A virtual desktop is a computer operating system that does not run directly on the endpoint hardware from which a user accesses it.



Virtual desktops are accessible through client software installed directly on an endpoint, which presents the desktop to the user and allows them to interact with it using a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen and peripherals. Virtual desktop clients are available for a wide variety of devices, including PCs, tablets, smartphones and Raspberry Pi.



The three major virtual desktop providers are Citrix, Microsoft and VMware. Many other vendors offer products and services to help IT professionals deploy, manage, secure and optimize virtual desktops.



Types of virtual desktops

Virtual desktops often rely on virtualization software, which abstracts operating systems, applications and data from a computing device's underlying hardware. In this scenario, a desktop operating system runs inside a virtual machine (VM) that may be installed on a server -- either on premises or in the cloud -- or on a PC. The main use case for running a VM directly on a PC is to create multiple desktops.



The technology that allows organizations to run desktop operating systems on VMs on on-premises servers is known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Offerings that do the same, but in the cloud, are known as desktop as a service (DaaS).

To know more about hosted virtual desktop visit Apps4Rent.