across the wire. Otherwise try and localize the deployment to their respective locations.
5. What other software do I need from VMWare other then ESX to have a desktop virtual solution?
VMware View 4 is their flagship VDI solution. Although you can consolidate your deployment with your server VM infrastructure, plan on deploying VDI as a separate entity - its own vCenter Server, ESX servers, Connection brokers (LAN / WAN), and Security servers (DMZ - Internet). Ensure that your network infrastructure is designed to accommodate the additional traffic and ports. Implement WAN accelerators where needed and consider upping the backbone - fiber or 10-gigabit (jumbo frames enabled).
Checkout VMware's documents regarding VMware View 4 here: http://www.vmware.com/products/view/resources.html
