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CLOUD GLOSSARY: THE MOST IMPORTANT TERMS AROUND THE TOPIC OF (DESKTOP) VIRTUALIZATION

Server Based Computing (SBC)
Server-based computing offers the central provision of application programs on powerful servers in a client-server system. These applications are used from remote locations without the need for complex on-site installation.

Virtualization
Logical division of physical systems (computers, data storage, networks, applications) into several subsystems, whereby the virtual resources present themselves to the outside world as an independent system. Together with automation, virtualization forms the basis of true cloud computing offerings.

Automation
A necessary added value of an intelligent virtualization management solution is the automation of essential functions. In this way, services are provided without the intervention of an individual, creating the basis for true cloud computing offerings.

Server Virtualization
Server virtualization makes existing servers in the company efficient and flexible, so that server capacities can be scaled freely. Servers are replaced by virtual counterparts that have the same characteristics and functionality as physical servers.

Storage Virtualization
Storage components are made available in a logical form. This means that the available storage can be flexibly divided up and is not bound by physical limits, which increases scalability.

Desktop Virtualization
The logical further development of server and storage virtualization. Instead of a single component or application, the entire PC desktop is virtualized in the data center. The most important forms are Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Terminal Services. The term client virtualization can be understood as a synonym for desktop virtualization.

Applikationsvirtualisierung
With application virtualization, application programs are no longer permanently installed on a client, but are centrally configured and managed to be played on local clients as needed.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
With VDI, users are provided with individually configured operating system instances via a network from a remote host. The users each work autonomously on their own virtual instance (virtual machine), which in principle behaves like a complete local computer. VDI is a form of server-based computing and is considered a versatile extension of terminal services, since multiple user sessions are not hosted on one operating system.

Terminal Services
With Terminal Services technology, users work in a virtual environment and share the resources of a single specially configured operating system. Unlike a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), users are not isolated from each other; rather, multiple user sessions are hosted on a single operating system.

Virtual Client Computing (VCC)
The analysts at IDC summarize individual forms of virtualization under the collective term VCC, which is divided into 4 categories: Desktop Virtualization consisting of Centralized Virtual Desktop (known as VDI) and Distributed Virtual Desktop, Application Virtualization, Virtual User Session (known as Terminal Services) and User State Virtualization

Virtual Machine (VM)
A virtual machine is a virtual instance provided by a hypervisor that does not run directly on hardware in the course of virtualization. For example, several virtual machines can be run on one server (virtual machine host).

Virtual Machine Host
The virtual machine host refers to the physical system on which several virtual instances (virtual machine) are provided by the hypervisor. This feature is used in particular for servers.

Hypervisor
A hypervisor is software that provides virtual instances (virtual machine) and enables virtualization in the first place. Examples of hypervisors are: Xen, ESX/ESXi, Hyper-V, or KVM.

Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM)
Virtual Machine Monitor is another name for the hypervisor that enables virtualization in the first place by providing virtual instances (Virtual Machine).

KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)
KVM is a free hypervisor. The Linux kernel infrastructure for virtualization runs on x86 hardware using Intel or AMD hardware virtualization techniques and on the System z architecture.

Clone
Complete copy of a virtual instance (virtual machine) that uses the same amount of memory as the original compared to the snapshot. Clones are used to quickly create and duplicate similar virtual machines and protect data from loss.

Snapshot
Snapshots are copies of a virtual machine, but only take into account the difference from the original virtual machine.

Template
A template is a copy of a specific predefined configuration. A template can minimize the effort of multiple installations and speed up the rollout of virtual desktops

VDI-Broker
The VDI broker is a software component that routes user endpoints to the virtual desktop.

Remote Desktop
The term is used in different ways, but is usually understood to mean remote maintenance access. This can be possible via a local network or via the Internet.

Wide Area Netzwork (WAN) Optimization
This term describes technical mechanisms that contribute to the smooth transport of data packets over a wide area network. The limited WAN performance is an often criticized issue of classic Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions.

CLOUD GLOSSARY: THE MOST IMPORTANT TERMS RELATING TO CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a marketing buzzword that essentially describes the historical host-terminal model, whereby the host and terminal can be located at any point in the world due to the broadband Internet. A definition accepted in IT with essential criteria for genuine cloud computing offers is provided by the US standardization authority NIST, which is also used as a definition by the German Federal Office for Information Security- NIST, also the German Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik as definition use.

Cloud-Stack
Die beim Cloud Computing angebotenen Leistungen werden grundsätzlich in drei unterschiedliche „Clouds“ klassifiziert, die aufeinander aufbauen und als Cloud-Stack bezeichnet werden: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) und Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) als weitere Disziplin ist eine noch junge Entwicklung des Themenkomplexes Cloud Computing.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
IaaS describes the provision of virtualized IT infrastructure via the Internet. With laaS, a customer uses servers, storage, network and the rest of the data center infrastructure as an abstract and virtualized service. The service is typically billed on a usage basis.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
With PaaS, a service provider makes a platform available and takes over basic administrative tasks. This allows users to develop, test and use individual applications in the cloud without buying or managing the underlying structure

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
SaaS describes the use of software online through cloud computing instead of buying it and installing it locally on the computer. Here, the service provider takes over all administrative activities related to the software offered.

Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)
With DaaS, the fully virtualized desktop PC is delivered from a centralized data center to the user's end devices via the Internet. Users can access their virtual desktop with their operating system and all data and applications from anywhere, at any time, and from different end devices.

Service Level Agreement (SLA)
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) measured. describe an IT service, its usage characteristics, its quality and a time frame. The ideas of the IT customer and the IT contractor about these services should be the same. Therefore, they are described and agreed in detail in the service level agreement. It also specifies how quality and compliance with the agreement will be measured.

Private Cloud
Die Private Cloud stellt einen geschlossenen Benutzerkreis, wie etwa Unternehmen oder Organisationen, dar. Im Gegensatz zur Public Cloud ziehen Unternehmen es oft aus Gründen von Datenschutz und IT-Sicherheit vor, ihre IT-Dienste selbst zu betreiben und nur eigenen Mitarbeitern zugänglich zu machen.

Public Cloud
An offering from a freely accessible provider that makes its services openly available to everyone via the Internet. In contrast to the private cloud, access is granted to any authorized user. Currently, mainly software-as-a-service solutions are offered via the public cloud.

Hybrid Cloud
A hybrid form of the private and public cloud approach. While certain services are obtained from public providers via the Internet, the processing of data protection-critical applications and data takes place in the company.

Community Cloud
The community cloud refers to cloud infrastructures that are used and provided by several companies to jointly access certain services. These are not publicly available, but are restricted to a defined group of users and are regularly used as part of project work.