Providing Virtual Desktops Using Resources Accessed on Public Computer Networks

• US 20120179820A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vmware LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Desktone Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ringdahl, Kenneth, Baron, Steven, Ahlawat, Pranay, Becker, Robert S., McKay, Peter C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A computer system supports hosting of virtual desktops using resources available in the cloud. Connections to various resources used by a desktop configuration are made dynamically using authentication information associated with the user assigned to the desktop configuration. In addition to using file storage, directory services and user management information on private resources on a private network, these resources may also be accessed through a public network.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a management system for managing access by client access devices to virtual desktops hosted on one or more service provider-managed host machines or in the cloud;

wherein the virtual desktops access resources over a public computer network.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the virtual desktops hosted in the cloud comprises:

one or more host machines connected to a computer network that is a separate computer network than the service provider managed computer network having the virtual desktops hosted thereon.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the management system allows the service provider to allocate resources for multiple tenants using both the service provider managed host machines and the host machine on the separate computer network.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the virtual desktops in the cloud are on host machines in one or more independent data centers from the service provider-managed host machines.

5. A computer system providing virtual desktops in a cloud computing model, comprising:

a plurality of remote host machines, each hosting a plurality of virtual desktops, wherein the virtual desktops access resources remotely over a computer network, wherein the host machines include host machines on a service provider managed computer network and on a computer network that is separate from the service provide managed computer network; and

a management system for managing access by remote client access devices to the virtual desktops.

6. A process for creating a virtual desktop pattern for syndication, comprising:

receiving an indication of the desired operating system, applications, and other resources for the desktop;

combining the received resources with configuration information to create a pattern;

creating a set of desktops using license keys, available memory and CPU resources;

sealing the pattern by injecting a system preparation tool for operating system deployment into the pattern.

7. A process for syndicating a pattern for deploying desktops for a tenant, comprising:

deploying the pattern to a plurality of host machines in at least two separate computer networks;

provisioning desktops using the pattern on the plurality of host machines.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein provisioning comprises:

cloning a pattern of the desktop and deploying the clones to multiple virtual machines;

initiating a system preparation tool of each clone on its host virtual machine; and

causing the host virtual machine to join the network domain of the tenant.