2 weeks ago, I wrote about how VDI, Daas or Desktop Virtualization as a Service could be the Next Killer App.

IBM is reportedly working to roll out a VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) package through resellers and integrators who service small and midsized organizations.  It will not be offered to customers directly.  At the time of this writing, IBM has found about 100 partners worldwide.

The costs will be $150 USD per user annually.  There is no minimum number of users required to sign up, but the service requires a one-year contract.

The VDI infrastructure will also allow users to access desktops from mobile devices, including iPads and thin clients. In addition, both Microsoft Windows (Windows XP and Windows 7) and Linux-based operating system desktops (Canonical, Red Hat and Novell) will be supported.

Partners will be able to install and support it either on the client’s on-premise solution, or as a hosted service.  IBM estimates that 200 desktops can be supported on a single IBM server.

It is reported IBM may offer the package itself as a hosted service in the near future.  But the primary goal for IBM are pre-configured systems aimed at easing deployments for small to midsized organizations, but through partners.

Technical Details

IBM reports the service will be configured on IBM System X servers running Suse Linux.

The desktop virtualization, offered by Virtual Bridges, is configured using Verde software.

This approach uses a Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) hypervisor for the server, along with bare-metal (or Type 1) hypervisors installed on the client workstation.

As expected, the package also includes IBM’s Smart Business Foundation, a collection of management tools that ease configuration and maintenance.