VirtualQube and Microsoft
VirtualQube is a Microsoft Certified Partner with nearly two decades of experience at designing, deploying, and supporting Windows Server-based networks. From our work with small businesses to our experience helping build and support some of the largest Remote Desktop Services deployments in the Northwest, we've seen how the Microsoft Windows Server System can bring value to businesses of all sizes.Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services, or "RDS" (formerly known as Terminal Services), is the collection of services that allow multiple remote users to simultaneously execute applications on a Windows server within their own respective protected environments so the applications don't interfere with one another. In fact, the users aren't even aware of one another at all. The user interface is separated from the application execution environment - the remote client device sends keystrokes and mouse movements to the server, and the server sends screen updates back to the remote client device.Today, we can even deliver a remote desktop that looks and feels like a Windows 7 desktop, even though it's running on a shared server operating system.
Citrix XenApp (or, in its latest incarnation, XenDesktop 7 App Edition) does not replace RDS - it extends and enhances it. RDS is at the heart of every XenApp deployment, including our own VirtualQube Hosted Private Cloud Services.
Of course, the question that is always asked - since the days of NT4 Terminal Server Edition - is, "Do I really need to add XenApp to my environment, or can I just run RDS by itself?" The answer is a definite "maybe." With every Microsoft release, RDS gets better. These days, it's pretty darned good - so it depends on your business need: What applications do you want to deploy? To what kinds of client devices? Where are the clients located, and how much bandwidth do you have between those locations and the data center where the servers are located? Are they connecting across your LAN or private WAN, or do you need to be able to connect across the public Internet?
VirtualQube has been working with this technology ever since it came into existence, so if you want to have a business discussion about what value it can bring to your organization, if you need some help with a deployment or upgrade, or if you'd just like another set of eyes to audit your existing systems, give us a call.
Hyper-V
More and more businesses are discovering that Hyper-V is now enterprise-ready. And it's hard to beat the price: free! VirtualQube is proud to have been one of the first Microsoft partners in the Pacific Northwest to earn the Virtualization competency. We can help you get the most out of the virtualization technology that's now built into Windows server.Microsoft Exchange
Microsoft Exchange has become the de facto standard in corporate messaging solutions, and we've been there for over a decade, designing, deploying, and maintaining Microsoft Exchange systems.Today, businesses can also choose whether to install (or maintain) their own on-premise Exchange server, or take advantage of Hosted Exchange providers - including VirtualQube's own Hosted Exchange service. Moving to hosted email is the easiest way to make that first step into "Cloud Services." VirtualQube can help you make that decision as well, and if it makes business sense for you to move to a hosted model, we can offer several hosting alternatives.
Active Directory Consulting
If your Active Directory isn't built correctly, then the foundation of your entire Windows network is unstable...which means that everything you've built on that foundation is unstable. Microsoft Exchange is deeply integrated with Active Directory. Active Directory Group Policies are key to securing and controlling a Citrix XenApp or XenDesktop infrastructure.VirtualQube has years of experience at designing, deploying, upgrading, and diagnosing problems with Microsoft Active Directory. Let us help you with your next upgrade - or, if you're just building a new Windows Server infrastructure, let us help you make sure that you do it right the first time.
Microsoft Licensing
We understand that Microsoft licensing can sometimes be confusing. In today's virtualized world, it's easy to get out of license compliance without realizing it, and important to understand things like:- What virtualization rights come with which versions of Windows server?
- What licenses are required to run applications such as Microsoft Office in a Remote Desktop Services / XenApp environment?
- What licenses are required to deploy Windows 7 or Windows 8 as virtualized desktops (VDI)?
- When does Software Assurance make financial sense, and what benefits does it bring besides upgrade protection?
- What's the difference between Open License, Open Value, and Open Value Subscription, and how can I determine which one is right for me?