Leostream Releases New Version of Virtual Hosted Desktop Software
Latest ConnectionBroker upgrade facilitates creation of a virtual desktop infrastructure for Microsoft Server 2008 R2 and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008.
Leostream Corp., a Waltham, Mass.-based developer of virtual hosted desktop software (and a Microsoft virtualization partner since 2005), has announced comprehensive desktop virtualization support for Microsoft server software.
The Leostream ConnectionBroker is an independent solution that has the ability to broker and manage connections for virtual and hosted desktops, Citrix XenApp applications, remote desktop services (RDS) sessions, blades, and physical machines.
The ConnectionBroker from Leostream manages VDI, enabling organizations to integrate any required systems. The ConnectionBroker enforces granular and specific policies for exacting implementation of business rules to simplify complexity, reduces operating costs, and improves security, according to the company. It scales to support company-wide deployments and is administered through a centralized management interface.† †
ConnectionBroker 6.2 enables Microsoft customers to create a scalable virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V. With it, Leostream says, organizations operating in a Microsoft environment can deploy the Leostream ConnectionBroker to build out a VDI that fully integrates with their physical existing infrastructure.†
The Leostream ConnectionBroker 6.2, delivered as a virtual appliance, is the software management layer that ties desktop images in the data center to users’ thin client, laptop, workstation, or Web interface.
Dai Vu, director of virtualization marketing, server and tools business, at Microsoft Corp. says organizations are evaluating desktop virtualization solutions because they can provide their workers “with better security and more flexible access to data and applications, while making it easier for IT departments to control assets and provision just the right applications and data to the user.”
Leostream CEO Michael Palin adds that this releases enables those organizations depending on a Microsoft platform to “enjoy the benefits of an enterprise-class VDI that takes full advantage of their existing infrastructure.”†
End-users can access their virtual desktop from any machine, regardless of location, due to the technology’s ability to direct users to their own virtual desktop image.
IT managers can also maximize the virtualization of existing resources by easily integrating an array of clients, back-end systems, and viewers.
Leostream ConnectionBroker 6.2 integrates with existing network infrastructure with minimal changes. It accommodates authentication services and SSL VPN systems, and it provides a rich set of policies for exact implementation of business rules for users and machines.†
The software has long supported Microsoft technologies, including integration with Active Directory services, management of Remote Desktop Services (RDS) sessions, management of virtual machines found in Active Directory, and support for Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003 and 2008, and 32- and 64-bit Vista operating systems.
Leostream has incorporated into the release of ConnectionBroker 6.2 a range of new features and enhanced support for the Microsoft environment, including:†
- Installation and Management–A new Leostream ConnectionBroker virtual appliance provides native installation on a Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V or Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 hypervisor. It also provides native support for Hyper-V based virtual machines.
- End-user Experience Pack–The ConnectionBroker provides Windows 7 support, remote desktop protocol support, multimonitor support, USB management, location-based printing, single sign-on for RDP, user profile support, and extensive flexibility in assigning users to resources (desktops, applications, and sessions).
